stood before her, looking quite dashing in his tuxedo. Etta craned her neck tolook for his escort. She didn’t see one. “Good evening, Dr. Lewis.”
By the blank expression on his face, Etta realized that the doctor didn’t place her. She was a bit hurt but quickly rationalized. He had hundreds of patients. How could he remember all of them? Just as long as he recognized her tomorrow morning in the operating room. “Etta Chambers, Dr. Lewis. You’re doing my cataracts tomorrow.”
“Oh, yes, of course, Etta. Good to see you.” He didn’t bother trying to make any more small talk. Once his name was marked off the guest list, he turned and left.
Etta was tempted to stay and keep an eye on how much the doctor drank. She didn’t want a surgeon with a hangover slicing into her eyes in the morning.
“ YOU CLEAN up nice, fella. You didn’t have to get all dressed up just to drive us up here.”
“No problem, Webb.”
“I don’t know how long we’ll be here, Jerry. You don’t mind sticking around, do you, buddy?”
I don’t have much choice, do I?
thought the marina owner as he helped his passengers off the boat. Instead he answered, “No, Webb, I don’t mind. I’ll be waiting here for you whenever you all are ready to leave.”
“And, Jerry, I found baby powder all over the floor of the head. You’re not letting anyone else use my boat, are you, big fella?”
“No, of course not, Webb. If it got around that I let people use my customers’ boats, I wouldn’t have much of a marina.” Jerry offered the first thing that cameinto his head. “Maybe something just fell out of the cabinet.”
Webb was not mollified. “My kids have been out of diapers for quite a while now. I don’t keep powder in the cabinet. And don’t forget, Jerry,” he said, turning away. “I decide who to loan my boat to.”
Jerry watched the backs of Webb and Lou-Anne and the other couple, introduced to him as Gloria and Van, as they ascended the steps from the dock to the terrace at the back of the recently refurbished Cà d’Zan. Jerry already knew Van; the guy had recently contracted to dock his boat at the marina. The woman, Gloria, sure was stacked.
The lights inside the Mediterrean Gothic-style mansion shone through the pastel-colored leaded glass windows, bathing the bedecked party guests in a flattering glow. It was quite a scene, Jerry thought, like something out of a movie.
Jerry saw Webb stop to talk to a guy lugging a big camera and watched as Webb pointed to Gloria. The man hoisted the camera to his shoulder and pointed it in the direction of the shiny gold dress.
Jerry climbed back onboard the boat and opened the cooler he had stashed in the hold. Pulling out a Budweiser, he flipped the top and settled back to wait until he could go up there and get some of the good stuff. Why should he be the only one not drinking champagne?
GLORIA REVELED in making her entrance up the grand marble steps. She was so glad Merilee was out of thepicture tonight. Now Gloria could be the belle of the ball. She felt like Cinderella in her shimmering golden gown, and she could tell she was making an impression by the heads, both male and female, that turned in her direction.
“You’re knockin ’em dead, sweetheart,” Van whispered in her ear. “You’re absolutely glowing.” Her escort squeezed her arm too hard.
Yes, Cinderella was a good comparison, she thought. Gloria had been feeling like a scullery maid since Merilee had become Webb’s little pet. Merilee had been getting all the attention. Gloria had grown sick and tired of being second banana.
She smiled and laughed and sipped champagne from a fluted glass, aware that Brian Mueller was training his camera on her. Gloria wanted to shine in the video Brian was taking of her, knowing that these would be the opening shots for
Velvet Nights in Venice
, the movie that would get her career back on track. Gloria nuzzled Van’s neck for the camera’s benefit.
“Nice
By the blank expression on his face, Etta realized that the doctor didn’t place her. She was a bit hurt but quickly rationalized. He had hundreds of patients. How could he remember all of them? Just as long as he recognized her tomorrow morning in the operating room. “Etta Chambers, Dr. Lewis. You’re doing my cataracts tomorrow.”
“Oh, yes, of course, Etta. Good to see you.” He didn’t bother trying to make any more small talk. Once his name was marked off the guest list, he turned and left.
Etta was tempted to stay and keep an eye on how much the doctor drank. She didn’t want a surgeon with a hangover slicing into her eyes in the morning.
“ YOU CLEAN up nice, fella. You didn’t have to get all dressed up just to drive us up here.”
“No problem, Webb.”
“I don’t know how long we’ll be here, Jerry. You don’t mind sticking around, do you, buddy?”
I don’t have much choice, do I?
thought the marina owner as he helped his passengers off the boat. Instead he answered, “No, Webb, I don’t mind. I’ll be waiting here for you whenever you all are ready to leave.”
“And, Jerry, I found baby powder all over the floor of the head. You’re not letting anyone else use my boat, are you, big fella?”
“No, of course not, Webb. If it got around that I let people use my customers’ boats, I wouldn’t have much of a marina.” Jerry offered the first thing that cameinto his head. “Maybe something just fell out of the cabinet.”
Webb was not mollified. “My kids have been out of diapers for quite a while now. I don’t keep powder in the cabinet. And don’t forget, Jerry,” he said, turning away. “I decide who to loan my boat to.”
Jerry watched the backs of Webb and Lou-Anne and the other couple, introduced to him as Gloria and Van, as they ascended the steps from the dock to the terrace at the back of the recently refurbished Cà d’Zan. Jerry already knew Van; the guy had recently contracted to dock his boat at the marina. The woman, Gloria, sure was stacked.
The lights inside the Mediterrean Gothic-style mansion shone through the pastel-colored leaded glass windows, bathing the bedecked party guests in a flattering glow. It was quite a scene, Jerry thought, like something out of a movie.
Jerry saw Webb stop to talk to a guy lugging a big camera and watched as Webb pointed to Gloria. The man hoisted the camera to his shoulder and pointed it in the direction of the shiny gold dress.
Jerry climbed back onboard the boat and opened the cooler he had stashed in the hold. Pulling out a Budweiser, he flipped the top and settled back to wait until he could go up there and get some of the good stuff. Why should he be the only one not drinking champagne?
GLORIA REVELED in making her entrance up the grand marble steps. She was so glad Merilee was out of thepicture tonight. Now Gloria could be the belle of the ball. She felt like Cinderella in her shimmering golden gown, and she could tell she was making an impression by the heads, both male and female, that turned in her direction.
“You’re knockin ’em dead, sweetheart,” Van whispered in her ear. “You’re absolutely glowing.” Her escort squeezed her arm too hard.
Yes, Cinderella was a good comparison, she thought. Gloria had been feeling like a scullery maid since Merilee had become Webb’s little pet. Merilee had been getting all the attention. Gloria had grown sick and tired of being second banana.
She smiled and laughed and sipped champagne from a fluted glass, aware that Brian Mueller was training his camera on her. Gloria wanted to shine in the video Brian was taking of her, knowing that these would be the opening shots for
Velvet Nights in Venice
, the movie that would get her career back on track. Gloria nuzzled Van’s neck for the camera’s benefit.
“Nice
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