Chapter 20

Thursday, December 19

The day before the first show

Mike seemed to be suffering from a permanently dry mouth, a sensitive stomach, and a lump lodged in his throat. He knew it was just the jitters. He also knew there was nothing to be worried about.

That knowledge didn’t soothe him as much as it should have done.

Everything was ready for the following evening’s performance, the first of five nights, but he still had palpitations every time he so much as glanced at his costume.

It didn’t help that the place was filled with noise either. Gabe had drafted in some friends to make sure every room was ready for the grand reopening that weekend, and the bathrooms were almost finished.

The new sign had arrived that morning, and Mike had to fight back tears when he saw the words Nick’s Place . Anthony had organized a short unveiling ceremony, including a bottle of champagne, and the six of them had stood in a solemn little circle, their glasses raised to toast a new beginning—and Nick.

“Here.” Sam’s nudge and the aroma of coffee brought him back into the present.

“Thanks.” Somewhere, someone let out a loud expletive, and Mike chuckled. “And another hammer lands in the wrong place.”

Sam stood behind him and slipped his arms around Mike’s waist. “We’ve gotten through the hard part. Everything’s coming together, just like I said it would.”

“We still have the shows to put on, Mr. Glass Half Full.”

Sam nuzzled his neck, sending a shiver through him. “And they’ll be awesome. You’ll be awesome. Just you wait and see.” He cleared his throat. “Of course, I’d have a better idea of exactly how awesome if I’d seen even part of your act.”

Mike laughed. “Nope. And you can stop fishing.” Elliott was humming to himself as he poured the tea, and Mike turned to stare at him. “I know that song.”

He stilled. “Really? It was by a British band called—”

“Talking Heads,” Mike finished. “Road to Nowhere.” He smiled. “First time I heard that, Nick had taken me on a trip to…. I forget where. I must’ve been about seven. He’d turned up one day and asked my dad if he could borrow me. He played that song in the car.” He rubbed his chin. “Wait, I’ve got it. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden in Springfield. It hadn’t been open all that long, and he wanted me to see it.” His throat tightened. “That was a good day. For years after, every time I heard that song, it reminded me to that day. And then I forgot it—until now.” He smiled. “Thanks for reminding me.”

“My pleasure. Only, I have no idea why I chose to hum that particular song.” Elliott smiled. “One of those things, I guess.”

Movement out in the street caught Mike’s eye, and he scowled. “Looks like Ben Sharp isn’t giving up after all. Although I don’t think turning up in a limousine is going to impress anyone here.” The long black car came to a stop close to the front steps.

Sam peered through the window as the driver got out and went to open the rear door. He huffed. “I vote we don’t even let him in. That’ll get the message acro—” He froze. “I don’t fucking believe it.”

Mike watched as a woman with shoulder-length brown hair climbed out of the car, smothered by a thick fur coat, her legs encased in the tightest jeans Mike had ever seen. “Who is that?” He glanced at Sam, surprised to see his jaw set. “Babe? Who is she?” There was something familiar about her.

“ That is Polly fucking Amoray.”

“What?” Ashley squealed and launched herself across the lobby. “Lemme see.” She pressed her hands to the glass and let out a shriek. “Oh my God, it is!”

Polly teetered up the steps in outrageously high heels that had no place in such a snow-covered landscape. When she reached the door, she beamed when she saw Sam.

“Candy baby!” She flung her arms wide.

Sam took a step backward, and behind him, Mike heard the others hurry into the lobby.

“You have got to be fucking kidding .” That was Jim.

Then Mike watched as the driver carried two fat suitcases up the steps.

What the hell?

He opened the door, and before he could get a word out, Polly was inside, squealing at such a high pitch Mike was sure every dog for miles around was about to turn up on their doorstep.

Polly turned to her driver. “Bring them in here,” she told him, and he staggered inside and dumped the cases on the floor. “Careful!” she snarled. “Now go get my dresses.”

Mike had heard enough.

“Leave the dresses in the car,” he told the driver before turning his attention to Polly. “Excuse me, but who are you?” He feigned bewilderment.

She did an exaggerated double take. “Don’t you recognize me, sweetie? I’m Polly Amoray. You must’ve seen me on TV. I’m Nick’s ex. And you must be Mike, his nephew.” She glanced at the lobby. “Wow. You’ve worked wonders with this place.”

