one crooked finger into the space between us; it hovered for an instant, and brushed along the line of my jaw. “Have a safe flight tomorrow,” he said.
“You too.”
And then, somehow, I found the strength to turn and walk out.
4.
[via e-mail]
Julian: Kate, at LaGuardia, just boarding now. Pitch book tucked inside my coat, safe and warm. Shall read on the flight. Julian.
Me: What, no private jet? What kind of billionaire hedgehog are you? Kate.
Julian: A disgrace to the name, apparently. Geoff gave me a NetJets share for Christmas last year, but I keep forgetting to use it.
Me: How do you forget to use a private jet?
Julian: Shareholders first. Where are you now?
Me: In a taxi, stuck on the Triborough. Flight’s in an hour. I’m getting nervous.
Julian: If you miss the plane, I’ll ring up NetJets for you.
Me: Like that wouldn’t raise a few eyebrows back home. Here’s Kate coming back for Christmas in a Gulfstream. How many carbon offsets would I have to buy?
Julian: Hold on to that thought. I’m supposed to switch my phone off right now.
Me:
[later]
Where are you sitting?
Julian: 8C
Me: Hmm, an aisle guy.
Julian: And you?
Me: Window. 12A. All right, pulling up to the airport. Later.
Julian: Did you make your flight?
Me: Barely. Hold on, they’re calling my row.
Julian: Starting to descend now. Boston looking brown and un-Christmaslike.
Me:
[later]
All settled in. So are you overnighting in Boston?
Julian: No. Flying back to NY after the meeting.
Me: And doing what?
Julian: Glass of wine, good book. Pondering the mysteries of that marvelous company of yours. And you?
Me: Family stuff. Dinner, eggnog, carols. You’re spending Christmas Eve alone? Aren’t you supposed to be having dinner with Geoff?
Julian: That’s tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’m quite all right. Altogether used to it. Though you’re welcome to check in, if you like.
Me: I’ll send you so much Christmas cheer your head will spin. What’s Geoff like?
Julian: Good chap, rather boring wife, two rambunctious children.
Me: Boring how?
Julian: Conventional. Lives in Greenwich. Shops a great deal. Aspen in January, Nantucket in August. The twins have three nannies.
Me: Yikes. Oops, we’re taxiing. Evil eye from flight attendant. Later.
Julian: Rough landing. On way to taxi.
Me: So where is this meeting of yours?
Julian: Harvard.
Me: The endowment fund? How long will you be?
Julian: Don’t know. Will let you know when I’m out. Should hate to miss a moment of your Christmas cheer.
Me: Do you still have the presentation with you?
Julian: Next to my heart.
Me: Stop. You had me at hello.
Julian: So there’s hope. Just pulling up now. Thinking of you.
Me:
[later]
Landed safely. I’m in the car with Mom and Dad. There’s about three feet of snow. Thinking of you too.
Julian:
[much later]
Just left meeting. Glad you got in all right.
Me: Wow. Long meeting. Which shuttle are you taking?
Julian: 8pm.
Me: Maybe you’ll see the big guy’s sleigh ;-) According to the NORAD Web site he’s over the Atlantic right now.
Julian: Shall keep watch. Happy Christmas, Kate.
Me: Merry Christmas. Wish you could see the festive spirit around here. My mom always goes a little overboard. The front yard is a total embarrassment.
Me:
[later]
Checking in, as promised. Lots of merriment here. I think Dad overdid the brandy in the eggnog. His cousin Pete keeps trying to get Mom under the mistletoe. How are you getting along?
Julian: Rather shattered, in fact. Heading for bed.
Me: Good night, then. Are you sure you’re okay?
Julian: Right as rain. Good night. Stay away from Cousin Pete.
Me:
[much later the next day]
Julian, just wanted to say Merry Christmas. Kate.
Julian: You too. Off to Geoff’s.
Me: Enjoy.
Julian:
[Sunday afternoon]
Dear Kate, I hope your Christmas was happy, without too much frightful knitwear lurking under the tree. I’ve been thinking, over the past
“You too.”
