Part 11 (1/2)
”Justine?”
”Yes?” shewhispers Issheunderher desk?In theladies'roo in the closet” Her ”closet” is actually a large chocolate-brown dressing roo velvet bench Mrs X's paranoia is such that I'm sure she's convinced I not only snooparoundinhereon a dailybasis, butaht now Onthecontrary, I'ain so I can call Mrs X on her cell phone to confirentlyrifflingthe Justine's questions ”Size twoHerrera, Yves Saint Laurent Shoe size seven and a half, Ferragamo, Chanel Her purses are Hermes o outside pockets and she hates zippersI don't know, pearls, maybe? Shelikespearls”Andsoonandsoforth
”You've been a lifesaver,”shegushes ”Oh,onechemistry?”
”Cheobuyhiht”We bothlaugh ”The Lion King,”I say ”Heloves anything todowithTheLion King,Aladdin, Winnie-the-PoohHe's four”
”Thanks again, Nanny Merry Christ off I take one last look around at the tower of cashmere sweaters, each one wrapped with tissue and individually stored in its> own clear drawer, the wall of shoes, each stuffed with a satin triangle, the racks of fall, winter, and spring suits, going froht I tentatively pull open a drawer Each pair of panties, every bra, every pair of stockings, is individually packed in a Ziplock baggy and labeled: ”Bra, Hanro, white,” ”Stockings,Fogal,black”
The doorbell rings and I ju with relief when I hear Grayer let Henry, Allison's father, in I slide the drawer shut and walk calGrayer andAllisontrying totageachotherwith theirscarves
”Okay, Ally, I have to get dinner started Let's get it together” He finally catches her, steadying her betweenhis kneestotieherscarf
I handover hersmall lodencoatasHenrysecuresherhatandushersher intothevestibule
”Saygood-bye toAllison,Grayer”I nudgehimandhewavesfreneticallywith bothhands
”Good-bye, Gray-er Thank you for a lovely afternoon! Au revoir, Nanny!” she cries as the elevator opens
”Thanks, Nan,” Henry says, turning and accidentally swinging one ofAllison's boots right into another memberof theXfamily
”Oh!” Mrs X flinches
”I'm sosorry,”Henrysays,asAllisonburiesherheadinhis neck
”No,please,I'oodtime?”
”Yes!” Grayer andAllisonshout
”Well,” Henry says, ”I better get back and start dinner Richard'11 be hoet the ornasmile
”Oh,wedon't have a nanny?
”You havetwodaddiestodothehigh-ups?” Grayer interruptshi+e?”
”Well, youknow,they're onlythisageonce”
”Yes” Shelooks a littlepinched ”Grayer,saygood-bye!”
”I alreadydid,MommyYou're late”
Thedoorslidesshut
Much later that night I ride down in the elevator half-asleep, entertaining the fantasy of walking along the Seine hu ”La Vie en Rose” It's twenty past twelve on the twenty-second Only twenty-four ht, James,” I say to the doorman, just as he opens the door for H H, rosy cheeked and carrying a FoodE
”Yup” Pleasedon't letme havesteaYou trainhim?”
”Impressed?” I askcarefully withhpatter,wheristhedate?
”Listen,” he says, loosening his scarf, ”are you doing anything right now, 'cause I just have to run upstairs Myfrenzyandweranoutof vanilla”
OhNow?
Okay,noorksforo froain I quickly run tothebeveled I hopehe's notboringI trytoreh, I'll be so bu with hilossastheelevatorapproaches ”L”
”Hey,haveyoueatenyet?” heasksasJaht, James,” I call overIf you consider a fistful of Goldfishand a fewdrytortellini amealthenI'm stuffed”
”Whatare youupfor?”
”Well”I thinkfor ahtnowarecoffeeshopsandpizza
Takeyourpick”
”PizzasoundsgoodIsthatokay?”
”Anything notinthisbuildingsoundsfabulous”
”Here, sit on myjacket,” he says as he closes the empty pizza boxTheMetropolitan Museuhmyjeans
”Thanks”I tuckhis bluefleeceunderhtsof theSlanhopeHotel H H pullsthecontainerofBenandJerry's PhishFoodoutof a brownpaperbag
”So what's itlikeworkingontheninthfloor?”