Ashley was hopping from one foot to another, squirming with excitement.

Anthony, Elliott, Jim, and Sam stood in a line, their eyes flinty.

Mike could understand that reaction.

He folded his arms. “The same ex who fucked off to LA to pursue her dreams, leaving Nick brokenhearted?”

That stopped her in her tracks. Her face hardened for a second, and then she placed her hand over her fur-covered heart. “I was gutted when I heard about Nick’s death.” Her voice cracked a little at the end.

Anthony’s face could have been carved from marble. “I didn’t see you at the funeral.”

“I know, I had an impossible schedule that day. But I sent flowers.”

“No, you didn’t. I know because I checked.” Elliott’s voice was like ice. “So why are you here?”

She beamed. “I’ve come to save the day.”

Mike gaped. “Excuse me?”

Polly nodded, her eyes bright. “A friend called to say they’d seen a post on Facebook. Something about donations to help renovate the hotel, putting on Christmas shows like we did in the old days… So I packed my bags, caught the first flight out of LAX, and here I am.” Another beaming smile. “Just put the word out that Polly Amoray is headlining the shows, and you won’t have enough room for all the guys who’ll flock to buy tickets.” Her manicured hand went back to her chest again. “Anything for Nick.”

“Oh really.” Judging by her clipped voice, Ashley had ceased fangirling and had come to her senses. She regarded Polly with faint surprise. “I’m shocked you could tear yourself away from Hollywood. I mean, you must have so many offers of work over there.” Her eyes gleamed. “Except you don’t, do you? From what I was reading last week, your star has definitely waned.” She gave a triumphant smile. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’ve come back here to give your ailing career a much-needed boost.”

Polly opened her eyes wide. “I’ll have you know I’m in great demand.”

“What as?” Jim folded his arms. “Surely the theaters have plenty of people to check coats and clean the restrooms.”

That earned him a glare. “But I’m here to help,” she ground out.

Elliott shook his head. “Nope. Nope. Nope. Just…. Nope.”

“You need me,” she said through gritted teeth. “Where would you be without me, hm? After everything I did for you, everything I taught you?” She flung her arms out. “Nick and I, we built this together. He’d want me to help out. Hell, he’d have welcomed me back with open arms.”

Mike squared his shoulders. “I don’t think so.” Polly gaped at him, and he nodded. “I might not have known Nick all that well when I got older, but I sure knew him when I was a kid. You know what was the most important thing to him?” He looked her in the eye. “Family. Not just the flesh-and-blood members of his family, but the ones he chose to live with, laugh with…” He swallowed. “Die with.” Mike straightened. “So no, I don’t think we do need you.”

Sam walked over to the door and opened it. “Sorry, sweetie, but there is no room at the inn.”

“Not even a manger,” Anthony added with a pasted- on smile.

“Ms. Amoray is ready to head back to Boston for her flight home,” Mike told the driver, who was following the conversation with wide eyes.

He snickered as he picked up her bags. “All this needed was popcorn and a soda,” he muttered. Then he straightened when Polly strode out of the lobby and down the steps, then followed her.

“Careful on the ice,” Mike called out. He closed the door behind them, then turned and wiped his hands together, not bothering to watch her departure. “Anthony, I think we’re ready for lunch, don’t you?”

There was silence for a moment, and then the air was filled with rapturous applause.

“You were amazing!” Jim planted an exuberant kiss on Mike’s cheeks.

Anthony picked Ashley up and swung her around. “And as for you? Girl, you have enough sass and vinegar to be a queen.”

“Put me down. You’re way too tall, and I don’t have a head for heights.”

He lowered her back down to earth. “Seriously, I was impressed.”

“Well, the nerve of her.” Ashley glared. “As if we need her anyway.”

“Which we don’t,” Elliott affirmed. “We’re gonna knock ’em dead without any help from her.”

“Besides, if she brought her Hollywood costumes, she’d only clash with ours.” Jim preened. “Ours are so much better.”

“We are going to slay them tomorrow night,” Sam declared, his eyes shining.

Mike gazed at the jubilant group.

“Sam’s right. We’ve got this.”

Now all he had to do was not fuck up.