Shortly after Carlton’s news drops, Emma is packing a mass of shopping bags into the trunk of her car. Not only does Doris have her running all over the North Bay looking for exact shades of pink, but she’s also having a crisis of confidence about using paper products at the bridal shower. Would Emma mind looking for linens, as well? Tablecloths of various lengths. A few dozen napkins. “The ‘no iron’ variety, of course,” she’d added. Unless Emma thought she might have time to press them?
It reminds Emma of an old joke. A mother buys her son two shirts. The next morning, he comes down to breakfast wearing one of them. She says, “What? You don’t like the other one?”
It’s eighty-six degrees in Napa today and the heat radiates off her dashboard in waves as she climbs inside. She starts the engine, blasting the air-conditioning. The KQED meteorologist comes on to announce this will be the coolest day of the week. Emma’s armpits weep in response.
“In state political news, California entrepreneur and founder of TaxAware, Carlton Willis announced his bid for the US Senate today...”
“WHAT?” Emma screams at the reporter as if expecting a response. “No! No! No!”
With her windows rolled up tight, it appears to the man pulling in alongside her that she may need to be medicated.