Free This Loving Feeling (A Mirror Lake Novel) by Miranda Liasson Page B

committee in charge of raising money for its restoration.
    “We’re still a million dollars short to get matching funds from the state grant that expires this year,” Alethea said. “We could use a high-profile star to perform at the benefit to bring in the bucks.”
    “Wait,” Sam said. “What do you mean we need a star? I thought we were going with that actor who had a little run on Broadway.”
    “The one that sings in that lounge off Route 95?” Jess asked.
    “He had a wedding to sing at,” Alethea said.
    Effie sighed. “And John Mayer said no.”
    What? Did they actually think John Mayer would come to Mirror Lake?
    “Maybe we should try Barbra Streisand,” Gloria said. “She’d look so regal standing there in our beautiful theater, with the exotic palace setting and the twinkling stars and her glorious voice . . .”
    “I can’t deny Babs is like buttah , Gloria,” Jess said, “but she hardly ever does live appearances. Ed Sheeran’s in New York that weekend. Maybe he could stop over for a couple hours.”
    John Mayer? Ed Sheeran? Barbra? They were shooting for the stars with no time left to spare . She could understand the old ladies being too far out to reel back in but Jess too? “Jess, do you really think—”
    “Oh, I love that young man,” Gloria clapped her hands together. “He’s got that lovely red hair like Prince Harry.”
    Something caught Sam’s eye. Stevie was waving both his arms wildly, trying to attract her attention. “Sam. Sammy. Watch this!” He’d wound his blanket around his head to look like a mummy (with all the holes and shreds it came very close to looking exactly like that), and he’d flung his arms out stiffly in front of him and swayed back and forth.
    “Now there’s a cute boyfriend for you,” Effie said. “That child is adorable.”
    At that moment Lukas turned around, maybe sensing that all five women were staring his way. His gaze suddenly locked with Sam’s. She immediately looked down and studied the contents of her folder.
    “I think someone else has an eye out for you, too,” Effie said in a singsong voice.
    “Speaking of the devil, maybe you should ask Lukas if he’d sing at the benefit,” Jess said in a dead-serious voice. “Time is getting short.”
    Sam sent her now-former best friend the Glare of Death.
    Jess held her hands up in defense. “Just an idea. We need a commitment on paper or this theater project is going to flop, right when we’re down to the last stretch.”
    Sam bit her lip, lest she remind them that procuring the entertainment hadn’t been her job. It was their job. Which they’d failed to do.
    “After all this hard work,” Effie said solemnly. Her compadres nodded.
    “Besides,” Jess said, “you two go way back and with him being the hometown son and all, he’d certainly attract a crowd.”
    “Um, no. I’m not asking him.” Sam looked down at her stupid folder then back up at everyone. She’d never seen so many I’m-so-disappointed-in-you looks in her life.
    “There’s always Victor Irving,” Effie said.
    Oh, God. Never!
    “Isn’t he, like, ninety?” Jess said exactly what Sam was thinking, but Sam shot her a poignant look that signaled senior alert until she got the hint. “I mean, um, not that there’s anything wrong with being ninety or anything, but—”
    “He’s not ninety. May I remind you, young lady,” Alethea said, “Tony Bennett did that CD with Lady Gaga, who positively worships him. Age has nothing to do with talent.”
    In this case, it definitely did. Victor was a one-hit wonder from the seventies who never turned down an opportunity to perform.
    Sam pinched her nose. “Okay, I’ll ask.”
    “Bravo!” Alethea said.
    “Brilliant!” Gloria chimed in.
    “Okay. Are there any other orders of business?”
    Jess slid another folder in front of Sam. “We have one homeowner who bought a lakefront bungalow. The architectural review committee vetoed his addition because it violates