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“It’s sort of unreal, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean?” Co
“The moonlight, the music. You in a tux. It’s like we’ve taken a break from reality, like we’re in a Cary Grant movie.” There was something faraway in her eyes.
Co
Nobody took notice of Tyra
“We only have about ten minutes. They’ll start the buffet soon after Dan’s speech, and he’ll be looking for me.” She kissed him long and softly, reluctant to part her lips from his.
She pushed Co
He slipped a strap off her shoulder, lowered her dress, took an erect nipple into his mouth, bit lightly. She moaned, her head back. Tyra
Co
Tyra
Her hair smelled so nice.
18
Tyra
“Do you love Dan?” Co
Tyra
Something had changed. She was different. He could hear it in her voice, see it in her posture.
Co
“Look, it’s all very-”
“Complicated. You told me that already.”
“I have to go,” she said. “I’d appreciate it if you’d wait two minutes before following me back to the house.” She looked at her watch. “Shit. Dan wanted to introduce me to Jasper. There’s an internship available at MoMA this season, and Jasper might be able to put in a good word.”
She saw the look on Co
Co
Co
He pulled up his pants, left the pool house. The smokers had gone inside. Out of spite, Co
Tyra
So stupid stupid stupid. It had seemed so right, a perfect little romantic moment. Moments, however, never stay moments. They never stay preserved, like a picture-perfect scene in a snow globe. The fantasy leaks out, seeps into reality, spoils everything.
She found her husband.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Professor Dan said. “We’re starting the buffet, and I need you to-what is it? Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
Her mind raced. She knew Co
“You’re crying.” Dan took her arm, pulled her aside, and looked over his shoulder to see if any of the partygoers had noticed.
“I’m not crying. Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“I need you down here,” Dan said.
“Just a few minutes.”
She avoided meeting anyone’s eye, went upstairs to her room, closed the door, locked it. She picked up the phone and hit Dr. Goldblatt’s home number on speed-dial. The doctor answered.
She told him what happened.
“Do you love this man?”
“I’m not even sure what love is anymore.”
“Some say love is merely a set of electrical impulses formed by our brain after receiving specific external stimuli. All of that romantic nonsense was invented by poets.”
“I hate you, Dr. Goldblatt.”
“My wife often expresses a similar sentiment.”
19
The reception had shifted to the long dining hall, where food was being served buffet style. It was too crowded. Co
A side table offered a spread of tortilla chips with salsa and pigs in a blanket. He plucked a white cloth napkin from the table, filled it with pigs in a blanket and wrapped it up. He put the napkin wad into the side pocket of his tuxedo. It made a nice warm weight against his hip.
The room was too crowded and loud. He didn’t see Tyra
He retreated to the quiet part of the house. Stray partygoers huddled in twos and threes, private conversations. Co
On the corner of the desk a silver tray supported a glass decanter half-full of amber liquid. Four clean highball glasses around the decanter. Co
“I wouldn’t do that.” A voice behind him.
Co
A pear-shaped man, short. Thi
“That’s the cheap stuff,” he said. He went to the big globe and opened it up. It was hinged at the equator. Inside were more bottles and glasses. “Joh
Co
The guy asked, “You’re not a goddamn art lover, are you?”