WE DECIDED TO call it quits for now, and Beth and Maggie left to change for dinner. It occurred to me that bathing and dressing wouldn’t be a snap. I’d been given strict orders at the hospital not to get the bandages wet for at least twenty-four hours. I had to ease off my sweatpants slowly and tried to wash sitting on the side of the tub. I felt like a cat. What I really wanted to do was stand under a piping hot shower for about twenty minutes. Getting into a fresh set of clothes was no treat either. But as usual, even with a leg that throbbed like crazy, I was ready for dinner before Beth. I knocked on her bedroom door and said I’d wait for her downstairs in the restaurant. I assured her I’d be fine on my own, before she had the chance to ask.
The lobby was packed with people checking in, going to the bar, or arriving for dinner. Brenda stood in the restaurant entrance, dressed in a black cocktail dress that showed off the surprising curves of her lean figure. Up to now, I had only seen her in business suits. I figured she was meeting someone, and was surprised to find that I was a little jealous. I had no choice—as if I’d wanted one—but to walk right up to her.
“Wow! You look wonderful!” I couldn’t help it. She did.
“You clean up pretty well yourself—especially after all you’ve been through. How’s the leg?”
“Oh, I’m okay. That’s a terrific dress. Going out for the evening?”
“Not tonight—not with this big crowd. Frankly, I’m a little on edge. I tend to dress up a bit when I’m stressed. It’s a psychological boost, you know?”
“Really? Me, I tend to clam up and overeat.”
She smiled. “Actually, while you’re having dinner, I’ll be meeting with Clovis, my security guys, and about a half-dozen other security people here to protect their celebrities. I decided to get them all in one room so they don’t end up shooting each other. I can’t believe someone tried to break into Maggie’s suite. It happens, but Bruce has some explaining to do.”
“Don’t you ever sleep?”
“Not while the hotel is this full. Things will calm down in a few days. Then I’ll crash. I’m sorry—you shouldn’t be standing.” She waved off the maître d’ and led me to a quiet banquette in the corner. “Do you mind if I join you for a minute?”
I gestured for her to sit. We each ordered a glass of wine and chatted for a while, pointedly avoiding funerals, hospitals, and security. She began by talking about the changes she’d made at the hotel. She had brought in a great chef from Atlanta, and together, they personally selected all the wines served in the bar and the hotel. Conversation moved easily, and I found myself enjoying her company.
“What do you think about South African wines?” I asked, as Maggie, Beth, and Walter walked into the restaurant.
“We’ve only recently … Oh, the rest of your party is here. I hope you all have a good evening.” With that, she stood and walked toward the door.
Watching her leave, Walter simply said, “Well. That’s quite an attractive woman. Is she really the manager of the hotel?”
“She’s a first-class distraction,” Maggie answered for me tartly, “that’s what Brenda Warner is.”
We all laughed and joked, at my expense as usual, until the waiter arrived and took our orders. I ordered a bottle of an excellent California cabernet. I decided that a little good wine was better than any pain pill. The meal turned out to be as good as Brenda had promised. Soon we found ourselves sampling each other’s food and talking as though nothing else in the world mattered. The wine had done its part; I hardly felt my leg.
After the waiter cleared the table, he presented us with four new wine glasses.
Walter said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve taken the liberty of ordering a new wine.” The waiter arrived with a chilled bottle of Sauterne—Château d’Yquem.
“Well, damn!” I said. “What’s the occasion?”
Walter smiled like the Cheshire cat. After the wine was poured, he raised his glass. “Friends, Maggie has made me the happiest man in the world. We’re getting married.” Beth and I gasped and quickly raised our glasses to Maggie, who was biting her lip. She stretched out her left hand so we could admire her engagement ring.
I said, “It’s about time. So tell us all about your plans. When’s the big day?”
Their plans were almost complete, which didn’t surprise me. The wedding would be at Maggie’s parish church in England, and they insisted that Beth and I attend. What did surprise me was that Beth would be Maggie’s only attendant and Walter wanted me to be his best man. After the ceremony, Walter and Maggie planned to spend three months traveling the world.
After we’d congratulated the happy couple, Maggie dropped the next bomb. “Jack, Monday morning Ron will open an envelope I slipped into his mailbox, giving the firm two weeks’ notice. You know I’ll stay longer if you need me. But the way I see things developing, Woody’s case is the last one we’ll work on together.”
There was a catch in my voice as I said, “Well, Mags. Damn. I’ll miss … Look, let’s talk about it later.” And that was all I could muster.
Beth and Maggie went back to discussing dresses and flowers, while I tried to refocus. Walter got my attention.
“I know you have a lot going on right now. Maggie has told me what she can, and I know that taking Maggie away is a blow, but do you think I could have about an hour of your time tomorrow? I’ve been working on something for a while now, and I want to run it by you. It can wait until we all get back, but I thought you might like to have something more on your plate.” He chuckled.
“Don’t worry,” she said, smiling, “I’ll fit it into the schedule.”
Clovis took advantage of the pause in our conversation to approach the table and offer to escort us to our rooms. We all agreed it was time, happy to have ended the evening on such a high note.