“Mine is,” Renata said.
“Mine is, too,” Ali added.
“No, it’s not,” Renata tattled.
“Climb out of my butt, Big Mouth,” Ali said to her sister.
“Ali,” Michael said, “what did we say you were grounded for? Four weeks? Well make that five. We’ve all had it up to here with your language.”
Ali gasped in outrage. “Christy, why did you marry him? Why?”
Christy ignored the remark. “Michael’s going downstairs to inspect after dinner. No one gets allowance unless her room is clean.”
Ali stood up and excused herself. “I need to go check on something in my room.”
Christy smiled. That kid is something else, she thought. But she’s better than she used to be…if you didn’t count yesterday’s incident. Maybe when the baby comes, it’ll hit her that she’s not the center of the universe. “Can you pass the salt?”
“No salt for you, Christy. Remember what the doctor said,” Michael said.
“Right.”
“Did you hear about Stephanie Rich?” Renata said. “She ran away with that rapper guy.”
“Yeah, I heard. Brownie must be beside herself,” Christy said, clucking her tongue. She wasn’t fond of Brownie, but no mother should have to endure her twelve-year-old running away with a fifteen-year-old rapper, even one with five gold records and four gold teeth.
“Don’t even think about going on a date,” Michael said to Renata.
“Boys gross me out,” she assured him.
“Good,” he said.
“Too bad Brownie’s Golden Latchkey Foundation couldn’t have saved Stephanie. They tried, you know.” Christy said.
“That is so sad,” Jorge said.
“Say, Jorge, when’ll the crib be ready? We don’t have much time,” Michael asked, patting Christy’s tummy.
“Soon, Mr. Drummond, I promise. I just hired two men to help me with all the projects I’m getting. ¡Caramba! I can hardly keep up with those Colby parents and their cabinets.”
“Jorge, you do great work. What can I tell you? Word gets around. Say, is everyone finished?” Christy asked.
“I’ll do it,” Young-Mother-Maria said. She started picking up the dishes.
“I think I may need to incorporate soon,” Jorge said to no one in particular.
“Did you see the Journal yesterday?” Michael asked.
“No, why?”
“There was a follow-up on Galit and the companies that were involved in her blackmailing scheme.”
“Did you save it for me? I have to read it,” Christy said.
“It’s at the office. I’ll bring it home tomorrow. It said that even though Galit has to serve ten years, she signed a book deal with Random House, and Miramax bought the movie rights to her life story,” he said.
“Doesn’t that figure?” Christy said. “She practically brought down seven companies and comes out smelling like a rose. Oh, oh, quick, someone grab a towel.”
Little-Maria had spilled her milk all over the bed. Old-Maria ran to the bathroom to grab a towel to wipe it up. “Sorry, sorry,” the child said, with tears in her eyes.
“That’s okay, sweetheart,” Christy said, touching her cheek. “Happens to everyone.”
“The attorney general says Galit can’t keep the money. He considers it the spoils of her crime. She’ll have to fight him for it.”
“Good! Did they say anything about the securities case against Katherine?”
“Trial starts after the new year.”
“That’s rough. Alex must be crushed,” Christy said.
“No, Alex is doing good,” Renata said. “She was just elected president of the student council. Her dad’s marrying Emily Osgood’s mom.”
“That’s news. It must be hot off the press,” Christy said.
Renata shrugged. “Who wants ice cream?”
“We don’t have any, honey,” Christy said.
“Don’t worry. We do. I’ll run down and get it.” She raced out the door.
Michael took Christy’s hand and squeezed it. “So, will you be okay while I go out?” he asked, putting on his jacket.
“Sure. Where are you going?” Christy asked.
“Beegee, how can you forget? Tuesday’s my night to walk the goat.”
He kissed her good-bye.
TOUCHSTONE
READING GROUP GUIDE
Wife in the Fast Lane
INTRODUCTION
Former Olympic track star Christy Hayes has created a successful sneaker company from the ground up. Apart from being athletic, she’s smart, beautiful, and married to a dashing entrepreneur. But when her beloved housekeeper dies and leaves behind her eleven-year-old granddaughter to raise, Christy soon learns the price to be paid for having it all. Though she’s far from the mothering type, she tries her best to help the shy young girl acclimate to her new home by becoming like those fabulous city moms she runs into in Barney’s or Bergdorf’s. She begins by throwing herself headfirst into the treacherous waters of New York City private schools. All the while, trouble is looming on the horizon for her company. Can this two-time Olympic gold-medal winner strike a balance between her hectic career and chaotic home life? Will she create a life for herself that is true (or truer) to the person she really is?
QUESTIONS & TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
Former Olympian Christy Hayes has turned her athletic expertise into corporate success. In what ways is she a good role model? In what ways could she improve?
At their cabin in Aspen, Michael tells Christy “There’s no way we can take a child, not with our responsibilities and lifestyle. You promised me, Christy. This is the only thing I really asked you for.” Is this the real reason Michael keeps his distance from Renata?
Although Christy had decided not to have children of her own, she is Renata’s godmother, and she decides to adopt her. Why do you think Christy changed her mind? Did she make the right decision? What are the biggest challenges these two face? How did the fact that Christy lost her mother at such a young age affect her ability to mother Renata?
If you were in Christy’s position, would you have done the same thing? What would you have done differently?
Do you think attending a private school like Colby will affect Renata in a positive or negative way?
Loving nanny Nectar Freedom
