A Very Good Life
Page 17
Surprised, Dana raised her eyebrows.
“Thank you, Bea. I’ll give your advice serious thought. I did major in merchandising, although I certainly enjoy working with you. You have taught me so much.”
“Don’t get me wrong—I’m not trying to get rid of you,” Bea confessed, “but here’s a secret. The learning never stops. Even Helen knows that, although she might be reluctant to admit it.” Bea lit another cigarette and laughed. “The very name of Biba makes her tremble, and yet she’s smart enough to know that change is inevitable.”
“A few days ago,” Dana said, “you claimed that the teen makeup section would have to wait because Helen had too much on her plate.”
“Quite true, but Ira thought otherwise. He knows change is a fact of life—and of business.”
“Change—that’s been the theme of the week,” Dana commented in an almost philosophical tone.
“It’s the theme of life, kiddo, and don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise.”
• • •
Dana was walking into Bob Campbell’s office when she saw Helen out the corner of her eye. Helen had picked up her pace and was proclaiming, just as she had a few days earlier, that “He’s expecting me!”
The office door closed, leaving Helen standing in the outer office. “I hope they’re not meddling with my department again,” she said with exasperation.
“I don’t think Ms. McGarry will be long,” the secretary said. “She only asked for a few minutes.” Helen paced anxiously, holding a bound report in her right hand. Five minutes later, Dana emerged with a grin on her face.
“He’s all yours, Helen. Sorry if I kept you waiting.”
Dana disappeared down the hall, not looking back.
Chapter Thirty-One
Brett and Janice exited the courthouse in lower Manhattan after filing several motions on behalf of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. They walked down the street under gray, cloudy skies, both carrying briefcases.
“Does your wife know I’ll be attending your party tomorrow night?” Janice asked.
“No,” Brett replied. “And I don’t plan on telling her. You and I will arrive together at the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. I’ll simply tell Dana that we’re coming from work, which will be the truth. Dana and I have arranged with John Cirone to have his bus take everyone from the tree lighting to our apartment. John purchased the bus to take family and friends to and from games when his son played football for Villanova. Just get on the bus with everyone else and everything will be fine. If Dana asks any questions, I’ll tell her that I can’t very well order you not to come to the party since it would be rude.”
“Very well thought out,” Janice said. “You’ve grown especially sharp these past few days. Even your confidence level is way up.”
“It shows?”
“Very much. And what about the Hartlens? Have you made sure they’ll be attending as well? If I’m going to put on a show, I want to make sure I have the right audience.”
“I asked Jack on the phone yesterday. He and Patti are definitely coming. So is Patrick.”
“Even better. We’ll have all of our bases covered. I’ve also bought a very nice vintage cabernet as a way to reiterate my apologies to Dana for disrupting the neighborhood association meeting on Tuesday.”
Brett looked sideways. “Don’t tell me that you’re really sorry?”
“Hell, no. Trying to keep hookers away from a given location is ridiculous. They’d be back within a month, and I doubt the city council would even pass such legislation. The wine is simply a good tactical move.”
“Tactical? That’s a rather sterile term.”
“I suppose it is,” said a thoughtful Janice. “Does your comment indicate that you regard our relationship with a certain degree of warmth?”
Brett merely smiled and looked straight ahead.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Janice said.
She was succeeding faster than she’d anticipated. She’d originally presented the affair as a way for Brett to keep from turning into a stuffy socialite, offering him a fling and nothing else. But her goals had changed. She wanted more. Thus far, she had managed to ruffle Dana’s feathers and engender some measure of feeling within Brett for her unorthodox view of life. She had no doubt that he still loved his wife—they all did, didn’t they—but time and persistence might change that. Brett was a bigger challenge than most, however, and she wasn’t going to take for granted that she could lure him from his eight-year marriage.
Janice loved a good challenge.
Chapter Thirty-Two
At four o’clock on Thursday evening, the skies above Manhattan were already turning dark as Dana made her way to Paddy FitzGibbon’s VIP section in Rockefeller Center for the annual Christmas tree lighting in front of the GE building. On the edge of the crowd, she was handed a cup of hot chocolate by an employee from the Irish Pavilion.
“You always think of everything,” Dana said as she located Paddy near the front of the gathering, just yards from the stage below the bronze-gilded statue of Prometheus. “And just how do you secure such an amazing location each and every year?”
“It’s the luck of the Irish, Dana, plus a few kind friends with whom God has blessed me.”
“In other words, you pull a few strings,” Dana said, grinning.
“Every string is absolutely legal,” Paddy said, “although it doesn’t hurt to contribute to law enforcement and other agencies every now and then. It’s my civic duty!”
The two laughed as they sipped their hot chocolate.
Paddy turned to greet other new arrivals with his warm, welcoming manner, his Irish brogue easily heard above the sounds of the city and the growing crowd.
Phoebe Cirone waded through the huddled overcoats and gave her childhood friend a big hug.
“New York Hospital actually let you out for a few hours?” Dana asked as they embraced.
