His reflection in the mirror was a bit off center. “The timing is lousy. I wish you’d gotten a goldfish. Doesn’t cry at night.” He lifted her chin. “I’ll be talking to Ashford about a few other things anyway.”

Her broad smile was cut short as a beep sounded from Wade's Palm Pilot in the next room. He stepped out to get it, glancing at the sky outside. “We’ll have a full seven hours of good light for the shooting.”

“Last night’s production went off like a military campaign. You were incredible,” she said. The myriad details Wade handled never ceased to baffle and amaze her. “I trust that today’s will be the same.” He had hired an award-winning former NBC executive producer to document the entire China tour and to coordinate all the independent network directors. He was shooting footage to sell to TNN, PBS, foreign affiliates and for her own music video, which Wade would distribute through record stores, Internet music retailers and her website. And even if separate crews for HBO, VH1 and MTV were a royal pain with their shooting of disjointed parts of various songs, the presence of them all affirmed her recent move to the top.

Wade tapped the end of an imaginary cigar. “You ain’t seen nothing yet. Five more cities to go.” He checked his Rolex and told Leslie, “Have her ready at ten for the media interviews here. Extra, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood and several others Roberta has lined up.” He punched some keys on his organizer. “I have to make some phone calls.”

“The first of which is the ambassador,” Nola said.

“Is that your idea of a souvenir from China?” He laughed. The first time she had heard that carefree laugh, it sounded like a pot full of coins tossed up in the air. Only someone who had grown up with loving parents could laugh like that, she had thought. She had loved those parents even before they took her, a teenage orphan, into their bosom.

And she still liked his laughter. She should try harder to make their marriage work. Everyone made adjustments. She kissed Wade's cheek. “Thanks for understanding.”

When he closed the door behind him, she jumped up in delight, her arms up in a V. “He’s recovering from the shock,” she told Leslie.

“He’s flummoxed. It’s like you stopped taking the pill and didn’t consult him. The poor guy didn’t even have nine months to get used to the idea.”