We checked out of the Lux the next morning, and walked up Park Avenue to Karen’s apartment. Karen was stopped by something terribly frightening staring us directly in the face. Somehow, we had made it to the front cover of every tabloid.
The Starlight had a picture of us at Tiffany’s with the headline: MCBRIDE’S LOSS IS KAREN’S GAIN. DAVID AND KAREN’S $100,000 EXPRESSION OF LOVE.
The Snoop actually had a picture of the ring on Karen’s finger with DAVID PONIES UP $100,000 TO WIN KAREN’S HEART.
Star Fer magazine had us hugging on the cover with the headline: TV’s SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT GETS REAL.
“Why the fuck is Sandy McBride’s name in the same headline with mine?” Karen was pissed.
“Karen, it’s the tabloids. They make shit up,” Karen believed this line once, so I went with it again. “I’m more concerned about how they got pictures of your ring. We bought it yesterday!”
Apparently, Karen again accepted my bullshit answer about the tabloids and moved on, “Who knows? The paparazzi must be everywhere. This is New York. People are constantly taking pictures. On top of it, everyone has a camera on their cell phone. We’ll never spot these creeps. It was just a matter of time before they got to us and we wound up on the cover of this trash,” Karen explained.
“But we were on one, morning TV show,” I pleaded.
“Well, I guess one is enough. Anyway, at least it’s not bad.”
“Yet . . . ” I said, as I felt my stomach drop.
We spent the next couple of days unwinding at Karen’s apartment. Well, I spent the next few days unwinding. Karen had to go to work. I did have some unpleasant things to take care of back in the real world, and one of those was the Sandy situation. I still hadn’t figured out how to handle that one yet.
I eventually made my way over to Sneaker Heaven to officially quit, though I’m sure they had figured it out.
“Hi, guys,” I waved, as I strolled onto the sales floor of Sneaker Heaven for the last time as manager.
“Well, nice of you to join us,” Kim said.
“Um, I’ve been a little busy lately,” I said.
“No shit! I wasn’t sure if you were ever coming back. The store just doesn’t run itself,” Peaches said.
Touche, Peaches, touche.
“Well, I’m here now,” I said.
“Yeah, I can see that. Taking time out of your busy TV schedule - yeah, we saw you on TV, David. How come you didn’t tell us you had a girlfriend?” Peaches asked.
“Never got around to it, I guess.” It was more like, I just wasn’t around.
“Wow! That was some ring you bought Karen,” Kim said. “The picture of it almost blinded me.”
“Quit playin’,” Peaches laughed.
“So what’s been going on here?” I asked.
“Nothing. Everyone has just been coming to work and doing their thing like we always do. If anyone got out of line they had me to answer to.”
“Hey, Peaches, come in back with me for a minute,” I opened the office door, and motioned Peaches to sit down.
“Damn, look at this office,” Peaches was shocked. There were half-eaten, scum-ridden, skanked bowls of cereal all over the place not to mention some broken glass by the G-Circle from one of my last games of football.
“You didn’t come in here when I wasn’t around?” I was stunned.
“No way! Why would I? This is your space,” Peaches said, a little defensive.
“I’m not accusing you. Relax. I can’t believe you didn’t peek in. I would have. Look, Peaches, I want to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“You know I’m leaving this job, right?”
“I sure hope so. Nobody wants to be at Sneaker Heaven unless they have to be.”
“Well, it’s not the worst job in the world, but anyway, look, you’re the best employee they have here. Hell, you were much better than me. I just went to law school, that’s all. That’s why I got the manager job. But I was a terrible manager. I didn’t exactly give it my all while I was here, and that’s wrong. You care about your job, and you’re good at it. That’s why I want you to take over as manager here. I think you would be great at it. I’m going to talk to Corporate about it later today. They’d be crazy not to give the job to you.”
“Manager?” Peaches looked at me dazed.
“Yes, manager. You would do a great job. I mean you’ve certainly been here long enough,” I said.
“Damn right,” Peaches said, as she started to tear up. “That would mean a lot to me, David.”
“I know, Peaches. You deserve it. You’re great at what you do and you’re going to be great at whatever you do in the future,” I said. “You’re a special person.”
Peaches started crying, “Thank you, David. Thank you so much.”
“So, I’ll take that as a yes?” I said.
“Yes!”
I walked over and gave Peaches a hug.
“And one more thing. I want an invitation to your college graduation,” I said.
“Of course, of course,” Peaches hugged me even tighter.