Holly Would Dream by Karen Quinn

Author:Karen Quinn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 2008-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

I Get a Kick Out of You

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR! That was the nicest thing anyone had ever called me. I flashed my most adorable smile, in a modest and demure way.

Denis signaled for the waiter, who came right over. “More coffee?”

I nodded. “Thanks. With cream. So where are your peeps?”

“Syd’s exercising. She works ungodly hours. That’s her one release. And Annie’s at the scavenger hunt with Manny.”

I giggled. “Annie and Manny. Cute.”

“Yes, they’re a pair,” he said. “Annie’s mother got her a manny to take my place.”

“I don’t believe that,” I said. “No one can take a father’s place in a child’s mind.”

“That was the idea, anyway,” Denis said. “One of the reasons I wanted to take this cruise was to spend time with Annie. She lives with my ex-wife during the school year. But Manny dotes on her. ’Course, that’s fine with Sydney. She’s not into children. And it gives me more time for Mother. She’s been depressed.”

“I heard.”

“You did?”

“Oh, sure. There are no secrets on this ship. Her favorite dance host died doing the mattress mambo with her.”

“No, it was the horizontal hora,” he said with a wry smile.

“Your wedding will cheer her up,” I said. “I hear you’re getting married in Rome.”

Denis nodded slowly. “Mother can die happy now. She and my father began orchestrating this match when my first marriage imploded. After Dad and Bunny’s husband died, those two yentas made this union their life’s mission. The Basses have the largest real estate portfolio in the city; we’re the biggest developers. The Kings and the Basses, together at last.”

“But you’re marrying her for yourself, not because your mother wants you to, right?” I asked. It was none of my business, which was why I wanted to know.

“Do I seem like the kind of guy who does anything he doesn’t want to do?”

I looked into Denis’ eyes. “No, you don’t.”

“So were you really engaged to that Broadway Hound?”

“Ah, touché,” I laughed. “You read about him, I see.”

The waiter returned with our coffee, but brought skim milk instead of cream. I hate when that happens. Then I have to send the milk back and wait for the cream. I’ve always heard that waiters spit in your food when you send it back, but maybe they don’t do that on such a fancy ship. Still, it wasn’t worth the risk of infection.

“You know what I’d really like?” I said. “A glass of champagne.”

“For breakfast?” Denis said.

“Absolutely,” I declared. “I’ve never had champagne for breakfast and I want to commemorate my crushing defeat this morning in the Galaxy Lounge.”

Denis raised his hand to get the waiter’s attention. “Two glasses of champagne.”

“Pink champagne,” I said.

“Like Deborah Kerr drank with Cary Grant in An Affair to Remember?” Denis said.

“Well, cross my heart and kiss my elbow. You like old movies? So do I. You know what I’ve always wished? That my life would have been like a 1950s romantic comedy. Wouldn’t that have been great?”

“Of all the words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: it might have been,” Denis said.

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