The High Notes: A Novel(48)

Clay had rented bungalows for all of them at the Beverly Hills Hotel, with its fifties-style Hollywood glamour. Star, Boy, and the band shared one bungalow, and Clay and Iris had a two-bedroom bungalow of their own. They all had dinner at the Polo Lounge that night, and weren’t performing until the next day. They had a night off, which was typical of tours for big stars, like the one he had arranged for them. He didn’t expect them to play back-to-back performances, night after night. Clay’s daughters were due to come to see him in the morning. They were staying at home with their mother, as they always did, but having lunch with him by the pool, and he had told Iris he wanted her to meet them. She was excited about seeing them, and Boy and the others were spending the day at the pool too, until rehearsal at three.

She was working on a sheet of music in her room when she heard the door of the cottage open, and female voices. She wasn’t sure who it was, and went on working until Clay showed up in the doorway of her room.

“My girls are here,” he said with a broad smile, and she got up to meet them. She was wearing her red ballerina shoes, jeans, and a T-shirt, and walked into the living room of the suite. She wasn’t wearing makeup and hadn’t combed her hair yet. It was what she called her Raggedy Ann look when she was composing. She saw two very attractive young women standing in the living room. Both tall and slim like their father. Margie had short dark hair, and looked at Iris intently, and the other girl was blond with Clay’s green eyes. She had a mane of long blond hair in a messy ponytail, and was wearing a plaid lumberjack shirt and heavy work boots. Iris guessed that the one in the plaid shirt was Ellen, Clay’s younger daughter, who wanted to be a vet. And Margie was the elder, who worked for her mother in their catering business. Both were pretty girls, but Margie looked cool and unfriendly.

Ellen apologized immediately as Iris approached them. She looked tiny compared to them, and Rosie was following her closely.

“I’m so sorry,” Ellen said to Iris, “I’m volunteering at a rescue shelter for abused horses right now. I didn’t have time to change into anything decent.” Iris pointed to herself in her T-shirt and jeans and hair in a clip, and laughed.

“I haven’t even been taking care of horses. I was working on a new arrangement.” Margie gave her a cold look and didn’t say anything. Ellen stooped to make friends with the Chihuahua, and Rosie instantly decided she liked her.

“What’s her name?” Ellen asked her.

“Rosie.”

“She’s adorable,” Ellen said, trying to make conversation to compensate for her sister’s glacial silence.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” Iris said warmly, “your dad has really been looking forward to seeing you,” she said, and got no reaction whatsoever from Margie. “I hear you’re coming to the concert tonight,” Iris said.

“It was a command performance,” Margie said with an angry look at her father. “We don’t usually go to his concerts. He said this time we had to, so we could hear you and meet you.” Clay looked embarrassed and Iris went on smiling to make the moment easier for him.

“Well, I’m very touched that you made the effort,” Iris said warmly. “I hope you enjoy it. The opening act, Boy Brady, is really fantastic.”

“I’ve heard his singles,” Ellen volunteered. “He’s really good,” she agreed.

“Well, have a nice time at the pool,” Iris said, “I’d better get back to work.” She smiled at them both and went back to her room, and Clay walked in a minute later.

“I’m sorry about Margie. She’s a lot like her mother. She’s been jealous of every woman I’ve ever gone out with.”

Iris looked surprised. “Did you tell her you’re not dating me?”

“I did but she didn’t believe me, because I wanted her to see the show. It’s not like she has to go a great distance. She came from Bel Air. Ellen’s the one who made the effort, as usual. She’s got a heavy schedule with school and her volunteer work.”

“She’s sweet, and I’m sure Margie is too. She’s just possessive of you. She has nothing to fear from me. I’m not trying to steal you from her. Maybe she’s jealous of your taking talent under your wing who are close to her age.”

“Something like that,” he said, looking discouraged. “She’s so much like her mother. She has something nasty to say about everyone. I think she disapproves of show business in any form.” But it had given her a damn nice life, Iris didn’t point out to him. She felt sorry for him. Margie had made the introduction an awkward moment.

They left the suite a few minutes later and went out to the pool for lunch. Iris stayed in her room for another hour, working on the bridges in the arrangement she was trying to change for that night. When she finished, she went out to the pool to join Boy and the others. She waved at Clay and his daughters, and went to sit with Boy.

“Did you meet Clay’s daughters?” he asked her when she sat down.

“I did,” she said softly. “The dark-haired one hates me. The younger one was very nice. She made friends with Rosie. She’s going to study to be a vet.” Iris had left the puppy in the room, so she wouldn’t fall into the pool.

“I’m glad to hear it,” Boy said with a look of relief. “She acted like she hates me too. She made some comment about her father forcing her to go to the concert tonight. She wasn’t nice to him either. Poor Clay looked embarrassed. The other one has heard my singles and likes them.”