One Fifth Avenue (15 page)

And met Philip, she reminded herself.

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Now Billy, her dear old Billy, came hurrying down the sidewalk in a seersucker suit. She stood up to embrace him.

“I can’t believe you’re here. And I don’t believe you’ll stay in New York,” Billy said, sitting down and motioning to the waiter. “Hollywood people always say they’re going to stay, and they never do.”

“But I never considered myself a Hollywood person,” Schiffer said. “I always thought of myself as a New Yorker. It was the only way I managed to live in L.A. for so long.”

“New York has changed,” Billy said, a mournful tone creeping into his voice.

“I’m sorry about Mrs. Houghton,” Schiffer said. “I know you were close.”

“She was very old. And I think I may have found a couple for her apartment.”

“That’s nice,” Schiffer said, but she didn’t want to talk real estate.

“Billy,” she said, leaning forward. “Have you seen Philip Oakland?”

“That’s exactly what I mean about New York changing,” Billy said. “I almost never see him anymore. I see Enid, of course, at events. But not Philip. I’ve heard he’s a bit of a mess.”

“He was always a bit of a mess,” Schiffer said.

“But at a certain point, the mess needs to go away. Even Redmon Richardly got married.” Billy brushed a speck of dirt off his seersucker trousers. “That was one thing I’ve never understood. Why didn’t you two end up together?”

“I have no idea.”

“You didn’t need him,” Billy said. “A man like Philip wants to be needed. And you were a great actress . . .”

She shook her head. “I was never a great actress. I watch
Summer
Morning
now, and I cringe.”

“You were wonderful,” Billy said.

“I sucked,” Schiffer said with a self-deprecating laugh. “Do you know what Philip Oakland said to me once?” she asked. “He said I’d never be a great actress because I wasn’t vulnerable.”

“There’s your answer,” Billy said. “Philip was jealous.”

“Can a man who’s won a Pulitzer Prize and an Oscar be jealous?”

“Of course,” Billy said. “Jealousy, envy, ego—those are the things success 100

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is made of. I see it all the time in these new people who come to New York. I suppose in that way, New York hasn’t changed.” Billy took a sip of his wine. “It’s too bad about Philip Oakland, though, because he really was talented.”

“That makes me sad,” Schiffer said.

“My dear,” Billy said, “don’t waste your time worrying about Philip. In five years, he’ll be fifty, and he’ll be one of those old men who are always with young women, and the young women get worse and worse and more and more silly. While you, on the other hand, will probably have three Emmys. You won’t be giving Philip Oakland a second thought.”

“But I love Philip.”

Billy shrugged. “We all love Philip. But what can you do? You can’t change human nature.”

Later, on her way home from Da Silvano, Schiffer thought about ringing Philip’s bell again. But remembering what Billy had said about Philip, she decided it probably was pointless. Who was she kidding? Billy was right. Philip would never change. Coming into her apartment, she congratulated herself on for once doing the sensible thing.

6

“Why are you going to a funeral for a woman you don’t even know?” Paul Rice asked.............................................................

That same evening, he and Annalisa were dining at La Grenouille. Paul adored the famous French restaurant, not for the food but simply because it was ridiculously expensive (sixty-six dollars for Dover sole) and close to the hotel, prompting him to refer to it as “the canteen.”

“She’s not just any woman,” Annalisa said. “Mrs. Houghton was the city’s most important socialite. Billy Litchfield asked me, and apparently, it’s a very exclusive invitation.”

Paul studied the wine menu. “Who’s Billy Litchfield again?”

“Connie’s friend,” Annalisa said. She felt weary. “Remember? We spent the weekend with him.”

“Right,” Paul said. “The bald fruit.”

Annalisa smiled. The comment was Paul’s attempt at a joke. “I wish you wouldn’t say things like that.”

“What’s wrong with it? He is gay, isn’t he?”

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“Someone might hear you. And get the wrong impression.”

Paul looked around the restaurant. “Who?” he asked. “There’s no one here.”

“Billy says he can probably get us Mrs. Houghton’s apartment. It’s supposed to be spectacular—three floors with wraparound terraces—

and the building is one of the best in the city.”

The sommelier came to the table. “We’ll have the Bordeaux,” Paul said. He handed over the wine menu and continued to Annalisa, “I still don’t get it. Why do you have to go to a funeral to get this apartment?