And then, somehow, I found the strength to turn and walk out.
4.
[via e-mail]
Julian: Kate, at LaGuardia, just boarding now. Pitch book tucked inside my coat, safe and warm. Shall read on the flight. Julian.
Me: What, no private jet? What kind of billionaire hedgehog are you? Kate.
Julian: A disgrace to the name, apparently. Geoff gave me a NetJets share for Christmas last year, but I keep forgetting to use it.
Me: How do you forget to use a private jet?
Julian: Shareholders first. Where are you now?
Me: In a taxi, stuck on the Triborough. Flight’s in an hour. I’m getting nervous.
Julian: If you miss the plane, I’ll ring up NetJets for you.
Me: Like that wouldn’t raise a few eyebrows back home. Here’s Kate coming back for Christmas in a Gulfstream. How many carbon offsets would I have to buy?
Julian: Hold on to that thought. I’m supposed to switch my phone off right now.
Me:
[later]
Where are you sitting?
Julian: 8C
Me: Hmm, an aisle guy.
Julian: And you?
Me: Window. 12A. All right, pulling up to the airport. Later.
Julian: Did you make your flight?
Me: Barely. Hold on, they’re calling my row.
Julian: Starting to descend now. Boston looking brown and un-Christmaslike.
Me:
[later]
All settled in. So are you overnighting in Boston?
Julian: No. Flying back to NY after the meeting.
Me: And doing what?
Julian: Glass of wine, good book. Pondering the mysteries of that marvelous company of yours. And you?
Me: Family stuff. Dinner, eggnog, carols. You’re spending Christmas Eve alone? Aren’t you supposed to be having dinner with Geoff?
Julian: That’s tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’m quite all right. Altogether used to it. Though you’re welcome to check in, if you like.
Me: I’ll send you so much Christmas cheer your head will spin. What’s Geoff like?
Julian: Good chap, rather boring wife, two rambunctious children.
Me: Boring how?
Julian: Conventional. Lives in Greenwich. Shops a great deal. Aspen in January, Nantucket in August. The twins have three nannies.
Me: Yikes. Oops, we’re taxiing. Evil eye from flight attendant. Later.
Julian: Rough landing. On way to taxi.
Me: So where is this meeting of yours?
Julian: Harvard.
Me: The endowment fund? How long will you be?
Julian: Don’t know. Will let you know when I’m out. Should hate to miss a moment of your Christmas cheer.
Me: Do you still have the presentation with you?
Julian: Next to my heart.
Me: Stop. You had me at hello.
Julian: So there’s hope. Just pulling up now. Thinking of you.
Me:
[later]
Landed safely. I’m in the car with Mom and Dad. There’s about three feet of snow. Thinking of you too.
Julian:
[much later]
Just left meeting. Glad you got in all right.
Me: Wow. Long meeting. Which shuttle are you taking?
Julian: 8pm.
Me: Maybe you’ll see the big guy’s sleigh ;-) According to the NORAD Web site he’s over the Atlantic right now.
Julian: Shall keep watch. Happy Christmas, Kate.
Me: Merry Christmas. Wish you could see the festive spirit around here. My mom always goes a little overboard. The front yard is a total embarrassment.
Me:
[later]
Checking in, as promised. Lots of merriment here. I think Dad overdid the brandy in the eggnog. His cousin Pete keeps trying to get Mom under the mistletoe. How are you getting along?
Julian: Rather shattered, in fact. Heading for bed.
Me: Good night, then. Are you sure you’re okay?
Julian: Right as rain. Good night. Stay away from Cousin Pete.
Me:
[much later the next day]
Julian, just wanted to say Merry Christmas. Kate.
Julian: You too. Off to Geoff’s.
Me: Enjoy.
Julian:
[Sunday afternoon]
Dear Kate, I hope your Christmas was happy, without too much frightful knitwear lurking under the tree. I’ve been thinking, over the past
Similar Books
