The Girl in White Gloves by Kerri Maher

Author:Kerri Maher [Maher, Kerri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2020-02-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

1955

The pictures Howell Conant had taken of her couldn’t come out fast enough, but Collier’s had delayed their publication until June. When she returned from Jamaica to her spacious, newly decorated New York apartment on Fifth Avenue, Grace couldn’t believe how lonely she felt despite the many bouquets of flowers in every room, all sent by Oleg in apology for the jealous tirade she’d been mulling over for weeks. Oliver trotted up to her and licked her ankles, and she sat down on one of the fine Persian carpets, leaning against a velvet sofa and fondling his soft ears, kissing the top of his curly head. She surveyed the room, all richly colored and textured choices befitting a movie star, which her decorator had assured her that magazine editors all over would want to photograph. Oliver sat on her outstretched legs and enjoyed the affection. “I missed you, too, sweet boy,” said Grace, feeling tears rush to her eyes. What did it mean that she’d missed her dog more than any person in New York?

Her phone began to ring, on receivers in no fewer than four rooms—she couldn’t ever remember how many telephones she now had. Fearing it was Oleg, she let her maid answer it, and a minute later, Greta came in to quietly announce that Edith Head was on the phone for her.

Gratefully, Grace picked up the receiver, then held it between her ear and shoulder while she continued to pet Oliver. “I’m so glad it’s you,” she said to Edith.

“Dore is a bastard,” said Edith. “I heard they won’t even dress you for the Oscars.”

Grace sighed. “Yes, well, they’ve put me on suspension.”

“Because you’re doing good movies instead of the trash they send you?” Edith muttered a few choice epithets, then said, “It’s a good thing my sewing machine is off-site, then. And I have a perfect dress for you.”

Grace almost didn’t trust herself to speak. “Oh, Edith,” she choked out. “Thank you.”

“Don’t let them get to you, Grace. You’ve been very strong. When you win the award for a movie they nearly didn’t let you do, they’ll have to eat their contract.”

“I’m not going to win, Edith,” said Grace. “Judy’s going to win. Everyone knows that.”

“You never know in this town, Grace. You never know. Look at Audrey, who won last year for Roman Holiday, and Georgie Elgin’s a far more impressive role than a princess. Listen. The big night’s in just a week. When can you get here?”

Bolstered by Edith’s friendship, Grace kept Oliver on her lap while she called for plane reservations, then rang some friends, inviting them over for a dinner party in her new place before heading west. She’d need a party after her next engagement: meeting Oleg at Bemelmans Bar that night.

Even the cheerful murals of Madeline’s creator couldn’t do anything to lift her spirits, though. She and Oleg sat across from each other at a corner table, and she said, “I thought and thought while I was away, and I just can’t do this anymore.

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