Del said, ‘The drowned-rat look is simply the latest thing, very chic.’
‘You shouldn’t joke about such things, darling. The world is ugly enough these days, as it is.’
‘Mom, I’d like you to meet Tommy Phan.’
‘Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Payne.’
Taking his offered hand in both of hers, Del’s mother said, ‘Call me Julia.’
‘Thank you, Julia. I’m-’
‘Or Rosalyn.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Or Winona.’
‘Winona?’
‘Or even Lilith. They’re all names I quite like.’
Not sure how to respond to her offer of four names, Tommy said, ‘That’s a beautiful ao dais you’re wearing.’
‘Thank you, dear. It is lovely, isn’t it? And so comfort-able. There’s a charming lady in Garden Grove who hand sews them.’
‘I think my mother may buy from the same woman.’
Del said, ‘Mom, Tommy is the one.’
Julia Rosalyn Winona Lilith Payne – or whatever her name was – raised her eyebrows. ‘Is he?’
Absolutely,’ said Del.
Mrs. Payne let go of Tommy’s hand and, oblivious of his wet clothes, embraced him, hugged him tightly, and kissed his cheek. ‘This is wonderful, just wonderful.’
Tommy wasn’t sure what was happening. Releasing him, Mrs. Payne turned to her daughter, and they hugged, laughed, all but jumped up and down like a couple of excited schoolgirls.
‘We’ve had the most wonderful night,’ Del said.
Her mother said, ‘Tell me, tell me.’
‘I set the yacht on fire and crashed it into the Balboa Island sea wall.’
Mrs. Payne gasped and put one hand against her breast as if to quiet her heart. ‘Deliverance, how exciting! You must tell me all about it.’
‘Tommy rolled his new Corvette.’
Wide-eyed, apparently delighted, Mrs. Payne regarded him with what might have been admiration. ‘Rolled a new Corvette?’
‘I didn’t plan to,’ he assured her.
‘How many times did you roll it?’
At least twice.’
And then,’ Del said, ‘it burst into flames!’
All this in one night!’ Mrs. Payne exclaimed. ‘Sit down, sit down, I must have all the details.’
‘We can’t stay long,’ Tommy said. ‘We’ve got to keep moving-’
‘We’ll be safe here for a little while,’ Del said, plopping into one of the commodious leather armchairs.
As Mrs. Payne returned to her chair, she said, ‘We should have coffee – or brandy if you need it.’
‘Mummingford is already bringing coffee and pas-tries,’ Del said.
Scootie entered the room and padded directly to Mrs. Payne. She was so petite and the chair was so wide that there was room for both her and the Labrador. The dog curled up with its massive black head in her lap.
‘Scootie-wootums have fun too?’ Mrs. Payne asked as she petted the mutt. Indicating the radio, she said, ‘Oh, this is a lovely number.’ Although the volume was low, she could identify the tune. ‘Artie Shaw, “Begin the Beguine.”
Del said, ‘I like it too. By the way, mother, it’s not just burning yachts and cars. There’s an entity involved.’
‘An entity? This just gets better and better,’ said Mrs. Payne. ‘What sort of entity?’
‘Well, I haven’t identified it yet, haven’t had time, what with all the running and chasing,’ Del said. ‘But it started out as a devil doll with a curse note pinned to the hand.’
To Tommy, Mrs. Payne said, ‘This doll was delivered to you?’
‘Yes. I-’
‘By whom?’
‘It was left on my doorstep. I think Vietnamese gangs- ‘And you picked it up and brought it into your house?’
‘Yes. I thought-’
Mrs. Payne clucked her tongue and wagged one finger at him. ‘Dear boy, you shouldn’t have brought it into your house. In this sort of situation, the entity can’t become animate and do you harm unless you invite it across your threshold.’
‘But it was just a little rag doll-’
‘Yes, of course, a little rag doll but that’s not what it is now, is it?’
Leaning forward in his chair, agitated, Tommy said, ‘I’m amazed that you just accept all of this so easily.’
‘Why wouldn’t I?’ Mrs. Payne asked, clearly surprised by his statement. ‘If Del says there’s an entity, then I’m sure there’s an entity. Del is no fool.’
Mummingford entered the music room, pushing a tea cart laden with china, a silver coffee urn, and pastries.