Songbird: and Other Stories

By Jennifer Lamont Leo

A speakeasy singer longs for a better life than the one she’s always known.

A department-store clerk finds that the robe of her dreams may cost more than she bargained for.

A young girl wrestles with the pangs of growing up as she reunites with an old friend.

In this book, you’ll find a delightful array of charming

• Language: English
• Publisher: GraphiComm, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781733705806

Jennifer Lamont Leo

Jennifer Lamont Leo captures readers’ hearts through stories set in times gone by. Her novels include The Rose Keeper, Moondrop Miracle, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and You’re the Cream in My Coffee (winner of an ACFW Carol Award for debut novel). She also hosts the podcast A Sparkling Vintage Life. A Chicago-area native who has set many of her stories in the Windy City, today she writes from her home in the northern Idaho mountains, which she shares with her husband, two spoiled cats, and abundant wildlife. Visit her at https://JenniferLamontLeo.com and on Facebook and Goodreads.  

Book preview

Songbird

and other stories

Jennifer Lamont Leo

Songbird and Other Stories by Jennifer Lamont Leo

Published by Mountain Majesty Media

PO Box 638, Cocolalla, ID 83813

ISBN: 978-1-7337058-0-6

Copyright 2019 by Jennifer Lamont Leo

Cover design by Thomas Leo

Interior design by Thomas Leo

Author photo by Cary Burnett

For more information on this book and the author, visit www.jenniferlamontleo.com

All rights reserved. Non-commercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Jennifer Lamont Leo, provided the text does not exceed 500 words. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: "Songbird and Other Stories by Jennifer Lamont Leo, published by Mountain Majesty Media. Used by permission."

Commercial interests: No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means--electronic, photocopy, recording, or otherwise--without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by the United States of America copyright law.

These stories are works of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination or are used for fictional purposes. Any mentioned brand names, places, and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, bear no association with the author or the publisher, and are used for fictional purposes only.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Leo, Jennifer Lamont

Songbird and Other Stories / Jennifer Lamont Leo 1st ed.

Printed in the United States of America

Other books by Jennifer Lamont Leo

You’re the Cream in My Coffee

Ain’t Misbehavin’

Table of Contents

Songbird

Chicago, 1928. What happens when glamorous speakeasy singer Dot Rodgers finds herself falling for good-looking but conservative dry-goods salesman Charlie Corrigan? Trouble with a capital T, that’s what. After escaping a thorny relationship with a powerful and ruthless man, Dot determines to steer clear of Charlie, too … until the night she winds up singing a whole new tune.

The Christmas Robe

Marjorie Corrigan, a weary sales clerk at Chicago’s finest department store, Marshall Field & Company, mentally escapes the crush of holiday shoppers by daydreaming about her upcoming wedding. She spots the perfect item for her trousseau—a luxurious crimson velvet robe that she simply has to have. But when the robe proves too rich for her pocketbook, she resorts to desperate measures—a move that unleashes startling consequences. This inspirational short story is a Christmas treat that will warm your heart.

Playing for Keeps

Fifteen-year-old Helen Corrigan travels from Illinois to Idaho to visit her old friend, Maisie. But Idaho is nothing like Helen expected--and neither is Maisie. A sweet, tender short story of a spirited girl teetering on the brink of womanhood.

Trouble Brewing

It’s springtime, when a young woman's fancy turns to thoughts of . . . that swoony fellow who works in Menswear. Meanwhile, Marjorie's trying to keep up with her crazy sales-clerk job at Marshall Field & Co. But who can get a good night's sleep when the landlady's brewing up some kind of trouble? A fresh, breezy short story to brighten your day and lighten your heart.

Songbird

Chicago, 1928

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s hear one more song from the incomparable Miss Dot Rodgers.

