Eliza Starts a Rumor(72)
“Do you know him?” Dean asked.
She blushed. “No, no. Why?”
“I swear since I’ve been standing here four women have come over and checked him out.” Mandy hid her laughter.
Bart returned, holding up a small chicken like a product on the Home Shopping Network.
“I won’t be needing it after all. Thanks.” Mr. Barr smiled shyly.
Amanda took that as a yes and graciously gave him the details. They finished up their shopping. She stopped at home to drop off Pippa and a few bags before bringing the rest to Eliza’s. Her dad came out to the car to help.
“Pippa invited Dean Barr over to Eliza’s for Thanksgiving,” she whined.
“He’s a dean now?”
“No, that’s his first name,” she said with a laugh.
“That is funny. You know, you used to have a giant crush on him in high school.”
“You knew that?”
“Please, Mandy, it was pretty obvious.”
“Ugh. Dad, don’t embarrass me in front of him please.”
“I’m the least of your troubles. Your youngest just invited your husband to Thanksgiving.”
“What? She can’t just do that!”
“Well, she just did, and I will leave it to you to tell her otherwise.”
She knew the thought of their father eating dinner alone at the hotel bar on Thanksgiving would break their hearts. More manipulation on his part. She thought about calling her lawyer, but she knew that she would encourage her not to keep him from his children. Spending four hundred dollars to hear that would only make it worse.
“This is nuts. I’m taking the rest of the stuff to Eliza’s. She’s going to kill me.”
“No, she won’t. You know she’ll say the more the merrier.”
He was right, but she wanted to go there anyway and complain about the insanity of Thanksgiving dinner with Carson and Dean Barr. Neither guest was appetizing to Eliza, but, in her typical fashion, she went for the joke.
“Don’t worry, there’s room at the table. My mother just informed me that their flight arrives after dinner. She claimed my father wanted to save on airfare, but you know she would do anything to avoid communal eating.”
“That’s insane, but more sweet potato pie for us!” Mandy proclaimed proudly, pulling a yam from the grocery bags.
Eliza weighed whether or not to send Mandy back to the store. She seemed so proud. She remembered an old recipe she had for candied yams and passed. She imagined they would all need a little sugar to counter the presence of Carson Cole.
She would act hospitable for Mandy’s girls. If Mandy and her father could tolerate him for their sake, then she could, too.
As if Mandy sensed what Eliza was thinking, she added, “I’m sorry, Eliza, to be such an imposition.”
Eliza took Mandy’s hands between hers. “Don’t worry. It will be good to provide some normalcy for the girls.”
Neither of them could predict just how far off that statement would prove to be.
CHAPTER 40
Alison
Alison arrived at Grand Army Plaza to stand by Marc’s side as he announced his bid for mayor. His team had picked a Brooklyn location, as opposed to one in Manhattan, so as to paint Marc as an ordinary man of the people rather than a highbrow attorney who had enjoyed a privileged childhood. Alison was well aware that she and Zachary were an integral part of his new image.
Press, news cameras, faces she recognized from court, and bigwigs of the Democratic Party were all in attendance. It was invigorating for sure, but mostly she wanted to find a quiet corner where she could feed Zachary. She weaved her way through the dense crowd armed with “SUGARMAN IS THE MAN” signs and found her predesignated spot. Once there, a young woman, whose name tag read “Abby Holtz,” approached.
“I’m your handler,” Abby announced.
“Do you know how to handle a baby?” Alison joked.
“I’m afraid not,” Abby replied, looking as if Alison had asked her to charm a snake.
Abby led her behind the podium to a curtained-off area. Marc was there and introduced her to his campaign manager and a few others whose names went in one ear and out the other. She had a very small window between Zach’s next bottle and standing by Marc’s side for the announcement with a quiet baby who was through spitting up. One of those guys, whose name escaped her, came along while she fed Zach.
“We would rather you not take any questions afterward, as you haven’t been thoroughly prepped. Is that OK?”
“That sounds perfect, thanks.”
It was a relief. She was becoming increasingly unsure about how to honestly answer questions about the future of their relationship. With each moment she spent with Marc, her original concept of them being engaged to be engaged felt further and further from the truth. The nameless guy continued explaining the logistics.
“The lieutenant governor will do a brief intro for Marc and then call him up. You will stand to his right with the baby. His campaign manager and some members of his team, plus a few celebrities, will stand with you as well.”
Alison scanned the small group behind the curtain: an interesting mix including the district attorney, the lieutenant governor, a point guard for the New York Knicks, and a famous Broadway diva. The nameless guy went on. “At the end of his speech, when he actually announces his candidacy and the crowd cheers, he will reach for your hand. Together you will lift your clasped hands in the air to signify Marc’s status as a family man. No words will be necessary after that. A photo-op moment is all we need from you today.”