When she got home from work, Eliza announced that she was going to have to go away for the weekend. Janie didn’t seem to mind at all if her mother went out of town when presented with the option of going into the city to stay with KayKay and Poppie for two nights. She knew that meant a trip to see the monkeys at the Central Park Zoo, a movie and, maybe, if she was good, a visit to FAO Schwarz for the toy of her choice.
“How do you feel about driving Janie into New York after school on Friday afternoon?” Eliza asked Mrs. Garcia. “Janie’s grandparents live right off the Harlem River Drive.”
“Whatever you want me to do is fine, señora. I know how to get into the city. I have relatives who live in Washington Heights and I see signs for Harlem River Drive. It is very easy.”
“Good, then. It’s settled. I’ll leave for work Friday morning and after the broadcast I’ll be flying to Texas. I’ll be back Sunday night. Janie’s grandparents will bring her home then.”
The logistics of balancing her career and child care were relentless. Yet Eliza knew she was one of the lucky ones. Most people didn’t have the means of support, both financial and personal, that she did.
Knowing that Janie would be with Katharine and Paul made it easier for her to go and do her job. She hadn’t even wanted to broach the subject of the housekeeper staying through this, her first weekend with them. It would be too much for Mrs. Garcia and too much for Janie. They were getting along splendidly, but Eliza didn’t want to rock the boat. It would be better if they had the weekend break from one another.
And with the uneasy feeling left by the continuing threats that were coming into the Broadcast Center, Eliza did not want to leave her daughter and the housekeeper alone in the house for the weekend.