hey were late to the restaurant, and Kent and Melisande and Welch were already seated. Tess could see them through the archway, a little triumvirate of privilege and arrogance, and she thought about how rude she wanted to be and how ineffectual rudeness would be. Nick had taught her something. Tact. Diplomacy. Underhandedness. She was going to charm the socks right off Welch and then attack him when he was well fed—just like taking a pig to the slaughter.

“If I’m going to behave all night, I need a drink,” Tess said.

“Get me one, too,” Park said behind them, and Tess turned to see Gina standing blankly beside him, her eyes red from crying, her face slack with fear.

“Gina?” she said. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Gina said. “I’m perfectly fine. Everything’s going to be fine. I’m ready to meet Park’s parents. Really I am. I’m fine.”

“I’m not,” Park said. “Get me a drink. We took a cab, so drunkenness is not a problem.”

“Gina, honey?” Tess asked.

“I’m fine,” Gina said again. “Can I have some gum?”

“No,” Tess said.

“Oh, hell,” Nick said.

The seating arrangements could have been better, Nick thought as he surveyed the situation. Somehow they’d ended up with the Pattersons on one side of the big round table, staring across at Park and Gina who had Welch on one side and him and Tess on the other. Park winced under his father’s gaze like a sinner on Judgment Day with a few things to explain about the little ethnic woman by his side who was obviously not Radcliffe material, while Gina sat, dazed with terror, across from Melisande, a woman who was never amused and often appalled. And clearly, Melisande had never had as much to be appalled about as she had now. In desperation Nick gestured to the waiter.

“Bring wine,” Nick told him. “Any wine. Now.”

“Very good, sir,” the waiter said.

Kent Patterson smiled tightly. “The Chateau Rothschild, Dennis.”

“Very good, sir.”

Kent Patterson commandeered the menu. “I’ll order for us all.” He didn’t see Welch roll his eyes as he began. “We’ll start with the gravlax and pumpkin soup,” he said, relaxing as he exerted authority. “And then the goat cheese and endive. It’s very good. Remarkable, really. Then the Muscovy duck, and for dessert crème brulee.”

“Very good, sir,” Dennis said to Kent.

“Steak,” Welch said. “Rare. Baked potato. And a bloody Mary.”

“Henderson is not going to be pleased,” Tess said to him.

“Henderson is not going to know,” Welch said to her. “Unless you rat on me.”

“I should for your own good,” Tess said. “Somebody should tell the truth and save you from yourself.”

Welch looked startled by her tone, but then Kent spoke to him and he looked away.

“What’s going on?” Nick whispered to her as Dennis arrived with the wine.

“The dinner party from hell,” Tess said. “You may want to leave now. It’s going to get ugly.”

Then Kent turned away from Welch and caught sight of his quivering son. He picked up his glass in disgust and drank his wine.

Melisande looked down her long nose at Gina without blinking and drank her wine.

Gina shook visibly and drank her wine.

Park sighed and drank his wine.

Tess looked at Nick, and they both drank their wine.

“So Park tells me you’re a Democrat,” Kent said to Tess. “That must make for some interesting conversations with Nick.”

“Oh, a few,” Tess said.

“Democrats,” Welch snorted, but he watched Tess with the same rapt attention he always gave her, only this time a little more warily than usual.

Kent smiled at Tess patronizingly. “So is it true that politics make strange bedfellows?”

“Really, Kent,” Melisande said with cold distaste.

“Bedpersons,” Park said, and everybody stared at him.

“What?” Kent asked.

“Bedpersons,” Park said again. “Tess would prefer bedpersons. It’s nongender-specific.”

“Don’t be an idiot,” Kent said, and Park flushed.

“He’s not,” Tess said, struck by Park’s thoughtfulness if not by his brains. “He’s right. I prefer bedpersons,” she lied.

“Politically correct garbage,” Welch said, but he sounded distracted.

“Not much conviction there,” Tess said. “Changing your mind? Again?”

“What?” Welch said, and now the wariness was palpable.

“Bedpersons? How odd,” Melisande said, and then she stared at Gina as if she was the offender.

“I think I’d prefer another drink,” Nick said, ignoring the bottle on the table in an attempt to distract Melisande. “Waiter?”

Another waiter brought more wine and genuflected, while Dennis presided over the distribution of the gravlax, bestowing it as if it were the loaves and fishes, instead of just the fishes.

Tess looked down at her plate. “What is this stuff, anyway? From the name, I thought it was going to be fill dirt.”

“Pickled salmon,” Nick said.

Tess looked at the oily pink slab in disgust. “If I ever go out to eat with you again, we’re going to Burger King.”

“Tell me about yourself, Miss DaCosta,” Melisande said to Gina when the salmon had been replaced by the pumpkin soup. She’d waited until Gina was sipping soup to ask, and Gina was so startled that she dropped her spoon in her bowl and splattered the peach tablecloth.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Gina grabbed her napkin to mop up, and Park trapped her fingers with his hand and smiled at her.

“Gina is very talented,” Tess said. “She has a wonderful singing voice.”

“Opera?” Melisande inquired smoothly.

“No,” Park said. “Musical comedy.”

Gina smiled at him wanly.

Nick picked up the bread plate and shoved it under Melisande’s nose. “More bread?”

