“Everything?” Archie asked.
“Well, not everything,” I said, reaching over and running my fingers through his hair. “But it makes me very happy to be on that stage, you know that.”
“I sure do,” he said. “But I think there are other things that could make you happy too.”
“Oh, really?”
Archie leaned in and kissed me. His soft lips on mine, his smooth, clean-shaven cheeks, the hint of his cologne, it made me forget everything else for a moment. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me toward him.
“You make me happy,” I said.
He began to unbutton my blouse, but there was a knock at the door.
“The oysters,” I said, giggling.
“Don’t go anywhere,” he said, straightening himself up and tucking in his shirt. “Stay right where you are.”
I lay on the bed and listened as he opened the door. “Right here will be fine, thank you,” Archie said. “Oh, and we’ll be needing two glasses sent up.”
“I see,” the waiter said. “I’ll send them right away.”
When Archie returned with a silver cart, a tower of oysters and an ice bucket, I told him about the way the staff had treated me in the Palm Court with my mother.
“They suggested that I was some kind of prostitute, staying in your suite while you were away,” I said. “Honestly, they were terribly rude, in front of my mother, too.”
“That’s terrible! We can’t have your reputation tarnished like that. I thought since I was away on business they would understand you were simply my guest, but I think I’ve been too greedy, wanting to spend so much time with you. Maybe I should get you a suite of your own.”
“No, I have my own apartment. I suppose I should stay there once in a while.”
“But darling,” he added as he opened his closet and took out a bottle of champagne from his stash and placed it on ice, “it’s unheard of for a woman to smoke at the Plaza.”
“How was I supposed to know? Where do you get that from, anyway?” I asked, nodding toward the bottle.
“From Europe via Canada via a guy named Eddie.”
“Aren’t you going to open it?”
“Not until it’s cold.”
“Just put some ice chips in mine, it will be fine.”
He shook his head. “That would be a sin, to put ice chips in Moët and Chandon. Do you know how hard it is to get your hands on this?”
I grabbed it from his hands, popped the cork to the ceiling and took a sip. “It’s not that difficult,” I said with a grin.
Archie threw up his arms in defeat, collapsed onto the bed next to me and took a swig from the bottle.
“Anyway, why is it unheard of for a woman to smoke here?”
“It just is, it’s the Plaza. I’m sorry I didn’t warn you. And your poor mother.”
“Well, that wasn’t the only thing that disappointed my mother.”
“Go on.”
“The waiter let on that I’d been staying here, with you, and she was horrified.”
“Oh, Olive. Would it help if you introduced me, to show them that I’m a respectable gentleman?” he asked, continuing to unbutton my blouse.
“Respectable?”
“As respectable as they come,” he said, kissing my neck.
“The best thing we can do right now is lay low. I certainly don’t want her to tell my father—he’ll disown me for good if he knows I’ve been staying here with you as an unwed woman.”
“Agreed. I haven’t even met him yet, I certainly don’t want him to have a bad opinion of me.” He drank from the bottle. “I have an idea,” he said suddenly. “Let’s get away from all of this. Let’s go upstate to the Adirondacks this week. I have some business to take care of up there, and nothing would make me happier than to have you join me. We can stay at the Pines again.” He looked at me to gauge my interest. “Come on, it’s beautiful at this time of year. With all that hoopla at the club tonight, I think getting out of the city and spending a few days in the country is probably exactly what you need.”
“It sounds lovely, but I have to be back at the theater in a week, that sounds like a quick turnaround.”
“We can leave tomorrow. I just have something I need to take care of in the morning, then we’ll take my train car, no waiting around. I’ll have it connected to the most direct trains and we’ll get there in less than twenty-four hours. I’ll make sure you enjoy the journey as much as the destination.”
* * *
He wasn’t kidding. We boarded the train early and were greeted by the same butler I’d met the first time I saw his railcar.
We sat on the two-seater facing the windows.
“I do love a good adventure,” I said, smiling.
“And I love your spontaneity,” Archie said. “I could tell from the minute you flew off that stage and landed in my arms that you had a wild streak in you.” He ran his fingers across my wrist, and just one touch sent a shiver up my arm. I felt like a teenager around him.
“I’ve always been thrilled by the feeling of not knowing what comes next,” I said. “I’ve craved that feeling of excitement since I was a child, but growing up my family didn’t share that sentiment.” I leaned back on the plush down-filled cushions. “They wanted to know what their immediate future held, they were a family of planners and organizers, with routines and schedules and set dinnertimes. I’ve always been the outsider in that regard. I’m telling you, even what we ate for dinner was planned out. On Mondays, we had baked ham with carrots and peas. Tuesdays, lamb chops and mashed potatoes. Wednesdays, my father met friends at the club, so we had leftover baked ham sandwiches and apple jelly. Thursday was broiled veal cutlets and fried tomatoes.”
“That would drive me crazy,” Archie said.
“It was the same thing week after week. If there was a change to be made, and that was a rare occurrence, my mother wrote it on the blackboard in the kitchen. Every day was so predictable.”
