As Jimmy and Adam talked, they noticed Gloria standing at the door, checking her coat. She looked better than ever. Her dark purple dress was slimming. She also wore makeup — base, eye liner, lipstick — the works, for the first time since Adam had known her. Adam caught Jimmy staring. “What d’ya think, Jimmy?”
“Wow, she looks good! You know, maybe you could formally introduce me?”
There was definitely something in the air. A certain type of energy swirled throughout Nye’s. As Gloria approached Adam, he excitedly moved toward her and gave her a big hug. “You look amazing! Stunning!”
Gloria blushed and recoiled. She wasn’t used to compliments about the way she looked. “Thanks,” she said, diverting her eyes downward.
Jimmy couldn’t wait another second to be introduced. “Hi, I’m Jimmy Pryzbylski, the owner,” he said, practically knocking Adam out of the way. “I love your voice. I’ve been a fan for a long time,” he said, even though he had never really noticed her until Adam insisted Gloria perform. Gloria lit up. “What would you like to drink?” he asked.
“Whatever you suggest is fine. A white wine would be nice.”
“A Rabbit Ridge Pinot Grigio 1994 for the lady,” he called out to his bartender like a wine aficionado. Gloria was impressed. Jimmy seemed to know just about everybody who came to Nye’s that night, or at least acted like he did. A stream of people came up to Jimmy and said hello. He introduced all of them to Adam and Gloria. After several scotches, he began to call her “The Lovely Gloria.”
Adam continually surveyed the room, hoping that nobody there knew him. This was a side of him he wasn’t ready to share with anyone. He was glad he had arrived early. The several drinks helped. For a set that was to be sung by two nobodies, Nye’s was buzzing. Maybe it was due to the fact that this had been the only change in nearly half a century. By a quarter to nine, Adam and Gloria were huddled around Eunice and the organ. Adam handed Eunice a small cardboard box from a local florist. “Here, I want you to wear this,” he said, as she pulled out a white rose and baby’s breath corsage.
Page 109
