The elevator man surprised Val by knowing her name.
“Good evening, Miss Rhodes.”
“Good evening.”
“Saw you on TV last night. You were great.”
She blushed. Being recognized still felt strange. Nicky was getting a big kick out of it. Next they were greeted by the doorman.
“Cab, Miss Rhodes?”
“Yes please.”
“Good show last night, Miss.”
“Thank you.”
She turned to Nicky smiling.
“It’s crazy. I’m not used to this.”
“Well get used to it, baby. This is only the beginning.”
She rummaged through her bag looking madly for the address and found it just as the cab pulled up. Nicky tipped the doorman.
“Thank you, Mr. Venuti.”
Nicky liked that!
“Shall I go through the park?”
“Oh, yes please. Look, Nicky, the whole city is lit up and shining just for us. It’s so beautiful.”
The driver butted in.
“You can have it. I wouldn’t give you two cents for it.”
They looked at each other trying not to laugh.
“Forty years I bin driving a cab and I’m here to tell you, it stinks. Garbage. Nothing but drunks, junkies, and garbage.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
Val said this just to be polite.
“Little girl, it’s worse than bad. I see it all from up here. It’s no place for decent folks anymore. Too many blacks and Puerto Ricans.”
Nicky signaled her not to continue the conversation. He lit her a cigarette and took her hand. They drove the rest of the way in happy silence. It seemed to take forever to get across town, the Friday-night traffic was so heavy. Finally, they arrived at the high-rise building on the corner of Fifty-first and Second. A doorman ran to the cab and opened the door.
“Any luggage, sir?”
“In the trunk.”
“Right, sir.”
They walked into the marble lobby. It was very modern, cold, and sterile. An enormous crystal chandelier hung over the sunken seating area where two black leather couches faced each other across a long black coffee table. One had the feeling it was a place you walked through. Not a place to linger and chat.
“Can I ask who you’re visiting?”
“Mrs. Rhodes, 12D.”
“Your name please.”
“Miss Rhodes.”
“I’m sorry, Miss. Your name is on the visitors’ list. Go right up. I’ll bring the luggage.”
“Thank you.”
The doorman called 12D as the elevator door was closing.
“A Miss Rhodes and a gentleman on their way up, Madame.”
“Trust my mother to find a place like this. I’m mortified.”
“It’s not that bad. Listen, you’ve got to have a doorman in this city, and it’s a great location.”
“But did you see that lobby?.”
“Enough.”
He grabbed her and kissed her. Val wanted the ride to go on forever. The doors opened onto a lushly carpeted hallway. Crystal sconces on the walls lit their way. Halfway down the hall, an apartment door opened and out poked a blonde, perfectly coiffed head.
“Darlings, at last.”
Anne Rhodes stood there with arms outstretched. As they came closer she put her cheek forward to be nearly kissed by each of them, then turned with a flourish like Loretta Young and led them into the apartment.
“Our new home. Well, darling what do you think?”
Val stood in amazement. She saw things she hadn’t seen since leaving England. The antique china cabinet, the two French wingback chairs, the dining room table and chairs, the oriental rugs, a marvelous lamp, artwork she had grown up with, even the baby grand piano.
“Mummy how did you do it? How did you get these things here so quickly? The last time I saw this piano, it was in the lounge at the house in Kent.”
“I had it all stored while we were in Italy, and as soon as I knew we were coming here for sure, I wired them and the things arrived last week.”
“I must give you credit, Mummy. You really have done a remarkable job. It’s sort of nice to see familiar things again.”
“And it’s nice to see you again, too. Come, I’ll show you the rest.”
The building was fairly new. The sitting room was large with a big bay window that looked out onto the tree-lined street below. The dining area had a large window that would have had a beautiful view of the river if there hadn’t been another building right next door. A long hall passed the kitchen, which was quite large by New York standards. The appliances were all new, including a dishwasher. In New York, you either chose a dishwasher or a garbage disposal. Anne, who had no intention of making more than a cup of tea and maybe toast, had settled for the dishwasher. They continued down the hall. There was a guest bathroom and at the end of the hall a guest bedroom. Val’s mother had furnished it to look like a library. Even some of the books on the shelves looked familiar.
“The couch pulls out into a very comfortable bed. Nick will sleep here.”
Before either of them could say anything she led them into the second bedroom. This was her room, 100 percent. She had splurged on a padded, sky-blue satin headboard. A matching comforter and shams covered the French Provincial king-size bed. Wispy shears covered the window. Blue regency-striped, heavy satin drapes were pulled back and tied with enormous tassels that hung at each side. An antique French phone stood on the ornate French Provincial side table. A huge, carved Venetian mirror hung opposite the bed above the long dresser. A sterling vanity set, a collection of perfume bottles, and a number of silver-framed family pictures added the finishing touches. The antique chest at the bottom of the bed had belonged to Val’s grandmother, her father’s mother. By the looks of things her mother had stripped her father, and their old house, of just about everything. She wondered how her father was doing. Had he moved when all these things were taken out from under him? It wasn’t the time to ask, but the thought of it made her feel sad for a moment. Her poor father.
The buzzer sounded, and it was the doorman with Nicky’s luggage. Anne asked him to bring it straight to the den-like room. She had a smug smile on her face. Val knew she’d had the sleeping arrangements planned before they even got there. Nicky was thrilled with the arrangement. As far as he was concerned it was a very good idea to stay with Val’s old lady.
“Nick, are you going to unpack now or shall we eat first?”
She didn’t like the name Nicky. Nick sounded more mature to her.
“To tell you the truth, I’m starving.”
Val agreed, although she didn’t relish one of her mother’s home-cooked meals. She was, without a doubt, the worst cook in the world. Luckily, it didn’t come to that.
“I didn’t get a chance to shop or cook, so I thought we’d try this charming Italian restaurant just across from here, on the corner. We can reminisce about Italy.”
“Sounds great to me; just give me a minute to wash up.”
Nicky disappeared into the bathroom, and Val wandered into the sitting room with her mother. Anne sounded like a judge at a livestock show when she started to speak.
“You look surprisingly well, Valerie. A little tired, but on the whole better than I thought you would. I didn’t want to say anything in front of Nick, but did he buy you that new jacket you’re wearing?”
Old eagle eye hadn’t missed a thing.
“No, Mummy. It’s a long story and a weird one. One of my fans bought it for me.”
She praised herself for only telling a little white lie. Really it was the truth. Karen was one of her fans. She’d get a kick out of that when she told her.
“Now I’ve heard everything. It must have cost a fortune.”
“I really don’t know. Listen, Mummy, I told Nicky I bought it myself in case he got jealous or something silly like that.”
“Very wise, my dear. We don’t want him to think you aren’t used to the best whenever you want it.”
“Are my two ladies ready for dinner?”
Nicky walked in and lit up the room. With his tan he looked so healthy compared to the pallor of most New Yorkers in autumn.
“I’m gonna eat all the pasta they have, then veal picante, then cannoli and espresso.”
Anne couldn’t hide the look of distaste on her face. “Surely you’ll have indigestion from all that.”
“You forget, dear lady, I’m Italian. We’re weaned on spaghetti and garlic.”
She whispered to Val as she put on her coat. “What a hideous thought.”