A Very Good Life (21 page)

This, too, was a philosophy of Virginia Martignetti. Dana was more grateful than ever to have had parents who demonstrated that life wasn’t black and white, yes or no, all or nothing. That was
their
big picture. You worked to help others, but at the end of the day, you needed to strive for personal happiness and contentment regardless of what life brought your way.

As the afternoon progressed, Dana saw that the luncheon and contest were running smoothly. The girls had performed admirably thus far, and Dana knew that she’d done a great job. She also knew that she’d do a great job announcing the winner at the Sugar Plum Ball, where she would reveal her unique solution to the conundrum caused by Bob ordering her to rig the contest.

It had been a busy week, one filled with highs and lows, worries and triumphs. As she watched the girls put on their outfits for the fashion show, she felt an enormous sense of peace.

She didn’t have to know how everything in her life would work out. All the answers she needed were on the inside.

D
ana was tired as she settled into her desk chair at B. Altman, but she was more than satisfied with the way the luncheon and fashion show had gone earlier that afternoon. All five girls had done a spectacular job, and Kim had pushed away her self-doubts and recriminations in order to turn in a stellar performance. When the fashion show was over, Dana noted that Kim had eagerly sought out her parents in the crowd of people admiring the collage boards. Her mother and father had embraced her, each showing great enthusiasm. Such days, Dana thought, were worth far more than any paycheck. She had given Kim the necessary confidence to finish the contest, and hopefully her words would stay with the girl in the days and weeks ahead. After the results were announced on Friday, Dana intended to tell Kim that her door would always be open in case she wanted to talk.

As Dana was basking in the day’s success, Bea Savino’s assistant materialized next to her cubicle, looking very concerned. “Bea wants to see you immediately, Ms. McGarry.”

“Do you know what it’s about?” Dana asked.

“No, but she said that it’s urgent.”

“Okay,” Dana sighed, rising from her chair. “Let’s go.”

Dana was frequently summoned to Bea’s office, but whenever the words “immediately” or “urgent” were attached to the request, it usually signaled some impending crisis. Couldn’t she have ten minutes to herself to enjoy the day’s accomplishments?

Dana followed the assistant to the executive suite on the fifth floor and went directly to Bea’s office. “You wanted to see me, Bea?”

Bea waved Dana in and motioned for her to sit. She lit a cigarette, sat back in her chair, and stared straight at Dana before her entire expression unexpectedly changed. “Congratulations! You got the teen makeup section, plus I hear that the fashion show was a great success. Great work!”

“But I thought you cautioned me not to push the teen makeup idea.” Dana was confused. She’d expected to be chastised for some faux pas, but Bea was effusive in her praise for Dana.

“And that’s the beauty of it. You
didn’t
push it, but you nevertheless made it happen.”

“Thank you, Bea. I appreciate your support. Unfortunately, I don’t think Helen will be kindly disposed to recent developments.”

Bea inhaled deeply on her cigarette, blew out a perfect column of smoke, and leaned forward. “Don’t worry about Helen. She’ll come around—she always does. Is she going to your party tomorrow evening?”

“I certainly hope so.”

“I’m sure she will, and I bet she’ll be as cordial as can be. She’s a class act.” Bea paused as she crushed her cigarette in her ashtray. As she did so, she remarked casually that “You might want to think about taking your career in another direction. Your instincts are good, Dana. You may want to move into a line department. If you get buying experience, you can be a candidate for the fashion group and work with Dawn. Ira is revolutionizing the store, and there are many new opportunities. Keep your eyes open.”

Surprised, Dana raised her eyebrows.

“Thank you, Bea. I’ll give your advice serious thought. I did major in merchandising, although I certainly enjoy working with you. You have taught me so much.”

“Don’t get me wrong—I’m not trying to get rid of you,” Bea confessed, “but here’s a secret. The learning never stops. Even Helen knows that, although she might be reluctant to admit it.” Bea lit another cigarette and laughed. “The very name of Biba makes her tremble, and yet she’s smart enough to know that change is inevitable.”

“A few days ago,” Dana said, “you claimed that the teen makeup section would have to wait because Helen had too much on her plate.”

“Quite true, but Ira thought otherwise. He knows change is a fact of life—and of business.”

