Half a country away, a waiter told Barbara she had a long-distance phone call from California, and she took it in a booth in the lobby of the restaurant.
"Floyd says not to worry," Jackie told her. "I know him pretty well. When he says that, you should believe him."
Barbara tried hard to, but still worried.
That night, while Barbara and her friends dined at Luigi's on spaghetti and drank Chianti, Judge Calvin R. Collins and his wife were interrupted at their steak dinner at home in Kenilworth by a phone call for Mrs. Collins.
"This is the manager of Saks Fifth Avenue in Chicago," the caller told her. "An anonymous friend is arranging an early Christmas gift for you. The fur coat of your choice."
Mrs. Collins, though surprised, gave it only a moment's thought. "Sable! I already have a mink!"
After hanging up, she called the store. The manager confirmed he had just phoned her about the anonymous gift.
"Strange phone call, but I don't think it's a joke," Mrs. Collins said to her husband, then told him about it. "The caller added there is one condition. That we both be home tomorrow morning when it's delivered."
Moments later, a call came for the judge.
"Mercury Builders in Wilmette," the caller identified himself. "A friend who doesn't wish to be identified has ordered a family room and swimming pool to be built at your house. An early Christmas present. But there's a condition, that you be home tomorrow morning when our crew starts work."
After discussing the construction project for a few minutes, and hanging up, the judge called the builder back and learned that it was not a joke.
Judge Collins and his wife looked at each other over wine at their dinner table and agreed. The next morning, they would both sleep in.
Then a Western Union boy rang their doorbell with a message that the judge read: Suggestion for a pinch-hitter tomorrow: Justice Alice Hopper."
While Barbara dressed for court the next morning, Judge Collins called the clerk of Family Court.
"I've come down with the flu. You'll have to get someone to take my place on the bench today. I suggest Justice Alice Hopper."
When Family Court reconvened at ten that morning in the custody case of Timothy Riordan, Barbara was surprised to see a small, slim, pretty woman in black judge's robes sitting on the bench.
"Judge Collins is unable to be here this morning because of the flu," Judge Hopper said. "He's suggested I take his case.