by JoAnn Durgin
Lexa laughed along with everyone else as the three men chased each other from behind the door and around the dining hall. Landon’s dark hair was combed flat against his head and his bangs were brushed straight down on his forehead. He must be Moe. Chasing Marc, he carried a heavy a frying pan in one hand. She knew a few things about the Three Stooges since her dad had watched old reruns on Saturday afternoons when he was off work.
With his hair parted down the middle and styled wildly so that it stuck out from his head in all directions, Mitch must be Larry. Marc’s blond waves were somehow stuffed beneath a skull cap, and by process of elimination, he must be Curly. He also looked the most absurd. All three wore short pants and suspenders with short-sleeved shirts and played off one another as they heartily got into the spirit of their scripted routine. They were actually good and had the sounds and mannerisms down pat. The men, in particular, laughed at their antics and pratfalls while the women shook their heads and traded glances.
“Okay, we concede that was probably more for the men,” Josh said. His eyes widened when Landon came up behind him and tapped his head with the frying pan. “Who let you out of the kitchen, Moe? Get back in there.” He waited as everyone laughed and the guys headed back into the kitchen. Josh’s gaze zeroed in on Lexa. “Don’t you worry, ladies. We definitely have something for you coming up later on. Let’s just say it’s of royal proportions.”
Josh grunted. “Moving on now to our next act. Ladies, get out those tissues, and men, pull out your hankies if you carry one of those disgusting things. TeamWork Productions—yeah, I just made that up—is very proud to present Miss Chloe and Miss Gracie, doing a dance for us. They’ve both studied dance this past year and are ready to wow you with their skill and grace. Of course, that goes without saying. But wait,” he said, raising one hand in the air as everyone applauded, “they are joined by two special little ladies who are making their professional ballet debut tonight. Would you please welcome, this time with reverence, Miss Hannah and Miss Leah. Not to be outdone by my baby girl, Miss Emily, who is presiding over the dance.” Josh waved to Gayle who carried Emily in her arms. “Next time, Emily. I promise.”
After Josh nodded to Marta, she pushed the button on the CD player. Lexa sat up straighter and her eyes misted as she watched her daughters dance to a song she recognized from Swan Lake. Gracie and Chloe took their hands and guided them in twirls and ballet moves. The twins stood still and watched the older girls at times and then imitated them. Chloe and Gracie wore black tutus and tights and the younger girls wore pink tutus and shoes. Winnie and Amy found them at a thrift store they’d visited while she’d gone with Angelina, Cassie, and Felipe to the hair salon.
Lexa glanced around the room, gratified to see that Marc had come back into the room to watch. The other Stooges had also come out of the kitchen, and all three were still in their costumes. She hated that Sam wasn’t beside her to see the girls, but she saw the kitchen door cracked open enough that she could see that her husband wasn’t missing this performance. Sam Sr. and Sarah sat nearby, with smiles. Sam Sr. caught Lexa’s eye and winked. She saw a tear roll down Sarah’s cheek.
Gayle had been taking photos, and she moved about the room now, snapping away. The applause was thunderous as the girls finished their dance and took low bows. Everyone rose to their feet and gave them a standing ovation.
“For our next act, we’ll ask Larry over there to contain himself”—Josh nodded to Mitch—“but hold onto your hair for Cassie Jacobsen. I heard her rehearse, and let me tell you, this girl’s talent is amazing. Gayle, get that camera ready.” He nodded to Marta and she pushed the button on the CD player. As the music began to play, Cassie emerged from behind the kitchen door.
Lexa drew in a breath. In a platinum blonde wig, Cassie hugged the door frame in a silver, sequined gown. Someone handed her a fake white mink stole, and she draped it around her shoulders as she made her way into the dining hall one slow step at a time. She batted her baby blues and began to sing “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” in a breathy, soft voice.
“Oh, Marilyn.” Cupping his hands around his mouth, Mitch whistled. “Sing to me, baby!” Cassie smiled but stayed in perfect character as she slowly moved among the audience. She smoothed her hand over Marc’s skull cap, making both Marc and Natalie laugh. Pausing in front of Sam Sr., she lifted a brow. Beside him, Sarah shook her head and gestured for Marilyn to move along.