“Change—that’s been the theme of the week,” Dana commented in an almost philosophical tone.

“It’s the theme of life, kiddo, and don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise.”

• • •

Dana was walking into Bob Campbell’s office when she saw Helen out the corner of her eye. Helen had picked up her pace and was proclaiming, just as she had a few days earlier, that “He’s expecting me!”

The office door closed, leaving Helen standing in the outer office. “I hope they’re not meddling with my department again,” she said with exasperation.

“I don’t think Ms. McGarry will be long,” the secretary said. “She only asked for a few minutes.” Helen paced anxiously, holding a bound report in her right hand. Five minutes later, Dana emerged with a grin on her face.

“He’s all yours, Helen. Sorry if I kept you waiting.”

Dana disappeared down the hall, not looking back.

B
rett and Janice exited the courthouse in lower Manhattan after filing several motions on behalf of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. They walked down the street under gray, cloudy skies, both carrying briefcases.

“Does your wife know I’ll be attending your party tomorrow night?” Janice asked.

“No,” Brett replied. “And I don’t plan on telling her. You and I will arrive together at the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. I’ll simply tell Dana that we’re coming from work, which will be the truth. Dana and I have arranged with John Cirone to have his bus take everyone from the tree lighting to our apartment. John purchased the bus to take family and friends to and from games when his son played football for Villanova. Just get on the bus with everyone else and everything will be fine. If Dana asks any questions, I’ll tell her that I can’t very well order you not to come to the party since it would be rude.”

“Very well thought out,” Janice said. “You’ve grown especially sharp these past few days. Even your confidence level is way up.”

“It shows?”

“Very much. And what about the Hartlens? Have you made sure they’ll be attending as well? If I’m going to put on a show, I want to make sure I have the right audience.”

“I asked Jack on the phone yesterday. He and Patti are definitely coming. So is Patrick.”

“Even better. We’ll have all of our bases covered. I’ve also bought a very nice vintage cabernet as a way to reiterate my apologies to Dana for disrupting the neighborhood association meeting on Tuesday.”

Brett looked sideways. “Don’t tell me that you’re really sorry?”

“Hell, no. Trying to keep hookers away from a given location is ridiculous. They’d be back within a month, and I doubt the city council would even pass such legislation. The wine is simply a good tactical move.”

“Tactical? That’s a rather sterile term.”

“I suppose it is,” said a thoughtful Janice. “Does your comment indicate that you regard our relationship with a certain degree of warmth?”

Brett merely smiled and looked straight ahead.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Janice said.

She was succeeding faster than she’d anticipated. She’d originally presented the affair as a way for Brett to keep from turning into a stuffy socialite, offering him a fling and nothing else. But her goals had changed. She wanted more. Thus far, she had managed to ruffle Dana’s feathers and engender some measure of feeling within Brett for her unorthodox view of life. She had no doubt that he still loved his wife—they all did, didn’t they—but time and persistence might change that. Brett was a bigger challenge than most, however, and she wasn’t going to take for granted that she could lure him from his eight-year marriage.

Janice loved a good challenge.

A
t four o’clock on Thursday evening, the skies above Manhattan were already turning dark as Dana made her way to Paddy FitzGibbon’s VIP section in Rockefeller Center for the annual Christmas tree lighting in front of the GE building. On the edge of the crowd, she was handed a cup of hot chocolate by an employee from the Irish Pavilion.

“You always think of everything,” Dana said as she located Paddy near the front of the gathering, just yards from the stage below the bronze-gilded statue of Prometheus. “And just how do you secure such an amazing location each and every year?”

“It’s the luck of the Irish, Dana, plus a few kind friends with whom God has blessed me.”

“In other words, you pull a few strings,” Dana said, grinning.

“Every string is absolutely legal,” Paddy said, “although it doesn’t hurt to contribute to law enforcement and other agencies every now and then. It’s my civic duty!”

The two laughed as they sipped their hot chocolate.

Paddy turned to greet other new arrivals with his warm, welcoming manner, his Irish brogue easily heard above the sounds of the city and the growing crowd.

Phoebe Cirone waded through the huddled overcoats and gave her childhood friend a big hug.

“New York Hospital actually let you out for a few hours?” Dana asked as they embraced.

