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Toots took a few seconds to absorb Abby’s news. Something didn’t feel right about this, but Toots wasn’t going to voice her opinion for fear of dampening Abby’s excitement over the interview. That bastard Rag, who’d tried to rip off her $10 million, better not be behind this, because if Toots found out he was screwing with Abby and the paper, well, to put it in words he would understand, he would get the royal fucking of his life. She crossed her fingers that the authorities would find his ass before she did.

“Tell me what I can do to help out? Anything, and it’s yours.”

“Oh, Mom, I know you will. Right now I don’t even have a date scheduled, much less anything else. I do know security will be tight. The protection they and their kids get is almost equal to what the president gets. Just don’t mention this. I don’t want to take any chances on this getting out before the actual interview takes place. I don’t trust any of the rival papers. They’d try to snatch the interview from The Informer in a heartbeat. So keep this on the QT until you hear otherwise.”

Abby paused, knowing she needed to tell her mother she’d told Ida the exciting news first. Her mother was tough as shoe leather, but sometimes her feelings were as fragile as a butterfly’s wings.

Here goes, she thought. “Mom, I told Ida about this interview before I told you.”

Silence. Abby waited for what seemed like minutes, then she spoke into the phone again. “Mom, are you there?”

“Yes, Abby, where else would I be? I suppose I should ask why you chose to tell her first, but I’m sure you have your reasons. So, tell me, why did you tell her first?”

“This is going to sound crazy. When I read the e-mail from the Pitt/Jolie publicist, I remembered those photographs Ida took that were featured on the cover of Life magazine. I sort of asked her if she would be interested in taking the pictures for the piece.” There, it was out. Now all she had to do was wait for her mother’s response.

Seconds turned into minutes. Abby felt hot, so she fanned herself with last week’s edition of The Informer while she waited for her mother to digest the news. This was quite common between the two of them. Abby had shared many silent phone conversations throughout the years with her mother. She waited patiently, knowing her mother would reply when she had a practical answer, and not a minute sooner.

“I think that’s a fantastic idea, Abby. Ida needs something in her life other than men. I can’t wait to tell the others. Do you mind? Or should I wait and let you deliver the news?”

“Let’s wait a couple of days just to make sure this isn’t some hoax drummed up by our rivals. Don’t even tell Ida I told you about this. Let her bask in a bit of well-earned glory. She needs it after what she’s been through.”

“You’re right. I won’t mention this to a soul. Now the girls are upstairs waiting for me. Ida is having fits about that damned mirror, so we’re taking it down.”

“Promise me you all will be careful? I don’t want to hear about anyone breaking an arm or a leg.”

Toots smiled. “I’m always careful, dear. Call me as soon as you have more news.”

“I will, and, Mom, I know I’ve said this once or twice, but I have to say it again. You’re the best.”

Toots’s eyes filled with tears. “No, Abby, you’re the best.”

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Balanced on a rickety ladder with Sophie and Mavis acting as spotters, Toots motioned to Ida. “Hand me that damned thingamabob, will you?”

“What?” Ida replied.

“That.” Toots pointed to the tire iron on the floor beside the ladder. “Oh never mind,” she said as she inched her way down the ladder.

“Careful, Toots, you’ll fall on your ass, then we’ll all be crushed,” Sophie cautioned.

“Kiss my burgeoning behind, Sophie,” Toots shot back.

“It’d take all day,” she replied. “And I really don’t want to stare at your ass that long, so what is it you want?”

Frustrated, Toots grabbed the tire iron she’d found in the garage. “This.” She swung the heavy tire iron at the trio like a sword.

She climbed back onto the ladder. When she reached the top rung, she looked down. “Make sure you all have your goggles on. This glass could fly everywhere.” While rummaging through the garage searching for tools to remove the mirror, Toots had found several sets of snorkeling equipment. They were now using the goggles as protective eye gear. If anyone saw them decked out in their PJs, Sophie’s pink-and-purple sweats, and the swimming goggles strapped around their faces, they would surely think they were misfits from a long-lost Jacques Cousteau expedition or four lunatics who’d escaped from the loony bin. Most likely the latter.

