Tears forming in her eyes, Roses stares after him as she grips the door jamb to keep from collapsing on the floor before she feels something slide down her wrist. She looks at it as two stubborn tears all down her cheeks and splash against her arms – Herbie's watch. He'll be back for it, she thinks as the manager comes back up to her. He groans. "Now what's wrong?" She ain't gonna strip?"
"No, my baby is not gonna strip, and I'm sorry I even considered it for a second. Go find someone else."
"Listen –"
"She told ya no, boss," Tura says from beside him. "And for her, no means no. Go get the other new girl. She knows what she's gettin' into."
He glares at her, sighing, then walks off. "Thank you, Tess," Rose breathes, resting her head against the door jamb.
"No problem. You think he'll be back?"
"Who?"
"Herbie."
"He'll have to." She holds up her arm to show the blond the watch. "His watch. He got it from his dad before he died. Don't know how he'd forget it. He wears it all the time."
"Louise isn't stripping, then?"
Rose looks up at the man the voice belongs to. "No, sir.'
He holds out his hand. "Watch, please."
"Tess, could you excuse us for a minute?"
She grins before scampering off to find the new star.
"You left it. Finders keepers, Herbie."
"My dad gave me that. I'm not leaving without it."
"Then you're not leaving," Rose grins as she wipes at her eyes before walking back into the dressing room and a hug from Louise.
"Thank you, Momma. I didn't wanna do it. Thank you."
"You're welcome, baby."
Herbie sighs, letting himself in, and says, "Rose, you are insufferable."
"Then why'd you come back?" Louise asks.
"I wasn't leaving without my watch. My dad gave that to me."
"And you gave it to your wife. We're still getting married tomorrow … aren't we?" Rose adds, looking back at him for an answer.
"Yes, ma'am."
"So you see?" Louise says. "You'll still have it. Momma just won't let it out of her reach."
"The things I'd do to you if Louise weren't here, Rosie."
"I don't wanna know!" Louise says, clamping her eyes shut and pinning her hands over her ears. I don't wanna know."
He laughs, walking over to her and pulls her hands down from her ears. "Louise, look at me." She reluctantly opens her eyes to see Herbie's blue ones looking into hers. "You are the reason I'm not doing anything. You be lucky your mother kept my watch and didn't let you strip."
She grins, hugging him "Thank you, Herbie. For everything."
"Anything for my daughter."