As the bandleader signaled and the trumpeter swung into the final number, I discreetly blotted my damp forehead with a hankie, then smiled and grasped the microphone. Electric fans whirring in the dark corners of the room did little to dispel the steamy, smoky air and bring relief to the perspiring patrons, now dwindled to just a handful of tables. One group of out-of-towners cheered, determined to get their money’s worth by staying out all night. I was eager to finish the set, the last one of the evening. Just one more song and then Louie would drive me home in his Packard convertible, top down, cool night breezes caressing my face and hair as we sped through the dark Chicago streets. We had a deal: the band could play all night if they felt like it, but my shift ended at two sharp. Morning came early for a girl who sold hats at Marshall Field. Maybe someday singing would be my full-time gig. But until then, two a.m. was my limit.

Crooning the opening lyrics of Carolina, I glanced through the haze to where Louie stood at the bar, talking with a redheaded waitress. The new one. Carla, or maybe Marla—I couldn’t remember. The same one he’d been talking to practically all evening. My gut tightened. Surely he wasn’t interested in that girl as anything more than a new employee. He was just being nice, the boss making the new kid feel welcome.

Trouble was, Louie’s interest frequently went further. This girl wasn’t the first to draw his attention and, much as I wished I could deny it, she wouldn’t be the last.

At the start of the second verse, I forced myself to look away and flung a brilliant smile toward the tableful of conventioneers, trying to ignore the burning sensation in my chest. Don’t make a bigger deal out of it than it is, I reminded myself sternly. Not so long ago, I’d been that new girl, washing dishes upstairs in the restaurant, before Louie heard me sing and brought me down to perform in the speakeasy tucked away in the basement. The audience liked what they heard. Now I had a regular gig: three nights a week, ten until two. Decent tips from the butter-and-egg men who appreciated a pretty girl with a voice. By pretty I just mean what I’d been told all my life. My hair and eyes are dark and my skin pale. Some called it a strong resemblance to

Reviews for Songbird

[fernemysteryreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A collection of 4 short stories during the Jazz Age."Songbird:" 1928, Chicago. By day, Miss Dot Rodgers works in the Millinery Department at Marshall Field Department Store, and 3 nights a week she sings like a "songbird" in Villa Italiana, a basement speakeasy. But a weekend visit to roommate Marjorie Corrigan's family home in Kerryville might change Dot's life forever."The Christmas Robe:" Chicago. Marshall Field is busier than ever on Christmas Eve and there's a last minute shopper for Marjorie Corrigan to take care of in Ladies Nightwear. Can she help this shopper bring his wife the best surprise for her last Christmas? "Playing for Keeps:" Helen Corrigan is 15-years old and is so excited as she's spending part of her summer vacation with her best friend and family. It's been 3 years since Maisie Summerfield's family moved from Chicago to Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Helen embarks on a travel adventure, escape from stepmother Frances, and the joy of reunion with Maisie!"Trouble Brewing: Marjorie and Dot's apartment is on the 2nd floor living above their landlady, Mrs. Moran. It's springtime and once again Mrs. Moran is busy making her annual batches of health tonic. During the brewing process it has a terrible smell! Is there a secret ingredient in the tonic that keeps Mrs. Moran so content?The stories are delightful and a charming introduction to the author's "Corrigan Sisters" series. Each sister, Marjorie, Dot, and Helen are featured in separate books in the series.

[nadinec.keels · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A speakeasy singer is getting fed up with the seductive man she works for. A department store clerk comes up with a scheme to snag a luxurious boudoir robe for herself after Christmas—but the cost may be too high. And what's the harm of an old lady brewing a special tonic for herself at home in the midst of Prohibition? These tales and more are found in Songbird and Other Stories by author Jennifer Lamont Leo.Four short 'n' sweet stories set during the Jazz Age? Yes, please! Sometimes you just need to sit for a little while with something you're sure is going to hit the spot. I needed something quick, uplifting, and entertaining, and that's what I got.It was nice to revisit a few of the characters I first met when I read this author's Roaring Twenties novels. The first story, while fun to read, had kind of a rushed and bumpy flow to me, but the second story, The Christmas Robe, is my favorite of this collection. Humorous, clever, and touching! It got some chuckles out of me before it made me teary-eyed, and the next two stories are also quite delightful.It's a great collection to read before or after the Roaring Twenties novels. No, you don't have to read the novels first to follow these tales, but you'll want to find out the rest about these characters if you haven't. They're the cat's pajamas!