Then he turned to Bess, who seemed more than a little flustered. “This one is for you, love,” he murmured, giving her the flowers.
“Oh, Rick, thank you,” she cried, letting down her guard. For a minute, Nancy almost felt sorry that she had been thinking of him as such a heel. She was sure the flowers were his way of saying he was sorry for toying with Bess’s emotions.
But the hopeful light went out of her eyes when he explained, “They’re from Pappas. He asked us to give them to you.”
“Pappas sent us flowers?” asked Nancy incredulously.
“Oh, he’s really a teddy bear,” said Mattie. “And he’s on top of the world now that the show’s back on track.”
“He even agreed to cancel my contract with no hard feelings,” Rick said, laughing. “In fact, he’s already written it into the script. I’m getting killed next week, and I go to work on my feature the week after. Ironic, isn’t it? Rick Arlen lives, but Rory Danner bites the dust!”
“And Pappas rehired everyone that he fired,” Mattie added. “All thanks to you, Nancy.”
Nancy’s eyes twinkled. Nothing beat the wonderful feeling she always had after solving a case. “I’m glad I could be of some help,” was all she could say.
“But the best news of all is—” Rick flashed Mattie a million-dollar smile. “Shall I tell them, or do you want to?”
Mattie beamed. “You go ahead.”
“Mattie has agreed to marry me,” he announced proudly. “We’re flying to her parents’ house next weekend. All this made me realize that there’s only one woman in the world for me.” He looked somber for a moment, adding, “Thank goodness it wasn’t too late.”
Nancy noticed that Rick avoided Bess’s eyes as he spoke. “Well,” Nancy said, “that’s great news, you two. Congratulations.” Looking over at her friend, Nancy could tell that Bess wished she were in Mattie’s shoes. “Well, we’d better get going, though,” Nancy said. “See you next time we’re in New York!”
With that, and a final squeeze of her aunt’s hand, Nancy put her arm around Bess’s shoulders and walked past the Passengers Only sign.
“I’m sorry it worked out like this, Bess,” she told her friend. News like that had to hurt.
“Oh, it’s okay,” Bess said and sighed. “I’m just so tired.”
Nancy adjusted the strap of her carry-on bag with a weary smile. “I know what you mean. After a vacation like this, we really need a vacation!”
“So tell me,” said George, leaning forward over a hot fudge sundae and crinkling her nose. “Is Rick Arlen really as gorgeous in real life as he is on TV?”
Nancy looked over at Bess, wondering how she would respond.
“Not nearly,” Bess replied. “He’s kind of short, and those fabulous blue eyes are really contacts.”
Nancy rolled her eyes. Bess was laying it on just a little thick.
“And you actually had a date with him?” George was practically shouting. Bess just turned her face away. “I can’t believe it!” George went on. “I’m so jealous! What was he like? What did you do?”
“Uh, George—she doesn’t want to talk about it,” Nancy warned, finally able to interrupt.
“Oh, I get it.” George nodded. “Well, you did get to be on television—and on ‘Danner’s Dream,’ ” she exclaimed cheerfully.
“Yeah—” Bess sighed. “But seeing how actors and actresses really live, and how hard they work, I don’t know. I’ve been thinking of becoming a model instead.” With that, she took an enormous mouthful of strawberry ice cream.
“Oh, really?” Nancy said skeptically. “Will you go on your famous ice cream diet?”
“She’s got to look her sundae best,” quipped George in reply.
Bess, however, was not amused. “Lay off, you two, will you?” she said testily. “I’m depressed enough as it is.”
“Sorry, Bess,” said Nancy. “There’ll be other guys.”
“Not for me,” Bess insisted, shaking her head vehemently. “I’m through with men forever.” She put down her spoon and gazed out the window dejectedly.
Suddenly her attention was caught by someone passing in front of the window—someone tall, male, and very good-looking. “Hey, who is that?” she asked eagerly. “He must be new in town. I never would have missed someone like that.”