She opened it and was blinded by a fifteen-carat pink diamond. “Wow, that’s quite a ring. It’s huge. But why? Why are you giving me this?”
“I feel terrible about what happened,” Michael said. “I’m sorry, and I’m hoping you’ll forgive me someday.”
Christy wasn’t sure what to do. Michael had presented her with the classic guilty-rich-husband oversized rock. Should she keep it? she wondered. If she and Michael did manage to get back together, it would be a nice ring to wear. And if they didn’t, it could pay the rent for quite some time. She put it on her right ring finger and admired the way it sparkled.
“Wow! Did you just get that?” Renata asked. “It’s way bigger than mine.”
“Wanna trade?” Christy teased.
“Yeah!” Renata said, and started to take her ring off.
“Just kidding,” Christy said.
Old-Maria, Young-Mother-Maria, and Jorge all ogled the ring, then spoke rapidly to one another in Spanish the way they did when they didn’t want Christy to know what they were saying. The only two words she recognized were “Kobe Bryant.”
“Thank you, Michael. I don’t know what to say,” Christy said.
“Just say—”
At that moment, several waiters appeared with their food, keeping Michael from finishing his thought.
“That was so funny, what happened at your graduation,” Ali said.
“Which part?” Michael asked. “The argument Christy and Brownie had in the bathroom? When the headmistress wouldn’t let Brownie hand out diplomas? Or when the goat pooped on Brownie’s shoe?”
“The goat-shit part,” Ali said. “That was awesome.”
“Child, don’t say ‘shit.’” Nectar whispered. “You were raised better than that.”
“No, I wasn’t, and anyway, you just said it.”
Nectar gave her a scary look.
“Sorry,” Ali muttered.
“No, no, you know what I think the best part was?” Renata said, grinning. “The best part was after the graduation, when all the girls in my class told me what a cool mom I had. I think they like me now.”
Christy gave Renata a broad smile.
“I liked the argument part. You were brilliant, Christy,” Michael said. “I’m so proud of you for standing up to that PTA Nazi.”
Christy blushed. She wondered why Michael was being so nice to her. Did he want to get back together? Was he finished with Galit? Was he willing to help her fight for Renata? Would he be a father to her child? If they got back together, could she ever trust him again? Should she act friendly or aloof? This was all new territory for Christy. For a fleeting moment, she missed having her old best friend Katherine to give her advice.
DEAR DIARY,
TODAY WAS THE BIGGEST, MOST MAJOR, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT DAY OF MY LIFE. FIRST, MICHAEL GAVE ME A PRICELESS SIX CARROT SUNFLOWER DIAMOND RING. SECOND, THE GIRLS IN MY CLASS LIKE ME NOW BECAUSE CHRISTY TOLD OFF MRS. RICH THE BICH (EXCUSE MY FRENCH). THIRD AND MOST HUGE OF ALL, I GRADUATED FROM FIFTH GRADE WHICH MEANS I’M A WOMAN NOW. IF ONLY GRANDMA COULD HAVE BEEN THERE. SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN SO PROUD. OF COURSE, IF GRANDMA WERE HERE, I NEVER WOULD HAVE GRADUATED FROM COLBY. THAT IS SO DEEP IT GIVES ME A HEADACHE.
I HAVE STARTLING ATHLETIC NEWS TO REPORT! LAST WEEK WE HAD THE PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TEST AT SCHOOL. I DIDN’T DO GOOD ON THE SIT-UPS BUT I HAD THE BEST TIME IN MY CLASS ON THE MILE RUN—5 MINUTES AND 51 SECONDS! CHRISTY SAYS I HAVE NATURAL TALENT AND SHE WANTS TO KEEP TRAINING ME. I’VE DECIDED TO BE AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION WHEN I GROW UP. THE ONLY FLY IN THE UNDERPANTS IS THAT MY BLOOD FAMILY WANTS TO TAKE ME BACK TO MEXICO TO BE A GOAT HERDER. THIS IS NOT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FARM WHAT GRANDMA WOULD HAVE DESIRED. AND WHAT ABOUT MY OLYMPIC ASPERATIONS? AM I TO FLUSH THEM AWAY FOREVER IN THE TOILET OF BROKEN DREAMS? I MUST TRY TO STAY CALM AND THINK. THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO STOP THIS RUNAWAY TRAIN.
YOUR NERVOUS FRIEND,
R. E. HAYES
Fatal Attraction
Where were you yesterday? I called several times. Your assistant refused to tell me where to find you. Obviously she didn’t give you the message or you would have called me back. I’ve written a piece you’ll want to see. If you come over tonight, I’ll give you a peek at the article and maybe something else. Galit
Galit, hard to refuse such an invitation. Sorry about my assistant. She can be so protective. Michael
Making Up Is Hard to Do
Christy dashed over to the Harvard Club, which was a few blocks from the John Barrett Salon. Why put this off any longer?
She walked into the lobby and dialed his room number on the house phone. A woman answered. Her stomach sank. “Who is this?” Christy asked.
“Who is this?”
“This is Christy, Michael’s wife. Is he there?”
“You must have the wrong room. There’s no Michael here.”
“But he was there last week.”
“Well, he’s not here now,” she said, hanging up without so much as “good-bye.”
Christy walked to the front desk. “Excuse me, but is Michael Drummond still registered?”
The man behind typed something into his computer. “He checked out three days ago.”
“Did he leave a forwarding address?”
“Afraid not.”
“Thanks anyway,” she said. Christy walked outside and tried Michael’s cell, but there was no answer. She called Mary Ann, his assistant.
“Christy, give me a minute to call him. I need to make sure I can tell you where he is,” she said, clearly uncomfortable.
“What are you talking about? Of course you can. I’m his wife.”
“Look, Christy. He told me not to give anyone his new address without asking him. I could get fired.”
“Well, if you don’t tell me where he is, you can bet your ass that you will get fired.” Christy was seething.
“Christy, just hold tight,” Mary Ann said. “Let me call him. If he says I can tell you, I will.”
This wasn’t going