Cassie walked across the room to Eliot and, standing behind him, leaned down and trailed her fingers along his shoulder. Marta waltzed over to Cassie and wagged her finger in her face. Laughing, Cassie moved to Dean. When Sheila pretended to shoot an arrow at her, Cassie backed away and then set her sights on her husband. She ended the song in his lap and gave Mitch a quick kiss before hopping up and hurrying back into the kitchen with flushed cheeks.
“See what marrying Mitch and moving to New York has done to our formerly shy, sweet Alabama girl?” Josh wiped his brow with a handkerchief that Gayle handed to him. “Mitch, I know you’re not ashamed of yourself, but how’s your blood pressure? Doing okay there?”
“Not sure.” Mitch fanned himself with one hand, and thanked Natalie when she gave him a paper fan.
“Speaking of corruption,” Josh said, “Amy Warnick is up next, but she’s going to redeem the Jacobsen family reputation with this performance. My beautiful wife, Winifred Grant, will be joining my favorite journalist-turned-publishing whiz to sing that old favorite of yours and mine, ‘Sisters.’ They will be joined at the hip—I mean at the end—by two lovely surprise guests.” Holding his microphone, Josh opened his arms in a wide arc. “A collective Aww, if you please.”
The audience complied and the two women positioned themselves, back-to-back, and they sang with Kevin accompanying them on the guitar. Considering these two were as close as sisters in so many ways, Lexa reached for a tissue and dabbed at her eyes from the sentimentality and sweetness of it all. Near the end, Lexa darted out of her chair and Natalie did the same as they pretended to come between Amy and Winnie. Then the four ladies performed a short skit that Lexa had written for them, a good reminder of the close friendships they cherished.
“We have a few more acts and then we’ll hand out our prizes,” Josh told them as Lexa returned to her seat. “Sheila Morris has a unique talent, ladies and gentlemen. You need to see this one to believe it, and she’s going to demonstrate it for us now.” Sheila stepped forward, and Marta handed her a tall glass of ice cold milk.
“You see, Sheila has the ability and stomach capacity, apparently, to drain this very large glass of milk you see before you now in only five seconds. Can it be done? Let’s see, shall we? Gayle, start the timer, please.” In her hands, Gayle held up a large, oversized alarm clock with a second hand for all to see. Like a game show model, she smiled and waved one hand over the clock with a pasted-on smile. Everyone turned their attention to Sheila as Gayle started the clock.
“Five, four, three, two, one,” Josh counted. Lexa sat back, amazed. She did it! Sheila drained the glass of milk in record time.
“Where she puts it, I’ll never know,” Josh said. “Check the floor and make sure some of it didn’t slosh down there. Very unusual and wonderful talent there, Sheila. Let’s hear it again, everyone!” he said, prompting shouts and claps. “Think you could repeat it?” he challenged. Sheila raised her hands in protest, laughing as she took her seat.
“Well, at least we know she got her calcium intake for the day. Next up is Dean Costas demonstrating a talent I don’t believe any of us knew he possessed. Trust me on that. He’s going to perform the familiar classic ‘Ode to Joy’—the final movement in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony—using various body parts. Let’s just say I’ll never use the word armpits again without thinking twice.”
Alternately using his hands, knees, tongue, mouth, elbows, and even his armpits, Dean also hummed and whistled. Lexa smiled when she recognized the tune. She wouldn’t have thought it possible and shook her head.
“Words fail me, man,” Josh said as Dean finished to wild applause. When Dean reached out to shake his hand, Josh shook his head. “I know where that hand’s been. Go wash your hands, man.” They all laughed hysterically at that comment. Refastening the top few buttons of his shirt, Dean laughed and acknowledged the applause. Lexa enjoyed the gleam in Sheila’s eyes as Dean headed into the kitchen.
“Seriously, people, I never knew body parts could sound like that.” Josh’s enthusiasm was infectious and everyone erupted into laughter again.
“Actually, as a little history lesson,” Eliot told them. “‘Ode to Joy’ was composed by the German poet, Friedrich Schiller, and celebrates the unity and brotherhood of mankind. My friend, Dean, thought it would be appropriate for TeamWork and our mission here in New Mexico.”
