The Publicist Book One and Two (34 page)

Chapter Thirty

Kate slowly opened her door. “Nick?” she said, her voice filled with surprise.

Nick wrapped Kate in his arms and Kate started to cry. Her tears fell in streams down her face and Nick gently nudged her inside.

“Katie, I’m so sorry,” he said, stroking her hair.

“W-what are you doing here?”

“I heard about it on the news and called Grace. She said you needed a friend and she was worried that you’ve been locked in your apartment for a week.”

Suddenly Kate realized how she must look, her hair uncombed, her robe wrapped carelessly around her. Had she brushed her teeth today? She couldn’t remember.

Nick pulled her to the couch. “Come on, sit down,” he said gently.

Kate was still in shock. “You flew all this way, Nick? For me?”

Nick nodded, “Of course. We’re friends, right?”

Kate was floored. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with tears.

“Listen,” he caressed her hair, “I know this seems awful now, but you’ll get through this. I promise you will.”

“I know. I just don’t know where to begin. That job was my life. My work was my life. I feel so rudderless.”

Nick pulled a few tissues from a box of Kleenex and handed them to Kate. “It’s horrible, Kate. I can’t believe this happened, but you have to pull yourself together and move on. The sooner you do, the sooner this will all be behind you.”

Kate thought about Nick’s last words. Behind her? All of it, including Mac. She didn’t have the heart to tell Nick the entire story; that she’d lost everything in her world. Her job, her career, and the love of her life.

“I want you to go and take a shower, then we’re going for a walk. It’s a beautiful day and it’ll do you good.”

Kate nodded, kissed Nick on the cheek, and got up off of the couch. When she emerged from the bathroom, she found Nick in the kitchen, making her an omelet. Suddenly Kate flashed to Mac. Cooking in his kitchen, making his perfect omelet.

“Hungry?” Nick smiled, yanking her from her thoughts.

“Sure,” she said quietly.

“You look like you haven’t eaten in a week,” he observed.

“Thanks to Grace I actually have. But I haven’t been too hungry.”

Nick slid the omelet onto a plate. “I can imagine. Well, this should fix you up for right now, then we’ll head out and work this all out.”

Kate smiled gently. “I appreciate the offer, Nick, but I am not sure that a walk will fix this.”

“It won’t,” he said sternly, “but it will help you to clear your head so you can start planning out the rest of your life.”

Kate sighed. The rest of her life. She had imagined it very differently. But that’s the irony, isn’t it? We make plans and God laughs. He was certainly laughing now.

Chapter Thirty-One

Back in his office Mac knew what he needed to do. The thought of Kate being lost to him wasn’t something he was willing to face. Yet. Ultimately he wanted what was best for her. A week after this story had erupted, the publishing trades were still waiting for MD’s story. The Feds now had seized enough data to sink Singer and all of his accomplices. He was free to make any statement he wanted, and Mac needed to be certain that he got to the trades before Edward did. Mac picked up the phone and called his contact at
Galley Cat
and
Publishers Weekly,
and Michael Cader, who ran
Publishers Lunch
. He told them all the same thing: Give him a day or two and he’d be able to tell them the background. Later that afternoon he went back to see Edward. He walked in and shut the door behind him.

“I have a deal to make with you, Edward,” he began as he slid into one of Edward’s leather seats.

“Deal, Mac? For what?”

“I want to be the one to tell the trades about what happened here. Don’t worry, I won’t tell them you knew all the sordid details. I think it’s time that MD cleared the air and got back to the business of publishing books.”

Edwards frowned. “Well that’s a very different stance, Mac. Glad you’ve come to your senses. Now let’s talk about what you’ll say.”

“No, Ed,” Mac shook his head. “We are not debating this. I will determine what we say.”

“Unacceptable, Mac. I have a board to answer to.”

“Your board will be fine with what I say. And if you interfere, I’ll be sure and tell them what you nearly did to Kate. I’m sure
Galley Cat
or
Publishers Lunch
would love that story.”

Edward huffed, “Bullshit Mac. I told you, I won’t tolerate threats.”

“I just got off the phone with Kate,” Mac lied, “She’s agreed not to press charges if you let me handle this. Oh, and there’s one more thing you’re going to do for her.” Mac smiled.

Chapter Thirty-Two

It felt good to be outside; Nick had been right. They walked briskly together through the city for several hours, talking about his work and Kate’s future—although she was very uncertain about what she’d do next.

Nick stopped at a teashop he knew Kate loved and ordered two green teas. He brought the steaming cups to their table.

“Kate, look, I know that there is nothing between us, but it seems like if this guy was anything worth having, he’d be here for you right now and he’s not.”

Kate stirred her tea, but didn’t respond.
Of course, he had to go there. The last thing she needed right now was this macho, knight-in-shining-armor bullshit,
she thought.

“Kate, I’m not trying to force the issue here about us. I’m just saying. Maybe it’s time for a clean break. Why don’t you get away for a while? Maybe come to California?”

“I don’t know.”

Nick covered her hand with his. “Distance will do you good, distance and some new surroundings. Just think about it.” He smiled. “I have to leave here day after tomorrow, but I hope you’ll come with me. Just as my friend,” he added quickly.

Kate did her best to return his smile. “I’ll think about it,” she said softly.

…

In spite of herself, Kate thought about Nick’s clumsy offer long after she returned home and he headed back to his hotel. She called Grace for the first time in a week.

