rushed headlong into the very life he had rejected with Violet felt like an assault. It was simply too much to bear. After spending a week in tears, she told her friends she was done with men. Done. They simply weren’t worth the pain.
Then she met Carl.
At the time, he seemed like the antidote to Andrew—the kind of guy who would never hurt her. And now here she was, gearing up to hurt
him.
Violet’s heart felt heavy with guilt. She should have known from the start that this relationship wouldn’t last. But was it all her fault? Surely it was opportunistic of Carl to try move the relationship to the next level when he knew she was in too fragile an emotional state to make any decisions about her life.
“Goddamn it,” Violet said out loud. Guilt, she knew, was the worst reason to stay in a relationship. She went into the study and opened the guest book. Then she stood back as Dorothy Parker materialized in the wingback chair.
“Well, hello,” Mrs. Parker said, as she smoothed her hair. “That was an abrupt dismissal.”
“You’re sober,” Violet said.
“Fresh as a newly slaughtered lamb. Did I miss anything good?
“I’m so sorry,” Violet said. “I had to act fast. My niece is here, and I can’t let her see you. The kid’s been through hell, and I’m trying to protect her as much as I can under the circumstances. This might be…traumatic. And also…” Violet pushed at her cuticles. How could she possibly tell her hero that she wanted her to behave herself? Who was she to admonish the great Dorothy Parker?
“Yes?”
“It’s just…the drinking, the mess—”
“You think I’ve behaved badly.”
“Um…”
Mrs. Parker waved off Violet’s concerns. “Fine. I’ll try to be as proper as a virgin when the child’s around. You know what a virgin is, don’t you? It’s a mythical creature created in Hollywood and played by actresses who sleep with the casting director. But if you don’t trust me, just shut the book and I’ll be gone.”
Violet took the chair opposite her guest. “Actually,” she said, “I need your help. I’m sorry to do this, but I don’t have much time. I need to call Carl and tell him he can’t move in tomorrow. If you could just…just tell me what to say if I freeze. Would you do that?”
“Sounds like more fun than I’ve had since Calvin Coolidge was president. I could even make the call, if you wish.”
“No, no,” Violet said, holding up the phone in her hand. “I need to do this myself. But just so you know, I’ll have to shut the book abruptly if I hear Delaney coming.”
Violet dialed Carl’s number and was relieved when his answering machine picked up. It might be tacky to dump someone via voice mail, but she was desperate. Besides, she had tried to do it right, but he wouldn’t listen. Now he would have to. Violet put her hand over the receiver and told Mrs. Parker she would be leaving a message.
“It’s Violet,” she began.
“You can’t move in tomorrow,” Mrs. Parker said.
“You can’t move in tomorrow,” Violet repeated.
“I never want to see you again,” Mrs. Parker said.
Violet shook her head. “It’s over between us.”
There was a click, and Violet heard Carl’s voice. “What’s the matter?” he said. “I’m in the middle of packing.”
“I’m sorry,” Violet said. “I’m sorry to do this, but I don’t want you moving in. Period. I’m breaking up with you. It’s over between us.”
There. She said it, and it couldn’t be clearer. Dorothy Parker had given her the strength she needed.
“Why are you doing this?” he said. “What’s wrong?”
“No apologizing,” said Mrs. Parker, who had surmised that Carl picked up. “Just tell him you loathe him. Tell him he’s a lousy lay.”
“Us,” Violet said. “
We’re
wrong. I’m…I’m not in love with you.”
“Violet, honey—”
“No,” she said. “No more discussions. It’s over.” Violet sat up a little taller. Her hands were
Then she met Carl.
At the time, he seemed like the antidote to Andrew—the kind of guy who would never hurt her. And now here she was, gearing up to hurt
him.
Violet’s heart felt heavy with guilt. She should have known from the start that this relationship wouldn’t last. But was it all her fault? Surely it was opportunistic of Carl to try move the relationship to the next level when he knew she was in too fragile an emotional state to make any decisions about her life.
“Goddamn it,” Violet said out loud. Guilt, she knew, was the worst reason to stay in a relationship. She went into the study and opened the guest book. Then she stood back as Dorothy Parker materialized in the wingback chair.
“Well, hello,” Mrs. Parker said, as she smoothed her hair. “That was an abrupt dismissal.”
“You’re sober,” Violet said.
“Fresh as a newly slaughtered lamb. Did I miss anything good?
“I’m so sorry,” Violet said. “I had to act fast. My niece is here, and I can’t let her see you. The kid’s been through hell, and I’m trying to protect her as much as I can under the circumstances. This might be…traumatic. And also…” Violet pushed at her cuticles. How could she possibly tell her hero that she wanted her to behave herself? Who was she to admonish the great Dorothy Parker?
“Yes?”
“It’s just…the drinking, the mess—”
“You think I’ve behaved badly.”
“Um…”
Mrs. Parker waved off Violet’s concerns. “Fine. I’ll try to be as proper as a virgin when the child’s around. You know what a virgin is, don’t you? It’s a mythical creature created in Hollywood and played by actresses who sleep with the casting director. But if you don’t trust me, just shut the book and I’ll be gone.”
Violet took the chair opposite her guest. “Actually,” she said, “I need your help. I’m sorry to do this, but I don’t have much time. I need to call Carl and tell him he can’t move in tomorrow. If you could just…just tell me what to say if I freeze. Would you do that?”
“Sounds like more fun than I’ve had since Calvin Coolidge was president. I could even make the call, if you wish.”
“No, no,” Violet said, holding up the phone in her hand. “I need to do this myself. But just so you know, I’ll have to shut the book abruptly if I hear Delaney coming.”
Violet dialed Carl’s number and was relieved when his answering machine picked up. It might be tacky to dump someone via voice mail, but she was desperate. Besides, she had tried to do it right, but he wouldn’t listen. Now he would have to. Violet put her hand over the receiver and told Mrs. Parker she would be leaving a message.
“It’s Violet,” she began.
“You can’t move in tomorrow,” Mrs. Parker said.
“You can’t move in tomorrow,” Violet repeated.
“I never want to see you again,” Mrs. Parker said.
Violet shook her head. “It’s over between us.”
There was a click, and Violet heard Carl’s voice. “What’s the matter?” he said. “I’m in the middle of packing.”
“I’m sorry,” Violet said. “I’m sorry to do this, but I don’t want you moving in. Period. I’m breaking up with you. It’s over between us.”
There. She said it, and it couldn’t be clearer. Dorothy Parker had given her the strength she needed.
“Why are you doing this?” he said. “What’s wrong?”
“No apologizing,” said Mrs. Parker, who had surmised that Carl picked up. “Just tell him you loathe him. Tell him he’s a lousy lay.”
“Us,” Violet said. “
We’re
wrong. I’m…I’m not in love with you.”
“Violet, honey—”
“No,” she said. “No more discussions. It’s over.” Violet sat up a little taller. Her hands were
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