Leaving New York

Chapter 33

The following day, I got up to the strangest feeling--something was seriously amiss. I put on my gym clothes to work out but dropped by the kitchen, Gar was staring out the window.

"Hey."

"Hey, Jack."

"You sleep okay?"

"I took Lion to a rehab place with Barry."

"Oh, man."

"I found him in his bathroom passed out with an empty syringe of heroin. I called Barry, and we took him instead of the paramedics."

"I'm so sorry."

"Heroin."

"Wow, I didn't know."

"He's been very crafty about keeping it hidden. You going to work out?"

"I was. Is there anything I can do?"

"No, Barry's going to handle it. Of us three brothers, he's somehow the most responsible one."

"I think you're super responsible."

"That's a lie, and you know it. I do have an interview today—with the guy I had breakfast with."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He invited his partner—they're both into venture capital. It's a research position. I'd have to manage a few people. We'll see."

"You like the research part, right?"

"Yeah."

"Can I help?"

"No, Chloe's ironing a shirt, pressing my good suit."

"What time is the interview?"

"Three-thirty. Can you drive me? It's at La Defense. We should leave by two, right?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks, Jack—it would be a help. I got to go lie down; I couldn't sleep all night."

"Right-o."

It was a warm winter day, so after I worked out, I did a quick wash job on the car, squeezed into my only dress pants, and prayed for my host and dear friend, and his brother. Chloe dropped by my room. "Boy, you look nice."

"Thanks."

"He is so nervous—but I think it's something he'd like."

I said, "I'll give him a pep talk."

"You're a dear. Deidre's coming to get me—I finished three more paintings—little ones. We're going to hang them, then putz around, so my brain stays occupied during Gar's meeting."

"It could be a good day all around, right?"

"You're so sweet."

On the way to La Defense, the ugly clump of skyscrapers on Paris's north side, Gar and I chit-chatted about the job, then he said, "You know Phillipe's doing the roof because Chloe sold some of her mother's jewelry. She's stubborn and silly sometimes, but she's got balls of brass when things get rough."

"Wow."

"I may be here a while. I'll just take a cab home."

"Sure?"

"Yeah. Phillipe asked if you could help him again. Are you still okay with that? We'll manage your chores and stuff while you're doing it. He wants to start in the morning."

"Okay."

We pulled up to a sleek forty-story glass building called "Tour Total."

"Good luck, Gardner—remember how awesome you are."

"You're awesome too, Jack."

I got home, finding Ari in the kitchen after he'd gotten off.

"How's it going?"

"Okay—just a lot going on. Work, then homework with the boys, dinner, more homework. Chloe is so wonderful to help. I wish I had someone to help me—Afri was so good with them."

"She was your wife?"

"Yes. I must go help Meerab; he has an English test tomorrow." Everyone was busy, everyone. Somehow, it didn't seem like a bad thing.