CHAPTER 48

AS SOON AS THE MARKET CLOSED, BRIAN RAN HOME TO SHOWER AND CHANGE FOR THE GAME. After the long week full of work dramas and Annie’s ridiculous excuses for not going out, he was delighted to have someone to take to the game—and a really stunning woman at that. Never mind that she was old. He could overlook the fact that, like Annie, Carol was probably as old as he was. It didn’t matter, he told himself (his dating mantra); it just didn’t matter. On a Friday night, it was humiliating going out with Bill and Carl. Those old guys with their paunches and thinning hair prowled the bars and went to singles parties arranged by desperate women for the over-fifty set. Sometimes they even went on the baseball Web sites to get blind dates for the games. They did everything they could to meet women. They carried Viagra with them and slept with anybody once, then bemoaned their fate of never finding the right girl and kept on trolling. The whole scenario was depressing. Just being with them made Brian feel like a loser. And since he knew he looked just like Brad Pitt, he couldn’t be a loser, right?

There was another reason he was so delighted Carol was going out with him. He could tell she liked him, and he hoped this would prove to be an advantage in both keeping her account and getting a good settlement out of her. If she liked him enough, she might accept half. Yeah, he was looking to settle at half. He didn’t plan to come on to her. She was a client, and that would be a big no-no. He wouldn’t do it anyway. All he wanted was company at the game and a leg up on the settlement. So he dressed accordingly.

He called a car service and picked Carol up at her apartment at five forty-five. The doorman in green livery looked him over and told him to go up.

“Twelve C, elevator on the left, sir.”

“Thanks.” Brian glanced at his watch, hoping this wouldn’t take too long. He didn’t like to be late.

“Hi, you’re early.” Carol opened the door for him and led him into the living room.

He didn’t think he was early. He thought he was right on time. Then he sucked in his breath, dazzled by the splendor of the place. “Wow!”

He hadn’t expected an oversized living room with a large stone fireplace at each end and the most amazing modern furniture he’d ever seen scattered about. “This is something!”

“Oh well, we bought it cheap, before the real estate boom,” Carol said modestly.

“It’s beautiful. Did you do it yourself?”

“Yes, of course. We knocked down the wall between the living room and dining room for drama. But I decorated with Matthew’s taste in mind. I don’t really like modern. Too cold,” she said disparagingly.

“Oh I agree. Absolutely,” Brian threw in quickly. “But you did a magnificent job.”

She tossed her head to show her contempt for it. “Now that Matthew’s out of the picture, I’m going to do it over.”

“I’m sure that will be spectacular, too.” Brian’s eyes boggled at the view of Central Park. He wasn’t exactly a hick, but this was fantastic.

“Well, thank you.” She smiled at all the compliments.

Then he noticed her and was blown away. Carol Mack had dressed for a club date. She was wearing a butterscotch-colored leather jacket with a white halter top, tight white pants, and white go-go boots. “Is it all right?” she asked anxiously about her outfit.

“Wow,” he said again. With her silky dark hair, deep red lipstick, and flawless complexion, she looked like a movie star. She really did. He liked the turquoise jewelry and matching watch. “You look amazing.”

“Is it all right?”

He nodded, still a little stunned. He was wearing a long-sleeved practice jersey, jeans, and black-and-white two-tone retro Adidas.

“Are you sure?” She seemed a little puzzled by the shirt and sneakers.

“Absolutely. You look very stylish. You definitely outshine me.” Somehow he doubted that she’d ever been to a game of any kind.

“Well, thanks. Would you care for a drink, or shall we go?” she asked.

“I like to be there for the opening pitch. Do you mind?” In fact, he liked to be there for batting practice, but it was too late for that.

“Not at all,” she said gamely. “I could bring a pitcher of cocktails for the ride.”

He raised his eyebrows, triply impressed by this extraordinary woman. “That would be terrific.”

They decided on a fashionable exotic drink and built it together from her well-stocked bar. Ten minutes later they were in the car sipping apple martinis from a leather travel martini set.

“This is very cool,” Brian said of the drink transport. The leather case had compartments for small bottles of liquor and mixers, and of course oversized martini glasses. He was particularly impressed by the way the ice cubes were separated from the vodka in the shaker, so they could keep the cocktail cold without diluting it. The whole thing was for serious drinkers, and very clever. It seemed as though they had martinis in common. He sneaked a glance at Carol. She’d even thought of bringing along extra green apple slices and bright red cherries for color. She was a woman who thought of everything—very detail-oriented.

“I thought so, too. It was in our summer necessities collection two years ago.” She laughed, and it was a very pleasant sound. “Of course, I had to have one. We had a cute picnic basket that year as well,” she reflected. “I got them both, but I’ve never had a chance to use them.” Her expression clouded over.

“Why not? This is great.”

“Oh God.” She rolled her eyes. “Matthew and I never went anywhere. Isn’t this fun?”