“Right he is. Amazing talent. The man might be quiet, but he thinks deep.” Josh nodded to Eliot. “Thanks for the history lesson in the absence of our history-loving, insanely tall TeamWork director. Never fear, folks, Sam is nearby.” Again, Josh seemed to zero in on Lexa, making her wonder what Sam planned to do for the Talent Show. From all the hints Winnie and Amy had dropped, it promised to be quite memorable.
“Okay, listen up,” Josh told them next. “We’re all in for a truly unusual treat now. Miss Angelina Morris will be doing something uniquely different for all of us here tonight. I guarantee you it’s probably nothing you’ve ever seen before. No, it’s not death defying, but it is a demonstration of uncommonly great skill as you’ll see in a minute if I ever finish this introduction.”
After Josh nodded to Marta, she started to bring an easel forward. Jumping up from his chair, Eliot lifted it for her and then positioned it beside Angelina.
“While Angelina does her thing, Felipe Hernandez and his friends—Amitola and Avonaco from the One Nation Church—will serenade her with a little rap ditty.” Stopping, Josh tilted his head with a silly expression. “I think I might have just come up with a whole new music genre. You heard it here first, folks. Give it up for Felipe and the Triple As!”
Lexa giggled as Felipe and the young couple performed a song acapella about getting to know one another and the differences between the TeamWork group and the One Nation Church members. No doubt Felipe had written the lyrics and they all danced around each another and had a great time with it, play acting a bit as they performed the song.
While they sang, Angelina used her pen and worked on something on the easel. She’d make a few strokes and then flip to another page and then begin again, nodding her head as she performed a dance move with the others every now and then. Moving over to her, Felipe peeked over her shoulder and gave a thumbs-up to the audience with a wide grin.
The song ended with lyrics highlighting their similarities in spite of the cultural differences and then tying it all together with the bond of Christ. As if on perfect cue, Angelina put down her pen and smiled.
As they finished, everyone rose to their feet again and clapped with enthusiasm.
“I don’t know if you noticed,” Josh said, “but Angelina was using her time wisely in these past few minutes while the trio entertained you. If my assistants would be so kind as to come and help.” Gayle, Marta, Chloe, Gracie, and the twins moved over to stand by the easel.
Silence filled the room as, one by one, the helpers took a paper from Angelina and held them up for all to see. Angelina had drawn caricatures of Josh, Dean, Natalie, Cassie, Eliot, and Sarah. The resemblance to her subjects was uncanny, and it had only taken a few skillful strokes for Angelina to create the drawings. Everyone in the room clapped wildly.
“I can safely say this will be an impossible act to follow, Angelina,” Josh said. “Absolutely fantastic. Let’s hear it again, ladies and gentlemen!” Smiling, and with great poise, Angelina instructed her helpers to deliver the caricatures to their subjects. As each one accepted their drawings, they mouthed their thanks to the lovely teenager.
Angelina caught Lexa’s eye. As Lexa returned the teenager’s smile, she couldn’t help but wonder what on earth Sam planned to do. She had the feeling she’d find out soon enough.
Chapter 42
~~♥~~
After everyone calmed down, Josh addressed them again. “We have two more acts and then we’ll ask you to vote. Eliot will make balloon animals for the kids while the results are tabulated for our Grand Prize winner tonight. Joe Lewis and Luke Grant, will you please come on out here and take the stage!”
Lexa motioned for Gayle to take some photos. Glancing at the kitchen door, Lexa could tell Sam was positioned there again to watch his son. Likewise, Josh watched from the front, deep emotion in his face as he prepared to listen to his son, named for Josh and Beck’s late father.
Taking a deep breath, without musical accompaniment, Joe began to sing “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.” Luke joined in as best he could, and both boys carried the tune well. Joe’s gaze found his mother’s and centered on Lexa as he sang. Toward the end of four stanzas, Joe darted a glance at the kitchen door, which opened a bit more. When the boys finished their song, Joe gave a short bow and then took off to the kitchen, presumably to his father. Luke followed suit and ran over to Josh.
“Now, drum roll please, Felipe!” With one arm around Luke, Josh nodded to the teenager. Felipe beat his hands on the top of a table.
