When We Fall (25 page)

“H
ey, stranger.” Charlie walked toward her looking more casual than she'd ever seen him, in black Nike running shorts, a plain gray V-neck T-shirt, and sneakers. Even his typically obedient short hair was longer and tousled.

“Hey, you.” Allison hugged him but didn't linger for long, as she once would have. “I'm really glad you could make it.”

She hadn't seen too much of Charlotte or Charlie over the past few months. After the scene at the gala, Allison had thought it appropriate to take some time and space, even once she'd learned of the mix-up. It certainly shed light on Charlotte's caustic performance, but still. She could have come to Allison. She could have given her the benefit of the doubt. Would Allison have acted that way if she'd been in Charlotte's shoes? She thought not, although it was impossible to say for sure. What if it had been Jack whom she'd suspected of having an affair with her friend? What if she'd had proof, as Charlotte had thought she had? She'd asked
herself a million and a half questions along the same lines. And all she could come up with was time and space. Wasn't absence supposed to make the heart grow fonder?

Allison had bumped into Charlotte a few times around town. She'd seen the two of them out to dinner on three separate occasions. They'd all been exaggeratedly polite, wearing awkward smiles and exchanging pleasantries. Charlie had mentioned the weather more than once. And Charlotte had extended a lunch invitation, which Allison had yet to take her up on. She would eventually, sooner rather than later, she suspected. She still liked Charlotte and knew that there was a future for their friendship. She just wanted it to feel organic, not rushed. Most recently, Allison had mingled with her at the hospital when Elizabeth had delivered Leo and they'd laughed and bonded in the way they used to. Charlotte had apologized again and again, insisting that—more than anything else—she wanted to rebuild their friendship, if Allison would be so generous as to give her a second chance. It was a first step, and Allison could tell that Charlotte was being genuine.

Ironically, since the night of the gala, Allison had grown much closer to Elizabeth than she'd ever been with Charlotte or Charlie. They were alike in so many ways, even though to the naked eye it didn't seem that way. Allison had come to know the real Elizabeth, who was fun and down-to-earth, if a touch sarcastic and snarky every so often. They'd taken long walks together in Wincourt Park. Allison had been by Elizabeth's side to register for all her baby gear, when Nick had been called into work. And, in turn, Elizabeth had been a steadfast sounding board and listening ear for Allison,
who'd been more than a little deflated after Charlotte's attack and Charlie's admission about Jack.

The only person Allison had not seen at all was Sabrina. She'd heard through the grapevine that Sabrina had checked herself into a rehab facility in Southern California. She'd also noticed that Sabrina and Craig's house was for sale, and Elizabeth had told Allison that Charlotte had said they were looking to move to Rye, New York—only twenty minutes south of Wincourt, but still the chance for a fresh start. That was the funny thing about the suburbs of Manhattan. You could live fifteen, even ten minutes, in any direction and your world would be entirely different, everything from the schools your kids attended to the people you associated with, right down to the supermarket you shopped at and the dry cleaner that laundered your clothing.

“I took the day off. It's part of the new leaf I turned over.”

“Oh yeah?” Allison had remembered Elizabeth mentioning something about Charlie leaving his job at Cooper Paine and how he and Charlotte were working on their renewed relationship. She'd said she hoped it would last for more than a few weeks for Charlotte and Gia's sake. Apparently, her wish had come true.

“Yup. My life was a mess. I don't have to tell you that.” He looked down at the ground. “I told Charlotte about Jack. You know, how I stole the job from him. . . . I can't tell you how sorry I am, Ali.”

“It's okay.” Allison touched his arm gently. “There's no way you could have known.”

“I left Cooper Paine.”

“I heard.”

“It didn't feel right. It never did. Before or after Jack died. Charlotte's been very supportive.” He smiled for the first time. “I'm at a great new firm in Greenwich. It's still a big job.”

“I'd expect nothing less.” Allison smiled back.

“Right.” He laughed. “But the hours are more flexible. I can be home for dinner now most nights. Spend more time with my family. And since Gia has been gone for the whole summer at camp, Charlotte and I have really had time to focus on us. Things are good.”

“I'm happy for you guys.”