Toots wedged the flat end of the tire iron beneath the edge of the mirror, thankful that whoever had installed the darn mirror in the first place had used those cheap stick-on mirrored squares. Maneuvering the tire iron up and down, then side to side, she was able to remove the first square without shattering it. “Someone take these as I break them loose.”

“Give them to me. I want to stomp on them,” Ida said, standing as close to the ladder as possible.

Exasperated, Sophie said, “You can’t do that, silly ass, you’ll hurt yourself. That’s what we’re trying to avoid.”

“I didn’t mean it literally, silly ass,” Ida shot back.

“Both of you shut up and take these before I drop them on your heads.” Toots handed two more squares of the tacky mirror to Ida. After thirty minutes of wedging, tugging, and pulling, Toots had removed all the mirrored squares from the ceiling. Mavis, ever the helping hand, stacked them into a neat pile in the corner. Toots climbed off the ladder and gazed up at her handiwork. The ceiling was stripped of the ugly mirrors, but the tattered drywall was just as ugly. The contractors couldn’t arrive soon enough as far as she was concerned. For a moment, she experienced more doubts about having purchased the place, but the view was so damned gorgeous, she wasn’t that far from Abby, and she had The Informer. She remembered she wasn’t going to live there year-round, as she still had her beautiful home in Charleston. That was where her heart remained, but for a while she would happily adjust to a new and different lifestyle in the land of glitter and glamour. She had to admit to herself, however, that she did not for one second like living in such disorder. Hell, it was a miracle that Ida could stomach such disarray, given her former affliction.

Patience, Toots, patience.

“Looks good, Toots. I think we should draw something for Ida to gaze at until the remodeling is complete, don’t you?” Sophie suggested.

Folding the ladder, then leaning it against the wall, Toots asked, “And what would you suggest?”

Enthusiastically, Mavis replied before Sophie had a chance, “A bright moon with lots of sparkling stars.”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “I was thinking of something more phallic, like a giant—”

“—Don’t even go there!” Toots said, grinning. Leave it to Sophie to turn an ordinary repair into something sexual. She needed a man in her life, one who would appreciate her warped sense of humor and love her for it. Someday, but Toots knew the timing was off. Even though Walter had kicked the bucket several months ago, Sophie had yet to realize she was completely free of his hold on her. Toots had observed her when she didn’t know she was being watched. If glass shattered, Sophie would react more strongly than the average person. At a door’s unexpectedly slamming, her eyes would widen in fear, then relax when Walter didn’t materialize. No, Sophie needed time to be herself. Toots didn’t see a man in her dear friend’s future just yet.

“I think we can leave it as is until the repairs are made. It’s not like I lie in bed at night and stare at the ceiling,” Ida said.

“True. With a man blocking your view, it would be hard,” Sophie added. “Especially if your eyes are closed while in the throes of passion.”

Ida almost choked. “What are you talking about?”

Sophie shook her head. “I don’t need to draw you a picture, Ida. You know—man on top, woman on bottom gazing into the eyes of her lover—the ceiling would be the last thing she would notice.”

“Apparently the former pop tart thought otherwise,” Toots said. “Or maybe she simply enjoyed the view. Either way, it’s gone, and now all we can do is wait for the repairs to be made.”

Ida let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “You’re right, Toots. Have you decided what colors you’re going to use in this room?” Ida wanted to change the subject. Something told her that Sophie’s little comment held more meaning than was immediately obvious, as though she knew about Ida’s midnight trysts, and offhand remarks were Sophie’s way of dropping a hint. No, Ida told herself. It wasn’t possible. She’d been extremely careful, making sure the girls were down for the night. Sophie had a dirty mind, that was all. Besides, if Sophie knew, she would come right out and say so. She wasn’t one to mince words. Ida relaxed. Her secret affair was safe. But for how long, she didn’t know. Soon they would have to make their romance public, because while Ida enjoyed the sex and Sammy’s company, she wasn’t as young as she used to be. Lack of sleep was beginning to take its toll on her.

“I thought I would let you make that decision, since this is officially your room,” Toots replied.

“Thanks, but this is your home, Toots…I’ll have to think about it. Maybe I should call Chloe; she did all my decorating in Manhattan. I’m sure she could come up with something acceptable, something you would feel comfortable calling your own.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” Sophie challenged.

