Circles of Confusion (35 page)

"You should be glad you like me better," she said, "since I heard that the actress who played me has just finished her third marriage and her fourth admission to the Betty Ford Clinic." She turned her face toward him for another kiss.

Outside the windows of Dante's Fourth Avenue condo, horns, sirens and car alarms punctuated the ceaseless murmur of New York City. After a half-dozen trips here, Claire had gotten to the point where she almost didn't hear it anymore. Dante, on the other hand, still had difficulty sleeping whenever he visited Portland, finding the silence oppressive. They had talked about one or the other of them moving, but Charlie pulled Claire one way and Dante's job at the Met pulled him the other, so for now they made do with frequent visits. Claire snapped off the light and moved into Dante's arms. She didn't know where things would end up, but she was enjoying the trip.

NJYNLF = Enjoying Life

1DRKNYT = One Dark Night

2RU LUV = True Love

6ULDV8 = Sexual Deviate

AMYSTREE = A Mystery

ANGLBB = Angel Baby

AXNU8D+ = Accentuate the Positive

BBNBRD = Baby on Board

BG BKS = Big Bucks

CC DDAY = Seize the Day

COWPOO = Manure

CUNQRT = See You in Court

DEVORSD = Divorced

EZ4U2SA = Easy for You to Say

FX108 = Affectionate

GETNAKD = Get Naked

H20UUP2 = What Are (water) You Up To?

IMHERE = I'm Here

IRITEI = Right Between the Eyes

KPASAMD = What's Up (que pasa), Doc?Key to License Plate Terms

L8RG8R = Later Gator

MSTBF8 = Must Be Fate

MYTB$$ = Might Be Money

NJYNLF = Enjoying Life

N4CR = Enforcer

OL4LUV = All for Love

OWTAHR = Outta Here

PP DR = Urologist

QS10ALL = Question All

RESQME = Rescue Me

RUD14ME = Are You the One for Me?

STAY2ND = Stay Tuned

SWMR - Swimmer

TI—3VOM = Move It (as seen from a rearview mirror)

TVZTRU = TV Is True

ULIV IS = You Live Once

XQQSME = Excuse Me

YRUFAT = Why Are You Fat?

ZTHSIT? = Is This It?