~Kristy~
I finally have a few minutes free from calls and meetings to take a lunch break. Business at Nanny Corp is still moving along at an amazing pace, which is nothing to complain about, but it means I rarely get more than a few minutes to myself. Of course, the moment I sit back waiting to devour my leftover chicken lo mein in peace, my cell phone starts buzzing. Stacey’s picture pops up on the screen.
“Yo, McGill, what’s up?”
“Kristy! You actually answered your phone. When was the last time we talked? Three months ago?”
“Ha ha ha. So FUNny!”
“Okay, so are you free at eight tonight? I’m trying to get the local girls together for dinner and drinks. I have something to celebrate!”
“What is it?”
“You’ll see. I want to share the news with everyone at once. Can you meet me at 21 West?”
“Let me check my calendar.” I quickly glance at my Outlook calendar, but of course I don’t have anything booked for the first time in weeks. “Yeah. I should be able to get there. Is Mary Anne coming?”
“I think she’s having Jodie babysit again. She’s almost 14, if you can believe that!”
“We’ve known her since I started a sub-agency of the club to find people to babysit for her after she was born.”
“Right. And get this. Dawn is in town for a photo shoot. It will be so great to have her there too!”
“So we’re only missing Claudia then, huh?” Claudia has been working in Paris as an artist and rarely ever gets back to the states these days. “I’m sure Mallory will be available if you can tear her away from Biggest Loser or whatever reality show she’s watching tonight.”
“I’ll give her a ring.” Stacey giggles nervously then. “Okay, I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing.”
“Sounds good. See ya later.”
After hanging up, I silence my phone and tell Amanda, my assistant, to take messages until I say otherwise. Yes, I have an assistant. I still have to pinch myself every day to believe this much about my career. Nanny Corp stemmed from the BSC after college and has taken off since then. It’s going so well here that I could probably retire and it would run on its own without flaws. Then again, I thrive on being busy. It beats going home to an empty apartment and allows me to not focus on the fact that I haven’t dated since the worst breakup ever.
After lunch, the rest of the day moves at a quick pace again and before I know it, it’s a quarter after seven. I wrap things up and then walk 15 blocks to 21 West. The early October brisk air is invigorating after being stuck behind a desk all day. I also figure that if I get there early, I can catch up with Mary Anne before everyone else shows up. And as I see her getting out of the subway station, I thank myself for leaving the office when I did. She spots me and runs over, wrapping me in her embrace.
“So great to see you, Kristy! It’s been a horrible week. This is the first time I’ve been out of the house when it’s not for groceries or doctor appointments. Tanya is a spit-up machine. And Logan rarely ever gets home before ten, if he comes home at all.”
“We are definitely getting you a drink then. At least you have an instant babysitter these days. I don’t know how you’d manage five kids on your own otherwise.”
“Yeah. Jodie loves being the responsible big sister now. And now that she’ll get allowance for it, she is even more eager for me to leave the house. I’m hoping this will become a trend.”
“She could start her own BSC,” I say wistfully.
As we approach the restaurant, Mary Anne blurts out “I think Logan’s cheating on me.”
“Mary Anne, sweetie. Logan would never cheat on you. He’s crazy about you.”
“When was the last time you saw us together? I mean, seriously? He is rarely home, and when he is, he doesn’t even look at me. I think he even screens my calls too.”
“Maybe it’s something else. Maybe something’s going on at work? Isn’t he an investment banker? I heard there have been a lot of layoffs in the field.”
“I wouldn’t know. He doesn’t tell me anything anymore.”
“Okay, we’re definitely getting you a drink and then we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“Hey guys!” Mallory greets us at the door. Apparently, Stacey’s news trumped reality TV this time. “Stacey got us a table upstairs. She sent me down here to look for you. Dawn is already here too.”
Mary Anne lets out a little squeal. “Dawn’s here?!? Awesome!” She races up the stairs.
Mallory and I walk up slowly so I can fill her in on what Mary Anne told me. I’m not a gossip, but we all still look out for each other and I’m secretly hoping Mallory can do a little spy work. Maybe it will keep her from being glued to the TV all the time.
When we get to our table, Stacey and Dawn hug me before we all sit down.
“Dawn, when were you going to tell us you were in town? This is such a great surprise!”
“I only found out yesterday and was busy preparing for cross-country travel. I love living in L.A. again, but I miss it here sometimes. I’m back for a few days, but then have to head to Vermont after this for another shoot. Evan usually does the east coast, but he broke his leg last week.”
