“Oh yeah,” Charlene said. She grinned at Robbie. “She’ll be fine. It’s not the first time my dad has popped up in her life.”

“So, he has tried to make contact with you?” Mary asked.

“Only after my career was on the rise,” Charlene said. “I happened to take my first newscaster job at a station that he owned. I was there for a year before he figured it out, and that was only because I won an award for investigative journalism. When I got word that he wanted to set up a meeting with me, I quickly took another job at a station in another city, one that he didn’t own. I haven’t worked for any of his stations since.”

“I’m trying not to be nosy,” Mary said. “And I’m failing miserably. So I have to ask: Weren’t you curious to meet him?”

“When I was younger, sure,” Charlene said. “But by the time I finished college, I was so over it. You see, when Mom got pregnant with me, my father told her that his life plan did not include parenting. She was heartbroken, but she didn’t want to tie him to a life he didn’t want, so she chose to have me on her own. My mother is a remarkable woman.”

“Here, here,” Robbie agreed, causing them all to laugh.

“So, why do you suppose your father sent that toad here?” Lindsey asked. “It seems he must have an ulterior motive.”

“I have no idea,” Charlene said. “It could be that he doesn’t know Harvey is reviewing Mom’s show. There is some history there as well.”

Mary, Lindsey and Beth gave her a horrified look.

“No, not that kind of history,” Charlene said.

Robbie choked down a bite of salad. “Ugh, please, just the thought of Violet in a relationship with that wart puts me off my food.”

“No, theirs is an old grudge from their Broadway days, which includes you as well, Robbie,” Charlene said.

“Yes, Harvey has hated both Charlene and I since he trashed our show and then we both went on to win Tony Awards for it,” he said. “It’s as if he took it personally that we were good and he was wrong about the show. And they say actors are narcissists; I’d say critics are far worse.”

“So you don’t think your father sent Harvey?” Beth asked.

“I don’t know. He’s pretty high up to be concerned with what his minions are doing. Then again . . .”

“It does seem odd, doesn’t it?” Lindsey asked.

“I’m going to check on my mom,” Charlene said. “Come with me, Robbie?”

“Of course,” he said. He polished off his food and gave the crafternooners a charming half bow. “The pleasure was mine, ladies.”

Lindsey had to squash the urge to stand up and curtsey in return.