“No,” she said shortly, and turned back to Gina. “So where did you go to school? Perhaps we’re alumnae together.”

“Brush High School,” Gina said miserably. “It’s in Euclid. In Cleveland.”

“No, no, dear, I meant college,” Melisande said.

“Try the pumpkin soup, Mrs. Patterson,” Tess said. “It’s very thick.”

“I didn’t go to college,” Gina said. “I didn’t even graduate from high school. I went on the road with a touring company of Oklahoma! when I was sixteen, and that’s what I’ve been doing for the past eighteen years.”

“So, you’re a chorus girl,” Melisande said, pleased to have made her point.

“Yes,” Gina said, and drank all the wine in her glass.

Park began to turn an odd shade of pink under his tan. “Mother, I don’t think—”

“Did I tell you I saw Susan Vandervalk on the Cape, Park?” Melisande said. “She always asks after you. She’s just finished her master’s, and now she’s volunteering at the art museum. A lovely girl. You should call her. Remember how much fun you had with her that summer in Paris?”

“No,” Park said, and Melisande blinked at the word, while Welch choked on his bloody Mary and then grinned at Park in appreciation.

Tess knocked her fork on the floor and pulled Nick’s sleeve as she bent down to retrieve it.

“What?” he said when they were both below table level. He sounded both distracted and annoyed.

“You might want to announce publicly that we’re splitting up now, because I’m going to kill her before dessert and that way you won’t be involved,” Tess said, and Nick flinched at the words “splitting up.”

“Wait a minute,” he said.

Tess shook her head. “I know it’s not an adult thing to do, but that hag has it coming.”

“I agree,” Nick said. “But get a grip. You’ll just embarrass Gina more if you say something. This can’t go on forever. I think Gina and Park have the right idea. Keep drinking.”

“There’s not enough alcohol in the world,” Tess said.

“And we’re not splitting up,” Nick went on. “I hate that damn jacket, but we’re not splitting up over it. You can wear sackcloth and ashes if you want, but we’re staying together.”

“It’s not just the jacket. There’s more.”

Then they heard Melisande saying, “Really, children, the waiter will take care of the fork.”

They both swiveled their heads to see the waiter looking down at them.

“The waiter will take care of the fork, Tess,” Nick said, and crossed his eyes at her.

“Of course, how provincial of me,” Tess said, and they both straightened in their chairs.

“More wine, please,” Nick said to the waiter. “Keep it coming.”

By the time the soup was removed, they were all sitting in an alcoholic haze that somehow was not enough to cut the tension. A machete wouldn’t have cut the tension, Tess decided. Maybe a chain saw. Maybe if Dennis showed up in a hockey mask and...

Dennis showed up with the goat cheese.

“Ah, goat cheese,” Kent said when the salad plate was placed before him.

“Goat cheese,” Tess said, focusing on it through her wine fog. “I hate this stuff. We used to live in a commune, and I had to milk the goats so we could make this. You wouldn’t believe—”

Nick kicked her smartly on the ankle, and she realized she was blithering and shut up before she remembered that she was going to blither from now on whenever she felt like it. She opened her mouth to ask Welch if he remembered the goat cheese, but stopped when Melisande Patterson interrupted her.

“Goats?” Melisande looked at Tess with such tipsy horror that Tess wondered if this was the first time Melisande had realized that goat cheese didn’t just spring miraculously from the endive nestled next to it. “You had goats?”

“Of course, goats, Melisande,” Kent said in exasperation.

Melisande turned snapping black eyes on him, and Nick preempted her swiftly. “So, Kent, what’s new on the coast?”

“How amusing you should ask,” Melisande said, preempting in return. “We just had a lovely dinner with the Whitneys. Do you remember the Whitneys, Nick? You and Park dated their daughters in college. Bea and Bunny. Remember?”

“Vividly,” Nick said while Tess choked on her drink.

Melisande purred her approval. “Park was quite serious about Bunny. She asked after you at dinner, Park. She’s still quite lovely. You should call her.”

“No,” Park said flatly over his wineglass, and Melisande flinched.

“You know, I’m really enjoying this dinner,” Welch said.

“Wait a minute, is that true?” Tess said to Nick when she’d wiped her mouth. “They were actually called Bea and Bunny?”

“You find that amusing, Miss Newhart?” Melisande’s voice was cold.

“I find that hysterical,” Tess said.

“I don’t get it,” Gina said, peering at them as she lifted her wineglass.

“I believe Miss DaCosta has had enough wine,” Melisande said.

Gina blinked at her.

“Perhaps you’re not used to drinking wine, dear,” Melisande went on. “I’m sure Dennis could find you something you’d prefer. Perhaps a beer?”

Park’s flushed tan deepened to puce. “That’s enough, Mother.”

Gina drained her glass.

“She’s Italian,” Tess said to Melisande. “They invented wine. And they never named anybody Bunny and BeeBee.”

“Bunny and Bea,” Melisande corrected, her head only wobbling slightly from the wine.

“You think that’s an improvement?” Tess said.

“This is excellent goat cheese,” Nick said.

“More wine, please,” Gina said in desperation.

“How Italian of you, dear,” Melisande said.

“Mother,” Park said disgustedly.

“Listen, you—” Tess began, and then Nick knocked his fork off the table and pulled her down below the edge with him.