Dawn is a photographer for a travel magazine, but she normally focuses on the west coast. Even though I feel bad for Evan, I’m secretly glad she has an excuse to come out by us. I don’t know when I’m ever going to get to L.A.
“So, Kristy, how is the business going?” Dawn turns everyone’s attention to me.
“It’s going really well. I could probably hire someone else on now just so I could get a little break. Anyone interested?” I ask cheekily, winking at Mary Anne.
“Oh, I would if I could work from home,” Mary Anne chimes in.
“Can’t you get a daytime sitter, even to work part-time? You’d be so great at this and we could be partners again.”
“I wish it were that easy. If Logan’s job is in trouble, like you think, then it might not be a possibility.”
“Maybe he could be Mr. Mom for a while, like that Lonestar song?”
“He’s still a dad, even if he doesn’t work.”
“Sorry. Anyway, what’s up with you, McGill? What are we all celebrating? Did you finally get a starring role on Broadway?”
Stacey went to a fine arts school after graduating from Stoneybrook High and gets bit parts in off-Broadway shows, but nothing to make a living from. She’s a server at Hal’s Diner on West 84th when she’s not performing.
“Um, no. This is better. I met ‘The One.’ Mary Anne, do you remember Toby from when we went to that Sea City trip with the Pikes? Alex’s friend? Well, we never stayed in touch after that trip, like, 30 years ago. However, he came into Hal’s when I was working one of my shifts. It took a while for us to figure out how we knew each other, but when it clicked, it was just one of those perfect moments. We’ve been going out every spare moment I have available.”
“And you tease me for not being around?”
“Oh whatever. I would have told you about him weeks ago if you actually answered your cell. Anyway, we went to the Poconos this past weekend and he said he didn’t want to waste any more time not being together and got down on his knee right in front of everyone at dinner.” Stacey puts her left hand on the table, showing a huge, sparkling diamond.
“STACEY! That’s amazing! Congrats!” The girls got up and hugged Stacey while they all jumped around and screamed. It’s good there weren’t many other people dining up here. When they finally sat back down, I reached out for a fist bump.
“Great news, Stacey.”
“Is something wrong, Kristy?”
“No. How long have you been dating anyway?”
“A few weeks? I lost track of time. We practically live together now.”
“Why rush into a marriage then?”
“What is your problem, Kristy? Let’s get this out now, while we’re all here. Am I not allowed to be happy with someone?”
“Never said that.”
“Then what? Are you jealous because you haven’t been in a relationship in almost eight years?”
“Ha! Like I even have time for a relationship. If I wanted to be in one, I totally could.”
“Just because Patrick broke up with you by kissing another girl on the ‘Kiss Cam’ at the Yankees’ game while you were there with us, just a few rows in front of him….”
“They caught my mortification on the video too, you know.”
“Still, it was EIGHT YEARS AGO! You two only dated for half a year anyway.”
“Let’s forget it. I’m happy for you Stacey. Really, I am. I just don’t want you to rush into something and potentially get hurt.”
“I know what I’m doing. Thanks though. Chardonnay, anyone?”
“Does Claudia know?”
“I haven’t told her yet, but I’m going to call her tomorrow. At least she’ll be excited for me.”
“Whatever. I’m tired and need to get some more research done before tomorrow’s meeting.” I toss a few 50 dollar bills on the table. Dinner’s on me in honor of your special news.”
“Gee, thanks. Call me when you’re not too busy.”
“Will do.” I hug the other girls. “Mal, can you make sure Mary Anne gets to the subway safely?”
“Sure thing!”
“Dawn, let’s do lunch before you leave. We need to catch up more!”
“I have a really tight shooting schedule, but I’ll call if my schedule opens up.” Dawn doesn’t look too happy about the tension between Stacey and me.
I head out of the restaurant, and it feels like the temperature dropped 30 degrees. I wrap my jacket tighter across my chest and walk the five blocks to my apartment, wondering why I’m really so bothered by Stacey’s good news.
Just for fun, I decided to cast everyone as adults:
Kristy: Rashida Jones
Stacey: Rachel McAdams
Mary Anne: Elizabeth Reaser
Dawn: Piper Perabo
Mallory: Natasha Lyonne
Just for fun, I decided to cast everyone as adults:
Kristy: Rashida Jones
Stacey: Rachel McAdams
Mary Anne: Elizabeth Reaser
Dawn: Piper Perabo
Mallory: Natasha Lyonne
