Part 2 (1/2)
Suffice it to say that the quirk factor sharply increases as onepredictable about training with a Type C mother is that her pervasive insecurity forces everyone totakethelongestpossibleroutetogettinginsync
I pushopentheheavyglassdoorof thepatisserieandseeMrs Xalreadyseated,goingover her ownlist
She stands, revealing a lavender knee-length skirt, which perfectly er in her youthful white shi+ft, she looks older than she did in the park Despite her girlish ponytail I' she's in her early forties ”Hi, Nanny, thanks some early Wouldyoulikesomecoffee?”
”That sounds perfect, thank you,” I say, taking a seat with thedamasknapkinontous abreadbasket?”
”Oh,youdon't needtodothat,” I say
”Oh, no, it's the best That way you can pick what you want” The waiter brings over a Pierre Deux basketbri with breadsandlittlejarsof jam I helpmyself to a brioche
”They have the best pastry here,” she says, taking a croissant ”Which reminds me, I prefer that Grayer stayawayfromrefinedflour”
”Of course,”I mumble,mouthfull
”Didyouhave aniceweekend?”
I quicklys ”Sarah y bestfriendfroht before everyone goes back to school Now it's just me and the California people hohaveoff till October! Tell Grayer togotoStanford,”I laugh
Shes oneclawoffhercroissant
”They had a stronger child develophtly here, in case I'nottoenext toanecdotesI couldshare
”I reallywantedtogotoBrown,”shesays
”Oh?”
”But I won a scholarshi+p to UConn” She drops the croissant to play with the diareat,” 1 say, trying toiine a ti
”Well, I'm fromConnecticut,so”
”Oh!Connecticut'sbeautiful,”I say
She glances down at her plate ”Actually, it was New London soWell, after graduation I ain
”Wow hat”
”It was a lot of fun,” she says, nodding, ”but you can't really do it when you have a child t's a full- tihts?
A wolasses accidentally bu the china saucerstoteeterprecariouslyontheuptotouchthewoman's arm asI steadythecups
”Oh, my God Hi, I didn't even see you there,”the wolasses Her eyes are swollen andda ”I'm sorryI couldn't come toGrayer's birthdayparty Consuelasaidit wasfabulous”
”I've beenI cando?”
”Not unless you know a hit man” She pulls a handkerchief out of her Tod's purse and blows her nose ”That lawyer Gina Zucker-man recommended couldn't help at all It turns out all our assets are actually in Mark's co the apart four hundred thousand flat hat's it” Mrs X ss and Binky continues tearfully ”And I have to supply complete receipts for every penny of child support spent I et”
”Then the judge had the nerve to tell o back to work! He has no idea what it her listforemphasis,while I stareintentlyato this far, I would have just turned a blind? Binky's voice breaks and she purses her glossy lips together to clear her throat ”Well, I've gotta run onsuela has another 'appointment' for her hip replacement” She speaks with veno patience with her Anyway, great to see you” She pushes her sunglasses back into placeand,with anair kiss, disappearsthroughthecroaitingtables
”Well” Mrs X stares after her, her face locked briefly into a grio over the week I've typed this all up for you, so you can review it later We'll walk over to school now, so Grayer can seeus together and get the sensethatI' you with him That should relax hiive you just enough time to have lunchinthepark andyet not overwhelmhim Then tomorrow you and Caitlin can both spend the afternoon with hiet a sense of his routine and he can see the authority being shared between you I'd appreciate it if you didn't discuss the transitionwith heratthis point”
”Of course,”I say, trying toabsorb itall, thebrioches,thebriefing,Binky ”Thankyouforbreakfast”
”Oh, don'ta blue folder that says ”Nanny” out of her Herlad Tuesdays and Thursdays fit into your class schedule I think it'll be great for Grayer to have soets tired of boring old Moles inthepark
”Well, hehashi+s littlethings,likeanykid,I suppose”
I gatherher lavender silk heels for the first tinizingthesilver buckle
”Oh, thank you” She turns her ankle ”Yes, they are You really like them?” I nod ”You don't think they're tooloud?”
”Oh,no,”I say, followingher outof thecafe
”My best friend just had a baby and her feet went up a whole size She let lances down at her shoes in consternation as ait for the light ”I guess I've justgottenusedtowearingflats”
”No,they're greatYou shoulddefinitely keepthelasses
Mrs butters, Grayer's teacher, smiles at me and shakes ly ”You are going to love Grayer, he's a very special little boy” She pats her corduroy apron dress, which fits loosely over her puffed-sleeve blouse With her round,dimpled cheeks andplump, dimpledhandsshelooksmuchlike afour-year-oldherself
”Hi,Grayer!” I say, s a littlewhite oxfordbutton!down Poloshi+rt, untuckedon oneside, containingthe evidence of a lue,andonelonemacaroni ”Hoasschooltoday?”
”Grayer, you reround!” his lares atether, but Mooodtiive yousnack”
As we approach the playground he and I both listen attentively to the long list of Grayer's Likes and Dislikes: ”He loves the slide, but the round elikes todothatAndpleasekeephifountainbytheclock”
”Urn, what should I do if he needs to use the bathrooo?” I ask as we pass under thedustywoodenarchesof theSixty-sixth Streetplayground
”Oh,anywhere”
I'whenher cellphonerings