“She wants to return to work full time nextyear,” he tells me. “Says she needs the quiet.”
Laura is in a niche industry. She procuresrare things for serious collectors. Mostly books, letters, andreading-related historical objects. Her workday is filled withnonstop phone calls that are interspersed with research andfrenetic emailing. She’s been able to keep her business going sinceVal was born, but at nowhere near the volume it was before becominga mom.
“Last week,” Baz says, “Austen answeredLaura’s phone and told one of her clients that mommy was in thebathroom doing what comes naturally.” I laugh. “Sir Haroldsomething-or-other told Austen to tell her mommy to call him aftershe was fully restored. It took Laura twenty minutes of listeningto Austen repeat what she heard for Laura to decipher themessage.”
“Laura will get payback when she tells thatstory to Austen’s boyfriends.”
Baz scowls. “Austen won’t have boyfriendsuntil she’s thirty.”
“Good luck with that,” I say whilechuckling.
By the time we arrive at our hotel – SoHoboutique-y with a bit of earthy – we need a drink and a nap. Weagree to meet in the lobby at seven to go for drinks and a lightnosh before heading to the gallery. The opening reception starts ateight-thirty.
I’ve never been one to sacrifice comfort forfashion. That being said, tonight’s a big night for Andie, and Iknow there are going to be a lot of “beautiful people” at theopening, lots of paps, cameras, and press.
With the mindset of I’m not going to let ourside down, I’m wearing my new clingy cashmere sweater dress. It’sivory with long sleeves, a mock turtle collar, and basically noback – the scoop hits my waist. I put tons of conditioner andtaming product in my hair, and blow it out to as straight as I canget it, then pull it back into a severe ponytail, and I wrap a hankof hair around the ponytail band and tuck it in. The effect is adark brown column lying against bare skin.
I have on my over-the-knee tan suede bootswith delicate crisscross lacing up the back. The heels are solid,not spikey, but they’re high, over four inches, and I need theheight more than ever tonight. Have you seen those six-foot models?They’re gorgeous and in bare feet they have nearly a foot onme.
Dramatic eye makeup and light foundation toeven out the tone, and deep cherry lipstick are highlighted byplatinum chandelier earrings encrusted with garnets and diamondchips. No bracelets, but a large oval ruby surrounded by diamondsis on my right middle finger. I take one last look in thefull-length mirror, then grab up my little black velvet clutch anddrape my black velvet opera coat over my arm.
I arrive at the lobby first, and while I’mwaiting next to a large plush sofa, a handsome man wearing anamazingly tailored suit approaches me, bends down, and whispers inmy ear, “You look good enough to eat.”
Before I have a chance to respond, he walksaway – nice view there too – and exits the lobby.
Okay. As hit-and-run compliments go, that oneworks.
Laura and Baz come toward me and Laura and Ido something we’ve been doing since we’re little girls. We twirlfor each other. Spinning around at least two times so each of usget the full effect of what we’re wearing and how we look.
“Jesus, Ter,” Laura breathes out. “You planon making someone fall in love with you tonight?”
“Gotta say,” Baz adds, “you’re smokin’.”
Between the anonymous compliment and theirapproval, I preen a little. It’s been a long time since I had this.In March it will be two years since I was shot, and being in NewYork City and looking good is an ego boost I’m definitelyenjoying.
“Well,” I return, “dapper as always, Baz.”He’s wearing a black turtleneck flat knit sweater, black trousers,a camel hair blazer, and black boots. His dark hair is “lightlysalted” and he looks urbane and erudite.
Laura is a vision in a dark green jacquardsilk wraparound dress. She’s wearing all fifteen varying lengthsdiamonds-by-the-yard necklaces Baz has given her each year on theiranniversary. Her small diamond pave half-hoop earrings were thisyear’s birthday present. She’s always been a looker, and whileshe’s become curvier since having the girls, she still has the bodyof a college student.
“Wow, Laurie. Absolutely beautiful.” I lookdown at her dark green spikey pumps. “Where did you findthose?”
“Maude’s.”
Maude’s is a small boutique buried in thecountry near Laura’s house. If you don’t know where it is, you’llnever find it, but Maude does a brisk business.
“Figures.”
“Since we pass muster, let’s get some foodand alcohol in our bodies, not necessarily in that order.”
Coats, scarves, and gloves are donned, and wewalk two blocks to a bistro and have martinis, mini crab cakes,mushroom wontons drizzled with truffle oil, and bakedpanko-encrusted spinach and fontina rice balls. Before we leave,Laura and I go to the bathroom, and then check each other and thenthe mirror to make sure we don’t have spinach in our teeth. Afterlipstick reapplication, we join Baz and walk three blocks – I’m soglad I’m wearing these boots, it’s freezing out – to thegallery.
As expected, there’s a ton of people millingon the sidewalk, most with cameras, some with phones. Everyone’strying to get a snap of the celebrities, and someone famous isentering as we make it to the outer edge of the crowd. The paps areyelling, “Dara, Dara, this way.”
“You think they mean Dara Banalista?” Lauraasks.
“She didn’t call to tell me she was coming,”I shrug, “but I’m guessing, yeah.”
Laura smacks my arm. “Smart-ass.”
