“What’s a Maisy Adams?” Ruth asked.

Mama laid her hand on Ruth’s shoulder. “This is my daughter, Ruth. She’s twelve. Ruth, this is Miss Carlotta DiSalvo. She’s going to be singing for us each night. Normally she’s on the showboat Maisy Adams, but it’s in for repairs in Coinjock. Got hit by that storm that rolled through here in May.”

Miss Carlotta extended a white-gloved hand. “It’s a pleasure, Ruth.”

Ruth wiped her hand on her skirt before taking Miss Carlotta’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Miss DiSalvo.”

“Call me Carlotta. Everyone does.”

Mama wasn’t fond of using first names. Said it was never a good idea to get too well acquainted with the guests and summer staff. “And this is my niece Talley Jones,” Mama said. “She’ll be with us for the summer.”

“Talley,” Carlotta said. “A pleasure.”

Talley curtsied. “Yes, ma’am.”

“What’s the dog’s name?” Ruth asked.

Carlotta scratched the little white dog between the ears, and the pup’s eyes drifted closed. “Her name is Whiskey. You’ll have to excuse her. She’s a little old and sometimes drifts off to sleep.”

“She’s so tiny,” Ruth said. “She looks like a puppy.”

“She’s twelve,” Carlotta said.

“Like me.”

“Yes,” Carlotta said.

“Carlotta, why don’t you let me show you to your cottage?” Mama said. Beside the hotel were three small cottages that the Wheelers had bought cheap during the war. One was their home, and the other two they saved for guests who stayed more than a month.

Talley stared at the woman with a mixture of shock and awe.

“What do you sing?”

“Show tunes, mostly. Come and see. I open tonight.”

“Carlotta,” Mama said. “Your cottage is the gray one with the blue shutters.” Mama pointed, and Carlotta tipped her sunglasses down a fraction, exposing vibrant green eyes that tracked Mama’s outstretched hand.

“Lovely. Is there parking there?”

“Under the house,” Mama said. “I’ll meet you over there.”

“You can ride with me.”

Mama slid her hands over her blue dress, which had lost some of its luster. Her red lipstick had also dimmed, and the lines feathering around her eyes had deepened. “Be quicker if I walk.”

“Are you sure?” Carlotta asked. “I promise not to drive too fast.”

“Best I walk.”

“Can I ride with her?” Ruth asked.

“Maybe some other time,” Mama said. “You need to be ready for the guests.”

Carlotta’s green eyes vanished back behind the dark glasses. “There’s plenty of time for a ride for Ruth and Talley.”

Talley looked up, her face full of awe, as if she were standing next to a real movie star. “I’d like that.”

“Then the three of us will all go for a ride.”

Talley clapped her hands together. “That really would be swell.”

“On second thought, Ruth, could you do me a favor?” Carlotta said. “Can you give Whiskey a cup of water and then walk her to the cottage? I’ll have her blanket ready for her.”

“Sure.”

Carlotta leaned closer, her spicy perfume summoning a bigger world that hovered beyond the waters of the sound. “I promise I’ll take you for a ride soon.”