Waiting for Mr. Darcy Read online

  “You’re avoiding the question.” He was getting impatient.

  “That’s because the answer is she hasn’t been on a date, period,” Harrison chimed in.

  “Were we talking to you, Harrison?”

  “No, but it’s the truth.”

  “Now that’s a shame. You’re still a young woman.”

  Alicia grinned. “Listen to how cute you are.” She got up and kissed him on the cheek. “I got my Mr. Darcy when I married your dad.”

  “I know, Mom, but I’m sure Dad would want you to find someone and be happy.”

  “I am happy. I was lucky enough to marry the love of my life, and even though he’s gone I can still see him in you. What more could I want or need?”

  “Game, set and match, Mom. How am I supposed to answer that?” He looked down at his cell phone. “I have a text here from Sally. Listen, Mom, I think my phone is about to die. Can I use yours to see what’s happening?”

  “Sure.”

  “Thanks.” He got up and left the room.

  Harrison waited until it was clear. “What kind of BS are you handing your son?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You know what I mean. Why don’t you tell him the real reason you’re not dating?”

  “I just did.”

  “We both know that’s not the whole reason.”

  “Leave it alone, Harrison.”

  “Why? Why are you so scared?”

  “What am I supposed to tell him? Should I tell him I’m scared to date because I’m diseased?”

  “Don’t say that.”

  “It’s the truth. I don’t want the people who work with me to know I have MS. How can I possibly start dating?”

  “Martha had MS, too, and I didn’t run away. I loved her completely, no matter what.”

  “I know. But you were already together when she was diagnosed. I mean, what’s the proper etiquette on when to tell someone you have a chronic disease with no cure? Is it the third date or the fifth date? Frankly, I’d rather not call Emily Post. I’ll take a pass.”

  “You’re taking a pass on life, you know.”

  Kurt Jr. walked back in.

  “Everything okay, honey?”

  “Yes.” He looked at Harrison and Alicia. “Did something happen while I was on the phone?”

  “No. Everything is fine,” Alicia lied.

  The doorbell rang.

  “Were you expecting anyone else today?” Harrison asked as he headed for the door.

  “No.”

  A minute later Lauren walked in.

  “Hey, Auntie Lauren. How are you?” Kurt got up and hugged her.

  “Kurt, it’s good to see you.” She kissed his cheek. “Let me look at you.” She smiled. “You’re still as handsome as ever.”

  “Oh, Auntie, you have to say that, you’re my godmother.”

  “No, I don’t. It just happens to be the truth.”

  “What brings you over today? I wasn’t expecting to see you,” Alicia said.

  “Can’t I just pop by? Do I need a reason to see my best friend?” She sat down.

  “Of course you don’t need a reason. Except you look like you just flew out of your house and past all mirrors.”

  “Excuse me? Are you saying I’m a mess?”

  “No, you look fine.” She came closer. “But there is something up. Are you hung over?”

  Lauren seemed shocked Alicia was so dead on, but she tried to play it off. “I may have had one too many martinis, but I’m fine.”

  Lauren could see from the expression on Alicia’s face that she wasn’t buying it.

  “Can I talk to you in my office, Lauren?” She stood up.

  “Why?”

  “Okay. Would you rather I continue in front of Harrison and Kurt?”

  “No.” She got up.

  “Be strong, Lauren,” Harrison said.

  “I’m not going to the principal’s office, Harrison.”

  She and Lauren left the kitchen.

  “Your mother has that look on her face. Whether or not Lauren knows it, she really is going to the principal’s office.”

  “Glad it’s not me.” Kurt grinned.

  “Me, too.”

  * * *

  As soon as Alicia closed her office door, Lauren flopped onto the sofa.

  “Okay, we’re alone now. What’s really going on?” Alicia looked her over carefully. “You look like hell.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Sorry, but you do. What happened to you?”

  Lauren looked down at the floor to keep from seeing Alicia’s expression once the words were in the air. “You want the long or short version?”

  “I’ll take either. Get to the point.”

  “Ken invited me to Ricardo’s and served me with divorce papers. Is that to the point enough for you?”

  Eyes wide and mouth agape, Alicia flopped onto the sofa next to Lauren. “That son of a bitch…”

  “I know.”

  “Well, you weren’t on page six this morning, so I know you didn’t make a scene. What did you do?”

  “I signed the divorce papers. What else could I do?”

  “You could have told him what a piece of…”

  “What good would that have done me? Besides, aren’t you the one who always tells me I deserve better than him?”

  “I knew he didn’t deserve you. Still, he could have handled this better. What was the point of taking you to a romantic restaurant?”

  “He said he didn’t want to use a process server. He felt he needed to deliver the papers in person.”

  “What a jackass,” Alicia fumed. “If he was worried about your feelings, he should have come to the apartment and handed them to you privately.”

  “It’s water under the bridge now.” She sighed heavily.

  “What did you do after you signed the papers?”

  “I stayed and had a pomegranate martini to numb the pain.”

  “From the looks of your eyes I’d say you had several martinis.”

  “I lost count after four.”