It was indeed. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves on the trip north through Central Park and all the way up First Avenue. By the time they hit the bridge traffic that fed into the Bronx and points north, Brian was telling the story of his life and pouring seconds. It was an altogether unique experience for him. For one thing, no one he knew took limos to ball games; they took the subway. He’d guessed that the subway would not be a good move with Carol. For another thing, if they did use limos, they certainly didn’t drink martinis in them. It took just under an hour to get to Yankee Stadium. Brian was a little plastered by the time they made their way to the right gate, handed over the tickets, and were examined for contraband, then released to their seats. Everyone looked at Carol, and Brian imagined they all thought she was a movie star.

“Wow, we’re close,” she said, looking back at the stadium that rose up in tiers behind her.

“Yes,” Brian said proudly. They were in a box right behind home plate with a dugout visible on either side.

“We’re right on the field! We can see everything,” Carol said wonderingly. “This is so great. Which side are we for?”

Brian guffawed. She was a funny girl. “The guys with the stripes on their pants.”

“Oh yeah. Blue hats. I knew that.”

“Right, the guys with the blue hats. We call them Yankees.”

“Go Yankees,” Carol screamed into the dugout.

Everybody all around them turned to look at her again, and Brian grinned like a fool. He hadn’t been this smitten since Tuesday, and that was a lifetime ago. Bill and Carl hadn’t shown up, and he didn’t know a single soul in the box. Every seat had been given away. It was an unusual thing. They were alone among strangers, and right on time.

“All rise for the national anthem,” said the announcer.

They rose, everybody sang off key, and they all sat down. Da da da dum da dum. Out went the first pitch, and the game was on. After three players went up to bat—the first one struck out, the next two walked—Carol started commenting on their physiques and their proficiency at the game.

“That one has a great ass,” Carol said, pointing at Derek Jeter. “Not a very good batter, though.”

Brian laughed. “Are you hungry?”

“Starved. What do we get, hot dogs?”

“No, no. This is first-class all the way. You can have a lot of things. How about a sandwich?”

“Beer?”

“Of course, lots of beer.” He was delighted. She liked beer.

“They could have better costumes, though. That gray color on the Yankees isn’t very inspiring. Why are they so fat?”

“They’re not fat, and I think it’s white,” Brian protested.

Crack.

“Look at that! He hit the ball,” she yelped.

“We call that a home run.”

“Go Yankees,” she cried. “This is so fun.” Then she struck a serious note. “These fans won’t riot and stampede the field if they lose, will they?”

Brian cracked up. She was the funniest person he’d ever met. “That’s soccer. They don’t have that kind of trouble here.” Then he looked around for a waiter to order food, and saw something so small-world he couldn’t believe it. Matthew Mack was also in a field box, but he was three rows behind them, sitting with a bunch of guys who hadn’t changed out of their business suits. Unlike everyone else, who looked at Carol for a moment, then moved on to checking for other celebrities, Matthew was boring a hole in them with his eyes. Brian turned quickly around.

“Husband alert,” he said without thinking.

“What?”

“Your husband is here.”

“Nooo, you’re mistaken. Matthew doesn’t go to ball games.” Carol laughed. “Must be someone else.”

“Behind you, ten o’clock.”

Carol turned around and saw him right away. “Oh my God, you’re right. Unbelievable. Oh my God! What’s he doing here?”

She turned back to Brian. “Doesn’t he look terrible?”

“I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, I’m glad you did. He looks awful. Did you see his suit? Looks like he slept in it.”

“Are you going to get back together?” Brian was overwhelmed by that thought. If they got back together, he wouldn’t be able to go out with her again. He needed a drink quickly, and looked around frantically for a waiter.

Carol caught him with a dazzling smile that almost knocked him from his chair. “Why would I do that?”

“Uh, lots of people make up,” Brian said. “Long marriages and all that. And frankly being single is no picnic. I mean, except for now. You know what I mean.”

“Yes, I do. I’m having a ball. And, I won’t make up with Matthew. I couldn’t. I’m very nice and easygoing until I figure things out. Then if someone’s hurt me, he’d better get out of the way.” She turned to glare at ten o’clock, but only for a second. Then she was back, smiling at him again.

Brian was thinking that Matthew Mack was a jerk. Nothing new there.

“He never took me to a baseball game,” she said slowly.

“I’ll bet there are a lot of things he didn’t do, but maybe I shouldn’t say that.” Brian smiled.

Carol smiled back. “Oh look. Peanuts in the shell. I’d love some peanuts.”

“I’ll get you some.” He searched for that elusive waiter, then forgot his task and turned back to Carol. She really didn’t seem upset that her husband was sitting right behind her. She didn’t really seem to be thinking about him at all. What a woman! “I was wondering,” he said slowly. “If you’re not too busy, maybe we could do something tomorrow.”