It was snowing and she was hatless and without boots, but she pulled the mink coat tightly around her and sank her gloved hands into her pockets. It was only a twelve-block walk to her house, and she needed the air.
She trudged all the way home, her suede shoes soaking wet on her feet, her hair damp, and when she got home her cheeks were aflame and her legs felt icy and numb, but she felt alive and sober again. She had pulled her hair from its knot and let it fall around her shoulders, gathering a mantilla of snow.
The doorman rushed to her side with his half-broken umbrella as he saw her loom from the snow and darkness, and she laughed as he approached.
“No, no, Thomas. I’m fine!” She felt like a child again, and the sodden shoes didn’t matter at all. It was the sort of performance that would have won her days of scolding as a child. Totie might even have reported her to Edward for something like that. But Totie was a thing of the past now, as was Edward. She had seen that today. She could walk in the snow all night now if she wanted. It didn’t really matter. Nothing did. Except Luke.
But at least the buzzing sound had left her head, her shoulders didn’t feel quite so heavy, her spirit felt clean. Even the drinks had been washed away by the cold and the snow.
The doorbell rang just as she peeled off her stockings and stuck her cold feet under the hot water tap in the tub. They tingled and hurt and turned red. She debated answering the door, and decided rapidly not to. It was obviously just the elevator man with a package; had it been a visitor they would have called from downstairs for permission to send someone up. But the bell was persistent, and finally she dried her feet in one of the big monogrammed towels, and ran to the door.
“Yes? Who is it?”
“Cesar Chavez.”
“Who?”
“It’s Alejandro, you dummy.”
She pulled open the door. “Good lord, you look like Frosty the Snowman. Did you walk?”
“All the way.” He looked terribly pleased with himself. “I think I love New York after all. When it snows anyway. Isn’t it great?”
She nodded with a broad smile of agreement. “Come on in.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. They rang from downstairs for ages, but you didn’t answer. The guy said you were home, and I must have looked honest or cold, because he let me come up.”
“I had the water running in the tub.” She looked down at her bare feet which were now almost purple from the return of circulation after the shock of the tub. “I walked home too. It felt great.”
“What happened? Couldn’t find a cab?”
“Nope. I just felt like walking. It was sort of a crazy day, and I needed to unwind.”
“What happened?” He looked faintly worried.
“Nothing much. I had one of those unbearably fancy lunches with Edward, and it was a hell of a strain. Between his dismal failure at not looking disapproving, and the stares of the rest of the people there, not to mention a Women’s Wear reporter creeping up on us … I got a bad case of the freaks. And then to make matters worse, I took myself off to a benefit meeting, and flaked out before I walked in the door. That’s when I decided to walk home.”
“Sounds like you needed it.”
“Yeah. I just can’t play the old games anymore. I can’t even begin to tackle the double life nonsense again, and I won’t do it. That life just doesn’t suit me. I’d rather be here by myself.”
“Are you telling me to leave?”
“Don’t be a jerk.”
He chuckled, and she took his sopping wet coat, and hung it on the kitchen door.
“I must admit, that whole trip sounds pretty bad.”
“Worse … but dahling, how divine you look, isn’t that the wet look by Cardin … oh, and your ring!” She picked up the hand where he had a large rough Indian turquoise. “But the ring is David Webb of course … his nnneeewwww collection, daaahhhling? Ah, and of course sneakers by Macy’s. What an exquisite idea!” She made a face and rolled her eyes. “I mean, Jesus, Alejandro, how can anyone breathe under all that shit?”
“Wear a snorkel?”
“You’re impossible. I’m being serious.”
“Forgive me.” He settled down on the couch after having dumped his sneakers with his coat in the kitchen. “Hell, you used to live that life fairly successfully, didn’t you?”
“Sure. As long as I was sneaking around on subways to meet my lover in SoHo, or flying off to meet Luke in Chicago. Besides, I had to do all that dumb shit for the column.”
“Bullshit. You didn’t just ‘have to,’ you wanted to, or you wouldn’t have done it.”
“That’s not necessarily true. But in any case, I don’t want to do it anymore, and I won’t. Besides, everyone knows I won’t play the game now, so why try to pretend? But the point is what do I do now? I don’t fit there, and Luke’s not here, which leaves me feeling … aimless, I guess is the best way to put it. Any suggestions?”
“Yeah. Make me a cup of hot chocolate. Then I’ll solve all your problems.”
“That’s a deal. Want some brandy in it?”
“Nope. I’ll take it straight thanks.” He didn’t want to give her an excuse to start drinking. She didn’t need much of an excuse, but he thought she might balk at drinking alone. He was right.
“You’re not much fun, but in that case I’ll have mine straight too. I think I’ve been drinking too much lately.”
“No kidding. When did you figure that out? After A.A. called you with a free subscription, or before?”
“Don’t be nasty.”
“What do you want me to do? Keep my mouth shut till you wind up with cirrhosis?” “That sounds fine.”
“Jesus, Kezia, that’s not even funny. You really piss me off!” And he looked it as she vanished into the kitchen.
She appeared a few minutes later with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. “And how was your day?”
“Stinking, thanks. I had a minor altercation with my board of directors. At least they thought it was minor. I almost quit.”
“You did? How comer?”
“The usual garbage. Allotment of funds. I got so annoyed I told them I was taking two days off.”
“That must have pleased them. What are you going to do with the two days?”
“Fly out to San Francisco with you to see Luke. When are you going?”
“Good lord, Alejandro! Can you do that?” She was delighted, but he had just spent so much money coming out with them to the hearing.
“Sure I can do it. But not in first-class. Are you willing to sit with the peasants at the back of the bus?”
“I think I can stand it. Do you play backgammon? I can bring my small set.”
“How about poker?”
“You’re on. To tell you the truth, I’m glad you’re coming.
… I was thinking about it this morning, and I think I’m scared to death of this trip.”
“Why?” That surprised him.
“San Quentin. It sounds so awful. And I’ve never been any place like it.”
“It’s not exactly a joy ride, but it’s not a dungeon either. You’ll be okay.” But just to be sure, he was going. Luke had urgently requested that he come out with her. And Alejandro knew he wouldn’t ask unless there was a damn good reason. Something was happening.
“Listen, are you coming out just because you figured I was afraid to do it alone?” The idea amazed her.
“Don’t be so egocentric. He happens to be my friend too.” She blushed faintly and he tugged at a lock of the rumpled black hair. “Besides, after what I’ve seen you come through, I have the feeling that if they were firing M-16’s over your head, you’d just tighten your earrings, put on your gloves, and march right on in.”
“Am I as bad as all that?”
“Not bad, baby—impressive. Goddamn impressive. And by the way, while we’re out there I want to interview for a job at a therapeutic community I mentioned to you once.”