Unfinished Symphony (Logan 3)

She nodded at me and watched me take a few bites of the croissant.

"I hear you're from the East and this is your first trip to California," she said.

"Yes."

"I've never been to New York, but I hope to go one of these days. I have a daughter who can't be much younger than you," she added. "Her name's Stacy. She's starting community college this year, working at a department store and taking some courses. She wants to be a grade school teacher."

"That's great," I said. "I guess she likes working with children."

"Yes, she's a great help with my others. I wish we could afford to send her full-time, but . . . we just can't at the moment."

"How many children do you have?"

"I'm raising four," she added.

"Four?"

How did she manage raising four children while working as someone's maid, and have such a pleasant personality? I wondered.

"The youngest is six, a boy." She paused at the doorway. "Just leave everything beside the bed. I'll be up later," she told me. "Let me know if you need anything," she added as she left.

I couldn't help feeling guilty about being pampered so much while I had yet to make contact with Mommy, so I ate the delicious breakfast quickly, then showered and dressed, taking more time than usual with my hair. Dorothy had made me so selfconscious about my looks I was afraid she would rush me off to the beauty parlor if I didn't look pretty enough to greet the California morning.

Mr. Livingston was just leaving the house when I came down the stairs. He wore a pin-striped suit and maroon and white tie. He stopped at the front door to look up at me as I descended.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning."

"I hope you had a good night's rest," he said without a smile.

"Yes, thank you."

"Well, enjoy your day," he added. He looked uncomfortable speaking to me alone. He fumbled with his briefcase and then hurried out the door.

I thought about dialing Gina Simon's number again, but imagined I would only get the answering machine. It was better to go over there in person. I had to wonder if Sandy Glee had told her she had a visitor and then described me to her.

"Excuse me, miss," Alec said, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. "You have a phone call."

"A phone call? I do?"

"Your name is Melody, is it not?" he asked sharply, as if he thought I was being critical.

"Yes."

"Then, you have a phone call. You can take it in the parlor," he said nodding in that direction.

"Thank you."

I hurried in and lifted the receiver.

"Hello."

"Hi," Holly said. "Sorry I missed you yesterday, but I had a reading to do and by the time it was over, I thought it might be too late."

"That's all right."

"How are you doing? Did you meet the woman in the catalogue yet? Kenneth called me early this morning to see if I had heard from you."