  “Whoa.” Alicia was taken aback. “Why didn’t you call me instead of drinking alone? I would have come.”

  “Who says I was alone?”

  “Oh, excuse me. Who was your drinking buddy?”

  “Randy Rivera.”

  Alicia’s eye’s lit up. “Randy Rivera? As in the owner and executive chef of Ricardo’s?”

  “Yes, but he wasn’t exactly my drinking buddy. He kept me company.”

  “That was nice of him.”

  “He’s a nice guy.”

  “So how did you get home? You obviously didn’t drive.”

  “I think Randy drove me.”

  “You think he drove you home?”

  “I did have a few martinis. Last night is a little fuzzy.” There is no way she’s buying this.

  “Is that right?” Alicia asked suspiciously. “Look at me.”

  “What?” Lauren started to fidget.

  “Oh, there is far more to this story than you’re telling me and don’t deny it.”

  “There’s nothing else to tell.” She wouldn’t look at Alicia.

  “Oh, yes there is. I’ve known you for thirty-two years, Lauren, and whenever you’re lying or avoiding something, you get fidgety. And right now you look like a Mexican jumping bean. What gives?”

  Lauren put her hands over her face. “I can’t even look at you.”

  “Why? What did you do? Sleep with the guy?”

  She didn’t say a word.

  “You slept with him?” she asked excitedly.

  “Keep it down. My head still hurts.”

  Alicia started laughing. “That’s why you came rushing up here, you naughty little girl.”

  “Stop it, Alicia, I feel bad enough.”

  “You feel bad about the hangover or getting it on with the chef?”

  “Stop making fun of me. I’m still a married woman.”

  “Oh please, give me a break! Ken handed you
divorce papers and you’ve been separated for a year now.”

  Lauren sank down on the sofa.

  “So?”

  “What?”

  Alicia nudged her. “You know what I’m asking.”

  “No, Ms. Prim and Proper, I’m going to make you say it.”

  “So how was it?”

  “You’re not going to ask me what he looked like or anything?”

  “No, I’ve seen Randy Rivera’s picture before. I know he’s gorgeous. But I want to know if he curled your toes.”

  “Stop that, Alicia. You are so silly.” She laughed.

  “Well, did he?”

  Lauren’s mind flashed back to his lips on her stomach. She fanned herself.

  “It looks to me like he curled more than your toes.”

  “It was really good.” Lauren couldn’t contain herself.

  “Oh, wow,” Alicia playfully punched her in the arm.

  “Ouch.”

  “It’s just like my grandmother used to say. The best way to get over a man is to get under another one.”

  “Ms. Archer, your grandmother, said stuff like that?”

  “Oh, yes, my father’s mother was a real character. She was completely ahead of her time. But she didn’t talk to me like that. I used to stay up to listen to her on the phone with her friends.”

  “She may have had a point.” Lauren stopped to think. “But now it’s the light of day and who knows what Randy thinks now.”

  “Did he sneak out before you woke up?”

  “No. He stayed and made me breakfast to help my hangover.”

  “He made you breakfast in your kitchen?” Alicia was shocked.

  Lauren rolled her eyes. “If you must know, he made some calls to get some provisions.”

  “I bet he did. Your kitchen is practically a museum.”

  “Very funny,” she said dryly.

  “It’s the truth.” Alicia leaned in. “So how did you leave things?”

  “He kissed me and said he’d call me later.”

  “That’s promising. He didn’t exactly blow you off.”

  “I don’t remember if I gave him my number. Hell, I didn’t remember I slept with him until he kissed me good-bye.”

  “And it all came flooding back, did it?”

  “Oh, yes.” Lauren relished the thought.

  “If it was that good, Lauren, I’m sure he has your number.”

  “Then why haven’t I heard from him yet?”

  “He’s a guy. I know it’s been a while since I dated but I’m pretty sure guy time hasn’t changed much. They never call when you think they should.”

  “You’re right about that.”

  “Do yourself a favor and stop sweating it. He’ll call. It hasn’t been that long, and he does have a restaurant to run.”

  “True,” she sighed.

  “Did you call Gabby?”

  “I tried to call her on the way over here but she didn’t pick up. I halfway expected to see her here.”

  “It’s Saturday. This is her day to check out the latest works from some of Central Park’s finest street artisans. We’ll probably hear from her later.”

  “Right.”

  Alicia stood up. “Are you hanging out here for a while?”

  “Yes. I’d like to catch up with my godson and maybe have some of that jambalaya.” She stood up.

  “Be my guest.”

  Lauren looked a little worried for a moment.

  “Don’t worry, your new little love muffin will call,” Alicia teased as she opened the door.

  “Oh, you are never going to let this go, are you?”

  “Are you kidding? This is way too good,” Alicia said devilishly.

  “You know, you really need your own love life.”

  “Why? When I can have more fun living vicariously between you and Gabby, it’s all the drama I need.”

  Chapter 5

  After a morning of artist watching, Gabby and Nigel got a couple of ice cream sundaes and found an empty bench.

  “Now this is what I call a great lunch choice,” Nigel grinned.

