Page 57 of Gray Hair Don't Care
“Did Lela show you her pile of fan mail?” Donovan asked. “She gets letters every day. From all over the world.”
“No. She didn’t. Lela, honey, why didn’t you show us your mail?” Deb seemed gravely concerned.
“Next time, Mom. We’re on a schedule, right? You guys want to get in your final stops before you fly home tomorrow.”
“That’s true,” Deb admitted.
“What’s on the agenda?” Donovan asked.
“I want to go to that big candy store in Times Square. The one with the little cartoon characters,” Deb said. “Just to pick up a few things for my book club.”
“Oh, sure,” Ben said. “Like you aren’t going to buy a bunch of stuff for yourself.”
“I do love my chocolate.”
“Mom, you can get any chocolate you want in this city. You wantthatchocolate?” Lela asked.
“I do. I love it. Plus, it’s fun to go there.”
Donovan laughed, but he also sensed Lela’s agony. Doing touristy stuff when you’ve lived in New York for a long time was a labor that only love could make worthwhile.
“After that, we’re grabbing some pizza for their last dinner in town. I was thinking I’d take them to John’s.”
Donovan’s stomach rumbled. He hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. He’d also been working non-stop. Air and some fun seemed in order. After all, Delia had told him to devote more energy to relaxation, and he’d seen the effects for himself with Echo. “Would you three like some company?”
Pure surprise crossed Lela’s face, but it was her dad who spoke up first. “I was just about to invite you along.”
Donovan knew he’d always liked Ben. “Perfect. Lela and I haven’t been to John’s in a while.”
“Years,” Lela said, arching both eyebrows at him.
“Right.”
The four of them swung by Echo’s office so Donovan could let her know he’d be gone for the rest of the day. The look on her face after he told her what he was doing and with whom he was going was pretty obvious. She knew something was up. He was glad they’d had a chance to talk about it earlier.
In the elevator on the way down to the JTI lobby, Donovan broached the subject of the wisdom of Lela in a large crowd of people. “Lela, are you okay walking around Times Square? Are people going to bother you?”
“I feel like I’m more anonymous in large crowds. It’s when there aren’t a ton of people that I seem to get spotted. I’ll just wear my sunglasses.”
“You do realize they don’t hide your hair.”
“Of course. But hopefully people will just think gray hair is hot now, and won’t know it’s me.”
They strolled up 8thAvenue and then cut over on 48thStreet. Inside the store, it was a visual assault of colorful confections and candy characters with arms, legs, and goofy faces, all to be enjoyed while the heavythump thumpof dance music played in the background. Ben and Deb were quickly off on their own, heading up to the second and third floors, which left Donovan and Lela to browse on the ground floor until they were finished.
“Can I interest you in a pillow that looks like a giant piece of candy? I think it would look great with your new furniture,” Donovan said to Lela.
She pretended to ponder the purple velour piece of decor. “You know, I’m worried it will just make me want to eat chocolate all the time. But thanks.”
They wound around a display of snow globes and plastic Statue of Liberty figurines. “How’s your week been with your parents? I feel like I’ve hardly seen you.”
“It’s been great, but I’m ready for them to go home. It’s a whole lot of love and family bonding.”
Donovan shrugged. “Sounds pretty good to me.”
“It is. It’s the best. It just makes me feel a little stifled. Like I almost wish they would criticize me for something. I can do no wrong.”
“Is that why you didn’t show them the fan mail?”
