Enemy Mine

Chapter 34

Mr. Pearlman's condition was reported stable after his surgery, according to Rebecca, the pretty blonde nurse who called Vincent personally to relay the message and ask if a wedding date had been set. This conversation happened amid others, starting about six in the morning, as Vincent prepared for a friendly breakfast with a group of Wall Street cronies. Apparently, it had become a Thanksgiving tradition and often continued through lunch.

Grateful not to have the pressure of a ten hour dinner prep, I grabbed breakfast next door with Amelia and family. The three of them had plans to join the hardcore holiday junkies and hit midtown. I mentioned my parents doing the same thing at Fulton, and not long afterward, I got a call from Mom asking if I could meet her and Dad for brunch and shopping.

I agreed to the shopping, since I had already indulged in one of Amelia's decadent breakfasts, but when I hung up, I realized I needed a gollum escort, and gollums had become scarce. Besides losing my neighbors to the crowds, Vincent had his Wall Street shindig, Rizzo disappeared to entertain the subway travelers in Queens, Wren rarely left the compound, so the trip would probably be stressful for her, and I knew Charleton and Lucy wouldn't want to schlep around a mall.

Of course, I had Sylvie, but she wasn't a gollum. She also hadn't been answering my calls, which meant she probably didn't take the news about Deidra very well. Only one viable option remained, and that was Colin, but Colin had seen me naked last night and it took a while for the smoke to clear from Vincent's nostrils. Still, we were family now, and those things happened sometimes. I dialed Colin.

"What can I do you for, Reese?" Colin's voice sounded relaxed, like I might have caught him napping.

"Sorry, if I called at a bad time. Are you with Sylvie?"

"No, I'm home... and it's never a bad time when you call."

Yikes.

"My parents want to meet me at Fulton's for shopping. Will you be my escort?"

"Shopping with parents on Thanksgiving? I haven't done that in like... ever. What should I wear?"

"They're completely harmless."

"Have you run this by Vincent?"

"Plans were made after he left for his Wall Street breakfast. I'll send him a text when I get your okay."

"Okay. What time?"

"I'm ready when you are."

"Then we're both ready. See you in a few."

"By the way, knock before you enter."

Colin chuckled. "Vincent made that point very clear last night. I'll do my best to break the habit of walking in on naked females."

"Thank you."

I hung up with Colin and immediately texted Vincent about my meet-up with the parents and who my escort would be. I didn't expect him to get the message. He told me this group enforced a no-phone policy until noon. I dressed in my casual city chic, with a khaki blazer and infinity scarf. I also brought along my camera. Not for Trinity Church but for Saint Paul's Chapel, which was too close not to visit. Foot traffic moved along with purpose, making walking and talking doable, so I took the opportunity to probe Colin for information about my best friend.

"I haven't heard from Sylvie today," I said. "We were supposed to hang out, but I figured that would depend on what happened last night. Vincent said you went over there."

"I did, and she yelled at me for waking her up. Then she forgave me after we had sex. Then I told her about Deidra."

I ignored his sex comment and went straight for the facts. "What did she say about Deidra?"