Chapter 16



New York had proved more expensive than either girl had thought. After awaking in the shared double bed and finishing a breakfast mostly consisting of sidewalk vendor coffee and bagel, the girls headed out in search of Carolyn Loomis. Nancy had managed to unearth an old letter from Carolyn to her mother Elizabeth Stoddard written shortly before Elizabeth had died. On it was the only address they had to go on. It was too much to hope for that the woman they were seeking would still like in the apartment building after all these years.





After finding the right subway train and asking various people for directions, they found the building, old and crumbling, with a demolition notice pinned to the door. Feeling dejected, they started to turn back, to head back for Collinsport, when they heard a voice calling out "Hey! You girls looking for someone?" They turned to see a man who looked to be in his 50's from what they could tell. He was tall and black with a frizzy mop of gray grizzled hair. His friendly smile revealed a missing front tooth.



"I used to live here, lived here for years. If you're looking for someone I might be able to help."

The girls looked at one another. Nancy spoke up first. "Would you remember a woman who lived here about 20 years ago? She looked a lot like me, blonde hair blue eyes. He name was Carolyn Loomis." "Loomis," he pondered, "Yeah the actress lady, she used to talk to my neighbour down the hall about how she missed her kid or something. Are you her kid?" "Yes," Nancy smiled, "I am, do you know where I can find her?" "Well, I wouldn't know but she was still on the stage a few years back, you could try the theatres." "Oh thank you! Thank you so much! You've been such a help, could I get you a cup of coffee or something?" "Well if you wouldn't mind, I could use some money for coffee." "Of course, here's $5, thank you again!"



After they had gone about block Rhiannon turned to her companion. "You know he's not going to buy coffee with that don't you?" "Well what else would he buy?" Nancy asked naively. Rhiannon shook her head, Collinsport was like a whole other world. The girls set out for Broadway. If Carolyn Loomis had been on the stage within the last few years, surely someone would know where to find her.



After questioning anyone who worked in the theatres, which took several hours, they came to the last one. If they didn't find their answers here, they doubted If they ever would. They walked in. It appeared a rehearsal of some popular show was going on. A tall, beefy man barked out that they should be there. "Please sir, I'm looking for somebody. I know she worked on the stage a few years ago and I'm trying to find her." "Hmmm, what show was she in?" "I don't know, but her name is Carolyn Loomis." "Carolyn Loomis?" "Yes, please I'm her daughter and-" "I think I know someone who can help you." They followed him to the front of the theatre where a slim lady was barking out orders to several young men. "Ms. Stoddard, there's someone to see you." he said "Stoddard?" Nancy gasped. The lady turned to answer the man and there, standing before them was an older version of Nancy Loomis. "Yes, I-Oh my god!" Carolyn Stoddard Loomis fell to her knees and wept, "My babies, my babies have come home to me at last!"



"Babies?" Nancy asked, "Mother, it's just me, Nancy." "Oh Nancy!" Carolyn grabbed her in a fierce hug, "You mean you found each other on accident?"



"I-no, mother this is my friend Rhiannon Shagana, she's from L.A., but she lives in Collinsport now and she came to help me find you." "How could you not know Nancy? How could you not know with those eyes? Her father's eyes." Carolyn broke down sobbing again and Nancy held her tightly and Rhiannon just stared dumbly.