Bodice of Evidence

by Nancy J. Parra

  The audience went wild and Cesar appeared to pan the crowd. “And go!” I said, cueing the emcee to step out.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming out to this evening’s Casablanca extravaganza. Tonight’s event includes not only a visit from Mr. Humphrey Bogart himself”—Paul paused and waved toward the impersonator and the crowd applauded—“but the complete movie with pre-censor scenes. We are showing the film on projector instead of digital recording so that you can view it in all its original glory. This means that we will have a short intermission while they change reels.”

  He walked to the center of the stage. “Never fear, during intermission we will have an interview with Mr. Bogart and take questions from the audience. But for now, sit back, relax, and . . . enjooooy the show.” He did a full theater sweep with his arm and the spotlight went out, the curtains opened, and the show began.

  The scent of popcorn filled the air. Concession girls walked up and down the aisle offering popcorn, candy, and drinks out of trays that hung around their necks. Joe bought popcorn and Cracker Jacks. The peanut and caramel corn confection included a prize inside. He and Mary shared a large soda with two straws. A cuter couple I had never seen.

  Finally it was intermission time. As the lights went up, the emcee stepped out. “Ladies and gentlemen, before you leave your seats we have a very special event tonight. Oscar, the spotlight.” He pointed at Mary and Joe. The spotlight went straight to my couple. I clasped my hands together, suddenly uncertain that this was going to play out in a good way.

  “Would Mary Ketchum and Joe Jones come down to the stage,” Paul said.

  Mary pointed at herself, her hand grabbing Joe’s for support.

  “Yes, you, come on down,” Paul said, and waved them down. “Come on, everyone, it appears they need a little encouragement.” He started to clap and the entire audience clapped and hollered as the two made their way to the stage. Paul turned Mary and Joe toward the crowd. I knew they couldn’t see the audience. I had tested the lighting myself. I saw Joe shade his eyes as he tried to peer out. Paul was quick to turn him away from the audience. “Joe, would you please have a seat, right here.” He steered Joe to a simple chair that the stagehands had brought out. Joe sat, facing the side of the stage.

  “Now, Mary,” Paul said, and pulled Mary into place in front of Joe. “I understand that you and Joe have been dating a few years, is that right?”

  “Yes,” Mary said, her hands trembling. “We’ve been dating for three years.”

  “And you like movies?”

  “We both like movies,” Mary said and looked at Joe. “Black-and-white movies. In fact Casablanca is Joe’s favorite.”

  “Really?” Paul turned to Joe. “Can you do the quote?” He put the microphone in front of Joe.

  “Of all the gin joints in all the world, she had to walk into mine,” Joe said into the mic and laughed.

  “Can you do it with the accent?” The mic went from Paul back to Joe.

  Game for a try, Joe said it again in his best Bogart imitation.

  “Now that calls for applause, don’t you think everyone?” Paul waved his free hand and had the audience cheering. Then he turned to Mary and took a small box out of his pocket. “Mary, I think there was a question you wanted to ask Joe, wasn’t there?”

  “Yes,” Mary said, and took the box, and then she faced Joe and got down on one knee. “I know this is a little unexpected, but there comes a time in a girl’s life when she just knows what she wants. Joe, I want you. Will you marry me?” She opened the box to show a silver band with a Celtic knot.

  Joe shook his head.

  My heart froze for a moment and I held my breath.

  Then he grinned. “Yes, of course.”

  The entire audience broke out in cheers as Joe stood and pulled Mary to her feet and hugged her tight, then whirled her round until her feet swung out. My eyes filled with tears and I covered my mouth with my clasped hands.

  Joe stopped and grabbed the microphone. “I want you all to know that I was going to ask Mary the same question tonight.” He held up the Cracker Jack box and pulled the prize out of the box. In his hand was a sparkling diamond.

  The cheers from the audience raised the roof as Mary stood there crying happy tears. Joe turned and put his ring on Mary’s left finger and Mary put her ring on his. “Well, there you go, folks. Now that is a sight worth waiting for, isn’t it?”

  The happy couple kissed. Paul pulled the curtain around them to give them some privacy. The audience was still on its feet cheering. He had to wave them down so that he could speak.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, please take fifteen minutes and when we come back we’ll interview Mr. Bogart and finish the show. Afterwards, please follow the ushers to the second floor where an engagement banquet awaits.”

  The house lights went up and the audience rushed the stage. Mary and Joe were pulled out from behind the curtain for hugs and kisses.

  “Perfect,” I said, and looked at Gage on the other side of the curtain. He sent me a big thumbs-up. I smiled and put my thumbs up in response.

  “I think I get it,” Toby said beside me.

  “You do?” I asked, my voice and eyebrows rising.

  “Yes,” he said. “It’s that look in their eyes as if they have just been handed the moon and all their dreams have come true.”

  “Exactly,” I said, and patted his padded shoulder.

  “It’s the same look you have when you look at Gage,” he said, his hound-dog expression slightly sad.

  “Wait, what?” I shook my head, confused.

  “That look the couple has, you have it whenever you look at him.” Toby nodded his head toward Gage.

