“Rats. It’s just, Isabella called me, and she came down with a bad cold. She’s not sure she’ll be well enough to go, and John won’t come without her.”
Well, there went George’s chance of having a good time at this thing. George took a quick bite while he thought. “Emma, if I have to ask Jane, and make sure one of their neighbors can look in on her grandmother that night, I want some answers about why you’re even having this party. And don’t tell me because it’s fun. This is work. This is ‘sometimes romance needs a little nudge.’ Are you trying to set up Elton and Harriet? I was thinking about everyone else who’s going, and those two stick out as high suspects.”
George got another three bites in while Emma was silent on the other end. It was as bad as he’d feared. It had only been a hunch until now.
“Okay, it is for Elton, but I’m not necessarily setting him up with Harriet. I invited Nicole and Cara, too.”
George tried not to growl. “Nicole and Cara would not be interested in Elton, and you know it. They like jocks and businessmen who used to be jocks.”
Emma sighed. “Darn, that’s actually true. What about Jane? Do you think she’d be Elton’s type?”
George let go of a little bit of his worries. Emma was like an overzealous matchmaking mother seeking grandchildren. She should find Elton’s mother and team up with her. Maybe if they successfully married him off, he’d stop coming over to Emma’s house at night.
“It’s possible they’d hit it off, but unlikely. Look, if I ask Jane, and Isabella has a miraculous recovery, will I have to tell Jane she’s not coming? Because I’m not doing that. I still have to work with her.”
“No way. We’d buy the kit add-ons if that happens. I’d rather have more than I expect than less. Invite her.”
“Okay, okay. Now let me get back to this burrito.”
Emma laughed. “Eat in peace, dear.”
Chapter 10♥Tommy Two Fingers
“I’m so nervous about tonight.” Emma stood behind Harriet’s chair and surveyed the perfect flapper-style curls in Harriet’s hair. “Okay, it’s time for the headband.”
Harriet picked up the feathered and jeweled headpiece from the counter and handed it to Emma. “You can’t be nearly as nervous as I am.” Harriet turned her head from side to side. “This is amazing. I wish Martin could see me like this.” She looked up at Emma. “Sorry. I’m trying to move on, but it’s hard not to think of him at times. I still think of him pretty much all the time.”
“I understand.” Though Emma wasn’t sure she did. What would it be like to love someone so much they were a part of everything you did? The question sent a little flashback into her mind of sitting on the couch with George, asking a similar question and seeing a recognition in his eyes that things between them were changing. She shivered at the memory. Was love like that?
The doorbell rang, and Emma jumped. “That better be the caterer and not a guest.”
She and Harriet clattered down the hall in their heels, and Harriet held the door open while Emma directed the man from the restaurant to bring all the trays into the kitchen.
Granddad shuffled in, wearing the pinstriped suit and black fedora she’d picked out for him. With the slightly grumpy look he always had, he looked like the formidable mobster he’d be playing. Granddad pulled back a foil wrapper to peek inside. “Ooh, shrimp.”
Emma was about to shoo him away so she and Harriet could get to work, but stopped short. Thanks to Harriet’s gentle mentoring, Granddad was now used to helping out in the kitchen.
“Granddad, if I get you a serving bowl, could you fill it up with these rolls and cover it with a towel?”
He nodded and automatically moved to the linen drawer, pulling out a kitchen towel.
Emma almost got teary watching him, thinking of how much better things were with Harriet here, but spoiling her dramatic makeup would definitely put her behind schedule, and there was too much to be done.
Carefully maneuvering an apron over her side chignon and beaded headpiece, Emma tied it on and made sure it covered all of her gold tasseled gown.
She hurried to get down a serving bowl and tongs, going over in her mind all the roles of all her guests. It wouldn’t do to break character by forgetting details and having to check the script. Harriet, as Kitty Darling, was supposed to flirt with every man in sight. Seating her next to Elton, aka, Mayor Graft, ensured the two would have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other.
When the doorbell rang with the first guest, Emma rushed Granddad and Harriet to their seats in the dining room and forced herself to slow as she approached the door. At the last minute, she remembered her apron and carefully removed it before shoving it in the drawer of the shoe storage bench.
It was time to be Margaret O’Hara, owner of The Dancing Bear, the hottest Speak Easy in town. Of course, the alcohol was as fake as her name. She’d promised Granddad there would be no real drinking when she’d talked him into taking part. Instead, she had sparkling cider in every flavor imaginable.
Nicole squealed when Emma opened the door and they saw each other. Her roommate from college had moved a few hours away, but Emma knew she’d be all in on something like this.
“Emma, you look absolutely dahh-ling!”
Emma put a finger to her lips. “It’s Margaret O’Hara, ma’am. Do you have the password to enter?”
“Oh, yes.” Nicole glanced down at her invitation. “As the crow flies.”
