“Noon? I could stop by your office, and we can walk down together.”
“How about I meet you there at twelve?”
“Great. See you then.”
Dot smiled and thought about what she’d wear the following day. She might have to raid Mary’s closet.
After she hung up with Danny, Dot headed back to the primary party. The results were starting to come in. It looked like Lopez was going to prevail. Dot stood next to Fletcher trying to concentrate on the Virginia vote tally, but she was daydreaming about lunch with Danny.
When the deejay played “Georgia on My Mind” they knew it was a lock. Lucy Lopez had won. The Democrats were really going to roll the dice on this one. A young, single Latina as their nominee? It was equal parts exciting and terrifying.
Dot’s phone buzzed again. Kitty Bell was texting her Wisconsin FTW team.
“Got insider info that Stone’s backing out before New York primary. Lopez will be nominee.”
“Oh my gosh—that’s amazing. Think she can win in Nov?” Dot responded.
“Huge challenge, but she’s a winner. I can feel it. Talk in an hour?” Kitty was raring to go.
Fletcher and Dot looked up from their phones and waved Rose over to them.
“We better get going,” Fletcher said, noting they had information that no one else in the community center had.
“Yes, let’s head out,” Dot said, feeling invigorated by the news. She was drawn to Lopez and wanted to help her win the White House. “We have more history to make.”
Chapter 37
The Crew called an Uber and arrived at the Cedar Falls Inn just as Jake, Tommy, and Danny were walking in from the parking lot. Wisconsin was experiencing an “oh crap what happened to spring” heat wave and all of them were anxious to get inside the supper club’s cool air.
Jake held the door for them and shook his head.
“New York. You are trouble with a capital T.”
“What makes you say that?” Mary asked, walking right past him in her red strapless short summer dress and five-inch-tall black sandals. She carried a white cotton cardigan in case she got cold or there was a need for a touch of modesty.
They walked to the hostess stand and were greeted by the owner and her son.
“Well, well, well,” Melinda Meier said when she saw Danny and the Taylors. “If you all haven’t grown up into the pride of Cedar Falls!” Melinda was in her eighties and had known the boys their entire lives.
“Hi, Mrs. Meier. Mom and Dad said to give you their best.” Jake kissed her cheek.
“Well tell them to come in. It’s been an age.”
“They insisted we bring our new friends to meet you and have a traditional Wisconsin experience for them to remember,” Tommy said.
“Yes, this is Dot, Mary, and Harper,” Jake said, gesturing to The Crew. “They’re living in town for a year. They’re from Manhattan—New York, not Kansas.”
“All the way from New York! Well, welcome to the Cedar Falls Inn.” Melinda shook each of their hands with both of her own. “You’re all so pretty. And dressed up! Customers used to dress to the nines when they came to the supper club. But things change.” She sighed, remembering the good old days. “Anyway. I hope you’re hungry.”
“I’m always hungry,” Mary said. “What’s your specialty?”
“Prime rib. But the walleye is fresh tonight, too, if you want fish. Oh, and we have Jack Czarnecki performing tonight. He can sing just like Frank Sinatra. Close your eyes and you’ll think it’s Frank, who actually sang here when my grandfather opened this place.”
“Sinatra! I never thought I’d get to see him live.” Dot was charmed by the proprietress.
“We’ll make sure you have a nice night,” Melinda said, putting an arm around Mary’s waist. “My goodness aren’t you just the tiniest thing. We need to feed you.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll eat,” Mary said.