“You hired him and didn’t ask how much he cost?”
“He’s not an object, Paul. He’s a person. I didn’t want to be rude.”
“He’s the help,” Paul said.
“You’re the one with the money. You talk to him,” Annalisa said.
“The help is your area,” Paul said.
“Do we have areas now?”
“We will. When we have children.”
“Don’t tease, Paul.”
“I’m not,” he said. The sommelier returned to the table and made a great show of opening the wine and pouring it into Paul’s glass. Paul tasted it and approved. “By the way, I’ve been thinking about it. Now would be a good time to get started.”
Annalisa took a sip of her wine. “Wow,” she said. “I’m not sure I’m ready.”
“I thought you wanted to have children.”
“I do. I just wasn’t thinking about having one so soon.”
“Why not?” Paul said. “We’ve got plenty of money. And you’re not working.”
“I might go back to work.”
“None of the other wives work,” Paul said. “It’s inconvenient.”
“Says who?” Annalisa asked.
“Sandy Brewer.”
“Sandy Brewer is an ass.” Annalisa took another sip of wine. “It’s not that I don’t want to have a child. But we don’t even have an apartment yet.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Paul said. “You know you’ll get this Mrs. Houghton’s apartment if you put your mind to it.” He picked up the menu and studied it, absentmindedly patting her hand.
“You’re not going to work today?” James Gooch asked his wife the next morning.
“I told you. I’m going to Mrs. Houghton’s memorial service.”
“I thought you weren’t invited,” James said.
“I wasn’t,” Mindy said. “But when did that ever stop me?”
Upstairs, Philip Oakland knocked on his aunt’s door. Enid greeted him dressed in black slacks and beaded black top. “I saw Sam Gooch yesterday,” she said as they were riding down in the elevator. “He said you had a young lady in your apartment.”
Philip laughed. “What if I did?”
“Who was she?” Enid asked.
“A young lady,” Philip said teasingly. “I was interviewing her.”
“Oh, Philip,” Enid said. “I wish you wouldn’t. You’re getting to an age when you need to be sensible about women.”
The elevator doors opened, and finding Mindy Gooch in the lobby, Enid put aside her concerns about Philip’s love life. Mindy was also dressed in black, causing Enid to suspect that Mindy was going to try to crash Mrs. Houghton’s memorial service. Enid decided to let this pass unnoticed as well. “Hello, Mindy dear,” she said. “Sad day, isn’t it?”
“If you want to look at it that way,” Mindy said.