How's that for a compromise? She looked totally victorious, thrilled that there had been a rational solution, but he was shaking his head and taking a last sip of coffee before he bolted.
That won't work, Allie, sorry. I need more than a day with them. I can't do that.
Why? She knew she was starting to whine, and she reminded herself to stop it.
Because they need more time, and frankly because I need some time to talk to Joanie about the condo at Squaw. She thinks she wants to sell it.
That's ridiculous, Allegra said, losing it finally. You can do that on the phone. For chrissake, Brandon, you've done nothing but talk to her about the condo or the house or the carpet or the car or the dog for the last two goddamn years. This award ceremony is important to us. She was including her family, and he was noticeably unmoved. To him, this was about his family, which consisted of his ex-wife and two daughters. I'm not giving you up to Joanie, she said bluntly.
You're not. He smiled as he stood up, unwilling to be swayed by her, and perfectly willing to show it. But how about to Stephanie and Nicky?
They'd understand if you explained it to them.
I doubt it. And anyway, that's not an option. He stood looking at her, and she stared at him, unable to believe that he was going to let her down and go to San Francisco.
When are you coming back? she asked, aching inside, and wishing she weren't. She was feeling abandoned again, and something in her gut was terrified, and she knew she shouldn't give in to it. He was going to San Francisco to see his kids, and if he was disappointing her it wasn't intentional. It just happened. And yet, why did she feel so terrible about his decision?
She couldn't quite seem to grasp the answer, or even decide if she should be really furious, or just sad that he wasn't going to the Golden Globes with her. Was it really such a big deal? Did she have a right to make those demands on him? And why, when it came to her needs, were his reactions always so confusing? Was it, as Dr. Green said, because she didn't want to admit to herself what he was doing? Was he rejecting her, or just doing what he had to? And why could she never bring herself to answer those questions?
I'm coming back when I always do, on the last plane on Sunday night. I'll be back at ten-fifteen. I could be here by eleven, he said to pacify her, and then she realized with an ache in her heart that she wouldn't be there.
I just remembered, I'm leaving for New York Sunday afternoon. I'll be there all next week, till Friday.
Then you couldn't have come to San Francisco anyway, he said matter-of-factly.
I could leave from there, if you want. If we fly up on Sunday.
That's ridiculous, he said, dismissing her plan as he picked up his briefcase. You have your work to do, Allie, I have mine, and sometimes we just have to be grown-ups about it. He smiled at her almost wistfully as they each realized they wouldn't see one another again for ten days, until the following weekend.
Do you want to come by tonight and stay here, since I won't see you for such a long time? She really wanted him to do that, but as usual, he stuck to his original plan. It was rare for Brandon to make changes.
I really can't. By the time we're through, I'll be too beat to see straight. I wouldn't be much fun for you, and there's no point in just coming here to sack out, is there? But that was where they differed.
Sure there is. You don't have to entertain me, she said as she stood on tiptoe, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
I'll see you next week, kiddo, he said coolly, after he kissed her. I'll call you tonight, and tomorrow I'll give you a call before I leave for San Francisco.
Do you want to have dinner at Mom's on Friday before you go? she asked, hating herself for begging. It was exactly what she knew she shouldn't do, except she just couldn't stop herself. She wanted to be with him.
I'd probably miss my plane like I did last time, and then the
That won't work, Allie, sorry. I need more than a day with them. I can't do that.
Why? She knew she was starting to whine, and she reminded herself to stop it.
Because they need more time, and frankly because I need some time to talk to Joanie about the condo at Squaw. She thinks she wants to sell it.
That's ridiculous, Allegra said, losing it finally. You can do that on the phone. For chrissake, Brandon, you've done nothing but talk to her about the condo or the house or the carpet or the car or the dog for the last two goddamn years. This award ceremony is important to us. She was including her family, and he was noticeably unmoved. To him, this was about his family, which consisted of his ex-wife and two daughters. I'm not giving you up to Joanie, she said bluntly.
You're not. He smiled as he stood up, unwilling to be swayed by her, and perfectly willing to show it. But how about to Stephanie and Nicky?
They'd understand if you explained it to them.
I doubt it. And anyway, that's not an option. He stood looking at her, and she stared at him, unable to believe that he was going to let her down and go to San Francisco.
When are you coming back? she asked, aching inside, and wishing she weren't. She was feeling abandoned again, and something in her gut was terrified, and she knew she shouldn't give in to it. He was going to San Francisco to see his kids, and if he was disappointing her it wasn't intentional. It just happened. And yet, why did she feel so terrible about his decision?
She couldn't quite seem to grasp the answer, or even decide if she should be really furious, or just sad that he wasn't going to the Golden Globes with her. Was it really such a big deal? Did she have a right to make those demands on him? And why, when it came to her needs, were his reactions always so confusing? Was it, as Dr. Green said, because she didn't want to admit to herself what he was doing? Was he rejecting her, or just doing what he had to? And why could she never bring herself to answer those questions?
I'm coming back when I always do, on the last plane on Sunday night. I'll be back at ten-fifteen. I could be here by eleven, he said to pacify her, and then she realized with an ache in her heart that she wouldn't be there.
I just remembered, I'm leaving for New York Sunday afternoon. I'll be there all next week, till Friday.
Then you couldn't have come to San Francisco anyway, he said matter-of-factly.
I could leave from there, if you want. If we fly up on Sunday.
That's ridiculous, he said, dismissing her plan as he picked up his briefcase. You have your work to do, Allie, I have mine, and sometimes we just have to be grown-ups about it. He smiled at her almost wistfully as they each realized they wouldn't see one another again for ten days, until the following weekend.
Do you want to come by tonight and stay here, since I won't see you for such a long time? She really wanted him to do that, but as usual, he stuck to his original plan. It was rare for Brandon to make changes.
I really can't. By the time we're through, I'll be too beat to see straight. I wouldn't be much fun for you, and there's no point in just coming here to sack out, is there? But that was where they differed.
Sure there is. You don't have to entertain me, she said as she stood on tiptoe, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
I'll see you next week, kiddo, he said coolly, after he kissed her. I'll call you tonight, and tomorrow I'll give you a call before I leave for San Francisco.
Do you want to have dinner at Mom's on Friday before you go? she asked, hating herself for begging. It was exactly what she knew she shouldn't do, except she just couldn't stop herself. She wanted to be with him.
I'd probably miss my plane like I did last time, and then the
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