Stung, Ida asked, “What do you mean? What am I not getting? I suppose you’re going to tell me how stupid I am.”

“You’re not stupid, Ida, just…” Sophie shrugged. “Toots wants this to be your room. You decide what you want. Not some fancy-ass decorator. Right, Toots?”

“Yes, that’s right. So as long as it’s not purple or pink, I think you might actually enjoy designing a room of your own. With your eye for detail, I think you will surprise yourself. After all, you’re a photographer. You know about light and color, that sort of thing.”

Ida surveyed the room. “Well, you’re right about that. I do know a thing or two about photography.” She smiled. Ida so wanted to tell them about her possible new assignment, but she would wait. “I suppose I would paint the walls a soft buttery yellow. Since the sun doesn’t rise or set on this side of the house, that would add some warmth to the room.” Perusing the room, Ida shook her head. “Yes, I would like to do this, Toots. Thank you for trusting me. This is your home. I do believe I might actually enjoy this little project.”

Smiling, Mavis said, “This is wonderful! Toots, you certainly know how to make people happy. Would it be too brazen of me to ask if you will allow me to do the same in my room?”

“No, it would not, and for Pete’s sake, stop acting so frigging formal, both of you! I bought this house for all of us. Now, when any of us wants to spend time with Abby, we’ll all have a place to stay. I’ll probably be here more than the rest of you since I’ve purchased The Informer. Just for the record, let’s say this house belongs to a mother and a few godmothers. It’ll be our own chick hangout.”

They all laughed.

“Chicks,” Mavis clucked. “I like the sound of that. I don’t think I’ve ever thought of myself as a chick, but with all the new beginnings in my life, I might as well add one more. I’m a hot, sexy chick!” Mavis laughed, blushing at her own silliness.

“You are, and you always have been. You just didn’t see it through all that…those layers,” Sophie said with a smile, knowing Mavis knew she was referring to the overweight version of her former self. “I don’t see how you’ve stuck to that vegan diet. I would’ve gagged, but for the record we’re all very pleased with you. Right, chicks?” Sophie looked to Toots and Ida for confirmation.

Both women agreed.

Toots spoke first. “Ida and Mavis have both come a long way in these past few months. I am very proud of you both.”

“And me?” Sophie questioned.

“You’re still full of shit, but you already know that. I think we’ve all grown, or rather made some positive changes in our lives. Losing Walter was your positive change, Sophie. Now let’s get this mess cleaned up.” Toots nodded toward the pile of glass squares in the corner. “If no one has anything on their agenda this afternoon, I say we all go out for a late lunch. Plus I’m dying for a cigarette.”

“I do wish you and Sophie would stop that nasty habit, Toots. Sorry, but I promised Coco a run on the beach, then a bath. I plan to spend the rest of the afternoon redesigning some of those outfits you bought me at Catherine’s, but I’ll take a rain check,” Mavis said sweetly.

“I’m going to be on the phone with my financial advisor. The time factor makes it hard to stay in touch. I promised him I would free up my afternoon for him,” Ida lied with a straight face. What she planned was a long soak in the tub, even if she did have to stare at all of those Elvis figures. And then a nice long nap. She might just sleep the afternoon away.

“Then I guess that leaves just you and me,” Toots said to Sophie. “Unless you have something planned.”

“No, but remember you wanted to switch bedrooms? The mattress? Your back?”

“Yes, of course, but that won’t take all afternoon. We’ll do that first, then reward ourselves with a long, leisurely lunch at the Polo Lounge. We haven’t been there lately.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Sophie scooped up several squares of the mirror. “Let’s get this cleaned up. Come on, ladies, we can have this done in a heartbeat if we all pitch in.”

With each of them taking a stack of the still-intact mirror squares out to the garage and placing them in an empty box Toots found, the job was done after several trips. They all agreed that they’d done just about enough work for one day.

“Let’s switch our rooms and call it a day,” Toots said. “I have visions of a tall, frothy cold drink laced with all sorts of bad stuff just waiting for me. I have to say our tasteless pop tart did leave plenty of booze behind.”

“Yeah, she had to. Remember, she went to that rehab clinic in Mexico? The Informer was the first paper to break the news.”