“Don’t do it,” he whispered to her. “I know she’s a horror, but don’t do it.”

“How come she’s the only one who gets to be rude?” Tess asked. “The hell with this civilization garbage. I’m taking her on.”

“No,” Nick said, and then Melisande said, “Children, the waiter will get the fork.”

“Thank God, you’re an orphan,” Tess said.

“Thank God we’re drunk or we’d have to kill ourselves,” Nick whispered back. “Listen, I love you.”

“What?” Tess said.

“I love you,” Nick said. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I love you. I know you’re up to something, and I don’t give a damn. I love you.”

“Tell me our kids don’t have to take swimming lessons,” Tess said.

Nick was puzzled. “You want them to drown?”

“Children,” Melisande began again, and Tess pulled herself back upright, using the table edge for leverage.

“Look,” she said. “We’re conferring down here. The fork bit is just a subterfuge, okay? It’s a ruse. Deal with it.”

Then she ducked down next to Nick.

“Very smooth,” he said. “I think we’re off their Christmas-card list.”

“Oh, damn,” Tess said, and they both burst out laughing. Then Tess remembered Welch and stopped. “It’s not funny. This is terrible.”

“What?” Nick said.

“Children!” Melisande said, and they sat up again, both confused and one miserable.

The duck medallions arrived accompanied by three asparagus stalks, two carrot slivers and a perfect new potato. Welch looked at the other plates, snorted and cut into his steak.

“Do you suppose Dennis has been snacking from the plates?” Tess asked Nick. “I seem to be missing some veggies.”

“This is it,” Nick said. “This is haute cuisine. Try not to roll in it.”

“I hate this life,” Tess said.

Nick frowned, confused. “Because of the vegetables?”

“No,” Tess said. “I miss color. I hate all that black and white. And I hate those damn new clothes. And I hate this stupid restaurant.”

Nick put down his fork. “Okay,” he said, slowly. “What do you like?”

“You,” Tess said. “I love you. And I’m going to destroy your life.”

Nick blinked. “Not unless you leave me.”

Tess dropped her fork and pulled him below the table again. “I can stop the book,” she said to Nick and watched while he closed his eyes.

“Tell me,” he said, his eyes still closed.

“Welch is Lanny,” Tess said. “He wrote the fairy tale to begin with. He protested the war. He’s making fun of himself.”

Nick opened his eyes. “That might not stop the book.”

Tess nodded. “Yes, it will. Think of his pride.”

Nick set his jaw. “I’m too confused to think this through right now. Let’s just cut to the chase here. Is there anything I can say that will make you stop this? I know this is important to you, I do understand that, but this is my partnership. I need it, Tess.”

Tess looked at him and saw the need in his eyes, but she also saw the strength and generosity there. He’d saved Angela, got the locks put on the doors, fixed Gina up with a job, helped Tess get a chance at Decker and loved her into physical and emotional ecstasy, and now she was going to destroy his hopes. And...and in the process she’d lose him. She’d be without him forever. The thought of life without Nick was too cold and immense to absorb without reeling. “You can stop me,” she whispered.

“Great,” he said, visibly relieved. “What do I have to do?”

“Tell me you’ll leave me,” Tess said, and Nick’s jaw dropped. “This is important to me,” she went on. “But I don’t ever want to spend another day away from you. I love you. If you tell me this will break us up, I won’t do it.”

Nick cupped her cheek with his hand. “I’d never say that. I would never do that. I love you. The partnership’s important, but I would never—”

“You don’t know that,” Tess said, suddenly sure of what she was doing. “You’d resent it, after all that work you’ve put into this. It could finish us.”

“No,” Nick began again, and then Melisande said “Children.”

“I won’t do it,” Tess said, and straightened back in her chair.

“You are being excessively rude,” Melisande said when Nick had straightened, but Nick ignored her and faced Welch.

“So Tess tells me you’re Lanny,” he said to the older man. “Big switch on that fairy tale you wrote. How do you plan to explain that, anyway?”

Welch jerked his head up sharply and then looked at Tess.

But Tess was staring at Nick. “Are you crazy?”

“Evidently.” Nick slumped back in his chair. “But now I’ve got nobody to resent but myself.”

“God, I love you,” Tess said.

“What’s this all about?” Kent said, confused and not pleased about it.

Tess turned back to Welch. “How have you been, Lanny?” she asked.

Welch relaxed suddenly, and looked so relieved that Tess wondered if he was glad he’d been found out. “I didn’t think you’d ever catch on,” he said to her. “You used to be a lot sharper.”

“You used to be a lot taller,” Tess shot back.

Welch snorted. “No, you used to be a lot shorter.”

“And your hair was brown and you weren’t this fat,” Tess finished.

“Really, Tess,” Kent said. “That’s hardly—”

“I’m not fat,” Welch interrupted him.

“Yes, you are,” Tess said. “You’ve changed. Imagine how many people will find that interesting.”

“Not that many,” Welch said.

“Care to risk it?” Tess said. “Should make for some interesting stories during your campaign.”

“I don’t have to risk it. I’ve got a new job,” Welch announced, and Tess blinked at the sudden swerve in the conversation. “I’m on the board of the Decker Academy. Heard of it?”

Tess was knocked speechless.

“Thought you had,” Welch said smugly. “Understand we’re voting on the teaching contracts tomorrow. Only takes one no vote to stop a hire.”

