She laughed at him, relieved. “Are you sure you can stand staying anyplace for that long?”
“I’ll sure try.” He slapped her behind as he walked to the bar and poured himself a bourbon and water.
“Luke?” She was lying on the bed, looking pensive.
“Yeah?”
“What am I going to do about the column?”
“That’s up to you, babe. You’ve got to make up your own mind on that. Do you dig writing it?”
“Once in a while. But not lately. Not for a long time, in fact.”
“Then maybe it’s time to quit, for your own sake. But don’t give it up for me. Do what you want. And if you’ve got to stick around New York covering fancy parties, then you do that. You’ve got to take care of your business too. Don’t forget that.”
“I’ll see how I feel about it after next week. Ill do my usual thing when we go back to New York. Then I’ll see how it feels.” With Luke commuting to Washington, she’d have plenty of time to hit her old circuit.
After four days in New York, she had been to the opening of a play, the closing of a theater, two lunches for ambassadors’ wives, and a charity fashion show. Her feet hurt, her mind ached, and her ears were numbed by the constant flow of idle gossip. Who gave a damn? Kezia didn’t. Not anymore.
“Lucas, if I ever hear the word ‘divine’ again, I think I’m going to throw up.”
“You look tired.” She looked more than tired. She looked drained, and she felt it.
“I am tired, and I hate all that fucking shit.” She had even made it to a meeting of the Arthritis Ball that day. Tiffany had passed out in the John. And she couldn’t even use it for the column. The only good piece of information she’d picked up was that Marina and Halpern were getting married. But so what? Who cared?
“What are we doing this weekend?” If he told her that they were going to Chicago, she would have a fit of hysterics. She didn’t want to go anywhere, except bed.
“Nothing. Maybe I’ll go up and see Al. Want to have him for dinner?” He was sitting on the edge of the bed and looked as tired as she.
“That, I would love. I’ll cook something here.” He smiled at the domestic exchange and she picked up on what he was thinking. “It’s neat, isn’t it, Luke? Sometimes I wonder if you love it all as much as I do. I’ve never lived like this before.”
He grinned at her, knowing how true that was.
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes, I do. And I probably love it even more than you do. I’m beginning to wonder how I survived without you before this.” He slipped into bed beside her, and she turned off the light. He had his own keys to the apartment, and used the answering service as his, she had cleaned out a closet for him, and the maid had finally even smiled at him. Once. She called him “Mister Luke.”
“You know something, darling? We’re lucky. Incredibly lucky.” She was pleased with herself, as though she had caught a falling star in her hands.
“Yes, baby, we are.” Even if only for now….
“Well, gentlemen, I propose a toast to the demise of Martin Hallam.”
“Lucas, what does she mean?” Alejandro looked puzzled and Luke looked at her curiously. This was the first he had heard of it.
“Kezia, does this mean what I think?”
“Yes, sir. It does. After seven years of writing the Martin Hallam column, I quit. I did it today.”
Luke looked at her, shocked. “What did they say?”
“They don’t know yet. I told Simpson today, and he’s going to handle the rest. They’ll know tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?” It wasn’t too late to reverse the decision.
“I have never been so sure in my life. I don’t have the time for that garbage anymore. Or the inclination to waste my time doing it” She saw a strange look pass between Luke and Alejandro, and wondered why no one seemed impressed. “Well, you two are certainly a lousy audience for my big announcement. Phooey on both of you.”
Alejandro smiled and Luke laughed.
“I guess we’re just kind of shocked, babe. And I suddenly wondered if you’re doing it because of me.”
“Not really, darling. It’s my decision. I don’t want to have to go to those shitty parties for the rest of my life. You saw how tired I was this week. And for what? It’s just not my thing anymore.”
“Have you told Edward?” He looked worried, and Alejandro was looking daggers at him.
“No. I’ll call him tomorrow. You’re the first two to know after Simpson. And you’re a couple of creeps.”
“I’m sorry, baby. It’s just sort of a shock.” He lifted his glass to her then, a nervous smile on his face. ‘To Martin Hallam then.” Alejandro raised his glass in response, but his eyes never left Lucas’ face.
“To Martin Hallam. Rest in peace.”
“Amen.” Kezia drained her glass in one gulp.
“No, Edward. I’m sure. And Simpson agrees. It’s a diversion I don’t really have time for anymore. I want to stick with serious writing.”
“But it’s such a drastic step, Kezia. You’re used to the column. Everyone’s used to it. It’s become an institution. Have you given this decision adequate thought?”
“Of course I have. For months. And the fact is, darling, that I don’t want to be an ‘institution.’ Not that kind of institution. I want to be a writer, a good one, not a gossip monger amongst fools. Really, darling, you’ll see. It’s the best possible decision.”
“Kezia, you’re making me nervous.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Why?” She swung her foot as she sat at her desk. She had called him right after Luke left the house for a morning of meetings. At least Luke had come around, after the first shock. And Simpson had applauded the decision, and said it was high time.
“I wish I knew why you make me nervous. I think it’s because I get the feeling I don’t know what you’re up to, not that it’s really any of my business.” But he wanted it to be. That was the rub.
“Edward, you’re going to make yourself senile worrying about nothing.” He was beginning to annoy her. Constantly.
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” It was almost an accusation.
“Going away.” But he didn’t dare ask where. And she didn’t volunteer the information. They were going back to Chicago.
“All right, all right. Dammit, Kezia, I’m sorry. It’s just that, in my mind, you will always be a child.”
“And I will always love you, and you will always worry too much. Over nothing.”
He had made her uncomfortable, though. After they hung up, she sat silently and wondered. Was she crazy to stop writing the column? At one time, it had been so important to her. But not anymore. But still … was she losing touch with who and what she was? In a way, she had done it for Luke. And for herself. Because she wanted to be free to move around with him, and besides, she had outgrown the column years ago.
But suddenly, she wanted to discuss it with Luke. He was gone for the day. She could call Alejandro, but she hated to bother him. It was a queasy feeling, like leaving the dock in the fog, headed for an unknown destination. But she had made her decision. She would live by it. Martin Hallam was dead. It was a simple decision really. The column was over.
She sat back at her desk and stretched, and decided to go for a walk. It was a gray November day, and there was a nip of winter in the air. It made her want to throw a long wool scarf around her neck and run to the park. She felt suddenly free of an old wearisome burden. The weight of Martin Hallam had finally slipped from her shoulders.
Kezia grabbed an old sheepskin jacket from her closet and slipped tall black custom-made boots under her carefully pressed jeans. She dug a small knitted red cap from the pocket of her jacket, and took a pair of gloves from a shelf. She felt new again now. A writer of anything she wanted, not a scavenger of social crumbs. A small smile hovered on her lips, and there was a mischievous gleam in her eye as she headed for the park, with long strides. What a marvelous day, and it wasn’t even lunchtime yet. She thought about buying a picnic to eat in the park, but decided not to bother. Instead, she bought a small bag of hot roasted chestnuts from an old gnarled man pushing a steaming cart along Fifth Avenue. He grinned at her toothlessly and she waved at him over her shoulder as she walked away. He was sweet really. Everyone was. Everyone suddenly looked as new as she felt.