Isn’t cold hard cash enough?”

“It doesn’t work that way,” Annalisa said, tearing off a small piece of bread. “Apparently, it’s all about who you know. That’s why I’m going.

To meet some of the other residents. Eventually, you’ll have to meet them, too. And when you do, please don’t call anyone a fruit.”

“How much does he charge?” Paul asked.

“Who?”

“This Billy Litchfield character.”

“I don’t know.”

“You hired him and didn’t ask how much he cost?”

“He’s not an object, Paul. He’s a person. I didn’t want to be rude.”

“He’s the help,” Paul said.

“You’re the one with the money. You talk to him,” Annalisa said.

“The help is your area,” Paul said.

“Do we have areas now?”

“We will. When we have children.”

“Don’t tease, Paul.”

“I’m not,” he said. The sommelier returned to the table and made a great show of opening the wine and pouring it into Paul’s glass. Paul tasted it and approved. “By the way, I’ve been thinking about it. Now would be a good time to get started.”

Annalisa took a sip of her wine. “Wow,” she said. “I’m not sure I’m ready.”

“I thought you wanted to have children.”

“I do. I just wasn’t thinking about having one so soon.”

“Why not?” Paul said. “We’ve got plenty of money. And you’re not working.”

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“I might go back to work.”

“None of the other wives work,” Paul said. “It’s inconvenient.”

“Says who?” Annalisa asked.

“Sandy Brewer.”

“Sandy Brewer is an ass.” Annalisa took another sip of wine. “It’s not that I don’t want to have a child. But we don’t even have an apartment yet.”

“That won’t be a problem,” Paul said. “You know you’ll get this Mrs.

Houghton’s apartment if you put your mind to it.” He picked up the menu and studied it, absentmindedly patting her hand.

ı

“You’re not going to work today?” James Gooch asked his wife the next morning.

“I told you. I’m going to Mrs. Houghton’s memorial service.”

“I thought you weren’t invited,” James said.

“I wasn’t,” Mindy said. “But when did that ever stop me?”

Upstairs, Philip Oakland knocked on his aunt’s door. Enid greeted him dressed in black slacks and beaded black top. “I saw Sam Gooch yesterday,” she said as they were riding down in the elevator. “He said you had a young lady in your apartment.”

Philip laughed. “What if I did?”

“Who was she?” Enid asked.

“A young lady,” Philip said teasingly. “I was interviewing her.”

“Oh, Philip,” Enid said. “I wish you wouldn’t. You’re getting to an age when you need to be sensible about women.”

The elevator doors opened, and finding Mindy Gooch in the lobby, Enid put aside her concerns about Philip’s love life. Mindy was also dressed in black, causing Enid to suspect that Mindy was going to try to crash Mrs. Houghton’s memorial service. Enid decided to let this pass unnoticed as well. “Hello, Mindy dear,” she said. “Sad day, isn’t it?”

“If you want to look at it that way,” Mindy said.

“Any outside interest in the apartment?” Enid asked casually.

“Not yet. But I’m sure there will be soon,” Mindy replied.

“Don’t forget about our interest,” Enid said pleasantly.

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“How can I?” Mindy said. She strode out of the building ahead of Enid and Philip, fuming.

The memorial service was at St. Ambrose Church on Broadway and Eleventh Street. There was a snarl of traffic in front of the entrance; a cacophony of honking horns was followed by the wail of a siren as a police car tried to disperse the traffic.

Mindy put her hands over her ears. “Shut up!” she screamed. After this outburst, she felt a little better. She joined the crowd in front of the church, slowly shuffling their way in. She passed a line of police barricades, behind which stood the usual pack of paparazzi. When she reached the steps, she was stopped by a massive security guard. “Invitation?” he asked.

“I left it at home,” Mindy said.

“Step to the side, please,” the guard said.

“Mrs. Houghton was a very good friend. We lived in the same building,” Mindy said.

The security guard waved more people through, and Mindy took the opportunity to try to sneak in with the group ahead of her. The guard spotted her and stepped in front of her. “Move to the side, ma’am.”

Chastised, Mindy moved a little to her right, where she had the pleasure of seeing Enid and Philip Oakland about to pass her by. At the last second, Enid spotted Mindy and, wiggling through the crowd, touched Mindy on the arm. “By the way, dear, I meant to tell you. Sam was such a help yesterday with my computer. Thank God for young people. We old people couldn’t survive in this technological world without them.”

