“We are so thrilled that you are enjoying everything that our community has to offer, and we’re just so excited to announce our 1956 Miss Balboa.” The crowd roared with applause, and Sylvia smiled but couldn’t help glancing back out to the women once more.
When the sashes had been placed, trophies awarded, and Delores crowned Miss Balboa 1956 and celebrated, Sylvia escorted the six winners to the front of the banana stand for a group photo. Nothing said Bal Week like six gorgeous swimsuit-clad gals with a backdrop of saltwater taffy, Don’s fresh homemade candies, and hand-dippedfrozen bananas. When the pictures were taken and the reporters took down the winners’ names, Sylvia made sure to speak to the reporters herself and mention the club once again.
As the girls shuffled excitedly back to the Pavilion, Sylvia found herself standing alone at the banana stand.
“Can I get you anything, Mrs. Johnson?” the man behind the counter asked.
“Oh, thank you, Don. Sure, I’ll take a banana, dipped—”
“With nuts, I know,” he said and smiled.
She handed him her change, but he shook his head adamantly. “You must be kidding me. You keep us in business with this here celebration you put on. I couldn’t be more grateful to you and your husband.”
“Thank you,” she said, turning to scan the crowd for Walter again, praying he was all right. She was about to take a bite of the banana when Milly came up behind her.
“What are you doing here all alone? You were wonderful,” she said, excitedly, pulling her in for a hug. “Really, you looked like a star up there on that stage.”
“Thanks, Milly,” she said, grateful that she now had some company. “I didn’t really have a choice; Walter couldn’t make it in the end.”
“That’s a shame.” Milly looked concerned. “I wish he could have seen how fantastic you were. You should always announce the winners. And next time, tell them you’re our very own Miss Balboa 1938!” Milly linked her arm through Sylvia’s. “Your Judith is such a doll; she offered to watch the kids while I came to find you.”
“I’m glad you did,” Sylvia said. She hadn’t known Milly all that long, and she certainly seemed to have her own set of challenges, but as they walked side by side through the crowds, she thought maybe Milly was exactly the kind of friend she needed right now.
Sylvia couldn’t bring herself to walk past her house on South Bay Front and risk seeing the new owners through the windows, so when she exitedthe ferry, she walked up to Balboa Avenue, strolled past Ruby, Diamond, and Sapphire Avenues and kept going until she reached Onyx. She stood outside for a moment staring at the run-down cottage, then she reluctantly let herself in through the front door. There were boxes stacked from floor to ceiling with only a narrow pathway leading through the living room.
“Hello?” she called out.
“I’m over here,” Walter called back. She followed the sound of his voice to the staircase, where he sat with a coffee mug and a bottle of whiskey next to him.
“Where the hell have you been?” she asked, furious. She’d been panicked all day that something horrible had happened to him, and now, instead of relief at the sight of him, she felt mildly repulsed.
“I couldn’t do it,” he said, looking miserable. “I handed the money over, all of it, and I just couldn’t get up in front of all those people at the contest and put on a happy face.”
Sylvia knew how he felt. She hadn’t wanted to get up in front of all those people either—it had felt wretched—but she did it anyway.
“So you just left it all to me,” she said, grabbing his bottle and taking a swig.
“I’m sorry,” he said, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
“Yeah, that’s what you keep saying.” She set the bottle back on the staircase and walked into the living room, took a deep breath, and ripped open the first box.