“My rotation for December puts me in the cath lab, and since I’m not making rounds, I could get away early. Did Dad tell you that I’m sticking it out another year? As soon as I heard the name of the new director of Interventional Cardiology, the decision was made. He shares my research interest in aortic valve disease.”
“Phoebe, you have been dedicated to medicine and saving people’s lives since we were kids, and you never gave up,” Dana said as she gave her friend another hug. “You’ll reach your dream in a little more than a year. I’m so happy for you.”
“Speaking of saving people’s lives,” Phoebe added, “my father and brother are so grateful to Brett for saving Johnny from disaster. My father has been in church, praying for Johnny twice a day, and now he’s walking on air. Your husband is a miracle worker.”
Dana’s face reflected her ignorance as to what Phoebe was referring to. “What exactly did Brett do?”
“You mean he didn’t tell you that—”
“Hello, everyone!” Brett interrupted. He was being ushered into the section by a police officer, followed by Jack and Patti Hartlen—and Janice. After kissing Phoebe on the cheek, he made introductions all around. Dana and Janice exchanged forced smiles that were as cold as the late evening air.
“Welcome!” Paddy said to the latest arrivals, shaking Brett’s hand as he continued to circulate among his guests. “And you must be Jack and Patti. I hear you’re moving here next month! I want you to be guests at my restaurant as soon as the move is complete. And if there’s anything you need, I’m glad to help. Dana and Brett know how to reach me. We’re neighbors in Murray Hill.”
“He’s not kidding,” Brett said. “Paddy’s our go-to man for just about anything. In fact, his friend, who works at St. Patrick’s Cathedral across the street, is watching John’s private bus that will take us to the apartment after the tree lighting.”
“Come with me,” Paddy said to the Hartlens. “Let me get you as close as possible to the stage.”
Dana looked around, but no longer saw Janice. “Where is she?”
asked Dana, as if she were looking for a predator.
“Who?” Brett asked innocently.
“Miss California. I just saw her a minute ago.”
Brett looked around and pointed his finger at two people to their rear. “She’s right over there. And it looks like she’s made a new friend.”
Dana turned around to see Janice standing next to her brother Matthew.
“I don’t believe it,” Dana said, lowering her head. She took a deep breath before asking, “Brett, how could you invite her without discussing it with me?”
“We were leaving court, and she reminded me that this is her first Christmas in New York. She’s never seen the tree lighting before, not even on TV.” Brett held up his hands and shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t stop her from coming to a public event.”
“Okay, but keep my brother off her wish list,” Dana demanded. “I mean it, Brett.”
“They’re just talking, honey. Relax and enjoy the ceremony.”
“Dana!” Mark Senger called out. “My meeting with Revlon wrapped up earlier than expected, and I knew where I’d find you before the party. I hope you don’t mind my barging in like this.”
“I’m glad you could make it,” Dana said. “You’re a welcome gate crasher, which isn’t necessarily true for everyone in the VIP section
While Mark and Brett exchanged pleasantries, Paddy arrived with hot chocolate for Mark, engaging him in a discussion about the stage design.
“You’ve done a tremendous job getting ready for the party later,” Brett told Dana. “You did a luncheon yesterday, and today you’re ready to host our annual party. You’re the McGarry household’s special events coordinator.” He kissed her softly on the lips.
“If you’re trying to get on my good side,” Dana said, “you’re succeeding. I didn’t even expect you to show up.”
“We finished early and I remembered that I haven’t been able to get to the tree lighting for the past two or three years. I have no doubt that it’s going to be a great night.”
“Brett, what did you do for Johnny? Phoebe says that you . . . saved him.”
Brett smiled broadly. “Johnny asked for some advice after our squash match on Sunday, so I—”
At the podium, Mayor Abe Beame officially welcomed everyone to Rockefeller Center on behalf of the City of New York. He then introduced Marlo Thomas, who presided over the ceremony, featuring The Voices of East Harlem singing “Sisters and Brothers” and other popular tunes from Thomas’ Emmy award-winning children’s TV special Free to Be . . . You and Me. The songs were also part of a larger project sponsored by the Ms. Foundation for Women, which had published both an album and illustrated children’s book that rejected gender stereotypes in children’s literature. The central message was that both boys and girls could achieve anything.
The ceremony naturally concluded with Christmas carols sung by a choir and the lighting of the iconic tree above the statue of Prometheus.
“Now it’s the Christmas season!” Paddy declared. “Forget the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For me, it doesn’t officially begin until those lights go on!”
“I agree, Paddy” said Mark. “It’s a spectacular display!”
As Dana and Brett, hand in hand, made their way to a nearby exit and walked quickly across the street to the waiting bus on 49th Street—a definite perk to being in the VIP section—Dana noticed that Janice, accompanied by Matthew, was already boarding John Cirone’s bus.
“She’s not invited to the party!” Dana complained.
“Honey,” Brett said, “I can’t very well tell her she’s not welcome and that we want her off the bus. Besides, Matthew seems to like her.”
“That’s even worse than her coming to the party!”
“Matthew can handle himself. Stop worrying.”
“She’s a cunning shark, and she’s too old for him.”
“He’s a surfer, Dana. All surfers know to look out for sharks.”