I thought back to the conversation I’d had with my mother at the kitchen table before I moved out of their house in Flatbush, her hint at disdain for her domesticated life. I’d always been so resentful of those mundane dinners, I’d never considered for a moment that she might feel the same way.
“Maybe that’s why you grew up to be such a daring thing,” he said. “You rebelled against the routine.”
“Probably.”
Early that evening after lounging all day, watching out the window as the countryside flew past us, enjoying card games, Archie told me it was time to dress for dinner and presented me with a gift box wrapped in a large silver bow.
“May I?” he asked before he untied the bow, took off the lid and tilted the box toward me.
“Wow,” I said, picking up an emerald-green dress with three tiers of fringe that swished gently with the motion of the train. The appliqué on the bodice was treelike, with gold and green leaves, and it felt reminiscent of the lush greenery we’d been passing through all afternoon. “It’s stunning, thank you.”
By seven P.M. I was freshened up and dressed for the evening ahead. Outside, day was turning into night and the sky was a rich shade of blue. The lounge had been transformed and was set up as an elegant private dining salon, with the sofa moved to the end of the room and a romantic table for two in the center. Archie stood by the window, handsome in a black tuxedo. He turned and looked at me.
“A vision,” he said. “That’s always my favorite part—seeing you walk into a room. You look beautiful.”
“I feel beautiful, thank you,” I said, giving a little twirl, letting the fringe of the dress sway from side to side.
Miniature hors d’oeuvres were brought out to us two at a time—stuffed mushrooms, salmon mousse and toasted bread, olives and even oysters.
Archie took my hand and walked me over to the gramophone. We danced to Bessie Smith’s “Back-Water Blues,” and I felt as though I could stay on that train with him forever. Suddenly the city and stage seem
ed so far away.
Once we sat down, the butler came out of the kitchen with a tray perched on his shoulder with two beautifully molded individual Jell-O salads—each one about six inches tall. “Look how they jiggle.” I laughed, shimmying in unison with them.
“This is quite a spread for a train ride,” I said. “How is all of this even possible?”
“Anything is possible if you want it badly enough—you know that.”
He delivered the masterpieces to us, slices of tomato, cucumber, celery and green pepper, captured midrotation and suspended in clear yellow gelatin. It danced in front of me with the motion of the train, and it almost seemed a shame to cut into it.
“So, Olive, I’ve been thinking about the Pines Camp.”
“Oh, me too—it’s such a magical place. I never dreamed I’d like it so much when Ziegfeld first told me about it.”
“What if I bought it for you as an engagement present?”
“What?” I laughed, but my stomach flipped with the thrill of his words. “What do you mean? We’re not even engaged.”
“Well, that’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.” He stood from the table and came around to where I was sitting. Everything else seemed to happen in slow motion. He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a small seafoam-green box with a white bow, then took a step back and was down on one knee in front of me. I couldn’t believe what was happening.
“Archie,” I said in a whisper, suddenly overcome with emotion. “What are you doing?”
“Olive May McCormick Shine,” he said, taking my left hand in his and kissing it. “I love everything about you, and I don’t want to spend another minute of my life without you by my side. Would you do me the great honor of being my wife?”
I put my hand over my mouth, stunned. I couldn’t believe what was unfolding. I couldn’t speak.
“Olive, my darling, will you marry me?”
“Yes.” I stood and pulled him to his feet. “Yes, Archie, nothing would make me happier.” I kissed him.
“Well, then let me place this on your finger before you change your mind,” he said. He opened the box and took out a huge emerald-cut diamond ring with two baguette diamonds on either side.
“Oh my,” I said, breathless, stunned all over again.
He slipped the ring onto my finger and kissed my hand. “This, my love, this is where it all begins.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
There was a dusting of snow on the ground when we reached the Pines Camp, even though it had been a crisp fall day back in Manhattan.
I’d been caught so off guard with the engagement, and the fact that I’d said yes, that I hadn’t given much thought to what we’d be doing once we arrived.
“I’m surprised Anne’s here at this time of year,” I said.
“She’s packing up some of her belongings, and we’re going to sign the paperwork.”
“You were already buying this place?”
Archie smiled. “I’ve been talking to them about it since the beginning of the summer, but I want it to be yours. I know how much you enjoy socializing and entertaining, and this is the perfect place to do that. We’ll change anything you like to make it more accommodating.”
This was starting to sound like a lot of fun. Ruthie had been right—any place this difficult to get to had a certain appeal, an exclusivity that made it seem even more mysterious and magical than it already was.
“It’s nice to see you again, Olive,” Anne said as we climbed down from the carriage. She was wrapped in a fur shawl, looking elegant as usual.
“We’re so happy to be here.” I was beaming. I knew it and yet I couldn’t help myself, I was desperate to tell someone the news.
“Olive?” She looked inquisitively from Archie to me. “Archie? What is it? You’re keeping something from me.”
“We’re engaged!” I jumped a little and held out my hand. It wasn’t the way she would have announced it, I’m sure—she would have waited for us to be seated inside, luggage unpacked, sipping tea from bone china—but I wasn’t her, and I was giddy with excitement.
