A Different Kind of Forever(19)

Diane forced her hands at her sides and took a half-step away from him. He reached inside her blazer again, to pull her back to him, but she caught sight of someone, coming behind him, and stepped back quickly as a woman came up, smiling and holding out her hand.

“Hi, I’m Denise, Mike’s sister. You must be Diane.” She shook Diane’s hand warmly. “He told us about you. God, I wish I could have seen it, that damn dog running you down. What a riot.” She was attractive, friendly, and looked very much like Michael. “I just met your friend and all the girls. Your daughters are lovely. Did you like the show?”

“It was great.” Diane was grateful that her voice sounded so normal. She put her hands into the pockets of her blazer. “These guys are terrific.”

“You bet. But we have you to thank for bringing down the house, and reducing all of us to tears. Mike usually doesn’t get so sentimental on stage. Marie is still recovering.” She kissed her brother. “Mike, be a good host, let her get something to eat.” She turned back to Diane, shaking her head. “He’s suffering from post-concert brain freeze. It happens every time. Come with me. Have some food. He’ll get in gear in a few minutes.” She took Diane’s arm and drew her into the room.

Diane allowed herself to be led. She met Michael’s oldest sister, Marie, who was close to her own age. She couldn’t meet the other sister because, Denise explained, Angela was home with a sick little girl. Diane started shaking hands. There were husbands, and then cousins. Members of the band – Seth Bascomb, tall and smiling, Joey Adamson oozing charm as his blonde wife clung to his arm. Denise finally excused herself, asking Diane to stay as long as she liked. Diane thanked her. Sue came and stood beside her, and they tracked the six girls across the room as they moved like a small herd.

Diane kept glancing toward Michael. He spoke to everyone, smiling, and his vitality seemed to return. When he made his way to where Diane and Sue were standing, he was more relaxed. The man that had been with him in the hall came up, serious and impatient.

Michael sighed. “Ladies, I have to attend to Sammy here, or he’ll stroke out and things will get ugly. Are you going to be around for a while?”

Diane shook her head. “It’s after midnight now, and we’ve got to get going. Look, you have business to take care of. It was a wonderful night, really. Thank you so much.”

Michael was looking at her, his eyes very still. He opened his mouth to speak, when Megan ran up, plowing into her mother, Becca and Joann giggling behind her.

“Mom, can we go backstage with that guy, the one in the green shirt?”

“No.” Sue and Diane both answered at once.

“We’ve got to get going anyway,” Sue said smoothly. “Come on girls, let’s find the others. Diane, why don’t we meet you out in the hall?” And she pushed the girls back, moving them directly into the puffing Sammy, who backed away to let them through.

“Can I call you tomorrow?” Michael asked quickly.

“Yes. Anytime. I’ll be home all day.”

“Okay.” He was gone and Diane walked into the hallway to wait for Sue. She leaned back against the wall, her legs suddenly shaking. She could hear Emily’s voice, loud, complaining. Why did they have to leave? Alison was arguing with her mother. But Sue led them all out into the hallway, turned on them sharply, and shushed them all.

“Okay, ladies, shut up now. You are six of the luckiest girls in West Milton and you should all be humble and grateful instead of whining and complaining. It’s time to go. Now. Walk to the end of the hall and wait under the exit sign and not another word.”

The girls looked shamefaced and filed silently away. Sue watched them for a moment then turned to Diane.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course. Why shouldn’t I be?”

“You’re still blushing.” She looked at her friend thoughtfully. “Listen, what’s going on with him?”

Diane lifted her shoulders. “Who?”

Sue looked disgusted. “Hey, it’s me, okay? And I know fireworks when I see them. Shit, I was waiting for the two of you to rip your clothes off right there in front of everybody. No wonder his sister swooped in.”

“Sue, you’re ridiculous.”

“You’re not fooling me, kiddo.”

“Did the girls notice?” Diane asked, concerned.

“No. There was too much else going on. Why would they want to look at old Mom?”