It had put a blossom in her cheeks and she was taking such care with her appearance, becoming quite the fashion plate. Gone was the girl in kilt and gumboots. She’d gone into town and came back with an exquisite silk scarf in muted pastel shades, so tasteful and expensive. She’d been out for dinner with her crowd and dancing at the Embassy, the Florida, nightclubs Phee knew of but had never ventured into. Her companions were good types from county families, just the sort she’d wanted for her daughter, knowing she could hold her own with any of them in looks and accomplishments. The investment in Callie’s education had paid off, which was cheering when everything at the Gibbons School of Dance was going downhill. Maisie was confined to bed now and needed constant nursing. The noise from the ballroom had to be muted so as not to disturb her. Phoebe’s heart was full of dread. Callie worked wonders in the office, bringing order out of chaos. What would happen when Maisie died no one knew.
