Part 15 (2/2)
”I know, it's for Grayer's et her a seat somewhere”
”Thatearmuffswoman?Shedoesn't deservethecrumbs offyourplate”
”I know,butcanyoupleasejustwaveyour icwandforme?”
”Hmm, callMauriceatLutece andtell him I'll sendhimtherecipeforthecheesecakenextweek”
”You rock,Grand Love you”
”Love you,too”Oneo-centrics The city is on Valentine's overdrive as I walk over to ElizabethArden to randmother Since the last Christmas decoration came down in January every store has had a Valentine's theme in the ; even the hardware store has a red toilet-seat cover on display In Februaries past I would ith exasperation on line behind ne/condorapefruit/beer/Kleenex and get on withbut patience
This is the very first Valentine's Day on which I have not been single However, in observance of the traditionalsurvivalagendafortheone-day-when-being-single-is-just-not-okay,SarahandI Grand, Saint Valentine's Rule Number One,” she imparts as we sip our lemon water and admire our lacquered toes ”It's more important to show yourself a little love than to have a sizeandcolor”
”Thanksforthepedicure,Grao back upstairs for et me likelasttiinebeingfound,covered in seaweed and wrapped in a tarp by some poor janitor Rule Number Two: Never take the last appointmentoftheday”
1 thank her profusely, bundle up, bid her farewell, and go to pick up outatnoon,holding alarge,crookedpaperheartthatleaves a trailofglitter behindhiot there,buddy?”
”It's a Valentine 1 made it You can hold it” I take the heart and pass hiwarminmypocketashesettles inthestroller
I look down at the heart, assu it's for Mrs X ”Mrs butters spelled for me I told her what to say andshespelledforme Readit,Nanny,readit”
I almost can't speak ”I LOVENANNYFROM GRAYERADDISONX”
”Yup That's whatI said”
”It's beautiful,Grover Thankyou,”I say, startingtogetteary behindthestroller
”You canholdit,”heoffersashegripsthejuicebox
”You knohat? I' to put it safely in the stroller pocket so it doesn't get hurt We've got a specialafternoonaheadofus”
Despite the fact thatit's one of the coldest days of the year, I' him home until after French class So I've uidelines and take him to California Pizza Kitchen for lunch and then down ThirdAvenue to the new Muppet sandclaps all thewaythrough
”That was so funny, Nanny So funny,” he says, as I buckle hi all thewayto Frenchclass
After I drop him offwith Mme Maxime to faire lesValentines I runacross Madisonto Barneys to pick up alittle sofor H H
”CanI help you?” thenotoriouslybitchyblondebehindthe Kiehl's counter half asks, half spits She has never been forgiven for once accusing Sarah of shoplifting thetonershewastryingtoreturn
”No, thanks, just browsing” I set hts on another salesperson, a tall Eurasianfor a Valentine's present forit Boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend Yeah, I have the cutest boyfriend My boyfriend doesn't like woolsocks Oh,ue,too!
”Okay,well, whatkindofproductsdoesheprefer?” Right,I'm back
”Oh,I don't know Um, hesmells nice Heshaves Maybe someshavestuff?”
He showsin extra cash at Barneys ht ever wanttouse ?
”Um, really? Lipliner?” I ask ”Becauseheplays lacrosse”
Heshakeshi+sheadathtednessandpulls outmoreesotericpastesandlotions
”I don't want to iive hi” I finally settle on a stainless steel razor and watch him wrap it in red tissuepaperandtie aredbowaroundtheblackboxParfait
I greetGrayer outsidehis classroomwithhis coatheldout ”Bonsoir,MonsieurX Comment 93 va?”
”Cavatresbien, NannyMerci beaucoupEtvous?” heasks,wavinghis ersatme
”Oui,oui,tresbien”
Maxime leans her head out of the classroo Grayer ”Grayer is really co with his verbs” She smiles down at him from atop her Charles Jourdan pumps
”But if you could take some time with him to practice the noun list each week, that would be fantastique If eitheryouor yourhusband?
”Oh,I'm nothis mother”
”Ah,monDieu!Jem'excuse”
”Non,non,pasdeproblem,” I say
”Alors,seeyounextweek,Grayer”
I trytopushhi downPark
”As soonas we get upstairs,” I say, crouchingin theelevator to loosenhis scarf, ”I' alittle chapped”