oohed and ahhed.
“You should see that on Marina,” he said, turning to me, “Could you, please?” I took the gown to Evie’s dressing room. I slipped it on, and was reminded of when Ethan came in and saw me in it. That was the first day I truly started believing what Lorelei told me about my mother, I thought, feeling a twinge of regret. There was no going back now. I looked in the mirror and admired how beautiful the gown really was. Even without the extreme makeup and hair the dress looked amazing.
I gasped as a sharp pain bloomed inside my head and a sudden rush of gut-wrenching fear gripped me. Ethan, all I could think about was Ethan. I had to sit down to catch my breath.
Maybe putting on the dress triggered some kind of panic attack. The strange feeling passed and I gathered myself together, rubbing my temples.
When I came out Cruz and Evie had their heads together over his clothes, animatedly chatting away. Clearly they were kindred spirits, and I felt better watching them. Evie looked up to see me and gasped.
“Oh Marina! It’s divine! My goodness Cruz, you are a major talent!” Cruz looked so proud I thought he’d burst. We spent the next few hours talking about clothes, fashion and designers. Evie showed Cruz her cavernous dressing room, stocked full of vintage gowns going back fifty years. He was like a kid in a candy store, fussing over each rare item she extracted from her massive wardrobe.
“Why didn’t you bring this wonderful young man to meet me sooner?” Evie scolded me.
“I honestly didn’t know he was into this stuff!” I protested.
Cruz defended me, “I didn’t show anybody what I was up to for ages... I never met anyone in Aptos who cared this much about fashion.”
“Well you have now!” exclaimed Evie, “What are your plans for the future?” We talked for a while about Cruz coming to the city to attend design school. I think Evie was even more excited than I was at the prospect of having him living across the hall from her. I smiled happily at both of them, inordinately pleased. I’d hoped that Evie and Cruz would hit it off, and I was thrilled that she liked his clothes. Evie had an unerring eye for talent. If she took someone under her wing they were certain to succeed.
“My goodness! Look at the time! We have lunch reservations at the club in half an hour.” I changed out of the gown and we took the elevator down to the parking garage. Boris had the Rolls waiting, warmed up and ready to drive. Evie took Cruz on a quick tour of her late husband’s automobile collection, which filled a whole level of the building’s garage. Cruz was floored by all the beautiful cars, and particularly enamored of a shining silver Jaguar. I knew nothing about cars, but its sleek lines were appealing, and I had to admit it was a beauty.
Evie turned to me while Cruz wandered among the cars, “Your cousin is an absolute delight!
And he’s so deliciously counter-culture. I can’t wait until the girls at the club see him!” I laughed at her. Evie was always enchanted by unique and talented people. I had a feeling she was already hatching plans to make Cruz her new project. I grinned when I thought of the thrill ride that was in store for him. He was going to love getting to know Evie.
When Boris showed up with the Rolls I persuaded Cruz to drive it, since he had more experience behind the wheel. He was nervous but excited, taking the wheel with wide eyes. Evie asked Boris to prepare the Jaguar for us to take home.
“These cars need to get out more often,” she explained, “And you can come up to see me again in a few weeks and trade it for another.”
We arrived with great fanfare to lunch at Evie’s club, and were given the royal treatment.
Waiters fussed and flapped around our table, showering us with attention. I knew that Evie was an excellent tipper, but they all seemed genuinely eager to please her. Cruz was mightily impressed with everything he saw, hanging on Evie’s every word and gesture. It occurred to me that he was in the early stages of his training to enter the rarified world of fashion design.
Seated at a plush banquette, we were surrounded by colorful saltwater fish tanks. Every time I looked up I saw fishy