Native Affairs

She put her finger to her lips to indicate that she wished to remain undetected, and one of the nurses nodded as she slipped out again. The other followed her into the corridor.

“That is one very nice man,” the nurse said to Je

“Yes, he is,” Je

“Those kids will be talking about this for weeks,” her companion went on. “Just think, a famous person like that taking the time for them. It’s made my day, I can tell you.”

Je

* * * *

Je

Lee thought so, too. As she walked into the main dining room of the Bellevue Stratford with John Ashford, she saw Lee standing to one side with Joe Thornridge. Lee was resplendent in a white di

Dolores was waiting at their table, with her date, a commercial photographer whom Je

She had hoped that he would be placed out of her sight, but found to her dismay that he was only two tables away, with Joe Thornridge and his wife, a delicate blonde in a pastel pink dress. She had a clear view of Lee’s chiseled profile and gleaming hair. And, unfortunately, an equally clear view of his date.

Je

Je

This one was a slightly distorted reflection in a mirror, like, and at the same time not like, the original in the photo. The cascading, waist-length black hair was the same, but this girl was slightly heavier, with a broader face and blunter features than the first She was very pretty, but she was not the girl in the picture.

But then, who was she? There was a strong family resemblance—she had to be a relative of the girl in the photo, the likeness was too close. Je

Harold Salamone got up on the dais to welcome the new players and wish the rest of the organization a prosperous year. Je

After Salamone, a few others spoke, and then the music began as di

The band played between courses, and Je

There was no avoiding an introduction. Lee, ever the gentleman, presented the women to one another. His companion was Dawn Blacktree.

Harold Salamone came up to talk to Lee as they stood there, and Je

This information did not make Je

Joe Thornridge’s wife came up to ask Dawn something, and Je

“May your time with us be very happy, and your career here a success,” he said to Lee, grasping both of Lee’s hands in his. Lee thanked him, his lips twitching, and put his hand over his mouth as the older man walked away.

It was a few seconds before Je

“What is it?” she said.

Lee coughed to cover his mirth. “I’m fond of Harold, I really am,” he said, “but I can hardly keep a straight face when he talks to me. Everything he says sounds like the inscription on a greeting card.”

This was so true that Je

Je

“May all your troubles be little ones,” he began, and Je

He opened his mouth, and she held up her hand. “Please,” she whispered, “no more. I’m making a fool of myself as it is.”

“And the road ahead paved with the fulfillment of your dreams,” he recited rapidly.

Je

“You really do like me, don’t you?” he said softly. “You wish you didn’t, but you do.”

Je

“I know the feeling,” he said, releasing her. They stared at one another, an oasis of stillness in the bustling, crowded room.