by Janet Goss
But it wasn’t just him, though. Or Tom-Tom. Elinor Ann had come to my rescue too many times to count. Ray had told me he loved me and made my life perfect, at least for a little while. Vivian had provided me with the career I’d always hoped for. Hank had bought me a house—an actual, incredible house. And Billy—
Oh, Billy. Billy Billy Billy.
“Dad, there’s just one thing I don’t understand. Why in the world didn’t you just stay on the phone long enough to ask me how I was?”
“Ah, you’re young. I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than jaw with your old man.”
“I don’t know about that. But—Dad? I really am doing okay up here. Honestly.” And I’ve finally—finally—figured out how to proceed with my future, I silently added. No matter how messy and disastrous it turns out to be.
“Glad to hear it, kid. So I can stop keeping tabs on you?”
“Yeah, Dad. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
FLYING BLIND
A chorus of groans went up from the passengers when our pilot announced we were seventeenth in line on the runway. Tom-Tom’s were among the loudest. I could hear him—all the way in the back of the plane, right next to the lavatory—from where I sat in the fourth row.
“Boy, is he going to need a drink when we get to Florida,” I said.
“Then I’m buying. It was real nice of him to switch places with me.”
“I’ll say. When I found out there was only one seat left on the flight, I should have known it would be the worst one.” I pulled the Times from my purse and rifled through the second Arts section until I located the crossword puzzle.
“So… which one of us gets to solve it?”
“Neither.” I smiled and turned the page around to reveal the byline. “We’ve already solved it.”
PUZZLE BY DANA MAYO AND W.W.W. MOODY
ACROSS
1. Driver’s seat
5. Symbol of longevity in Japanese art
10. Express buss?
14. Quito quencher
15. Held sway
16. That’s a wrap
17. It’s less on a driver than a spoon
18. Works in a different medium
20. Band of Englishmen
22. Saved seat?
24. Boxer, briefly
25. Not state
26. Late state
28. Blows
31. You might get a kick out of it
32. Honey
33. 38-Down, essentially
37. Second half of a noted Pope line (var.)
40. Cold comfort?
41. Mister Roberts
42. Watches
43. Partners of monsters in a 1998 film title
44. Stocking stuffer, perhaps
45. Sister city to San Francisco
49. Claustrophobe’s challenge
50. End of days?
51. Operator
56. Accounts
57. Look longingly
60. Hibernia
61. Revolt
62. Depression, of a sort
63. Bombs in a club
64. Rich deposit
65. Fire off a 39-Down
DOWN
1. #13 on AFI’s Greatest Film Villians of All Time
2. Diva’s excess
3. Night terrors from WWII
4. Tough class for Teen Talk Barbie
5. Area known for its beaches
6. Extended sentence
7. Whiffenpoofs’ lack
8. Essential
9. On pins and needles
10. One of 150 in the Bible
11. Polish off
12. Container that doesn’t hold water
13. ____ Suzuki, Bond wife in “You Only Live Twice”
19. One-third of a Major League crown (abbr.)
21. Ground swell
22. Romeo and Juliet, for two
23. Prufrock poet
27. Bad for business
28. Brews
29. The third man?
30. It’s covered in sheet
32. It might be flipped in anger
33. Keen
34. Abstainer’s alternative
35. Part of the Tootsie Roll family
36. Caesurae
38. Muck
39. Modern account
43. Celebratory
44. Clutches
45. Held the paper on
46. Harry’s daughter
47. Elevated digs
48. Spaces spaces
49. They might appear on blackboards
52. Phrase for those who shall remain nameless
53. Act against organized crime
54. Overindulge
55. Anonymous way to sign a Valentine
58. Practice in 45-Across
59. Squelch
Puzzle © Peter W. Mitchell and Janet Siefert
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, heartfelt thanks to my own personal gridmeister, Pete Mitchell, who provided not only the grid, but more than a few of the clues, for the puzzle on page 325 (or my Web site, if you’re holding an ebook). Equally heartfelt thanks to the lovely and talented Vica Miller, who invited me to read at her literary salon, and to my agent, Molly Lyons, who was open-minded enough to attend a literary salon showcasing the work of unpublished authors.
Many insightful readers have given me support over the years, but special mention is due to Maureen Brady and the writers in her advanced fiction workshops, who provided invaluable feedback—notably Laurie Silver, who asked to keep reading even when she was no longer required to do so. Thanks to my editor, Kerry Donovan, who shepherded me through the publishing process with unflagging good cheer, and her team at NAL.
Thanks to all my friends in crossworld, especially my fellow Brain Cell Killers: Nousheen Afshani-Wezorek and Joe Wezorek; Carmen and John Dreyer; Carol Ezeir and Ned “Eduardo” Robert; Will Irving; Sharen McKay and Keith Yarbrough; Bill Sullivan; Virgil Talaid—and to my beloved Dougs, Ashleigh and Heller.
Thanks to my endlessly supportive family: my mother, Margaret, and the late Harry Siefert (who may be the only father on the planet who was thrilled when his daughter married a drummer). My sister, Joan Siefert Rose; her husband, Jim; and my dear nephs, Andy and Ian. Any and all Gosses, Luwisches, Zawises, and Stows. And to those people who might as well be family: Vykie Whipple and her boys; my Camp Oneka girls; Amy Lipman; Ellen Yampolsky; and Henry and Linda Kellerman. And to the late Michael J. Campo—wish you were here.
Finally, a special thanks to my paragon of a husband, Edgar, who never stopped believing in me (despite formidable odds to the contrary).
Janet Goss lives in Greenwich Village with her husband, Edgar, and their spoiled-rotten behemoth of a cat, Gomez. She is currently working on a new novel that will be published by New American Library in 2013.
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www.janetgossbooks.com
