“No. Gordon’s afraid the Soviets will set off the bomb, so he’s having them dig a bomb shelter. I told him it’ll have to have enough room for Josefina too.” She nodded toward the pool, where the nanny played with the children. “Gordon says we gave the Soviets far too much when they were our allies, and in Korea—”

“Even the word Korea makes my head hurt.” I felt cross and unsettled. The heat bore down, even through the bougainvillea arbor. “I voted for Stevenson.”

“Don’t tell Gordon that.” She lit up, took a deep drag.

“When do I ever talk to Gordon? To him I’m just your immature kid sister.”

“I have informed him you’re not immature, you’re a romantic with an overactive imagination, and you’ll grow out of it when you get married and make someone a fine wife just like me.”

I’ve no idea how she met Gordon. Polo grounds, maybe? At the country club tennis tournament? Someone’s yacht? He was from Chicago, candidly ambitious, handsome in a freckled, redheaded way, good on the tennis court, and an avid sailor. He was still wearing his naval officer’s uniform at their wedding in 1945. After the War, Gordon didn’t merely go to work for Leon—within a year he became the de facto operating chief of Empire Pictures. He also became the son Leon lost, precious and beloved. Gordon can do no wrong in Leon’s eyes. Gordon’s children can do no wrong in Leon’s eyes. I think Leon must be going blind.

“What are you doing out and about?” Irene lowered her pregnant self on the chaise. I plopped down beside her. “Isn’t it a workday?”

“I’m supposed to be delivering scripts,” I said sourly. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her about Irv. “But I’m playing hooky.”

“I’ve never understood what would possess you to want to be an agent, but it doesn’t matter.” She waved a graceful hand, as though dusting cobwebs. “Your career days are coming to a close. It’s time you got married, and I’m looking for your husband. You’re twenty-two, you know. If you don’t marry soon, you’ll fade like a dress left too long on a shop-window mannequin.”

“Is that why you married Gordon? Because you thought you were fading? You are beautiful, Irene! You’ve always been beautiful.”