Before Mindy could respond, Enid moved on, and Mindy’s irritation nearly reached the boiling point. Not only had Enid insulted her by implying that she and Mindy were in the same age category (“old,” Enid had said), but she had cruelly and deliberately left Mindy outside. Enid could have easily brought Mindy into the church, as no one said no to Enid Merle. Enid was what little girls called a fair-weather friend, Mindy thought, and planned to return the favor someday.

Strolling up Eleventh Street, Billy Litchfield spotted Mindy Gooch loitering on the edge of the crowd. Providence, he thought happily. This could be nothing less than a sign from Mrs. Houghton herself that Annalisa Rice was meant to get the apartment. Billy had been hoping to in-O N E F I F T H AV E N U E

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troduce Annalisa to Enid Merle and, through Enid, to make her introduction into One Fifth. But Mindy Gooch, the head of the board, was a much bigger—though less glamorous—fish. Approaching her, Billy couldn’t help thinking, Poor Mindy. She’d been relatively pretty once, but over the years, her features had sharpened and her cheeks had sunk, as if literally eaten away by bitterness. Arranging his face into an appropriately mournful demeanor, he took her hands and kissed her on both cheeks. “Hello, Mindy dear,” he said.

“Billy.”

“Are you going in?” Billy asked.

Mindy looked away. “I thought I might pay my respects.”

“Ah.” Billy nodded, immediately guessing at the truth. There was, he knew, no possibility that Mrs. Houghton would have invited Mindy to her memorial service; although Mindy was the head of the board, Mrs.

Houghton had never mentioned her and most likely had not known, or cared to know, of Mindy’s existence. But Mindy, who was always full of misplaced and determined pride, would have found it necessary to attend in order to cement her status. “I’m waiting for a friend,” he said. “Perhaps you’d like to go in with us.”

“Sure,” Mindy said. Say what you would about Billy Litchfield, she thought, at least he was always a gentleman.

Billy took Mindy’s arm. “Were you very close to Mrs. Houghton?”

Mindy stared at him unflinchingly. “Not really,” she said. “I mostly saw her in the lobby. But you were close, weren’t you?”

“Very,” Billy said. “I visited her at least twice a month.”

“You must miss her,” Mindy said.

“I do.” Billy sighed. “She was an amazing woman, but we all know that.”

He paused, gauging Mindy’s mood, and went in for the kill. “And that apartment,” he said. “I wonder what will happen to it.”

His gamble paid off. Mindy was much more interested in talking about Mrs. Houghton’s apartment than about Mrs. Houghton herself.

“Now, that’s a good question,” she said. Leaning forward intently, she whispered loudly, “There are some people in the building who want to split it up.”

Billy took a step back in shock. “That would be a travesty,” he said. “You can’t split up an apartment like that. It’s a landmark, really.”

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“That’s what I think,” Mindy said emphatically, pleased to discover that she and Billy were of one mind in the matter.

Billy lowered his voice. “I may be able to help you. I know someone who would be perfect for the apartment.”

“Really?” Mindy said.

Billy nodded. “A lovely young woman from Washington, D.C. I would only say this to you, my dear, because you’ll understand exactly what I mean. But she’s definitely one of us.”

Mindy was flattered but did her best not to show it. “Can she afford a twenty-million-dollar apartment?”

“Naturally, she comes with a husband. He’s in finance. My dear,” Billy said quickly, “we both know One Fifth has a great tradition of being home to creative types. But we also know what’s happened to the real estate market. No one in the arts can afford an apartment like that anymore.

Unless, as you said, you agree to split it up.”

“I’ll never let that happen,” Mindy said, folding her arms.

“Good girl,” Billy said approvingly. “In any case, you can meet my friend.” Looking over Mindy’s shoulder, he saw Annalisa getting out of a cab. “Here she comes now.”

Mindy turned around. A tall young woman with auburn hair pulled back into a messy ponytail was approaching. She had a serious yet interesting face, the kind of face that other women appreciate as beautiful, possibly because it was the kind of beauty that appeared to be attached to a personality.

“This is Mindy Gooch,” Billy said to Annalisa. “Mindy lives in One Fifth. She was also a friend of Mrs. Houghton’s.”