Leana, but I can’t see a thing. I think with that dress and those
cameras, you’re blinding everyone. It’s like you’re a human disco ball.”
“So, my
plan worked.”
They
shared a laugh.
He took
her by the hands and stepped back to admire her. “Seriously, you look incredible. Better than ever. I know you’re going to get hammered with
questions all evening, but I might be the only one who actually cares about the
answers, so allow me to ask how you are.”
They
kept smiling in spite of the weight of their conversation. “It’s been a tough year, Addy.”
“Your
mother?”
“I think
she’s alright. She’s a good
actress, which I think we all can agree upon by now, so it’s hard to tell. I think she’s managing.”
“Give
her my love, will you?”
“When I
speak to her, of course.”
“Just
one more question and my worries will be lifted. Are you alright physically? The papers said the bullet came very
close to your spinal chord.”
“Just
three millimeters to the right and I’d be in a wheelchair, designed by Prada if
I could get them to do it.”
He
ignored the joke because he didn’t find it funny. His only response was to shake his
head. When he did, the
photographers noted the grim expression on his face and immediately captured
it.
“They’re
like leeches,” he said.
She
turned around and waved to them. “They always have been. Just
one last question, Addy. Is my
father here?”
“I
haven’t seen him.”
“Did you
have the sense whether he planned to come?”
He put
his hand on her shoulder and stood next to her. A ribbon of explosions shot through the
crowd of photographers, bathing each in staccato rhythms of light. “I can never read your father,
Leana. He’s one difficult man. But I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Leana
was about to speak when an announcement was made that people should move to the
Pool Room.
Addy
looked at his watch and then searched the room for Tootie, who never was late
and was, in fact, now coming toward them. “There’s Tootie,” he said. “Just entering the room. Jean-Georges will make his own entrance, because that’s what
Jean-Georges does. Why don’t you
feed the press your presence while I grab a microphone?”
Leana
took a final step forward and turned in various directions as people called out
her name. When she was finished,
she held up her hand and smiled to the press as people continued to enter the
room. When she went back to Addy,
Tootie was there.
“Hellohowareyou?”
she said.
“Hello,
Tootie.”
She
looked with distaste at Leana’s dress. “It’ll be interesting to see how that photographs.”
“Do you
think there’ll be a problem?”
“You
might look like fireworks in the morning, dear. Just be prepared. Anyway, I think it’s best if you and
Jean-Georges stand there, with your backs to that window so you’re facing the
press and the crowd. Addy will
speak, I’ll offer a few solemn words on the woes of suicide and then
Jean-George will present you with the award.”
There
was a rush of applause as Jean-George entered the room.
“Go over
and give him a hug,” Tootie said. “People love meaningless little hugs. Smile, smile, smile. That’s right. Good.”
“You
look beautiful, Leana,” Jean-Georges said in her ear.
“That’s
good to hear. I was just warned by
Tootie that in the papers tomorrow, I’ll look like fireworks.”
“Who
better than you?”
She was
surprised by his charm. He was a
tallish man in his late fifties with a thick head of silver hair that
complemented his tan complexion. “You were kind to step in for my father.”
“A
friend of mine committed suicide when I was young. I’m happy to do it and I’m planning to
offer a donation of my own tonight.”
They
parted and Leana looked over at Mario, who was watching her. Even from here, she could
cameras, you’re blinding everyone. It’s like you’re a human disco ball.”
“So, my
plan worked.”
They
shared a laugh.
He took
her by the hands and stepped back to admire her. “Seriously, you look incredible. Better than ever. I know you’re going to get hammered with
questions all evening, but I might be the only one who actually cares about the
answers, so allow me to ask how you are.”
They
kept smiling in spite of the weight of their conversation. “It’s been a tough year, Addy.”
“Your
mother?”
“I think
she’s alright. She’s a good
actress, which I think we all can agree upon by now, so it’s hard to tell. I think she’s managing.”
“Give
her my love, will you?”
“When I
speak to her, of course.”
“Just
one more question and my worries will be lifted. Are you alright physically? The papers said the bullet came very
close to your spinal chord.”
“Just
three millimeters to the right and I’d be in a wheelchair, designed by Prada if
I could get them to do it.”
He
ignored the joke because he didn’t find it funny. His only response was to shake his
head. When he did, the
photographers noted the grim expression on his face and immediately captured
it.
“They’re
like leeches,” he said.
She
turned around and waved to them. “They always have been. Just
one last question, Addy. Is my
father here?”
“I
haven’t seen him.”
“Did you
have the sense whether he planned to come?”
He put
his hand on her shoulder and stood next to her. A ribbon of explosions shot through the
crowd of photographers, bathing each in staccato rhythms of light. “I can never read your father,
Leana. He’s one difficult man. But I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Leana
was about to speak when an announcement was made that people should move to the
Pool Room.
Addy
looked at his watch and then searched the room for Tootie, who never was late
and was, in fact, now coming toward them. “There’s Tootie,” he said. “Just entering the room. Jean-Georges will make his own entrance, because that’s what
Jean-Georges does. Why don’t you
feed the press your presence while I grab a microphone?”
Leana
took a final step forward and turned in various directions as people called out
her name. When she was finished,
she held up her hand and smiled to the press as people continued to enter the
room. When she went back to Addy,
Tootie was there.
“Hellohowareyou?”
she said.
“Hello,
Tootie.”
She
looked with distaste at Leana’s dress. “It’ll be interesting to see how that photographs.”
“Do you
think there’ll be a problem?”
“You
might look like fireworks in the morning, dear. Just be prepared. Anyway, I think it’s best if you and
Jean-Georges stand there, with your backs to that window so you’re facing the
press and the crowd. Addy will
speak, I’ll offer a few solemn words on the woes of suicide and then
Jean-George will present you with the award.”
There
was a rush of applause as Jean-George entered the room.
“Go over
and give him a hug,” Tootie said. “People love meaningless little hugs. Smile, smile, smile. That’s right. Good.”
“You
look beautiful, Leana,” Jean-Georges said in her ear.
“That’s
good to hear. I was just warned by
Tootie that in the papers tomorrow, I’ll look like fireworks.”
“Who
better than you?”
She was
surprised by his charm. He was a
tallish man in his late fifties with a thick head of silver hair that
complemented his tan complexion. “You were kind to step in for my father.”
“A
friend of mine committed suicide when I was young. I’m happy to do it and I’m planning to
offer a donation of my own tonight.”
They
parted and Leana looked over at Mario, who was watching her. Even from here, she could
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