Part 3 (2/2)
”We're gonna get you rightupstairs and into a hot bath Ever had lunchinthe bath, Grayer?” I steer him intotheelevator
”Wait! Holdit!” a malevoice shoutsfrotoangleitawayfromthe door ”Ow,sh ot!”
”Hey, thanks,” he says I look up froth hair and frayedblueT-shi+rt tohis six-foot frame Oh,my
Astheelevator closes hecrouchesdowntospeakdirectly tothestroller ”Hey,Grayer!Whassup?”
”She's wet”Grayer pointsbehindhiirlfriend?” Heshis damphairbehindhis ear
”He's notsureif he's readytomakethatkindof coetaway”If youtriedtocatchme,I promise I wouldrunvery slowly
We arrive attheninthfloorwaytoosoon ”Have a greatafternoon,guys,” hesaysaswe getout
”You, too!” I cry asthedoorslidesclosedWhoareyou?
”Grayer,whois he?” Stroller unclasped,wetshi+rtoff
”Helives upstairs Hegoestobigboy's school”Shoesoff,pantsoff,grablunchbag
”Oh,yeah?Whichone?” Follow nakedtushtobathroooWith the lighthouse”OkaaayTwo syllables, soundslike
”Harbor?” I query
”Yeah, he goes to Harbard” hello, I can totally do Boston, especially with the shuttle We could alternateweekends Jesus!EARTHTONANNY,COME IN,NANNY'
”Okay, Grayer, let's get you in the tub” I heave hio of my Harvard Hottie for themoment ”Grayer,doyouhave anickname?”
”What's anickname?”
”Aname thatpeoplecallyouthatisn't Grayer”
”Myname isGrayer X That's myname”
”Well, let's think of one” 1 pop hianic peanut butter and quince jelly sandwichHe wiggleshi+s toes in thewater ashe munchesthesandwichandI cantell it feelsfabulously unorthodoxtohim I lookaroundthebathroomandmyeyes landonhis blueSesameStreet toothbrush ”WhataboutGraver?” I ask
HeFaceon,thennods ”We'll tryit” Lord,hawmyheadaches!Whata headhaveI!Myback a t'otherside h,upanddown!
HENURSE,ROMEOANDJULIET CHAPTER TWO Multitasking Nanny, While you e on your play date withAlex today, please askAlex ht Cajun?infusedAsianwas astrokeofgenius Justtoletyouknow,theparentsareDIVORCING Sosad PleasebyAlex at4:30 totakeGrayer tohis orthodist Seeyouthen?
”Nanny? Nanny?!” Mrs X's dise up the block toward the nursery schoolcourtyard
”Yes?” I say, spinningaround
”Thisway”Thedoorof a LincolntowncarpopsopenandMrs X's ladyou're here,”I say, leaningdohereshe's seatedasintheplushdarkness ”BecauseI needtoaskyou?
”Nanny,I justwanttoreiteratethat I'd likeyoutoalways getheretenminutesearly”
”Of course”
”Well, it's elevenfifty-five”
”I'tofindGrayer's class list I' around in her purse She pulls a s ”I want to talk with you briefly about a party I'o branch of Mr X's cos, the lavender Prada shoes ainst the dark interior of the town car ”All the top executives will be there t's a veryiandI wantittobeperfectforapprisedof thisfete
Shelowershersunglassestomyformal weartothedry cleaner's?
”So, I may need you to run a few errands for me this month It's just that I'm so overwhelmed with the preparations and Connie's absolutely no help So if there's anything I need I'll just leave you a note t reallyshouldn'tbemuch”
We both hear the heavy clank of the double doors opening behind hter
”I better run, if he sees o, Ricardo!” she calls to the driver and he pulls outbeforeshe's even gotherdoorclosed
”Wait, Mrs X,I neededtoaskyou a question?I callafter theretreatingtaillights
TherearefourAlexandersandthreeAlexandrasinGrayer's class
I know I checked And now that Mrs X has sped off I'm still at a complete loss as to which one is supposedtobeourescortfortheafternoon
Grayer,however,seems toknowexactlywho ourdateis
”It's her I have a play date with her,” he says, pointing across the courtyard at a little girl hunkered downover sorabGrayer andmakeourwayover
”Hi,Alex We have aplaydatewith youthisafternoon!” I enthusiastically infor ashi+rt,”shesays, pointingover atthirtyshi+rt-wearingchildren
Grayer looksup atmeblankly
”Grayer,Mos ”How about Cristabelle? Cristabelle, want to have a play date?”Apparently, one play date's asgoodasanother
”Grover, it's not Cristabelle, sweetie But we can have a play date with Cristabelle another day Would you like that?” The little girl huffs off At the age of four she seems already to know thatif the date has tobepostponedit probablyisn't goingtohappen
”Okay,Grayer,thinkDidn't your?”