Queen of the Underworld by Gail Godwin

Author:Gail Godwin
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781588365187
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2006-01-09T16:00:00+00:00

13.

AS I LIMPED HOMEWARD on the pavement that was rapidly eroding my only pair of heels, I resolved to take my first plunge into the Julia Tuttle’s pool, even though the sky had clouded over again. But was I up to offering Lídia the chance to scrutinize my figure in the faded St. Clothilde’s racing suit? I decided I was. Going down on the elevator I could wear Paul’s black silk dressing gown, then I could slip it off at the edge of the pool. But what about footwear? I had no sandals; my Bass Weejun loafers would have to suffice. I was not going to let Alex’s rabidly groomed mother keep me from the pool.

Bisbee’s lunchtime revelation about his entire novel languishing up there in his head was scary. I must never let such a thing happen to me. And his abrupt departure had left me a bit disoriented. After lunch, I had ridden with an elderly photographer to do the profile of the weather lady amid all her meteorology gear and afterwards cranked out eight inches of copy with a lead that made Rod Reynolds smile.

When it rains, Martha Seawell looks out the window and says stoically, “Hmmm . . . low-pressure area.”

Late in the afternoon some news had come clacking over the wire from our Washington bureau that made me dash for my notepad. There was a proposal that Congress levy a special tax on Cuban sugar exports and set this money aside in a fund to reimburse owners who didn’t get fair value for their sugar plantations. But while copying down the story, I realized that the fund would be for American landowners only. Shit. How I would have loved being the bearer of good tidings, hot from the Star’s teletype machine, to the usurped Ocampos.

Alex was behind the front desk, frowning over a book. The smile that transformed his earnest, square-chinned countenance when he looked up and saw it was me was like a scented bath of approval just waiting for me to step into. I do not need to do one single thing more today to earn points, I told myself.

“Pool’s closed?” I asked, seeing the sign at the entrance.

“Until seven. My mother has been very busy. Come back at seven and you will find tapas out by the pool, also illegal drink until we get our license, and a Cuban band that Lídia hired off the street. Also, it seems she has invited every Cuban she met today.”

“What’s the book?” As I tapped the spotty old tome I realized my nails needed redoing. Especially with Lídia on the scene.

“A Galician cookbook belonging to Marisa Ocampo’s grandmother. I’m making a list of tapas. Lídia wants to have a rotating selection each evening; they’re like canapés.” He passed across the pink telephone-message pad on which he had been writing. “Here is tonight’s menu.”

“ ‘Huevos rellenos,’ ” I read aloud in my best accent. “ ‘Almendras fritas, ensalada de pimiento y pepino, jamón serrano con quesos .

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