“I’m still sorry that happened while we weren’t here.” She squeezed his arms. “But why did Zhang find you working in a random awful kitchen? If you needed new work until we got back, why didn’t you come here, to the Magnolia?”

“Or to the Dragon House?” Zhang added. “If you want to wash dishes, we have dishes, and we don’t exploit our staff.”

Rory visibly swallowed. “I wasn’t gonna impose on your families when they gotta look out for each other,” he said, as he wrapped his arms around himself. “Your real families, like Mrs. B is gonna have now. I’m just—you know.” He awkwardly shrugged. “It’s just me.”

Oh, Christ. Arthur covered his face. “Jade, make him stop. I told him I’m angry and now he’s breaking my heart—it’s not fair play.”

Jade waved Arthur quiet. “Come on,” she said gently, to Rory. “Come inside and see if you still think you’re just you.”

She took him by the hand and tugged. Rory furrowed his brow but obediently followed her.

Arthur followed just behind as they walked past the hall with the office and dressing room, down into the actual club. Stella was singing in dazzling sequins, and at the foot of her stage, two small round tables had been pushed together. The tables were covered in full glasses and several people were already crowded into the seats. Zhang’s cousin Ling was among them, looking lovely in a cloche hat, sitting close to Pavel in a nice suit and Sasha, whose new bob was held in place by a feathered headband. Pavel and Ling were talking together, while Sasha’s eyes were fixed on Stella and the band.

Jade clapped her hands once. “Drinks, pass out the drinks! Everyone together, at the foot of the stage!”

Arthur moved into the tight knot of his friends as waiters were suddenly passing around wide-brimmed champagne glasses. Arthur accepted one and took a sniff. Sparkling grape juice—he should have expected that at the paranormal table.

He snagged a passing waiter. “Pardon me,” he said, “but do you have anything else special to drink tonight? Maybe a little stronger? Or a lot stronger?”

The waiter nodded in understanding. “Be right back.”

Jade was speaking seriously with a flapper who had a cigar clenched between her teeth and a large camera in her hands. As Stella brought “Everybody Loves My Baby” to a close, her gaze fell on Rory, then to Jade questioningly. Jade nodded, and Stella smiled wickedly, and Arthur was pretty sure he heard someone in the crowd swoon.

She turned to her band and said something too quiet for the crowd. Then she turned around. “And now for a little something special,” she said, leaning forward to accept the glass Zhang held up to the stage for her. She raised her glass. “A toast! To a young man turning twenty-one today.”