Up & Out - Ariella Papa [109]
“I know we’re a little late, but you can’t have already filled our table. Can you?”
“I have ten-fifteen.”
“My cell has ten-ten. And that’s world time.” This makes Dina laugh, which I feel helps my cause. I can see the hostess fighting a smile.
“You’re not all here,” she says. “I count eleven.”
“Actually we are going to be twelve. We have one person on her way.” The hostess sighs. She is really milking this, but I’m no stranger to the New York restaurant scene. I know how to stand firm, with just the right amount of give. I look her in the eye and raise my eyebrows, a classic cajole.
“Why don’t you have a drink at the bar and someone will come get your party shortly.” It’s all such a money-making racket. They’ll squeeze us for drinks at the bar, but I don’t mind. I can compromise. “Would you like to check anything?”
“No, thanks.” It’s summer and none of us has anything to check. I wish Kathy would take off the veil, but perhaps it helps our cause. Bachelorettes spend money. At least they aren’t making us wait until Beth gets here.
At ten-thirty, we are seated. I’m still anxious about Beth not being here, but the drinks are relaxing me a little bit. I have Lauryn on one side of me and Jill on the other side.
I am not the only anxious person. Dina is trying to get everyone to agree on appetizers and she is annoyed with me because of the empty seat.
“She’s quite a handful, isn’t she?” Jill whispers, referring to Dina. “Kathy’s told me all about her.”
“Yeah, I think she thinks it’s her wedding.”
“You’re the one that works in TV, right?” I nod.
“Yeah, I used to work for Explore! Family. I’m currently unemployed.”
“I love the Explore! Network. I loved that show on the science of sex. Oh, and I love that guy who runs around and teaches pets new tricks. You know him?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you think I could get my kid an autograph?”
“Well, I don’t work there anymore and all the adult stuff is produced in L.A.” She looks upset. I can understand that, what’s the point of having a connection in the industry if they can’t help you? “But I’ll see what I can do.”
“I think we should order,” Dina says to me.
“Why don’t you see if Kathy is ready?” Lauryn says. I appreciate help. Kathy looks up at the sound of her name. I can see her trying to focus, unsure if she is reading tension.
“Isn’t Beth coming?” Kathy asks.
“She’ll be here,” I say, not looking at Dina. “She’s just running late.”
“As usual,” Lauryn says. Then she looks across the table to Kathy. “I can’t believe they made her wear that thing on her head.”
We order appetizers and dinner. I get shiso-scented tuna tartar and sautéed black bass. Moments after the server leaves, Beth arrives. She looks way more put together than any of us, including Kathy’s cousins, who probably spent hours getting ready. She looks beautiful, but aloof. She circles the table, kissing the people she knows and being introduced to those she doesn’t. There is a lot of air between her cheek and Lauryn’s when they kiss. When she bends down to me I think I can feel her nervous energy. I can’t bring myself to give her an attitude about being late. Things are weird between all of us; I just handle it differently.
“Are you okay?” I whisper into her hair. She nods at me and smiles a bit vacantly, then she circles back around the table. She sits in the empty seat between Dina and Hope. Dina looks her up and down. Dina had a baby three weeks ago and, according to Kathy, gained eighty pounds. She hasn’t lost any of it and Beth’s thinness seems to make her angrier.
“You’re lucky they let us sit down,” Dina says, narrowing her eyes. I can only imagine what kind of mother she is.
“Well, they did,” Lauryn says loudly. I didn’t even think she was paying attention, but tonight she is jumping to everyone’s defense. I smile at her and she turns back to Jill.
None of the four of us is talking to one another. Even though Lauryn and I are sitting beside each other, we are each involved in other people. Kathy is drunk and talking loudly to everyone and Beth is just sitting straight