Waiting for Mr. Darcy (6 page)

She looked at the clock. “Sure. That gives me enough time to get back to the city and get ready.”

“Oh, listen, if it's too much trouble we can make it another night.”

“No. It's not a problem.”

“I'll pick you up at eight then?”

“Yes.”

“Great, I'm looking forward to it.”

“Me, too. I'll see you then.” She hung up.

Lauren felt light as a feather as she walked from the office to the kitchen. Alicia, Harrison and Kurt were having cookies at the table.

“Hot date?” Alicia winked.

“As a matter of fact I do have a date, which means I need to get going.” She picked up her bag.

“Wait up, Auntie. I'll walk out with you. It's getting late and I'd better get back.”

“You're leaving me, too?” Alicia asked sweetly.

He got up and kissed Alicia. “I'll come back soon, Mom.” He paused. “You know, the road goes both ways. You can visit me.”

“Now that I'm on hiatus and at home for a little, I will.”

Kurt looked at her in disbelief. “I'll believe it when you pull into the driveway.”

“You're on.”

Harrison got up and handed Kurt a bag of take-home goodies. “Here, take this home with you. Maybe Sally would like to try your Mom's jambalaya, too.”

“Thanks, Mr. H.” He kissed his mom again. “Remember to take it easy.”

“I will.”

Kurt walked out with Harrison.

Alicia turned to Lauren. “Don't forget to call me. I want to hear all the details, unless of course you're otherwise occupied.” She had a glint in her eye.

“A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste, Alicia,” she said drolly.

“But it's mine to waste. Have a good time.”

“Thanks.” She kissed her on the cheek and headed out.

She met up with Harrison and Kurt in the driveway.

“You have a good time tonight, Lauren. I'll keep working on her majesty in there.” He kissed her and hugged Kurt before he went back inside.

Kurt opened Lauren's car door. “Here you go, Auntie.”

She mussed up his hair. “You're still such a good boy,” she said as she got into the car.

He closed her door. “Thanks. Maybe you can help with my mom, too. It kills me to think of her alone.”

“I'll do my best. You know how stubborn she is. However, I can promise you that Gabby and I will tag-team her.”

“Thanks, Auntie. Have a good time tonight. Drive safe.”

“I will.” She put the car in gear.

* * *

Gabby sat at her kitchen table going through photos she'd taken of the artists she and Nigel had seen earlier in the day. She couldn't help but smile when she came across a photo of her and Nigel one of the artists had taken for them. “He is cute,” she said softly.

“Do you need something, Ms. Blanchard?” Rosie, Gabby's petite brunette maid, entered the room.

“No, Rosie. I'm fine.”

“Very good, ma'am.”

The phone rang. Rosie answered and handed it to her. “Hello?”

“Hey there. You've been awfully quiet today. How's it going?” Alicia lay back on her bed.

“Hey, Alicia, I'm good.”

“Did you find the next big thing in art?”

“I wouldn't say that, though I did see some good stuff.”

Her happy tone made Alicia smile. “I can hear you grinning. What's up?”

“How can you hear someone grin?” she asked, incredulous.

“It's just the way you sound. You always have that little lilt in your voice when you smile.”

“We have known each other a long time, haven't we?”

“Yes. Now spill the beans.”

“I ran into Nigel in the park.”

“It must have been kismet at work. I mean, what are the chances you'd run into him in Central Park? That is where you were, right?”

“Yes.”

“Go on.”

“We spent the morning and some of the afternoon together, talking, looking at artists…”

“Did you have lunch?”

“Not exactly. We had a couple of ice cream sundaes.”

“Sounds sweet. No pun intended.”

“We had fun and the time flew by.”

“It always does when you're having fun, my dear. So how did you leave things?”

“We're having dinner tomorrow night.”

“Fantastic,” she exclaimed. “Hmm, there must be something in the air this summer.”

“What do you mean?”

“I take it you haven't spoken to Lauren.”

“No. What's going on? Did she and Ken get back together?”

