Part 5.4 – Boardwalk Memories
She followed Della out of Fralinger's into the mid-summer sunlight onto the boardwalk, a cool breeze coming off the ocean tickling suntanned skin and blowing newly trimmed strands of hair across their faces. That morning they had gone with their mothers to Armand's and been treated to the works – haircuts, manicures, and pedicures, and they both felt so sophisticated. Their mothers had wanted to have lunch at the Traymore Hotel's Chrystal Room, but they had politely declined, preferring to eat pizza slices from Mareno's and other sinful treats from the various boardwalk vendors. Girlish laughter usurped the grown-up activities of earlier as they exited the store famous for its salt water taffy, fudge, and 'paddles' – flat chocolate-covered caramel on a stick – clutching bags filled with sweet confections.
Della popped a piece of taffy into her mouth and dreamily closed her eyes. "This is the absolute best thing I've ever eaten," she gushed. "You're so lucky, Kath. You get to eat this whenever you feel like it."
She shook her head, loving the way the shorter hair swept her shoulders. "No I don't. It's only because you're here and it's summer that I'm even on the boardwalk. You know my parents are as strict with me as yours are with you, being the only girl and the youngest. Oops, that reminds me. Aunt Alice wants you to buy some taffy and paddles to take back to Michigan for Aunt Mae and the Johnsons. Isn't Betsy Johnson the little neighbor girl who takes care of Eloise?"
"Yep. Only she isn't so little any more. She's almost twelve and a total doll. She comes over every day after school to play with Eloise because her dad is allergic to cats and she can't have one. Eloise loves her and falls over so Betsy can rub her tummy. Sometimes I think Eloise likes Betsy better than me, but then she gives me a big ole kitty rub and I know she still loves me best. Ooh, let's go into Tabar's. I want to get Betsy a stuffed kitty that looks like Eloise. And after that I want to go to the Planters Peanut store to get something for the boys, then to Dorfman's to get t-shirts and paperweights. On the way back we'll stop in at Fralinger's again for more candy."
She watched Della talk, her pretty face animated and alight with life as she spoke, noting the looks her friend got from all the boys on the boardwalk. She wasn't jealous, she couldn't be jealous, because Della had no idea of the effect she had on people with her shiny curls, big beautiful eyes, and slender gracefulness. She laughed. "We have plenty of time to get more candy. We're coming back Saturday to see the diving horse at Steel Pier with the boys, remember? We'll see the horse and then take a ride in the diving bell. I think Frank Sinatra will be performing somewhere. Do you remember my friend Shelli? She dances with Tony Grant, the local dance teacher, and they're going to be performing too."
"I love Frank Sinatra!" Della exclaimed. "And of course I remember Shelli. I'll be glad to see her again."
She linked her arm through Della's. "I also have a surprise for you. Heinz opened an exhibit in March on Massachusetts Avenue. A guide tells you the history of the company and there's a slide show. You can get soup and ketchup…and they have a pickle bin." She watched as Della's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
"Really?" Della questioned excitedly. "You wouldn't kid me, would you?"
"I'm not kidding," she laughed. "Cross my heart and hope to die, throw a mud pie in my eye. I wouldn't kid you about pickles, String Bean."
Della threw back her head, curls bouncing in the breeze. "There is nothing better than a whole pickle out of a bin full of brine."
"I guess we'll just have to go, then. We have to be home by five, though. Dad, Uncle Jim and the boys are in one of their fishing frenzies and left from Captain Starn's this morning to fish. We're supposed to go to Hackney's for dinner after they get back."
Della smiled. "That's Dad's favorite thing to do when he's here. He talks about going fishing with your dad and the boys from the time we get back until the instant we pull into your driveway the next year. I knew about dinner. Gregg told me if I was a good girl he'd get me a lobster from the tank and teach me how to eat it properly."
"Did you tell him you already know to crack a lobster?"
"Nope. I couldn't burst his bubble. He's really excited about showing me, and said we could split one because they're so big."
They continued strolling down the boardwalk, stuffing taffy into their mouths. Two college boys walked by and eyed them appreciatively. Della nudged her.
"See, what did I tell you? You look sensational! All the boys are looking at you. I love what Peter did to your hair. It's soooo cool the way it falls perfectly to your shoulders. And those bangs! I swear, Kath, you could be in an ad for Halo." Della sang bit of the catchy Halo Shampoo jingle. "Halo everybody, Halo. Halo is the shampoo that glorifies your hair."
She laughed. "It's not me they're looking at, silly. They're looking at all that curly hair and those gorgeous eyes of yours. No wonder Gregg is so gone on you."
