Страница 20 из 56
Deirdre and Joelen had made their way down as the first guests, including Arthur and Gloria, were arriving. Guests took turns playing the piano, and at one point Bu
“Sing out, Louise!” Bu
In the endless rehashing in the press of what happened that night, a photograph of Joelen and Bu
Joelen’s question, “I wonder what happened to that dress?,” brought Deirdre back to the present. Joelen raised her eyebrows at Deirdre. Ask, she mouthed.
But before Deirdre could form a question, Bu
Delicately Bu
Obediently Deirdre pulled off Henry’s Harley T-shirt and stood there in her bra and drawstring pants.
“Hmmm.” Bu
Finally Bu
Fifteen minutes later Deirdre was seated at the makeup table, wearing the dress with a pair of saggy white opaque tights and orthopedic nurse’s shoes. She’d stuffed the toe of one shoe with Kleenex to keep it from falling off her smaller foot. Bu
Deirdre put the glasses on. The lenses were clear.
“Up,” Bu
Deirdre leaned on her crutch and rose to her feet.
“Stoop,” Bu
Deirdre hunched over.
“Not that much. Just kind of roll your shoulders and stick your head out. Think turtle.”
Deirdre adjusted her stance. The mousy woman gazing back at her from the mirror looked like a Latina version of Ruth Buzzi’s bag lady from Laugh-In. She started to laugh. “This is ridiculous. It will never work.”
“Hey, what’s going on?” a man’s voice called from Bu
“You don’t think it’s going to work?” Bu
“What’s up with you?” Joelen said.
“I . . . what? Why are you two looking at me like I did something?” he said.
“It’s not what you did. It’s what you’re not doing,” Joelen said, pushing past Deirdre.
“What are you talking about?” The man looked from Joelen to Bu
“See?” Bu
“Disguise?” the man said.
Joelen took the man’s hand. “Dear, meet Deirdre, my best friend all through high school. Deirdre, may I present Jackie Hutchinson. My baby”—her voice seemed to caress the word—“brother. Is he adorable or what?” Joelen gave him a loud wet kiss on the cheek.
“Would you cut that out?” Jackie pulled a face and made a show of wiping off the kiss. “I’m twenty-one, for God’s sake.”
“God help us. Just turned twenty-one,” Joelen said. She chucked him under the chin and he pushed her away.
Of course Deirdre could see the resemblance. Jackie and Joelen both had Bu
Recovering himself, Jackie offered Deirdre his hand. “Pleased to meet you. I’m sorry. I thought you were . . .” His voice trailed off. He seemed painfully young and he made Deirdre feel painfully old.
“Go on,” Bu
Jackie nodded sheepishly and Joelen said, “And the prize for best disguise goes to—”
“Sorry,” Jackie said.
“Don’t be,” Bu
Jackie smiled a perfect toothy smile. “So my sister was your best friend?”
“From sixth grade,” Deirdre said, “until . . .” Her voice trailed off.
Jackie narrowed his dark eyes at Deirdre. “Was she crazy then, too?”
“Crazy?” Joelen gave him a shove. “Look who’s talking.”
“Not exactly crazy,” Deirdre said. “I’d say fearless. She did some pretty wild things and I followed her. So I guess I was the crazy one.”
Joelen snorted a laugh. “Remember thumbing a ride home from the five-and-dime?”
“Miraculously without getting abducted.” Deirdre remembered the black Cadillac that had stopped. The man had leaned across the passenger seat and opened the door and they’d hopped in. Just like that. All the way to Deirdre’s house the driver lectured them about the dangers of getting into cars with strangers, explaining in graphic detail just how bad things could go. Deirdre had been relieved to get out of that car.
Joelen picked up the thread. “Hey, it was raining and we’d have been soaking wet by the time we got back. So we get a ride home and Pollya
“I stole it? Ha!”
“What ha? How did it end up in your pocket?” Joelen was all wide-eyed i
Passionate Pink. The tube had felt as if it were burning a hole in her pocket—once she realized it was there. “I think you know the answer to that.”
“Me?” Joelen turned to Jackie. “So then she gets arrested trying to put it back!”