"We gotta go," he said.
"Yes, it looks like I have some unexpected practicing to do," I quipped and Kenneth laughed.
The Judge followed us to the front door.
"I don't have to say good luck. I know everyone's going to be impressed," he declared. Kenneth nodded, and I could tell he wanted to say "Thank you."
When I looked at the Judge, I saw his eyes were full of tears. He bit down on his lip, smiled at me and went back inside.
"I think he's really sorry, Kenneth."
"Maybe," he relented. We got into the jeep and he sat there for a while, watching his father come out of the house, wave to us and walk slowly toward the caterers.
"He was a very handsome man, always distinguished, gentlemanly. He looked just like a judge. When I was a little boy, I thought he had the power to decide life and death. Don't put your faith completely in anyone, Melody. Reserve some skepticism. It's good insurance. Okay," he said smiling at me. "We'll have a good time. If the Queen will grant you leave, you're invited to dinner tonight. Holly will be here any minute."
"She will? Oh great! Of course I can come. Grandma Olivia wants me to be a good influence on you, get you to look more like--"
"A businessman, I know. I might put on a clean pair of pants and socks," he said and we both laughed.
Holly, I thought. I couldn't wait to see her again.
Holly came laden with gifts for us: charms and crystals, astrological charts, new earrings for me and a bracelet for Kenneth. After dinner she and I took a long walk alone on the beach and talked about my trip to California.
"Naturally, my sister turned everything around, blamed me for sending such a young, impressionable girl to Los Angeles. Philip said it wasn't surprising," she said with a short laugh.
"Oh I hope I didn't make any trouble for you," I said.
"This isn't a new argument. My sister and her husband formed their opinions of me long ago. Anyway, Billy wanted me to be sure to give you his best wishes and love. He was touched by you."
"And I by him. I thought about him and the things he told me many times while I was in Hollywood."
"Your mother didn't have the slightest--"
"She's like someone under a spell, Holly. If I had known as much before, I would never have gone. I sometimes stop at the graveyard and pretend it's her buried there. She might as well be," I added.
She smiled softly and paused to take a deep breath of the fresh ocean air.
"Cleans out my brain," she said. "Well, I see Cary has won over Kenneth, building that boat." She nodded toward the finished hull. "It looks like it's goi
ng to be very impressive."
"He's got his whole heart in it," I said, my own heart swelling with pride.
"Not his whole heart. There's some big part of it here," she said, pointing to my chest. I laughed.
"Tell me about Kenneth," she said after a moment.
"He looks like he's in some state of transition, hovering. His chart indicates he's about to change direction."
I told her about the meeting with his father and the quasi cease-fire.
"They're both getting older. It's time for them to settle things," she said, then turned thoughtful. "Does he talk about me much?"
"Oh you're always in his thoughts," I said. "He often says, 'That's something Holly put in your head,' or 'Holly would have a lot to say about that.' "
"Really?" She smiled. "I like it here. I've been thinking about leaving New York."
"And Billy?"