Josh laughed. “All right then. Is everyone finally ready for our fearless leader—who refused to be felled by a spider—as he comes to serenade his lovely bride tonight? Lexa, we need you to come up here to the front, please.”
Lexa sank lower in her chair. Goodness, what was coming? “Is that necessary?”
“Yes, it is. Trust me, Sam will thank you for it. Thank you very much.”
Josh turned to the audience. “I said, are you ready? Let me hear you!” Eliot and Dean held up their signs again and they all went wild. Rising to her feet, Lexa made her way to the front and seated herself in the chair.
“I’m ready.” The deep drawl was Sam’s, and it came from the kitchen. Marta changed the CD and then clicked on the player. At the first few strains, Lexa’s eyes widened. The kitchen door opened and Sam appeared. He stood in the doorway for a moment, probably for effect.
Oh my word. Her husband wore a white jumpsuit. With rhinestones. His hair was brushed up in a pompadour and he wore dark sunglasses. Thanks, Winnie.
Tuning out everyone else around her, Lexa focused on Sam as he began to sing “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and walked slowly into the room. Tapping her on the shoulder, he slid down to one knee beside her, taking her hand in his. Lexa felt a bit heady and gave him a nervous smile. She was glad he didn’t make the speech about a lying lover that Elvis did in the original song—she’d always found it quite sad—but simply sang the song.
Ending the song, Sam offered his hand to her and helped Lexa to her feet. She thought they were done, but oh no, he wasn’t quite done yet.
“Shake those hips, Elvis!” Marc whooped and several of the other men joined him.
“Ohhh, it’s the King!” Winnie stood outside the kitchen and gave her a wink as she, Amy, Gayle, and Marta all pretended to swoon. They ran over to them and circled Sam, acting like they were fawning over the music superstar of days gone by. As the music started again, they blew kisses and took off again.
“Please tell me you’re not going to swivel your pelvis,” Lexa whispered as Sam took her in his arms.
He leaned close, his lips pressed against her cheek. “Only in private for you, Lexa.”
“Then you won’t mind if I do this,” she said, zipping up the jumpsuit another inch. “Much better.” She patted his chest and felt his low chuckle beneath her hand.
Sam began to croon “Love Me Tender,” removing the dark glasses and gazing into her eyes as he did so. The room was strangely quiet. She’d always heard about times when the room stood still, but in that moment, Lexa experienced it. In that moment, it was Lexa Lewis and Elvis Presley. Make that Sam Lewis.
“Tha
nk you, thank you very much.” Laughing, Sam shot an apologetic glance at the group. “Your wife made me do it!” he said, pointing to Josh.
“Then take this!” Josh tossed him a bouquet of a dozen, long stemmed yellow roses.
“Love me tender, love me always,” Sam whispered for Lexa’s ears only as he put the flowers in her arms.
She gave him a saucy wink. “Later, Elvis.”
He laughed and—was that a hint of a swivel?—strolled back to the kitchen, blowing kisses to his adoring audience as they clapped and cheered some more.
“I honestly don’t know how to top that. And yes, I do believe Elvis has now left the building.”
The men all groaned at that one. “Hey, you try doing this!” he protested. “Eliot, come on down! If I can have the kids come up here with Mr. Eliot, he’s going to make balloon animals. It seems his talents extend to more than just paper napkins. Let’s see if you can stump him. Name your favorite animal.”
“How about an armadillo?” Lexa called out, and everyone laughed.
“You’ve already got your roses,” Natalie teased. “Be happy with what you have, Mrs. Lewis.”
“Oh, I am.” Lexa inhaled the fresh scent of the roses and smiled. As Marta played more music, and Gayle snapped more photos, she rose to her feet and started to hand out the roses to the ladies, starting with Sam’s mom. Leah and Hannah followed her, and they’d been given the task of passing out small pieces of paper for everyone to vote.
~~♥~~
“Josh, we need to change the prize,” Sam said in low tones. “Come outside with me a moment.”
“Excuse me,” Josh told Winnie. “Elvis needs me. We’re leaving the building now.”
Winnie laughed. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
“What’s on your mind, E.P.?” Josh asked as soon as they were outside.
Sam shook his head. “What Winnie must do with you sometimes.”