“Well, you are a son of a bitch,” Tess said in equal parts resignation and admiration.

“Tess,” Kent said. “Nick, really—”

“Checkmate.” Welch settled back in his chair.

Tess folded her arms. “I withdraw my application. The hell with you.”

Welch met her eyes and then nodded. “I figured that’s what you’d do.” He shrugged. “So, go ahead,” he said. “Do it.”

“You know, I loved you,” Tess told him, and Kent’s eyes popped out of his head. “You meant everything to me. You taught me everything. You taught me who I was.”

Welch shook his head. “No, I didn’t. You always knew who you were. I just gave you a boot in the rear when you needed it.”

“When you wrote that damn book, I thought you’d ruined everything,” Tess said. “I’m still mad about it. I still hate that you did it.”

“Yeah, I was afraid of that,” Welch said. “Damn near had a heart attack when I saw your picture in the paper with Jamieson here at the opera. And then that picture in his office.” He laughed. “It was like seeing a ghost. My past coming back to haunt me. Tessie Newhart.”

“I wondered about that,” Tess said. “It seemed too big of a coincidence for you to just happen to invite me to that reading. So you saw the picture and then went after Nick to get me.” She considered it and then nodded. “Not bad. Very Lanny-like.” She tilted her head at him. “I liked you again, you know. Even these past weeks when I was mad as hell at you, I liked you. Lanny’s still in you somewhere.”

“The hell he is,” Welch said. “So come on, kid, let’s get this over with. Make your move.”

Tess turned to Nick, and Nick shrugged. “Do it,” he said. “You will, anyway.”

“What the hell is going on?” Kent asked.

Tess looked across at Welch, searching for Lanny and not finding him. Welch was right. He was gone, the past was gone, and all she had was now. Now and Nick. But she also had all the lessons that Lanny had taught her—including the one about not fighting unless you cared enough about the cause and could stand to lose what you were going to lose.

“Nothing’s going on,” Tess said. “Absolutely nothing.”

“Chicken,” Welch said.

“Nope,” Tess said. “There are some causes worth sacrificing people for. This isn’t one of them. You just be damn grateful you’ve got the best lawyer in town working for you.”

“Why, thank you, Tess,” Kent said, thawing toward her.

“Not you. Nick,” Tess said.

“Well, really, Tess,” Kent said, freezing again. “I’m Norbert’s lawyer.”

“No, you’re not. You’re fired,” Welch said to him.

“What?” Tess said. “After I just—”

“This is her fault,” Kent said to Nick, jabbing a finger at Tess. “She’s completely unsuitable and you know it. What you—”

“Tess and I are getting married,” Nick said evenly. “Be very careful what you say about her.”

“Oh, really, Nick,” Melisande said, the alcohol making her loud. “This is the outside of enough. Don’t make foolish offers. The woman might actually hold you to it.” She waved her hand in front of her. “And then you’ll be vulnerable to a breach-of-promise suit.”

“He’s serious, Mother,” Park said. “And so am I.” He took a deep breath. “I’m going to marry Gina—if she’ll have me.”

Gina made a small sound next to him and clutched the table.

“Oh, well, that’s just fine,” Kent said, sounding like a whiny two-year-old.

“You are not marrying that tramp,” Melisande spat at her son, the venom in her voice freezing everyone except Tess, who slapped the table and made the flatware jump.

“Listen, lady,” she said to Melisande. “I’m having a tense evening here, and I’m not fooling around. You take one more shot at my friend, and there will be consequences.”

“Mother, stop it,” Park said. “I mean it, stop it now.”

Melisande rested her chin on her swaying hand and stared at Park, her head bobbing and weaving like a cobra. “The best nannies. The best schools. The best colleges.”

“Three of them before I was a sophomore,” Park said. “Didn’t it ever occur to you that maybe—”

Melisande straightened suddenly and pointed one beautifully manicured claw at Park. “You are not marrying a cheap Italian tramp, and that’s final.”

“Oh, no,” Gina moaned faintly. Park threw down his napkin and looked at his mother levelly. “I am marrying Gina. If you make me choose between you, I am choosing Gina. And if you ever say another insulting word to her, if you ever address her with anything but absolute respect, I’m never speaking to you again.”

Melisande’s mouth dropped open.

“I mean it,” Park said. “Don’t push me on this. I love her, and I’m marrying her, and that’s it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Kent began. “You can’t—”

“And that goes double for you,” Park said to him.

Kent turned purple with indignation.

“Good for you, kid,” Welch said. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Then you’re no son of mine,” Kent said. “I disown you, you ungrateful whelp.” He turned his glare on Nick. “And you’re fired. In fact, you’re both fired.”

“Oh, God,” Gina said.

Then she put her head under the table and threw up.

The rest of the table froze, and even Dennis suddenly seemed at a loss.

“Uh, waiter?” Nick called. “It’s not a fork this time.”

“Shut up,” Tess said, trying to peer under the table to see if Gina was all right.

“Well, they were a hell of a lot faster when it was forks,” Nick said.

“Gina? Honey?” Park had put his head under the table, too.

Welch dipped his napkin in the glass and bent under the table to give it to Gina. “Don’t worry, kid,” they heard him say. “It’s that rich crap they serve here. Smartest thing you can do is get rid of it.”