“Hardly. He served her with divorce papers.”

“What? How is she?”

“She's fine. In fact, I'd venture to say she's as right as rain.”

“Am I missing something?”

“She met someone who took her mind off Ken Jones.”

“Who did she meet?”

“Randy Rivera.”

“He's the chef owner of Ricardo's, isn't he?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. Tell me more.”

“I've already told you too much. Give Lauren a call and let her fill in the rest of the details for you.”

“You can bet I will, now that you've whetted my appetite.”

“But you're going to have to wait until tomorrow to call her. She has a date with Chef Rivera tonight.”

“What a difference twenty-four hours makes.”

“I know. The same goes for you, too. Nigel certainly doesn't sound like the usual hair club rejects your mother tries to pawn off on you.”

Bunny Blanchard's second mission in life was to find another appropriate suitor for her only daughter. Bunny had taken the divorce harder than Gabby or even her grandchildren did. She mostly wanted to save face amongst her friends, so she set Gabby up with their boring-as-melba-toast sons, much to her daughter's chagrin. Gabby was sure that Nigel wouldn't pass muster with Bunny, but as far as she was concerned, he passed with flying colors with her and that's what mattered.

“Thank God.” She paused. “You know, he might even be a little younger than me.”

“Oh, you naughty little cougar,” Alicia teased.

Gabby laughed.

“All kidding aside, I am happy for you.”

“Thanks. You know you can get in on this action, too.”

“Are you proposing a
ménage a trois
, Gabby? I'm shocked,” she said facetiously.

“Ha, ha, very funny. You know what, or should I say who, I'm talking about.”

“If you say Nathaniel Becker, I'll scream.”

“Then go ahead and scream because I don't think he's all that bad.” She sighed. “Do you want to be single for the rest of your life?”

“I'm a widow, remember? I'm not exactly an old maid.”

“I know, Alicia. Still it would be nice to have someone to snuggle up to at night.”

“As Emma said, ‘It is only poverty that makes celibacy contemptible. A single woman of good fortune is always respectable.' In other words, I have all I need to keep me happy.”

“I still think you'd be happier with Nate.”

“Why does everyone assume he likes me? The man goes out of his way to antagonize me.”

“Right. Why would he bother if he didn't feel something for you? Besides, he is cute.”

She relented. “I'll give him that. He has all his own hair, teeth and he's in pretty good shape.”

“Sounds like the perfect man to me.”

“I already met and married my perfect man.”

“I loved Kurt, too, Alicia, but I'm sure he wouldn't want to see you cooped up in an ivory tower for the rest of your life. He'd want you to move on. Besides, if I remember correctly, despite her proclamation of being a single woman of good fortune, Emma wound up marrying Mr. Knightley. Isn't that right?”

“You know how much I hate it when you use Jane against me.”

“I'm not so much using it against you as I am trying to make a point. I know you've got your media empire, but would it hurt to have love in your life?”

“I do have love in my life. I've got Kurt Jr., Harrison, Lauren, my parents and you. What more could a girl ask for?”

“You're impossible.”

“You love me anyway.”

“God help us.” Gabby heard the doorbell ring and glanced at her watch. “Who in the world would come by now?”

“What's going on?”

“Someone just rang the doorbell.”

“Were you expecting anyone?”

“No.”

A minute later she heard Victor's distinctive voice.

“Oh, boy,” she sighed. “Victor is here.”

“Oh, dear, I'd better let you go see what has his silk boxers in a knot tonight. Good luck.”

“Thanks. I'm going to need it. I'll talk to you later.”

“Okay, baby.”

Gabby hung up and made her way to the foyer where Rosie was trying to calm Victor down.

“Ms. Blanchard.” Rosie looked relieved.

“It's okay, Rosie. I'm here.”

“Thank you.” She took off.

“Hello, Victor. What brings you by, besides getting another chance to terrorize my maid?”

At five feet, six inches and dressed like a chic preppy in a polo shirt and Dockers, Victor didn't look like a diva until he put his hands on his hips. “For one thing, you can tell me why you're making my life miserable.”

