“Christy, we agreed. You’re the one who wanted her.”
Christy groaned. “You’re some piece of work, Michael. You once told me that if you couldn’t live with Ali, you couldn’t live with someone else’s child. Remember? Well, now we have Ali. So why can’t you let Renata into your heart? She’s a great kid. And truth be told, you need her as much as she needs you.” Christy walked over to the door and opened it. “I’ll see you.”
“Wait,” Michael said. “It’s you I need. I miss you so much. Do you miss me?”
“I’m too angry to miss you,” she said. That wasn’t true. Christy missed him like crazy. But too many issues were unresolved. She wasn’t about to admit her true feelings. Still, she wanted to give him something without giving him ground. “Listen, Renata’s graduation is coming up a week from Friday. Will you come? It would mean a lot to her,” she said.
“Sure, just have Eve call my office with the details.” Michael brightened a little.
“Her family showed up,” Christy said.
“Whose family?”
“Renata’s.”
“She’s got family? Well, that’s wonderful. She can go with them. You and I can be together again the way we used to be.” Michael took Christy’s hands in his. “Ali can live with us. Suzanna’s already stipulated to my having permanent custody. You’ll have a real daughter. What do you think?”
“What do I think? I think you haven’t listened to a word I’ve said. You want to throw Renata out for Ali? Your daughter for mine? Let’s get something straight, Michael. I already have a real daughter. And I’m going to do everything I can to keep Renata with me. So if we do get back together, and that’s a huge if right now, she’s part of the package.”
Michael stood silent, thinking.
“I guess we’ll see you at graduation?” Christy said.
“Of course.”
Christy left. It was all very civilized. And sad.
Michael, what say we take the jet to Argentina next Friday for a long weekend of spring skiing? I know an amazing place—Cerro Castor. We can ski Cerro Krund. It’s some of the most beautiful terrain in the world. You free? Galit
Galit, I have to go to Christy’s kid’s graduation. Give me a rain check? Michael
I’m finding it harder and harder to stay quiet about your company’s financial problems. Ben is losing patience with all the time I’m spending on your book. He’s asking for some interim articles on Drummond Enterprises. What if I write about the loans that are secured by mortgaged collateral, but I list the steps you’re taking to rectify the problem? Galit
Galit, I can’t go to Argentina over the weekend, but can go for the next three days. You free now? We can talk about your interim article on the way over. Michael
Michael was terrified.
Once Upon a Goat
The fifth-grade graduation was held in the Astor ballroom on the top floor of the Colby mansion. The palatial room featured travertine panels, crystal chandeliers, and enormous windows that overlooked Park Avenue. The space was so spectacular that the school booked it on weekends for weddings. The money went to the PTA. Brownie told everyone that renting the room was her idea, but it was really Patty Fitch’s. Brownie took credit for all the best ideas.
Today, the space was decorated with magnificent flower arrangements of yellow and white. The two front rows were set with twenty-four chairs where the young graduates sat in their white gowns with their yellow-rose wrist corsages. The head of the lower school, the headmistress, Brownie, and LaShaun Mason were seated at the dais, which was set up on the side of the stage, across from the podium. As chairwoman of the graduation exercises, Christy was on the dais, too.
Andrea walked up to the stage and motioned Christy over. “Christy, did you ask Jorge if he’d be willing to build us four walls of library shelves?”
“I did. He said he’d be delighted.”
“Brilliant! I love what he’s done with your kitchen. Tell him I’ll pay twenty thousand plus expenses. That’s what my old carpenter bid on the job. But he’s so unreliable.”
“I’m sure Jorge will think that’s fair,” Christy said. Fair! That was probably more than he made in a year in Mexico. Christy couldn’t wait to tell him. Even Old-Maria’s business was booming now that she was in New York and could call on her customers personally. Every evening she’d e-mail her daily orders back to Federico, the plant manager, who would ship fresh goat cheese to the finest restaurants and gourmet shops in the city. Christy desperately hoped that the lure of the American dream would keep Jorge and the three Marias from leaving. She already had a lawyer working on securing the proper immigration papers, just in case they decided to stay.
She glanced over Andrea’s head, looking for Michael. Nectar and Ali were sitting toward the back with Renata’s Mexican family. Princess Anastasia was on the chair next to Little-Maria, who had tucked the goat into her play stroller and snuck him in. Christy was sure the kid would get busted. They were so serious about rules at Colby.
“Have you seen Michael?” Christy asked Andrea.
“Yeah, there he is,” she said, pointing to the very back row. “He asked me to give you this.” She handed Christy a note, which she promptly opened.
Can I take you, Ali, Renata, and her family out for a graduation lunch? Michael
Christy looked up, caught Michael’s eye, and smiled, pointing to the note, nodding her head.
He gave her a wave. God, he looks haggard, Christy thought sadly. Not the invincible man I married.
Christy told Andrea she’d better get going. She was the mistress of ceremonies, and they were about to start. All the women at the dais were miked, and the parents would have to endure speeches from every one
