Chapter 28
“T
his is an awfully expensive gift, Nicolette,” Victoria declared, standing back to look at the fish tank, while Nikki fiddled with the timer on the light. “But it
is
beautiful.”
“I'm glad you like it.” Nikki hit the button once and nothing happened, then again and the light glowed, but didn't come on.
She'd been surprised when her mother accepted the gift. She was even more surprised when Victoria said she wanted it in her boudoir. A 150-gallon fish tank wasn't exactly
old Hollywood
.
“I just love the pink sand,” Victoria declared, clasping her hands. She was wearing her usual Saturday afternoon attire: white jogging suit, pristine tennis shoes, and her pearls.
Nikki squinted to read the miniscule directions on the top of the timer.
“Here, use my readers.” Victoria lifted her glasses from her head and handed them to Nikki.
Nikki slid them on.
“Now, what kind of fish do I have again? I want to know if someone asks.”
Nikki could see the directions on the timer now, but they were complicated. “You plan to bring a lot of guests into your bedroom?”
“You think I'm too old to have guests?” Victoria sniffed.
Nikki smiled. “I got you the freshwater tank instead of saltwater. You've got rosy barbs and pink kissing gourami.”
“Silly names for fish.”
“Okay, I'm pushing the button six times, like the directions say, but nothing is happening. It was working fine yesterday when I left here.” Nikki removed her mother's reading glasses. “What did you do to the light?”
“I just turned it on.”
“You're not supposed to
turn it on,
” Nikki explained patiently. “It's on a timer. So the fish have day and night.”
Victoria gave a wave. “Just leave it. That nice young man Saturn said he'd come by tomorrow and check on me. He can fix it.”
“Mars?” Nikki handed her the glasses. “At least it's on now, so you can see the fish.” She reseated the lamp and stepped back to look at the very pink tank. Her mother had even picked out pink artificial plants and fake coral.
“Beautiful.” Victoria clasped her hands. “Now come sit and tell me how you are. I feel like I haven't talked to you in weeks.”
Nikki followed her to the couch. Victoria had had Amondo move her TV over so she could sit on her couch and also look at the fish tank.
“I'm fine.” Nikki sat down. “I'm great. I can't stay. Jeremy and I are going out to dinner tonight. Just the two of us. He got a babysitter.”
“Very nice, dear. So that means things are better between you?”
“We're good.” She smiled, thinking about Jeremy. “We're great. He was relieved to get Alison and Jocelyn settled into their new house in San Diego.”
“And they're doing well?”
“Very well. Jocelyn is volunteering as a counselor at a kids' summer camp and is loving it. And Alison has a new job, which does not involve dogs or party planning.”
“Well, I'm sure Lillie Lambert was disappointed to lose her client.”
“Probably not,” Nikki said wryly. “She gained seven. One with a murder one charge, and six with a conspiracy to murder charge. That should keep her busy for a while.”
Victoria laughed. “And your detective managed to keep the whole sex party thing out of the papers. Alison's ex never heard a word about it. I'm still amazed.”
“He's not my detective.”
“No, I suppose not.” Victoria looked at her. “But he could have been.”
Nikki patted her mother's knee. “I should go. I promised Stan and Ollie a run before I go out.”
“Fine. Hurry off, if you must. Leave your poor mother here alone to watch TV and eat soup from a tin.”
Nikki shook her head as she got up and headed for the door. “Ina left you salmon and capers. I saw the plate in the fridge. But you can come to dinner with Jeremy and me if you like.”
“Certainly not.” Victoria followed her out of the bedroom and down the hall. “Tell Jeremy I said hello and that I expect him to come to Movie Night next week.”
“Oh, you're having Movie Night next week?” Nikki glanced over her shoulder. “I wasn't sure what your shooting schedule would be.”
“I'm only shooting two days next week. The writers are working on the tragic death of Diara's and Kameryn's characters. I think they went down in the Pacific in a hot air balloon.”
The doorbell rang as Nikki went down the grand staircase. “Expecting anyone?”
“No.”
In the black and white tiled front hall, Nikki opened the door to find Elvis Presley. “E?” she murmured. And smiled.
“Little lady.”
He was wearing a tuxedo she'd never seen. “
The Steve Allen Show
,” she said. “Nineteen fifty-six.”
He nodded and then gave her his best lopsided grin. “I was wondering . . . is Mother home?”