“My shoes,” Melisande said in shock. “They’re Manolo Blahnik, and she...she...”

“I told you there’d be consequences,” Tess said.

Nick hustled the four of them out the door and into a taxi before any blood could be spilled.

“I can’t believe it,” Gina said when Park had pulled her onto his lap to make room for Tess and Nick in the back of the cab. “I just can’t believe it. I barfed at The Levee on your mother’s shoes. Oh, God, I want to die.”

Tess patted her hand, and Nick gave the cabby Park’s address.

“I’ve ruined your life,” Gina said to Park as the cab pulled away. Her head dropped drunkenly on his shoulder. “I’ve ruined your life forever.”

Park considered it. “How?”

“I embarrassed you in that restaurant,” Gina moaned.

“Actually right up until the time you returned your dinner, you were the quietest of all of us,” Nick said. “You’re probably the only one of us who wasn’t embarrassing.”

“They’ll never let you in there again,” Gina sobbed.

“At those prices, who cares?” Tess said.

“And your parents will never speak to you again,” Gina wailed.

“Get her the biggest diamond in Riverbend,” Tess told Park. “There’s no way you can repay her for that, but at least you can show your appreciation.”

“It’s not funny,” Gina said. “It’s awful.”

“It’s not that awful,” Park said. “They never liked me much, anyway. And let’s face it, I’m the only son they have. They’ll have to take me back. It’s not like they have a choice.”

“They don’t deserve you,” Gina said.

“Oh, I don’t know—” Park began.

“No,” Tess said. “She’s right. They don’t. And I owe you an apology, too. I’m sorry I’ve been so nasty. Although you deserve some of it for two-timing Gina, you creep.”

“He’s not a creep,” Gina said, leaning on him drunkenly. “He’s the most wonderful, thoughtful, darling, disinherited man on the planet, and I love him.” She looked up at him in the dim light of the cab. “And I threw up on his mother’s shoes,” she wailed. Her head dropped like a stone on his shoulder.

“You know, she’s not a good drunk,” Nick said after some thought. Tess glared at him and he shrugged. “Just an observation.”

“I think she’s perfect,” Park said. “I don’t deserve her.”

“Oh, no, you do, you do.” Gina raised her head and stared into Park’s eyes. “But I don’t deserve you.”

“I’m going to lose my Muscovy duck if this doesn’t lighten up pretty soon,” Tess said. “For heaven’s sake, Gina, all you did was blow dinner. It’s not like anybody died. Get over it.”

Gina groaned and let her head plummet back onto Park’s shoulder.

“Gina? Honey?” Park said, concerned, and Gina waved her hand, barely conscious as the cab slowed to a stop in front of Park’s apartment building. “We’re going to go now,” he said to Nick. “God, this was a terrible evening.”

“I know,” Nick said in comfort. “But it’s over. And none of those disgusting people are talking to us anymore, so we’ll never have to do it again.”

“Good point,” Park said. He got out of the cab and then helped Gina out. “You okay?” he asked her.

“No,” Tess answered before Gina could. “I’m very confused.”

“She’s my problem,” Nick said to Park. “Take yours upstairs and get some coffee into her.”

“Let’s all have breakfast tomorrow before you go to work,” Tess said. “Pancakes. That would be nice. That might cheer me up. With pecans.”

Gina moaned.

“What work?” Nick said. “We just got fired.”

“Right. I forgot. Sorry,” Tess said. “That was insensitive of me.”

Park sighed. “Why not? Tomorrow at eight. Breakfast at the River Inn, and then we can go clear out our desks.”

“You know,” Nick said to Park, “we’re not completely screwed here. We could go into partnership ourselves. Hell, we did all the work, anyway.”

Park nodded. “I’ve thought of that before—”

“The River Inn. Don’t you ever go anyplace that isn’t pretentious and overpriced?” Tess asked.

“No,” Park said sadly. “I’m a product of my upbringing.”

“Oh.” Tess winced. “Sorry. I’m being insensitive again. It’s because I’m drunk.”

“That’s all right,” Park said. “I’m drunk, too, so it doesn’t hurt.” He bent to kiss Tess’s cheek, and Gina swayed dangerously against him as he moved. “Steady, love,” he said to Gina as he tightened his hold on her.

“You’re a nice person, Park,” Tess said. “I forgive you the Tess Trueheart bit.”

“Thank you,” Park said. “I forgive you the low-income-housing crack.”

“I liked you both better when you were fighting,” Nick said. “This is kind of sickening, and I was nauseated to begin with.”

When the cab was moving again, Tess put her head on Nick’s shoulder. “You know, now that you’re out of work, I should start looking for another place. You can’t afford to keep me any longer, and I’m not going to be working at Decker, that’s for damn sure.”

“Okay,” Nick said. “Let’s get married while you’re looking.”

Tess lifted her head from his shoulder. “Marriage? I can’t. I love you, but I just can’t.”

“Why not? If this is guilt over sabotaging my career, lose it. The more I think about it, the more I think I had a career that needed to be sabotaged. The thought of not working for Kent Patterson anymore is strangely cheering.”

“That’s not it,” she said. “It’s selfish. If I marry you, I end up living in the Crystal Palace and wearing somebody else’s clothes.” She shook her head. “It’s nothing personal. I love you. I tried to sacrifice for your career. I just can’t stand your life.”