“How am I making your life miserable?”

“I spent all day at the gallery trying to figure out how to stage the exhibit now that you've upset the balance of the universe.”

She looked at him. “I've upset the balance of the
universe
?”

“Okay, you've upset my universe. I've done my feng shui and I finally have the perfect flow of fifteen. Then you go and add one more.”

“Come now, Victor, it's not like I added twenty more. It's one artist and we have the space.”

“That's not the point.”

“Then tell me what the point is?”

He stopped to think.

“I'm waiting.” Gabby tapped her feet.

“Okay. So there isn't a problem. I just wanted to register my complaint. We have been doing the future fifteen for six years or something, you know.”

“I know, Victor, but we can embrace change, can't we?” She put her arm around his shoulder.

“You know, whenever you do that I never know whether you're going to kill me or hug me. You must be at least four inches taller than me.”

“I'm four and a half inches taller than you,” she corrected.

“I stand corrected. No pun intended.”

She began walking him to the door. “Victor, you have plenty of time to pull it together and make it fabulous like only you can.”

“Are you playing to my ego?”

“Yes. Is it working?”

“Yes.”

“I'm glad we've come to an understanding.”

“Me, too,” he said as he opened the door. “Wait a second.” He bent down and picked up a bouquet of roses. “Look what I found.”

“Was that here before?”

“No, I think I would have noticed. It's a huge bouquet.” He handed her the flowers. “There's a card.”

The heady fragrance of the flowers overwhelmed her senses. “They're intoxicating.” She opened the card.

Looking forward to tomorrow night. Nigel.

Gabby felt herself blush.

Victor was intrigued. “Oh, was it X-rated?”

“No. It was sweet.”

“It smells like romance is in the air this summer.”

“Indeed it is, Victor, and I for one am going to take as many deep breaths as possible.” She beamed.

* * *

Lauren had gone through the contents of her closet without coming to a decision. She flopped onto her bed. “What am I going to wear?” She let out a heavy sigh. “There's only one thing to do.” She picked up the phone.

Alicia was working on her laptop, surrounded by reports. “Hello?”

“Help me, Alicia. I don't know what to wear.” She sounded desperate.

“You're kidding me, right? What time is he picking you up?”

“Eight o'clock.”

Alicia looked at the clock. “It's almost seven-thirty. You're cutting it close. Please tell me you have your makeup on.”

“I do.”

Alicia was quiet for a moment. “What about that IGIGI outfit with the georgette blouse and pencil skirt? I think that would be sexy and romantic.”

The light went on over Lauren's head. “I completely forgot I'd ordered it. I must have blown right by it.”

“You have a sickness when it comes to clothes, Lauren. How is it you can't remember what you just bought?”

“I know.” Lauren looked over at her closet, which was as large as one of her guest bedrooms.

“Are you set now?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“You're welcome. Call me later.”

“I will.” She hung up and got dressed in a hurry. By 7:52 she waited in the living room, dressed to thrill.The intercom buzzed.

“Yes?”

“Ms. Jones, I have a Mr. Rivera here for you. Shall I send him up?”

“Yes. Thank you, Bo.”

She got up and checked out her reflection in the mirror.
Should I give my hair a little shake?
She examined it carefully.
Why not?
Lauren gave it a little shake, then looked at her work. “Not bad.” She smiled.

The doorbell rang.

When she opened it, there stood Randy in a beautiful chocolate brown suit that complemented his butterscotch skin tone to perfection. He looked good enough to eat and Lauren was hungry.

“
Buenos dias.
You look wonderful.”

“Thank you. So do you.”

He put his arm out. “Shall we?”

“Yes.” She took his arm and they walked to the elevator. “I'm curious. Where does a chef go for dinner?”

The elevator opened and they walked in. “That, my dear, is a surprise.” He smiled as the doors closed.

Half an hour later they were seated in at AOC L'aile ou la Cuisse, an adorable little bistro in Greenwich Village.