“My rotation for December puts me in the cath lab, and since I’m not making rounds, I could get away early. Did Dad tell you that I’m sticking it out another year? As soon as I heard the name of the new director of Interventional Cardiology, the decision was made. He shares my research interest in aortic valve disease.”

“Phoebe, you have been dedicated to medicine and saving people’s lives since we were kids, and you never gave up,” Dana said as she gave her friend another hug. “You’ll reach your dream in a little more than a year. I’m so happy for you.”

“Speaking of saving people’s lives,” Phoebe added, “my father and brother are so grateful to Brett for saving Johnny from disaster. My father has been in church, praying for Johnny twice a day, and now he’s walking on air. Your husband is a miracle worker.”

Dana’s face reflected her ignorance as to what Phoebe was referring to. “What exactly did Brett do?”

“You mean he didn’t tell you that—”

“Hello, everyone!” Brett interrupted. He was being ushered into the section by a police officer, followed by Jack and Patti Hartlen—and Janice. After kissing Phoebe on the cheek, he made introductions all around. Dana and Janice exchanged forced smiles that were as cold as the late evening air.

“Welcome!” Paddy said to the latest arrivals, shaking Brett’s hand as he continued to circulate among his guests. “And you must be Jack and Patti. I hear you’re moving here next month! I want you to be guests at my restaurant as soon as the move is complete. And if there’s anything you need, I’m glad to help. Dana and Brett know how to reach me. We’re neighbors in Murray Hill.”

“He’s not kidding,” Brett said. “Paddy’s our go-to man for just about anything. In fact, his friend, who works at St. Patrick’s Cathedral across the street, is watching John’s private bus that will take us to the apartment after the tree lighting.”

“Come with me,” Paddy said to the Hartlens. “Let me get you as close as possible to the stage.”

Dana looked around, but no longer saw Janice. “Where is she?” asked Dana, as if she were looking for a predator.

“Who?” Brett asked innocently.

“Miss California. I just saw her a minute ago.”

Brett looked around and pointed his finger at two people to their rear. “She’s right over there. And it looks like she’s made a new friend.”

Dana turned around to see Janice standing next to her brother Matthew.

“I don’t believe it,” Dana said, lowering her head. She took a deep breath before asking, “Brett, how could you invite her without discussing it with me?”

“We were leaving court, and she reminded me that this is her first Christmas in New York. She’s never seen the tree lighting before, not even on TV.” Brett held up his hands and shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t stop her from coming to a public event.”

“Okay, but keep my brother off her wish list,” Dana demanded. “I mean it, Brett.”

“They’re just talking, honey. Relax and enjoy the ceremony.”

“Dana!” Mark Senger called out. “My meeting with Revlon wrapped up earlier than expected, and I knew where I’d find you before the party. I hope you don’t mind my barging in like this.”

“I’m glad you could make it,” Dana said. “You’re a welcome gate crasher, which isn’t necessarily true for everyone in the VIP section

While Mark and Brett exchanged pleasantries, Paddy arrived with hot chocolate for Mark, engaging him in a discussion about the stage design.

“You’ve done a tremendous job getting ready for the party later,” Brett told Dana. “You did a luncheon yesterday, and today you’re ready to host our annual party. You’re the McGarry household’s special events coordinator.” He kissed her softly on the lips.

“If you’re trying to get on my good side,” Dana said, “you’re succeeding. I didn’t even expect you to show up.”

“We finished early and I remembered that I haven’t been able to get to the tree lighting for the past two or three years. I have no doubt that it’s going to be a great night.”

“Brett, what did you do for Johnny? Phoebe says that you . . . saved him.”

Brett smiled broadly. “Johnny asked for some advice after our squash match on Sunday, so I—”

At the podium, Mayor Abe Beame officially welcomed everyone to Rockefeller Center on behalf of the City of New York. He then introduced Marlo Thomas, who presided over the ceremony, featuring The Voices of East Harlem singing “Sisters and Brothers” and other popular tunes from Thomas’ Emmy award-winning children’s TV special
Free to Be . . . You and Me
. The songs were also part of a larger project sponsored by the Ms. Foundation for Women, which had published both an album and illustrated children’s book that rejected gender stereotypes in children’s literature. The central message was that both boys and girls could achieve anything.