“I know,” Nick said. “You keep telling me. I can adapt. You can keep your clothes. We can paint the house red. Whatever it takes to get you.”

“You don’t have to adapt. I’m just afraid to get married. You can still have me.” Tess let her head roll back against the seat. “In fact, you’ve got me.”

“No,” Nick said. “I want commitment.”

“You’re drunk. You don’t want commitment. You’re a guy. Get a grip.”

The cab pulled up in front of Nick’s house, and he leaned forward to pay the cabbie before he opened the door and got out. He took Tess’s hand to help her out and then he walked her to the door, his arm tight around her shoulders. “We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

“I didn’t do so good, did I?” Tess said, while he unlocked the front door. “Welch is still going to publish that damn book. And you don’t have a job. And neither do I, since Welch is going to sink me with Decker.” Then she brightened. “But on the other hand, I still have my jacket.”

“In the morning,” Nick repeated, and gave her a gentle shove into the house before following her in.

The River Inn was brimming with hearty, smiling people when the waiter showed Nick to a table the next morning. Nick peered blearily over the top of his dark glasses, winced, and put his glasses back on.

“Coffee,” he said to the waiter. “Very, very black.”

“Very good, sir,” the waiter said.

“Hurry,” Nick said, and concentrated on keeping his head from exploding while he waited for caffeine and relief.

Park and Gina took chairs across from him just as the waiter delivered his cup.

“Why the dark glasses?” Park asked.

“Because I have the hangover from hell, and the sunlight makes my brain shudder.” Nick picked up his coffee and sipped it carefully.

“Where’s Tess?” Gina whipped her head around like a hyperactive bird, bright and tensely eager to enjoy the morning. Too bright and eager. Her smile looked like it was strung from her ears.

“Why aren’t you in excruciating head-banging pain?” Nick snarled at her.

“Because she threw up again when we got home,” Park said. “I think she lost everything she’d eaten for the past month. Definitely got rid of the alcohol. Nothing left inside to make her sick. Smart woman. So what about breakfast?”

“Do you mind?” Nick scowled at him. “What did you do—throw up with her?”

“Me? Oh, I never have hangovers.” Park picked up the menu. “Crepes. How does cherry sauce sound, Gina?”

“Wait a minute.” Nick put up his hand. “I’m the healthy one around here. I don’t drink, smoke, stay up late or run around with strange women. So why are you fine and I’m hung over?”

“Lack of practice,” Park said. “You can’t just jump into debauchery one night and expect to get the hang of it by morning. It takes years. And anyway, Tess is strange.”

“She is not,” Gina said from the depths of the menu.

“Strange in a nice way,” Park amended. “But you’ve got to admit she’s different.”

“That’s true,” Gina said. She peered cautiously at Park over the edge of the menu. “How about if I get waffles with blueberry sauce? Then maybe you can have some of mine and I’ll take some of your crepes?”

“Great,” Park said, and Gina put down the menu and smiled at him shyly.

Nick groaned. “It’s too early in the morning for young love. Knock it off.”

“Hey, we’ve been putting up with you and Tess for weeks,” Park said. “By the way, where is Tess?”

“Next door at the newsstand, arguing with the clerk.” Nick lifted his glasses and tried to find her through the sunlight that screamed through the restaurant. “I don’t know what she’s doing. I left her because I needed coffee.”

“About this new partnership idea—” Park began and then stopped when Tess dropped into the chair beside Nick.

“Mission accomplished,” Tess said. “So how are you all this morning? Still engaged?”

Gina stiffened and looked at her with venom iced with despair.

“Of course we’re still engaged,” Park said.

Gina’s mouth fell open and she turned to face him. “You mean it?”

He looked at her in surprise. “Of course I mean it. Why would I change my mind?”

Gina blinked and swallowed. “Well, you were drunk when you asked me. And then I threw up in the most expensive restaurant in town in front of your parents and half of Riverbend society. And—”

“I’m sober now,” Park said. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” Gina said faintly.

“Good,” Park said. “Let’s order breakfast.”

Gina put her hand on his arm. “Don’t you care that you’ll never be able to go back to The Levee again?”

Park patted her hand. “Gina, The Levee needs us more than we need them. We can go back anytime.”

“Us?” Gina said.

“Us,” Park said. “Are you going to make me propose again?”

“Probably,” Gina said. “I’m having a hard time getting this.” She gazed up at him in watery disbelief, and then she began to smile through her tears. “Maybe last night wasn’t the worst night of my life.”

“Well, personally I enjoyed the evening tremendously,” Tess said. “Which is why I just sent a thank-you gift to the Pattersons.”

Nick looked at her suspiciously over his sunglasses. “What did you do?”

“I sent them a nice gift subscription,” Tess said. “Delivered straight to their door every week.” She smiled. “For the next five years.”

“A subscription to what?” Nick asked, fairly sure he didn’t want to know.

“The National Enquirer,” Tess said.

“Oh, no,” Nick said.

“I thought about the Sun,” Tess went on, “because it had a lovely cover story about an alien having Elvis’s baby in a Stop-and-Go in Minnesota, but I decided that Melisande would rather know that the story about Roseanne Arnold having her thighs sucked is simply a vicious rumor. However, it is true that Liz—”

“You sent my mother a five-year subscription to the National Enquirer?” Park said.

