Read Online Once Is Not Enough by Jacqueline Susann - Free Book Online Page A

records all over the country. That really rocked him. Because it meant he really didn’t know what was good or bad. Not in today’s market. Three years ago he could call the shots. Studios had believed in him . . . and more important, he had believed in himself.
    It was time to walk away from the table. Mike Wayne was tapped out. How had the chemistry changed in such a short time? He looked the same, thought the same. Maybe that was it. He hadn’t gone along with all the changes, the nudity, plays and movies without plots, the new trend of Unisex. Well, he was fifty-two. He had lived through some great times. He had known what it was like to walk down Broadway without worrying about getting mugged. He had known New York when it had nightclubs and lines of beautiful girls, not just porno movies and massage parlors. But most of all he was sad—because this was the world she was coming back to.
    He sat in the V.I.P. Lounge and stared at the gray sky. She was flying home through that leaden muck. He had always promised her a bright shining world. Well, goddammit, he was keeping that promise.
    The smiling hostess was back. She announced that Flight Seven was arriving. He had arranged for January to receivecourtesy of the port. An official would be waiting to whisk her through customs. Hell, what could a kid who had spent three years in hospitals have to declare? He walked out of the lounge and never noticed that the hostess had leaped up to say goodbye. Ordinarily he would have turned on the charm because she was a pretty girl. But for the first time in his life, Mike Wayne was scared.
    He spotted her the moment she walked into the airport. Hell, you couldn’t miss her. Tall, tan, long hair swinging—she would have caught his eye even if she wasn’t his daughter. She seemed oblivious of the men who turned to look at her. A little man was walking double time to keep up with her long strides as her eyes scanned the airport. Then she saw Mike and suddenly he was enveloped in bear hugs, kisses, and she was laughing and crying together.
    “Oh, Daddy, you look super! Do you realize I haven’t seen you since June? Oh, wow! It’s so wonderful to be home again . . . to be with you.”
    “You look great, babe.”
    “You too! And . . . oh . . . this is Mr. Higgens.” She turned and introduced the little man. “He’s been so nice to me. I never even had to open my bag and . . .”
    Mike shook hands with the customs official, who was carrying her overnight case. “I’m very grateful, Mr. Higgens.” He took the bag. “Now if you’ll tell me where the rest of my daughter’s luggage is, I’ll arrange to have it brought to the car.”
    “That’s all there is, Mr. Wayne. And it was a pleasure. And such a pleasure to meet you, Miss Wayne.” He shook hands with both of them and disappeared into the crowd.
    Mike held up the overnight bag. “This is it?”
    “Yup! I’m wearing my best outfit . . . do you like it?” She stood off and spun around. “I got it in Zurich. They said everyone was wearing pants suits and this suede outfit cost me three hundred dollars.”
    “It’s beautiful. But—” He stared down at the small bag he was carrying. “No other clothes?”
    She laughed. “Oh, that’s loaded with clothes. Like threepairs of jeans, a couple of faded shirts, some sweaters, sneakers, and oh . . . a gorgeous shortie nightgown I got in Zurich. I ran out of money or I would have bought the robe to go with it. But other than that little omission, I’m practically set for any emergency.”
    “We’ll take care of the clothes tomorrow.”
    She tucked her arm through his as they walked to the exit. “I saw so many different skirt lengths on the plane. Mike, what are people wearing?”
    “Mike?” He stared at her. “Where did Daddy go?”
    “Oh, you’re too gorgeous to be called Daddy. You are gorgeous, you know. I like the sideburns . . . and the gray in them.”
    “They’re white; and I’m a dignified elderly