“Thanks. Obviously it would have been easier to figure all this out a little more privately, but such is life. I guess.”

“If there's one thing I've learned it's that life always throws you curveballs when you least expect them.” Allison craned her neck to peer down the street. “I see the bus!”

Allison hadn't been able to sleep at all the night before. She'd missed Logan so terribly for the last eight weeks, while he'd been at Camp Tawana having a grand old time, or so he'd said in his very short letters, all of which Allison had saved so she could read them over and over, hanging on his every word. She'd written to him every single day, as her parents had her first summer at sleepaway camp. She'd also worried every single day, peppering both her mother and Elizabeth with her tried-and-true litany of what-ifs.
What if he doesn't like the food? What if his bed is uncomfortable? What if he cracks his braces? What if he doesn't make friends?
She knew Gia was there with him, and that helped ease her mind, but Gia was loud and outgoing, whereas Logan was more reserved, even a bit shy sometimes.

“I can't wait to see my girl.” Charlie rubbed his palms
together anxiously until the big yellow bus pulled up in front of them and came to a complete stop.

“Mom!” Logan ran down the stairs as soon as the driver had opened the door, flinging himself into Allison's waiting embrace. Behind him, Allison noticed a striking tall and slender young girl with shiny brown hair cascading down her back. She walked straight over to them, and Allison wondered if she was a friend of Logan's—or more. The thought of her baby having a girlfriend was almost too much to bear.

Logan gave Charlie a high five.

“Hi, Daddy.” Gia looked confused. Allison and Charlie exchanged startled glances and Charlie took his gorgeous daughter in his arms.

“Oh my God! I almost didn't even recognize you! I'm so sorry.”

“I lost some weight since visiting day.”

“I can see that.” Charlie couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

“Are you proud of me?”

“Gia, sweetheart.” He knelt down in front of her, held her close to him, and then at arm's length. “I'm proud of you in every way, but it has nothing to do with how you look.” Gia beamed at him. “Now let's go get some ice cream and head home to see Mom and Aunt Elizabeth. I think they have a surprise for you.”

“My new cousin?”

“You got it!” He turned to Allison. “Ice cream?”

“Nah, I've got my parents waiting at home with this kiddo's favorite lunch.” She ruffled Logan's hair, which was way
too long from not having been cut for two months. “I'll see you guys tonight?”

“We'll be there.”

•   •   •

Later
that evening, at the Alexander Gallery, Allison stood in front of her painting, hugging Logan close to her and silently musing about how far she'd come.

“It's breathtaking.” Charlotte appeared beside her, holding Charlie's hand.

“I second that,” Charlie agreed.

“I wish we'd featured it at the gala. I'm such an idiot.”

“Don't be so hard on yourself.” Allison rubbed Charlotte's back instinctively. “If it sells, I'm giving the money to the Wincourt school system anyway.”

“That's too generous.” Charlotte shook her head. “Especially after—”

“Hey, now,” Charlie interrupted. “Fresh start, remember?”

“You're right.” She caressed his cheek affectionately.

“Is that Dad?” Logan asked, unaware of the inherent meaning in Allison's painting.

“In a matter of speaking.”

“It doesn't look exactly like him.”

“I know.” Allison smiled. “It's an interpretation.”

“You've never painted Dad before.”

“I guess I wasn't ready.”

“He looks happy.” Logan nodded.

“He is. And so are we.” Allison kissed the top of his head. “It represents hope for the future.” She winked at Charlotte. They both knew that the theme of the gala had
since taken on more meaning than either of them had ever anticipated.

“Oh.” Logan nodded again, absorbing the weight of Allison's words as well as an eleven-year-old boy could.

“Hello, hello! Sorry we're late.” Allison's mother rushed over to the group, with her father close behind. “There was some kind of fender bender on Lockwood and the whole street was backed up. We had to park five blocks away and walk.”

“Well, you're here now and that's all that matters.”

“Where's Dempsey?”

“I'm right here.” He tapped Allison on the shoulder and wrapped his strong, tanned arms around her, lifting her off the ground before kissing her tenderly on the lips. “I wouldn't have missed it for anything.”

“I love you.” She gazed into his adoring blue eyes.

“I love you more.”