Della all but dragged her to an empty bench, sat down and pulled her down next to her. "Kath, I have something to tell you but you have to pinkie swear that you won't tell anyone else until I say it's okay." Her low voice was trembling and her eyes sparkled like the sun on the ocean.
"I've been wondering when you'd loosen up with whatever it was you were hiding from me. I've been dying for a week now. Spill it."
Della lowered her eyes shyly, the lifted them to stare out at the ocean. "I'm in love, Kath. Honestly and truly in love…with Gregg. It's crazy and the last thing I ever expected, but that day last week when no one was home but me, Gregg came home from playing basketball and…" she blushed and ducked her head, and when she continued, her voice was almost too low to hear. "I was on the porch and he came out to sit with me. We talked for a little while, then went down to the beach and talked some more. The only explanation I have is that I don't have an explanation. He admitted his feelings for me had changed last summer…I knew mine had, too, and this summer those feelings grew stronger. All I know is that I love him. I love him so much, Kath. We're getting married after I finish college and Gregg finishes grad school so he can teach at Michigan State, and I can work at Dad's firm, and we'll get an apartment, then buy a house and…and he wants four kids, two boys and two girls just like I've always dreamed…Kath, what's the matter? Why are you crying?"
With happy tears rolling down her cheeks, she flung her arms around her best friend and hugged her hard. "I'm not crying because anything's the matter, you nut. I'm crying because I'm so – soooo happy! You're my best friend, String Bean, and I've always wanted you to be my real sister, and now you're going to be! I'm so happy for you, and everyone else will be, too. I'll bet you a dress-up lunch at the Strand that they will."
Della sighed and hugged her back and laughed. "I feel like I'm in a dream and I don't want to wake up."
"Well, you'd better wake up for at least a little while so we can get going to make all those stops you want and get that pickle. It's two-thirty. That big lobster won't wait for us and neither will all those hungry men. Upsy-daisy. Let's get going, sister."
"Dr. Spencer, it's time to get up."
Kathy opened her eyes and looked at Joyce's smiling face after the nurse had gently shaken her awake. For just a second she had thought she was back on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, but as the familiar sights and smells of the hospital invaded her senses she realized it had only been a pleasant memory, her exhausted mind escaping to a time and place she when had been young and carefree. She shook the last of the drowsy reminiscing from her head, cognizant of the fact she had been asleep for close to thirty minutes.
"Forgive me for waking you, Doctor, but I thought you'd want to know the good news. Miss Street's breathing is vastly improved and her coughing is bringing up less and less phlegm. I'd say it's nothing short of a miracle how much better she is in such a short period of time."
Kathy Martin Spencer stretched and smiled. "Joyce, if there's one thing I've learned this week it's that miracles really do happen." She swung her legs to the floor, arms raised and back arched in a rigorous stretch. "Are her brothers still with her?"
Joyce nodded. "They haven't left her alone for a second since Mr. Mason took her mother and aunt to get some rest." Joyce helped the young doctor to her feet. "Will Mr. Mason be coming back anytime soon?"
Kathy laughed. "Never fear, you'll be seeing a lot more of him."
Joyce blushed. "I thought I was being completely nonchalant with that question."
"It was an admirable effort, but I've noticed what an effect Mr. Mason has had on everyone around here. He's quite the handsome devil, isn't he?"
Joyce fell into step alongside Kathy as they exited the C.C.U. doctor's lounge and headed toward room three-ten. "I'll say," she agreed with feeling. "But it isn't just his looks, Dr. Spencer. It's everything about him all rolled together that makes him so attractive."
Kathy was quiet while she absorbed Joyce's words. The nurse had hit the nail on the head. While he certainly was undeniably physically attractive, it was Perry Mason's personality that drew the medical staff to him. He fairly reeked of authoritative confidence, which caused everyone to immediately trust him. That's why she was so surprised by Aunt Alice's reticence toward him. But then, she wasn't a mother confronted by the man with whom her daughter was conducting an intimate, adult relationship without the benefit of marriage. Her own mother would probably have reacted the same way, had she and David not been so successful at hiding their premarital relationship.
As they turned the corner of the hallway that would take them to the waiting area and Della's room just beyond, Kathy saw a familiar tall figure standing with feet planted wide apart and arms crossed over his chest as Jamie Street was apparently lecturing him, hands gesturing emphatically. Kathy put her hand on Joyce's arm.
"Spread the word, Nurse Jarvis. Mr. Mason has returned," she said quietly. Then she continued down the hallway, sharp words for Jamie already forming in her mind.