“Well, Park, I had to,” Tess said. “Any fool knows Elvis was never in Minnesota. And I wanted your mother to have the best.”

“Let me buy you breakfast,” Park said. “Did you say it’s delivered to the door?”

“Every week,” Tess said. “And you know, I doubt she’ll be able to get it canceled. I understand it’s extremely difficult to duck the National Enquirer.”

“Let me buy you lunch, too.”

“Mr. Patterson asked me to be his secretary,” Christine said to Nick when the four of them arrived at the office. “Did you get fired?”

“Did it ever occur to you I might have quit?” Nick asked, exasperated.

“No,” Christine said.

Nick gave up. “Yes, I got fired.”

“But it was my fault,” Tess said.

“So where are we working now?” Christine said to Nick.

Nick blinked. “You’re coming with me?”

“It took me a long time to break you in,” Christine said. “Also, Mr. Patterson is incompetent.” She stared at Park. “Nothing personal.”

“It’s all right,” Park said. “I know he’s incompetent. He fired me, too.”

Christine remained undisturbed by the news.

“Look, maybe if I talked to him—” Tess began, and both Park and Nick said, “No.”

At that moment Kent came out of his office, followed by Welch.

“We’re just leaving,” Nick said to Kent. “We’ll be out as soon as we’ve—”

“Now, let’s not be hasty,” Kent said.

“Hasty?” Tess said, outraged, but Nick clamped a hand over her mouth before she could go on.

“Good thinking,” Welch said to Nick. “This is why I want you for my lawyer. You scope out the situation and move on it.” He turned back to Kent. “I mean it. The only way your firm is handling this book is if Jamieson and your son are in charge. I don’t want you anywhere near my account. Got that?”

“Hello?” Nick exchanged a look with Park. Then he smiled genially at Welch. “Well, that would be just fine with me, sir, but we’ve been fired. Sorry.”

“Wait a minute—” Kent began.

Welch grinned at Nick. “Thinking of setting up your own practice?”

“Absolutely,” Nick said, and Park nodded.

“Now there’s no need for that,” Kent said. “I may have let the wine do the talking last night, but I’m a big enough man to realize the error of my ways. You’re not fired.” He glanced at his son. “Either one of you.”

“I’m marrying Gina,” Park said. “Get used to it or fire me again.”

Kent smiled antiseptically at Gina. “Welcome to the family, my dear,” he said with absolutely no enthusiasm.

“Thank you,” Gina said, and took Park’s hand.

“Well, it’s a start,” Park said to his father. “Work on your warmth.”

“And now Nicholas,” Kent said, turning to Nick and Nick said, “No.”

“No?” Tess said, but for once Kent was ahead of her.

“What do you want?” he said grimly.

“Partner,” Nick said. “I deserve it. Give it to me.”

“It’s a family firm, son...” Kent said.

“Then adopt me,” Nick said. “Because I’m walking without it.”

“And I’ll be with him,” Park said. “God knows, I’d never make it without him, anyway.”

Welch looked at Tess. “You enjoying this?”

Tess shrugged. “Moderately. I’m still not happy about that damn book.”

“It’s a good book,” Welch said.

“It’s a dishonest book,” Tess said.

“Young lady, that’s no way to talk to your elders,” Kent said.

“That’s no way to talk to my wife,” Nick said at the same time Welch said, “Shut up, Patterson.”

Kent glared at Tess but tried to soften the loathing in his voice. “If you’re going to marry a member of this firm, my dear, you’re going to have to do some growing up.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Nick said. “She stays the way she is. And technically she’s not marrying a member of this firm. She’s marrying me, and I’m still fired.”

“No, you’re not.” Kent’s face creased in pain for a moment and then he said, “I’ll get the partnership papers drawn up this afternoon.”

“Works for me,” Nick said. Then he turned to Tess. “Stop harassing my biggest client.”

“Back off, Jamieson,” Welch said. “I didn’t hire you to protect me from her.”

“You’ll change your mind,” Nick said. “She’s stubborn as hell.”

“I’m getting married,” Gina said suddenly, amazement dawning in her voice.

“I’m not,” Tess said.

“Yes, you are,” Nick said. “The only person more stubborn than you is me. Besides, I just made partner, so now I can give this marriage thing all my attention.”

“Don’t bet on it,” Tess said.

Welch looked at both of them and laughed.

Tess transferred her attention back to him. “I want to talk to you.” She pulled him to one side, away from everyone else.

“If you’re going to yell at me about the book, forget it,” Welch said. “I like it the way it is.”

Tess put her hands on her hips and scowled at him. “That book is crap, Lanny.”

Welch closed his eyes and then, after a moment, he opened them and grinned at her. “Twenty-eight years and it seems like yesterday. Damn, I’ve missed you.”

“What?” Tess’s surprise made her scowl disappear. “You’re not paying attention here. I just insulted you.”

“Twenty-eight years ago I was stuck in that commune, trying to figure out why everything suddenly sounded so damn stupid,” Welch said to her. “There was Daniel, strutting around like an Old Testament prophet, and he sure as hell sounded like he knew what he was talking about And Elise.” A smile eased onto Welch’s face. “Your mother was something else, Tessie. Feminism and free love. Hell of a woman, Elise.”