“How you feeling, old friend?” Grace asked gently.

“Better, sort of. Nick being here really helped.”

“I knew it would.”

“Thanks, Gracie. I know you had a hand in this.”

“That’s what friends do. Now tell me what you two did.”

“Walked mostly, and talked. He invited me to come to California.”

“That’s great!” Grace enthused, “So when do you leave?”

“I’m not sure it’s the right thing, Grace. It feels like running away.”

“Nonsense. Just take some time off. You’ll come back and things will somehow have righted themselves.”

Kate shrugged, “I don’t know, Grace. I’ll think about it.”

“Good. Think about it. Now, tomorrow I want to see you. Come by my apartment in the morning. I have a surprise for you.”

Kate laughed at Grace’s exuberance; she hadn’t heard herself laugh in a while. It felt good.

“Okay, Gracie, see you tomorrow.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

By nine o’clock in the morning, Kate was up and out of her place and headed to her friend’s apartment. The morning was cool but it felt refreshing. She could almost feel herself becoming acclimated to this unending uncertainty that permeated her life—a life she was still trying to figure out, but new nonetheless.

Grace hugged Kate. “God, it’s so good to see you and to know that you’ve finally showered.”

Kate laughed out loud. “Yeah, my holiday from hygiene was pretty disgusting.”

“All part of the mourning process. Besides, do you know it’s actually bad to wash our hair as much as we do?”

Leave it to Grace to find the silver lining.

“I brought goodies,” Kate smiled. “The carrot nut muffins you like so much.”

“That’s great, but you’ll have to save them. I need to show you something first.”

Kate frowned. “What’s up?”

Grace grabbed her friend’s hand. “Nothing much, just come with me.”

They stepped onto the elevator in Grace’s building. “Where are we going?” Kate asked.

“Just wait.” Grace smiled secretively.

Once outside, Grace led her friend around the corner to a monthly parking garage.

“Hey Timmy,” Grace waved to the attendant.

“Heya, Gracie, you come for a drive?” A boyish smile swept across his face. The attendant was obviously smitten.

“No, just here to say ‘hi’ to her.”

“She’s doing great!” he called after her.

“Grace, what the hell? Who are we here to see?”

Her friend winked. “Not who,
what
. Car people,” she nodded in the direction of the attendant, “They think of cars as people. It’s pretty funny. But he takes good care of her.”

Kate followed her friend up two flights of stairs. “Of what, Grace?”

Grace walked out of the stairwell and led her friend to a covered car. Gently, she pulled off the tan cloth revealing a shiny pink Cadillac. She guessed it was a ’60s model, although it looked brand-new.

Kate frowned. “I don’t get it. Is this yours?”

Grace nodded. “Well, yes, it was my mom’s.” Her hand slid over the car, stroking it gently, lovingly, as though she were stroking her mother’s hair. It gleamed like it had just rolled off of the showroom floor. Obviously, she and Timmy had taken great care of the car.

Kate was still confused. “But Grace, you don’t even drive.”

“I know,” she nodded. “I pay the attendant here to drive it and keep it tuned up.”

“But, Gracie, the monthly parking fees must be crazy. Why…? I mean, I know it was your mom’s, but why would you keep something you can never use?”

Grace’s eyes clouded over, her fingers still touching the smooth surface. “My father—my real father—gave this to my mom and she loved it. Even after he left her, she kept it but never drove it.” Grace slid a thoughtful hand across the cloth convertible roof.

“She used to tell me about driving it, that she’d throw a scarf over her head and put the top down. She said she never felt so free in her life. I didn’t find out she had this car until she was dying. She told me I could get rid of it, but I couldn’t bear it. She told me that no matter what she was going through, every worry seemed to vanish when she slid behind the wheel.”

Kate nodded. No wonder the car was so important to her friend. “It’s great that you still have it, Gracie and I’m really glad you showed it to me.”

“I’m not just showing it to you,” she said mysteriously, “I’m lending it to you. I want you to take it to California.”

At first, Kate couldn’t say a word. Finally, she responded, “But Grace, I don’t even know if I’m going. And drive? I mean, I couldn’t take this car, it’s so special to you.”

Grace took her friend’s hand. “I wish that my mom had had the courage to do what you’re doing—leave and start over—but she never did. She got pregnant with me and that was pretty much that.” Grace reflected for a long, slow moment.

“I want you to take the car, drive and get your head together, and go spend some time in a place that doesn’t even vaguely remind you of New York, with a man who loves you and can actually be with you in a way Mac never could.”

“Grace, I…”

“Even if this hadn’t happened,” Grace interrupted her softly, “it would have ended. This situation just accelerated things, and I think that someday you’ll be grateful it did.” She opened the door of the car and smiled. “Since you’re the only friend I have who drives, why don’t you take us for a spin?”

“Right now?” Kate said, surprised.

Grace nodded. “No time like the present.”

Kate slid into the car. The soft leather seat moved beneath her. She lowered the window—how many years had it been since she’d seen a window crank? Although she’d only met Grace’s mother one time before she died, she could see her sitting behind the wheel of a car her married lover gave her.

Grace closed the driver’s door and leaned in the window. “After she died, I envisioned my mother, her hair swept into a scarf, the top down, and driving down the highway—escaping a life and a man who would never be hers. Her face beamed with victory. She never got out, but you can.”