Dana couldn’t help but laugh. “I still don’t want her in our apartment or near my brother.”
“You’ll have to do the dirty work,” Brett responded, knowing Dana would not ask Janice to leave. “In the meantime, you should be thinking about your guests.”
“You’re right,” she said. “We need to concentrate on the party.”
Still holding hands, Brett and Dana boarded the bus. All of their guests seemed to be in fine spirits. Brett and Dana sat in the first seats, Janice and Matthew huddled close together and talking animatedly in the very rear.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The guests were still filing into Brett and Dana’s apartment when Nina Bramen and Patrick Denner arrived back-to-back.
“A few handmade ornaments for your tree,” Nina said as she handed Dana a Christmas shopping bag. “I got them last year in Peru. Hand-carved, hand-painted gourds made with pumpkin. Perfect size for a baby tree. Let’s hang them now before you get busy.”
“Um…well, we have to go upstairs to the library,” Dana said as she put her arm around her friend. “Brett thought the ceiling was too high in the living room for a table tree.”
“And what did you think?” Nina asked indignantly.
“Dana loved the idea of having two Concolor firs in the apartment,” Brett quickly responded as he and Mark, only a few feet away, removed their overcoats.
“I don’t believe that for a minute,” Nina snapped. “I was there and I know how much she loved that tree.”
“Nina, it’s fine,” Dana said, her eyes pleading with Brett to say something kind. “Actually, the tree made the library very cozy. You know it’s my favorite room.”
“The fault is all mine, Nina,” Brett said in a conciliatory manner. “I should have rented a car for the trip. I’ll plan better next year. In fact, we’ll all go to Bucks County and make a day of it!”
Nina, infuriated by Brett’s patronizing and insincere remarks. responded with a cold stare.
“I propose a toast!” Mark interjected as he handed glasses of champagne to Nina, Brett, and Dana from the server who was exiting the kitchen. “To our gracious hosts!”
Those standing nearby raised their glasses.
“Thank you,” Dana mouthed silently to Mark.
Mark smiled and gave Dana a thumbs-up as the staff from Lenôtre passed trays of hors d’oeuvres.
• • •
Brett joined Patrick, who was speaking with the Hartlens in the dining room.
“Jack and Patti were just telling me that you know them apart from the firm,” Patrick said to Brett.
“That’s right,” Brett said as he shook hands with Jack. “I ran into Jack and Patti at Cheshire Cheese, and Patti at Saks.” Brett thought the allusion to Saks was bold enough to indicate that he had nothing to hide from Patti. “And as luck would have it, Dana ran into Jack while walking our dog on Park Avenue. Wills slipped the leash, and Jack was his savior. What’s the old lyric? It’s a small world after all?”
Patrick pointed to Janice, who had not left Matthew’s side since arriving at the apartment. “That’s Janice Conlon, by the way. She’s our newest litigator.”
“And that’s Dana’s brother Matthew she’s talking to,” Brett was quick to point out.
Brett thought that things were evolving with clockwork precision. Patti now understood that he and Janice worked together, and she could also see that Janice seemed quite enamored of Matthew. Janice had wasted no time in orchestrating her plan. She and Matthew were thoroughly engrossed in conversation, and her body language was overt. She touched him on the arm every few seconds as she stood close by his side.
Brett motioned to Dana to join the conversation. “Honey, why don’t you introduce Jack and Patti to Matthew?”
Dana paused for a split second. “Of course. And I’m so glad you could make it tonight. Matthew is the family’s budding scientist, as well as an expert surfer, if you can believe that.” Dana relished the opportunity to intrude on her brother’s conversation with Janice.
“I hope he’s not upset that I didn’t consult him first. I was having lunch with them and the opportunity presented itself to broach the subject. I thought I could show them the advantages of joining a consortium rather than waiting for a patent to be assigned.”
“You did the right thing, and Richard was very impressed. It showed initiative.” Patrick paused as he looked around. “Say, where is that nice odor of oranges coming from?”
Brett laughed. “Why am I the only person who can’t smell it?”
• • •
“I brought something for you,” Janice said as Dana approached Matthew with the Hartlens. “Let me run and get it. I put it on a table in the corner.”
As Janice retrieved her peace offering, Dana went through the formalities. “Jack and Patti Hartlen, this is my brother Matthew. He goes to the Uni—”
“Here,” Janice interrupted, handing Dana the wrapped bottle of merlot.
“Thank you,” said Dana. “Janice, Jack and Patti are moving to New York very soon.”
“I just moved here myself,” Janice said. “From California.”
“She loves the ocean,” Matthew said, “so I’m going to teach her how to surf.”
“He’s mastered the Banzai Pipeline,” Dana said with yet another forced smile. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see how they’re doing in the kitchen.”
Dana walked away, trying to maintain her composure. Janice was loving every minute of monopolizing Matthew’s time. Dana wasn’t sure what Janice was up to, but whatever it was, she didn’t like it. She was also fairly certain that Janice had had no interest in the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. Her attendance had been a way to crash the McGarry annual Christmas party, and Matthew had been a shiny toy she’d discovered under the tree.