“I am thrilled to hear this,” she said. “Raymond! Come on out here, we have some fantastic news—and let’s put some bubbly on ice!”
* * *
We spent the next few days touring the property and meeting the rest of the guides we’d somehow inherit with the camp. Jose showed us around and walked us down to the vegetable garden and the small farm that housed chickens, two dairy cows, a goat and some sheep. And the stables! Four beautiful horses were being fed when we passed by.
“What are we going to do with all of this, Archie?” I asked when Jose went into the stables. “It’s lovely, but I don’t know what to do with these animals.”
He took my hand and led me into the chicken coop, where he opened a little door at the end of an enclosed shed. He reached in and took out two eggs.
“We’re going to make omelets!” he said. “The staff live here year-round, they know what to do. They’ll take care of the animals, just like they’ll take care of the property, and in the dead of winter they’ll fill the icehouse with blocks of ice from the lake so we’re well stocked for summer. Believe me, Raymond and Anne have this place running like a well-oiled machine.”
Being in the wilderness was freeing. The air was clean, the views of the lake and the forests beyond were magnificent. Jose rejoined us, and as we were about to head back up the hill to the main lodge, I saw one of the horses had stuck her head out of the stall and was watching us.
“Here, feed her these and she’ll be your friend for life,” Jose said, placing a few carrots in my hand. “This here is Lady. We think she might be going to foal early next summer.”
She stretched her neck out and started nudging my hand impatiently. “All right, Lady, hold on.” I opened my hand flat and let her take a carrot off my palm, her wet lips and nose making me laugh. She munched on it quickly and sniffed my hand for more, so I held another one out for her and smoothed down her long, muscular neck.
“Some people say if you blow in their nostrils it helps them bond with you,” Jose said. “I think it’s an old wives’ tale myself, but some horse folk swear by it.”
“I’ll come back and visit you, Lady,” I said, admiring her long eyelashes, her sharp eyes looking at me.
Later that night after dinner with the Belmonts in the main lodge, Archie and I collapsed into bed.
“How far did we walk today?” I asked.
“A long way.”
I lay on my back, stretching my legs one at a time, pointing my toes. “What if we got married right here?” I asked.
“Here?” He propped himself up on an elbow and smiled. “I thought you’d want to do something ritzy in the city, at the Plaza or someplace.”
I lay back. “My whole life is pretty ritzy. I have so much glamour onstage and our city life is so fun and extravagant. I love it, don’t get me wrong, but this would be special, different and real.”
“Our friends could join us here,” Archie said.
“Can you imagine the fun—transporting everyone up here by train and boat?” I said. “It would be a party before the party even begins.”
“It should be summer,” Archie said.
“End of summer, or Ziegfeld will be furious if I’m not there for the midsummer shows.”
Archie laughed. “Whenever you want, Olive. I will be the luckiest man alive.”
I snuggled into him. “And I will be the luckiest girl.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Back in the city, Ziegfeld called a meeting and told us the show must go on. He said he refused to be bullied by some crooked agents attempting to hold up an absurd and crooked law, so we all, very gratefully, got right back to work.
But one month later I was already asking for a few days off to attend the wedding of one of Archie’s business partners in Cincinnati. Ziegfeld wasn’t thrilled about my leaving right before opening the new holiday show, but I knew it was
important to Archie for me to meet his mother and his business associates, and this was the ideal opportunity.
Archie had been in Ohio on business for a week already. He picked me up from Union Station in his hunter-green Rolls-Royce Phantom, and that baby could purr. The late November air was biting, so I quickly pulled the windows shut.
“Are you crazy driving around in this weather with the windows open?” I asked. “It’s freezing out here, and I just fixed my hair and face.”
“Everyone’s going to love you no matter how you look,” he said, leaning over to give me a kiss.
“Keep your eyes on the road, darling, precious cargo here. I have to get back in one piece, the Christmas show’s starting in a week.”
“Don’t I know it.”
“When will I meet your mother, Archie?” I was quite looking forward to finally meeting the woman who’d raised this fine man.
“She’ll be at the wedding, so definitely today.”
“Oh good, I’ll be on my best behavior, then.” I laughed. “I have to say, this is a beauty,” I said, running my hand along the dashboard of the car. He had a thing for cars and kept them in a garage at his family home, which he promised to show me over the weekend.
“She’s my newest addition and she’s one of my favorites.”
He draped his right arm over the back of the seat and around my shoulders.
“If you love cars so much, why do you have a driver in the city?”
“The fun really comes when you’re driving like this, out on the open road, no one honking at you, no streetcars competing for space on the road.”
I shrugged. “Makes sense, but seems a shame to keep them locked up here in Cincinnati.”
“Are you pulling my leg? It gives me something to look forward to when I come home.”
It was pretty and all, the greenery, the mansions with the huge lawns set back from the roads, but I couldn’t imagine calling a place like this home, not a streetlight in sight, let alone a billboard.
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