ONCE DINNER ENDED, the rounds of banter and laughter subsided, and the foursome grew quiet. Nora, her face sincere, placed a hand on Del’s wrist.
“Del, I have a favor to ask you. I hope you don’t mind.”
Curious, Del couldn’t imagine what he could do for her. “Okay, shoot.”
“Will you be my date at the Oscars? Even though it’s as friends?”
Del was shocked. He hadn’t seen this one coming. The media coverage arose in his mind’s eye. “Won’t I look like your grandfather?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’ll look like one of those classic couples. Like Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon.”
Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon? “I thought you weren’t very familiar with old Hollywood.”
“I’ve been studying up,” she replied with a twinkle.
Del tried to find words. Was he speechless? Finally, he shrugged and said, “If it would make you happy, I’d be honored to do that.”
Nora beamed. “Good, then it’s a done deal.”
When the subject changed, Felicia leaned against him. “I think it’s sweet,” she whispered in his ear. “She sees you as a father figure. That’s a compliment.”
When did that happen? He hadn’t even tried!
Nora rose from the table and gathered the empty plates. “I’ll bring these to the kitchen.”
“Don’t do that, please.” Del shot up from his chair. “I’ll take care of those.”
“I don’t mind. Honest.”
Del relented. “I’ll help you, then. I’ve been standing around in my own house with nothing to contribute all day,” he said, giving Felicia’s shoulder a playful squeeze.
Del and Nora gathered two stacks of plates and silverware. She followed him into the kitchen, giving him a lighthearted jab with her elbow on the way.
With Del on rinsing duty, he handed each item to Nora, who arranged them all in the dishwasher.
“Tristan comes across as a pleasant individual. How’d you meet him?”
“Pure chance. We crossed paths at this coffee place we both go to. He didn’t know who I was until after we started chatting.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I can read people by now.”
Del nodded, his due diligence as her self-appointed guardian done. “Long-term possibilities with him, perhaps?”
“It’s still early.” Nora turned to him, pursed her lips, the hint of a grin forming as she narrowed her eyes. “Del Corwyn, are you looking out for me?”
“Somebody needs to.” He raised his hands in innocent surrender. “Besides, you named me your Oscar date. I have certain duties.”
“You’re adorable. Thank you.” And with that, she gave him a peck on the cheek. “As long as we’re prying into each other’s lives, Felicia seems nice.”
Sunshine burst in his chest. “We get along.”
From the way she planted her hands on her hips, he could tell Nora didn’t buy his casual response. “Oh, please! You invited me to meet her. You must be interested in her beyond the—” Her jaw dropped. Nora gasped. “You’re falling in love with her, aren’t you!”
“Shh!” Del darted his attention to the kitchen entrance to make sure no one had walked in.
Nora lodged her tongue against her cheek and savored her victory as a sleuth. “That happened fast. How many times have you taken her out?”
“I don’t know if you’d call them dates, per se.”
“Fine,” Nora said, altering her voice to a joshing tone. “How long have you two been ’per se-ing’ each other?”
“A while, here and there.”
“Uh-huh.”
Del decided to change the subject before she got him to admit anything he’d regret. Nora was smart. He didn’t want her to figure out anything else before he had a chance to do it himself.
“I’ve been following the buzz on your nomination,” he said. “It sounds good.”
Nora turned toward the sink. Whatever humor she had shown in the last few minutes evaporated. Was it something he said?
“You’re right about that. Lots of attention.”
“And you’re no longer thrilled with that achievement?”
“Winning would be a dream come true,” she said. “It all comes with a price, though. Doesn’t it?”
“Everything worth its weight in gold comes with a price to pay, including those little golden statues. It’s worth it though, wouldn’t you say?”
Del noticed hesitation in her response.
“I’m still thinking about that photo,” she replied.
So that was what bothered her. Not that he could blame her. “Online? The one you mentioned the other night?”
“I don’t even remember the guy’s name,” Nora snorted, her humiliation obvious. “Isn’t that absurd?”
“We’ve all made our share of missteps. You can’t see into the future, but you do the best you can.”
Nora gestured toward the patio. “Does Felicia know about the picture?”
“Yes, I think she does.”
With a laugh, Nora covered her face with one hand. “A minister. Lovely. I’m sure that made a great first impression.”
“I don’t think she judges you, Nora. If she judged people by every action they’ve taken in their lives, do you think she’d be having dinner at my house?”
“I suppose you’re right.” She exhaled long and slow, rubbing her thumb along the clear polish she’d applied to her fingernails. “This type of thing didn’t happen when you were my age, did it?”
“On the contrary, it happened to someone I knew. A photo resurfaced, a regret that lay hidden in her past—or so she thought.”
Nora furrowed her eyebrows. “Are you talking about Marilyn Monroe?”
“Yeah.”
Nora nodded in resignation. “So at least I’m in good company, right?”
“Not that it erases your regrets.”
“No, it doesn’t.” She stared into his eyes, a sad, pleading look. “Tell me this will go away, Del.”
“It’ll blow over. Give it time. It’s part of the game, albeit an ugly part. You and I love what we do, but it’s not always the life of champagne some people believe it to be.”
Del regarded her again. Why did he get the sense the viral photo wasn’t the only thing that tormented her? He suspected something else lurked beneath Nora’s melancholy. He wanted to ask but couldn’t find an appropriate opening.
Del’s mind bounced back to Tristan’s description of his career. It struck him as rather vague. “So this new guy, Tristan—he’s an entrepreneur online? What does that involve?”
“Could be anything.”
“He didn’t go into detail?”
“No. Then again, I haven’t asked much about it. As long as it isn’t online porn, I think I’m okay with it.”
Del made a mental note to prod Tristan for more details.
Nora turned off the faucet and shook the water from her hands. Del must not have hidden his curiosity well, because she examined him as if she found humor in his questions.
“Lots of people start businesses online these days, Del. Even wellness coaches.”
“Wellness coaches?”
“Yeah, who knew, right?”
“Where did that come from?”
Nora bit her lower lip, as though tentative on whether she should say more. “Don’t breathe a word about this, okay? I’ve been talking to a wellness coach. Anonymously.”
“Why?”
“Just to get some things off my chest.”
“But how do you manage to stay anonymous?”
“It’s entirely online.”
“You’ve never laid eyes on this coach in person?”
“Nope, and he’s never laid eyes on me, either.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I figured it couldn’t hurt.”
“I didn’t realize wellness coaches could conduct business exclusively online.”
“Apparently, this one does. And it’s helping.”
She couldn’t be serious. Del held his tongue, not wanting to make the young woman feel bad. But who the hell can give quality advice to someone they’ve never met? Then again, Dear Abby made a career out of it.
Nora crossed her arms. “You’re suspicious.”
“I wouldn’t say that…”
She burst forth with a staccato laugh. “You’re totally suspicious! Tell you what…” With a roll of her eyes, she pulled her phone from her pocket. Her thumbs went into motion.
“What are you doing now?” Del’s phone vibrated in his pocket.
“I texted you a link to the guy’s website. One day, maybe it’ll come in handy for you, too.”
Yeah, right.