Tess blinked, and Welch returned to earth.

“But I just couldn’t buy it anymore,” he told her. “All that anti authority-peace-and-love stuff. It sounded pretty, but I knew it wasn’t working, knew it wouldn’t work. It was all starting to sound like such garbage, but everybody there believed it, and hell, I was twenty-six. What did I know?”

“You knew everything,” Tess said, startled. “I thought you were God.”

“And then one day,” Welch said, “I was sitting off by myself, trying to figure out why I was so damn uneasy, and you showed up with your hair sticking up and a black eye. You said, ‘This turn-the-other-cheek stuff is crap, Lanny,’ just like you did now, and I knew you were right. You were the only one in the whole damn place who had a clue.”

“And that’s when you taught me how to pick my fights,” Tess said, remembering. Suddenly there was a lump in her throat. “And then you left me.” She was horrified to hear her voice quiver.

Welch looked startled by the emotion in her voice. “I had to,” he said. “You showed me the way out.”

“I did?” Tess swallowed the lump in her throat. “No. No, you just got bored and left.”

“No,” Welch said. “I got smart and left. The only thing I regret about leaving is not taking you with me.”

“Oh, hell.” Tess closed her eyes. “Oh, damn, I wish you had.”

Welch snorted. “Yeah. Your mom wouldn’t have batted an eye if I’d kidnapped you. Sure.”

“She probably wouldn’t have noticed,” Tess said. “I can’t believe you left because of something I said.”

“You were a touchstone, Tessie,” Welch said. “I always knew whether something was true once I’d floated it by you.”

“I was eight,” Tess said, dumbfounded.

“Yeah, and you were still smarter than everybody around you,” Welch said. “That’s why I went after Jamieson. I wanted to hear you laugh at that damn book with me. Validation.” He snorted at her in contempt. “I thought you would have caught on by now, but I was wrong. I should never have left you with your parents. They screwed you up good.”

“No, they didn’t.” Tess glared at him and then relented. “Okay, let’s try this again. Your book isn’t crap. It’s just too simplistic.”

“I’m not rewriting that book,” Welch said. “I’m tired of writing. I’m going into politics.”

“Oh, there’s a surprise.” Tess put her hands on her hips and frowned at him, and he grinned back at her. “Knock it off,” she said. “I’m not eight, so stop patronizing me. Here’s the deal.”

“There is no deal,” Welch said.

“You rethink that book and make it balanced—”

“It’s satire, damn it. It’s not supposed to be balanced,” Welch snapped.

“—and I’ll campaign for you.”

“What?”

Tess grinned at Welch’s stunned expression. “Well, somebody’s got to look out for you, and obviously Henderson can’t watch you all the time. You ate steak last night. You need me, Lanny. Fix that book, and I’ll help keep you from becoming the Jesse Helms of Kentucky.”

Welch looked dumbfounded.

“I’m your touchstone, Lanny,” Tess said. “You said so yourself. We did all right together that summer. And I’m telling you straight on this, that book is too biased. Satire or not, it’s mean, Lanny. You’ve got to fix it.”

“No,” Welch said, but his voice was thoughtful.

“Come on, Lanny,” Tess said. “Think how much fun we can have in politics. And I’ve learned a lot about schmoozing from Nick. I can be a real asset. You need me. And I’ll have plenty of time since I’m not teaching at Decker now. I’ll need my afternoons to work at the Foundation, but my weekends are yours.”

“Jamieson might have something to say about that,” Welch grumped. “And you know damn well you’ve got the Decker job.”

“I think I’d rather be in politics.”

“No,” Welch said. “God, no. I insist you take the Decker job.”

“What about the book?” Tess said, and Welch closed his eyes for a moment in defeat.

“We’ll talk about it,” he said finally, and Tess leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

“I love you, Lanny,” she said. “I’m really glad you found me again. And from now on, I’m going to take care of you.”

“Oh, God, no,” Welch said again.

“Christine, rent a church,” Nick said without taking his eyes off Tess as she harangued Welch. “I’m getting married in two weeks.”

“It’s going to take you longer than that to talk her into it.” Christine picked up her steno pad. “Make it six weeks.”

“Let’s make this expensive.” Nick folded his arms and, ignoring Christine, watched Tess argue with Welch. “Might as well make it a big wedding and invite society. Should be good for the firm.”

“Tess will want a small wedding.” Christine made notes as she spoke. “Out of your house, not a church.”

“Fancy caterers,” Nick said. “Champagne fountains. The works.”

“Tess likes Chinese,” Christine said. “Rice wine. Fortune cookies.”

“And an orchestra.”

“It won’t fit in your house. Maybe a classical trio.”

Christine looked at Tess. “No. Tess would prefer jazz.”

Nick watched Tess’s rear suddenly curve as she bent to kiss Welch on the cheek. “Order a wedding dress, too. A tight one. No hoopskirts.”

“Tess will want to find her own.” Christine thought for a moment and made another note. “There’s a vintage-clothing store on Twelfth Street.”

Nick suddenly transferred his attention back to his secretary. “Did you get all that?” he asked.

“Yes,” Christine said serenely. “You can rely on me.”

Nick shot her a suspicious glance, but when she gazed back at him without expression, he turned his eyes back to Tess.

“This is going to be a great wedding,” he said.