Part 16 (1/2)
”OkayWhatarewegoingtodotonight,Nanny?Let's fly!Yeah, I thinkweshouldflyassoonaswe get upstairs” LatelyI've beenbalancinghi”hi time” I push the stroller over the threshold ”What do you want for dinner?”
I' up our coats when Mrs X walks into the front hall in a floor-length red evening gown and Velcrocurlers, alreadyintheheatofpreparationforherValentinedinnerdatewith Mr X
”Hi,guys Didyouhave agoodday?”
”HappyValentine's Day, Mo
”HappyValentine's Day Oops,becarefulofMommy's dress”
Spatula
”Wow, youlookbeautiful,”I say, pullingoffmyboots
”You think so?” She looks down in consternation at her ht fromChicaGodoesn't landforanotherhalf hour CouldyoucoetdinnerstartedI thinkGrayer's pretty hungry”
”OhWell, whydon't youjustordersoin?There's moneyinthedrawer”Well, I never
”Great! Grayer, why don't you come help me order?” I keep a hidden stash of encies
”Pizza!I wantpizza,Nanny!Pleeeaaase?”
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I raise an eyebrow at him because he knows I can't say ”But you had pizza for lunch” in front of his mother
”Great Nanny, why don't you call for a pizza, pop in a v-i-d-e-o and then come help me,” she says as sheleaves theroohs and claps wildly at his unbelievable good fortune
”Mrs X?” I pushthedooropen
”In here!” she calls out froth red gown and there's athirdhangingupbehindher
”Oh, my God! Wow, it's beautiful” This one has thicker straps and red velvet leaf appliques trailing aroundtheskirtThecoloris a stunningcombination with herthickblackhair Shelooksintheht” I lookcarefullyatherinthedress I realizeI've never seenher arms or sternumbefore Shelookslike a ballet dancer,tinyand all sinew But sheisn't fillingoutthedress inthebustandit's hanging all wrong
”I thinkmaybe it's thebustline,”I saytentatively
She nods her head ”Breast-feeding,” she says derisively ”Let me try on the third Would you like some wine?” I noticetheopenbottleof Sancerreonthedresser
”No,thankyouI shouldn't”
”Oh,cohto thepiano room where I can hearthe strains of ”I'et backshe's colikeJosephine
”Oh,muchbetter,” I say ”Theempire waist reallysuitsyou”
”Yeah,butitisn't verysexy,isit?”
”Well no,it's beautiful,butitdependsonthelookyou're goingfor”
”Breathtaking,Nanny I wantto bebreathtaking”We both sotonetokeep all ofthese?” I eyethezeros onthedanglingpricetags
”No,ofcoursenot I'll returntheonesI don't wear Oh,thatremindsme”Shesticksherheadaroundthe screen ”CanyoutaketherestbacktoBergdorf'sformetomorrow?”
”No problem I can do it while Grayer's at his play date” ”Great Can you zip o around to zip her into a stunningly sexy 1930s red sheath, ”Yes,” we both say as soon as she looks in the mirror ”It's beautiful,” I say And mean it It's the first one that uses her proportions to its advantage,at her reflection,I realizethatI aforthes? I need to wear this necklace becauseave ittome”Sheholdsup a strandof diamonds ”Isn't itbeautiful?ButI don't wanttooveracces!sorize”
”Doyouhaveanylittlestuds?”
ShestartsgoingthroughherjewelryboxandI takemywineover tothevelvet bench
”These?” Sheholdsup a pairof diamondstuds?Orthese?”?
andrubies
”No,definitely thediamondsYou don't wanttooverdothered”
”I went to Chanel today and got the perfect lipstick and look!” She sticks out her foot Her toes are paintedinChanelRedcoat
”Perfect,”I say, taking asipSheputsinthestudsandgives herself aquicksith thelipstick
”What do you think?” She turns foron thefloorandpullsout a boxcontaining a pair ofexquisiteblacksilksandals ”Tooeous,”I say, assheslipsthehs ”No, really, it's perfect” I give her another once-over ”U?”
She quickly looks backward in thethrough the plasticbags inher lingeriedrawer ”I think Mr X gaveme apair onourhoneythroughthepantydrawer ”You can always go coently fro the rest ofmywine
”Got 'ewithcreas ”NANNYYY!Thepizza's here!” ”Thanks,Grayer!” I callback
”Thesewill doI'm all set Thankyousomuch”
After Grayer and I polish off half a medium pie I remove a small cardboard box from my backpack
”And now a special Valentine's dessert,” I say, producing two chocolate cupcakes with red hearts on them Grayer's eyes widen atthedeparturefrolass ofin