“Just that it would be a shame to lose Vicky. She’s a real asset to the agency. And . . .” I hedged. “Well, you’re a busy woman and Olive needs a lot of attention and training.”
Bentley raised her hand, pressing her palm outward. “That’s quite enough, Lila. We’ll discuss this later. Right now, I have authors that need my attention.” She turned on her heel and started to walk away, only to quickly turn back again. “I know I’m busy, but Olive loves me. I can tell she does. It’s easy for you to judge who should have a pet and not. You’ve got a dream life. A loving mother and son, and now a fiancé. You have no idea what it’s like to be . . .” She caught herself before finishing. Her eyes glistened with emotion as she took a couple of shaky breaths and shook her head. But she didn’t say anything else. She didn’t have to. I knew what she was going to say. Bentley was lonely. I knew she didn’t have a special man in her life. Probably because she was too busy building her business. She’d never really mentioned her family, either. I’d always assumed it was because she liked keeping her personal and business lives separate. Maybe it was for different reasons. Perhaps Bentley didn’t have any family, or maybe she was estranged from her family. I didn’t really know, but now I knew why she put so much into her agents and authors. We really were her family. Maybe the only family she had.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you,” she said, rubbing at her temples. “It’s just all this stuff with Jodi and . . . Well, that blasted Ms. Lambert is on my very last nerve, now this thing with Vicky and the dog.”
I wanted to say something. Something to ease the situation, put some of her worries to rest, but before I could think of anything, she excused herself and took off down the hallway. I watched her walk away, this time thinking that she didn’t seem all that tall and intimidating after all. Bentley, like all of us, only really wanted one thing—to be loved.
*
I WEAVED THROUGH the line of fans and greeted Pam. “You’re up in a few minutes.”
Her eyes widened as she glanced down at her watch. “Oh my goodness. Thanks for the reminder. Time got away from me.” She stood and addressed the ladies in her line. “I’m sorry, but I’m due for a reading in the Sundance Room. I’ll be back at my table in about an hour.” Then she turned to Mama, who was seated down a ways, hunkered over a row of tarot cards and whispering conspiratorially to a young woman. “Althea. Do you want to come along? You might enjoy my reading. It’s got a few lines about the fortune-teller in it.”
In response, Mama looked up and smiled. Only I noticed her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Sure thing, Pam. I’ll be right along soon as I finish this young’un’s readin’.” She turned back to the gal and spoke quietly. But her usual enthusiasm was lacking. I wondered if she wasn’t feeling well. Mama was strong, but it had to have been a long week for her.
Pam reached under the table and snatched up her bag. “I need to pop by the restroom real quick. I’ll meet you in the Sundance Room, okay?”
“Sounds good,” I replied. “I’ll wait for my mother to finish and we’ll join you there.” While I waited, I scooted over to Rufus Manning’s table. I wanted to ask him about the photo I’d seen with the ring in it. Maybe he’d remember the names of the subjects without having to check the records at his office.
“Hey, Rufus.” He looked up from a book he was reading and smiled. “I have a quick question for you.” I reached for the album where I’d seen the photo before and started leafing through the pages. “You know that print you had at Espresso Yourself?” I started.
He stood, setting his book aside, and came over. “Yup. Talked to Makayla on the phone about it earlier. Told her I’d make a copy this evening. Just haven’t got around to it yet.”
“Understandable,” I said, still flipping the pages. Rufus had used actual prints to assemble his album, mounting each to black backing with silver-colored photo corners. The overall effect of blacks and whites against the stark dark background was very dramatic. “I’m sure this expo is taking a lot of time from your regular business duties.”
“It is. But I’ve met a lot of potential customers, so it’s been worth it. Are you looking for the smaller print I have in here?” he asked, reaching for the album and looking for himself. “It’s toward the back.”
“Hi, Lila.”
I turned to see Lynn and Dr. Meyers standing behind me. “Hi, ladies,” I said. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” Lynn said. “We’re heading to the Sundance Room. Thought we’d take a break and listen to Pam’s reading.”
“I’m heading that way myself,” I said. “Just waiting on my mother to finish and then we’ll join you. Save a couple of seats, okay?”
“Can’t seem to find it offhand,” Rufus interrupted, still paging through the album.
“Such gorgeous pictures,” Dr. Meyers commented. “You’re very talented, Mr. Manning.”