  “Yes. I’m happy to say I have three of the basic food groups, cream, sugar and chocolate.”

  “Here, here.” They toasted with their sundae cups.

  Gabby looked around the park. “Now this is what I love about Central Park. Where else can you dine a la carte and still get the best seat in the house?”

  “True.” He had another spoonful of ice cream. “So is this how you always spend your weekends?”

  “It is for the last four years since my divorce. Before that my weekends were all about my family’s activities, especially my children.”

  “How many children do you have?”

  “Two. My son, Ian, and my daughter, Lizzie.”

  “A perfect set. How old are they?”

  “Ian’s twenty-three and he’s in NYU Law. Lizzie’s twenty-one and she just graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in English.”

  “You don’t look old enough to have children in grad school.”

  Gabby blushed. “Thank you, but my birth certificate would beg to differ.”

  “What type of law is your son thinking of going into?”

  “He’s been talking about environmental law and civil rights law a lot. I’m not sure which one he’s leaning toward these days, but I know he’s going to be an amazing lawyer.”

  “I know it sounds like an oxymoron, but both fields could use more good attorneys.”

  She laughed.

  “What about your daughter?”

  “She’s traveling through Europe with her friends for the summer before she begins teaching ninth grade English in the city this fall while she goes to grad school for her certification.”

  “Oh, that’s great. The city can use as many teachers as it can get.”

  “I think so, too. Her grandmother, on the other hand, is completely mortified at the idea of a Blanchard teaching in an inner city school.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh yes, but my mother is from a different generation. She went to college to find an eligible husband. The degree was secondary.”

  “Is that how it was for you?”

  “No. I wanted to do something with my art history degree, and then I got married after college and the rest, as they say, is history.” She reflected for a moment. “That’s enough about me. Do you have any children?”

  “I have a fourteen-year-old son, Nigel Jr. He lives in Chicago with my ex.”

  “Fourteen, I remember that age. How long have you been divorced?”

  “His mother and I weren’t married.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed when you said ex…”

  “No harm done. We were going to get married, but it didn’t work out.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. She married a nice guy and everyone gets along.”

  “You’re a regular Bruce, Demi and Ashton.” She grinned.

  “I wouldn’t go that far.” He laughed. “That’s a little strange.”

  “I agree.”

  He looked down at his watch. “I didn’t realize the time. I have an appointment in about an hour.”

  “Oh, don’t let me keep you.”

  “You’re not. I really enjoyed it.”

  “Me, too.”

  They got up and began walking.

  “How did you get here? Can I hail a cab for you?”

  “Thank you, that would be great. You have an appointment, so would you like to share a cab?”

  “No, that’s okay. My appointment isn’t too far from here. I can walk.”

  “Oh, all right.”

  They walked toward the entrance to the park.

  “Before you go I’d like to ask you something.”

  “Sure.”

  “Would it be inappropriate for me to ask you to dinner?”

  “No. Why?”

  “I am showing at your gallery. Some people might think it’s a conflict of interest.”


  “It wouldn’t be. I added you to the exhibit based on your artwork before we had this pleasant little afternoon.”

  “Good. Then would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow evening?”

  “I’d love to.”

  “Great. Shall we meet, or would it be okay to pick you up?”

  Gabby was tickled. “You can pick me up.” She rifled through her bag to get her notebook to write down her address. “Here you go.” She handed him the paper.

  “Thanks.” He studied it for a moment. “If you could write down your telephone number, too, that would be great. In case I run late with traffic or something.”

  “Oh, sure, how silly of me.” She took the paper and jotted down both her numbers.

  She handed him the paper again. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  He turned and flagged a cab down, then opened the door. “Here you go, Gabby.”

  “Thank you. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Yes. I’ll be there around six if that’s okay with you.”

  “Yes, that’s fine.” She got into the cab.

  He leaned down. “So I’ll see you.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.” She waved as the cab pulled away. Contented, Gabby settled in for the ride home.

  * * *

  Despite the 86-degree reading on the thermometer, Alicia and Lauren relaxed on the chaise lounges with a glass of lemonade, while Kurt tried to get some color a little closer to the pool.

  “Are you sure you have enough sunblock on?” Alicia called.

  “I’m fine, Mom,” Kurt said, exasperated.

  “Leave him alone, Alicia. He’s a grown man.”

  “I know. But do you remember how quickly his father burned? Kurt’s got skin just like him.”

  “Kurt was the only black person I’ve ever seen turn into a lobster in under ten minutes.”

  “Exactly.”

  “For God’s sake, Alicia, you gave him SPF 50 and that’s essentially long sleeves in a tube. I think he’s good.”

  Just then a Frisbee flew into the yard, followed by a topless blonde.

  “Sorry.” She waved and ran back to Nathaniel’s yard.

  Alicia sat up and felt her forehead. “I don’t think I have heatstroke. That was a topless woman that just ran in my yard, right?”

  “Yes. I’m surprised they allow such things in uptight Scarsdale. But that can only mean one thing, naughty Nate’s back in town,” she sang.

  “Don’t remind me.” Alicia groaned. “Mr. Becker is up to his usual shenanigans.”