  “Oh,” I said, and the heat of a blush rushed up my neck and over my ears. “Oh, no, we just sort of started dating.” I glanced at Gage, who watched to ensure the crowd didn’t trample his palm trees.

  “Say what you will.” Toby shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets. “The eyes don’t lie.”

  “I’m sure I got caught up in the moment, that’s all,” I said. “Excuse me. I need to make sure that the engagement party will be ready to go by the end of the movie. I’m glad you finally get it, Toby. Stay if you want. The food is from Morelli’s. It’s really good, plus there’s an open bar.”

  “Don’t worry,” he said, his gaze suddenly less sad. “I’ve decided to stick around a while.”

  Chapter 25

  “I’m so sorry to hear about your husband, Vidalia,” Felicity said as she stood in her wedding gown. It was the second fitting. The one where Felicity wore her shoes and undergarments so that they could hem the dress and finalize the alterations.

  “It is terrible,” Vidalia said with her mouth full of pins as she held them in between her teeth before she placed them on the hem. “I still cannot believe it. Anton was a good man.” She shook her head. “But now, I must divorce him, of course, and start over.”

  “Yes. But you’ll be okay. I am certain of that,” I said from my perch on the stage beside Felicity’s riser. I was in my maid of honor gown with Theresa on her knees pinning my hem as quickly as Vidalia pinned my sister’s. “What a terrible thing he did, all because he didn’t want your brother, Vlad, to be part of your shop.”

  “At least I am not alone. Theresa and I are both single now, right Theresa?” Vidalia said.

  “Yes,” Theresa said and nodded vehemently as she pinned. “When I found out that Thad had stolen those gowns, I dumped him right away. I am so lucky that Vidalia let me keep my job after what he did.”

  “Well, we are in similar situations, yes?” Vidalia said. “I could not fire you for something a man did.”

  “Wow, that is so wise of you,” I said to Vidalia. “Others might not have given Theresa the same chance.”

  “She knows if she sees him again she is fired,” Vid
alia stated.

  “Oh, I won’t see him,” Theresa said. “I have learned my lesson.”

  “As have I,” Vidalia agreed.

  “Speaking of men in the shop, was that Vlad out in the reception area?” my mother asked from her riser where she stood wearing her mother-of-the-bride outfit.

  Vidalia had picked out a beautiful silk shantung suit for my mother. The cut fit her figure and the color flattered her coloring. All together we looked pretty good, if I had to say so myself. Felicity glowed and Mom’s and my outfits complemented her perfectly. Cesar was going to be able to get some great shots for this wedding, which was still three months away.

  “Yes, that is my brother, Vlad,” Vidalia said as she pulled the pins from her mouth and quickly navigated the yards of fabric on the gown and train. “I have had my lawyers work a new agreement where my brother owns half of the shop. I have vowed to rebuild both the dress shop and my family.”

  “Well, this certainly is a good start,” my mother said and motioned with her hand toward Felicity and I.

  “Yes, yes,” Vidalia nodded her agreement. “Thanks to the Pomeroy family for not only solving my mother’s murder, but for returning to my shop. The promotion materials you have sent out at your engagement parties—”

  “Perfect Proposals,” I corrected her.

  “Yes, proposals,” she said. “They have filled my entire datebook. I will need Vlad to work reception and perhaps get a second girl. I have so many requests now.”

  “Good,” my mother said.

  “It’s all in a day’s work,” I said, and smiled at my own reflection. I, too, had gotten five appointments out of the last two engagements I had thrown. It seems that I had found my perfect life. Well, perfect might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I certainly was more happy, healthy, and free than I had been in years. And that made the future look very bright. Very bright indeed.

  Skydiving Engagement Party Menu

  BASED ON THE MENU FROM PAN AM’S INAUGURAL FLIGHT FROM THE UNITED STATES TO NEW ZEALAND ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1940.

  First Course

  OPEN WITH GIN AND VODKA MARTINIS OR MANHATTANS AND FRESH HORS D’OEUVRES MADE OF CHILLED UTAH CELERY; GREEN, RIPE STAFFORD OLIVES; ASSORTED NUTS; AND GARDEN RADISHES

  Second Course

  GRAPEFRUIT MARASCHINO (BAKED GRAPEFRUIT WITH MARASCHINO CHERRIES) / CONSUME MADRILENE (MADE WITH TOMATOES, BELL PEPPERS, LEEKS, EGG WHITES, AND CHICKEN STOCK)

  Third Course

  GRILLED FILET MIGNON AU BEURRE / SHOESTRING POTATOES / FRESH GARDEN PEAS

  Fourth Course

  CHEF SALAD WITH FRENCH DRESSING

  Fifth Course

  INDIVIDUAL ICE CREAMS—CHOCOLATE, STRAWBERRY, VANILLA / DUCHESS CAKE—CHIFFON CAKE WITH RASPBERRY FILLING AND WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING

  Sixth Course

  AMERICAN, SWISS, AND EDAM CHEESE / SALTINES AND RITZ WAFERS / COFFEE, TEA, AND MILK

  Seventh Course

  ASSORTED FRESH FRUITS

  Finale

  AFTER DINNER MINTS

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