Bird in Hand Read Online Free PDF Page B

on the cheek. “Lovely to see you, too,” he said. “I’ve been trying to get over here since you walked in.”
    “I saw you with Martha Belle. She always scared me a little when we were kids. She’s so—energetic.”
    Ben nodded. “She’s the manic to Lucinda’s depressive. Have you heard about those dioramas?”
    “Oh, yes. In fact, I’ve seen one or two. They’re quite impressive.”
    “I’m sure they are.” Though Ben and Alison had little in common, and he couldn’t remember a time he’d ever been with her alone, having a shared knowledge of Claire’s world gave their exchanges an easy familiarity. “You look wonderful,” he said.
    “Do you think so? I feel a little—dowdy,” she said. “It’s hard to keep up with you city slickers. And I’m sure I have kid goo on my pants somewhere.”
    “So that’s what that is,” he said. “Everyone was talking.”
    She gave him a smile. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
    “Where have you been lately? I haven’t seen you in months.”
    “I know,” she said.
    “Anything new?”
    “I’ve been doing some freelance work. Not much, to be honest. I know it sounds ridiculous, but with the kids and everything—”
    “It doesn’t sound ridiculous,” he said. “It sounds nice, actually.”
    “It is. It is nice.” She tilted her glass to take a sip, but it was empty.
    “You need another drink,” he said. He took the glass out of her hand and set it on the table.
    The bartender handed her another martini. “Thanks,” she said. She took a sip and turned back to Ben. “It’s so funny that Lucinda’s kitschy cocktail has spawned all this.”
    “The next big fad sweeping the nation,” Ben said in a radio announcer’s voice. “Bluuue martinis.”
    “I doubt Claire would mind.”
    “I wouldn’t either,” he said. “We have big plans, you know. We want to open a Blue Martini theme park, for adults.”
    “No roller coasters, I hope.”
    “Oh, definitely roller coasters. Cocktails and roller coasters. How great would that be?”
    She laughed.
    “So did you come alone?” he asked. “Where’s the ball and chain?”
    “He had to stay home,” Alison said. “A minor domestic crisis.”
    “Nothing dire, I hope.”
    “No, just … ” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. He wanted to come.”
    No point in belaboring it, Ben thought. “Well, tell him he was missed.”
    “I will,” she said. “Who are these people?”
    “Let’s see,” he said, looking around. “Editorial assistants, publicists, media types, relatives. All here for the free drinks.”
    “Do you know everybody?”
    “Just the relatives.”
    “I used to love these parties,” she said. “I guess I’m out of practice.”
    “It’s all publicity, anyway. We’re just stage props for the marketing team.”
    “No, we’re here to celebrate Claire’s achievement.”
    “It’s only an achievement if it translates into sales,” he said.
    “That’s a little cynical, isn’t it?”
    “Is it? You know the business better than I do.”
    “All right,” she said. “So—I assume you’ve read it?”
    “Of course. Have you?”
    She shook her head.
    “It’s pretty good. There is this annoying character named Jill, but other than that … ” He grinned. “Look, it’s a novel and all. But you don’t come off too badly. In case you’re wondering.”
    Was it his imagination, or was Alison blushing? She took a sip of her drink and cocked her head to the side, as if she were trying to decide what to say. “Ben, can I ask you something? Do you … ” She stopped. Her cheeks were flushed. “Do you know about this—this thing Claire and I had a few months ago? It wasn’t a big deal—or at least I didn’t think it was. But we haven’t really spoken since.”
    He nodded. “I heard something.”
    “I guess I really hurt her feelings. I must have.”
    “Don’t assume that. Frankly, I wouldn’t take it personally. She’s been crazed with this book