Allison's mother winked at her father. And Charlie squeezed Charlotte's hand. They all knew that things could never go back to the way they once were. That their lives would never be the same. But, finally, there was hope.

Q. What is your average writing day like?

A. When I'm writing a first draft of a book, which is about six months out of the year, not including edits, I do my best to actually sit at the computer and write for about four hours a day. Some days I feel it; some days I don't. But I always try to push myself. Then I let what I've written marinate and go back to it later in the day, when I decide if it was inspired brilliance or total crap. I typically write between the hours of ten in the morning and three in the afternoon. I'm not someone who can write all day. I have two little boys, so my mind is fried by nine o'clock at night and then it's reality TV time!

Q. When you are writing, do you use people you know as inspiration? What about celebrities?

A. Oh yes! In fact I draw most all of my inspiration from my own past experiences and the experiences shared with me
by my friends and family. I always tell people they should stay on my good side or watch out—they may be the villain in my next novel! As far as celebrities, I do tend to mention some either by real name or pseudonym—you may be able to guess who they are! My novels are about the world we live in now, and our culture is so inundated with all things celebrity that a reference here and there is a must.

Q. What is your writing process? Plan ahead or dive right in? How many drafts do you typically write of your novels?

A. I'm a planner in all areas of my life and my writing is no exception. I put together a detailed outline before I write even the first word. I typically write half the book (roughly fifteen chapters, give or take) before I go back and read from the beginning, though I always go back and edit each chapter after it's written—either later that day or the next morning. Sometimes reading through the previous chapter helps me get into the groove for attacking the next one. Then I write the second half of the book and do one final read through before sending it to my editor. After that, my editor and I will go through a few drafts, maybe two or three. My writing is very concise and, as a former editor, my writing is also very clean.

Q. What was your journey to becoming a published author?

A. I wrote one novel, which was very autobiographical—even though I claimed it was fiction. I was fortunate in
that I had a platform since I was already a magazine editor-in-chief and had written hundreds of articles for various magazines. I pitched eighty agents and was very lucky to have three offers for representation. Unfortunately (and fortunately), that novel never sold. I'm now thankful for that, even though it was a serious bummer at the time. That novel will
never
see the light of day! Afterward I decided I wanted to write another novel, but first I was inspired by a great idea for a narrative nonfiction book. This was in 2009, just as Facebook was really exploding. I thought, with all of the hundreds of millions of connections on Facebook, there must be some amazing stories evolving. I told my agent at the time. She loved the idea. And
Facebook Fairytales
was born! After that book was published in April 2010, my career took a turn and I switched agents/agencies.

Q. What do you think is the biggest myth about being a novelist and what advice can you give to readers who want to write a novel of their own?

A. The biggest myth is that all you have to do is sit down and write a book—in your pajamas. There is so much more work involved in being a published author. In fact, about half of my time is spent on marketing, publicity, and networking. You can write the best book in the world, but if no one knows about it, you're kind of screwed. As far as advice, I always tell burgeoning authors to write what you know. Write about something you're passionate
about. Force yourself to sit down at the computer every day, or as often as you can, and put words to paper. Ask family and friends to read it. Develop a thick skin. Everyone gets rejected. Believe me, I've saved every rejection note I've ever received. And pajamas are okay some days.

Q. How did you come up with the idea for
When We Fall
?

A. I've always been interested in the bonds of female friendship—what draws women to one another and what pulls them apart. Another common theme in my novels is to examine the age-old question of whether or not women can really “have it all.”

In
When We Fall
, specifically, I also wanted to explore the theme of loss. For Allison, it was the loss of her husband and the father of her son. For Charlotte, it was the loss of love in her marriage. And for Elizabeth, it was the loss of her daughter.

I was so interested in the idea of showing how these different types of personal loss impacted the lives of my leading ladies. Further, since I grew up in Manhattan and then moved to the suburbs as an adult, I knew I wanted the main character to be struggling with what it means to say good-bye to a place that holds so many memories and then to move to a town that's essentially a completely fresh start.

Q. What are you working on at the moment?

A. I'm working on my next women's fiction novel, which will publish in June 2015. And then I'll start writing my fourth novel/fifth book, which will be released in spring
2016.