The Anglophile (24 page)
Authors: Laurie Gwen Shapiro
“Gary! You're calling me in Englandâ”
“What are you doing there? Finally living out your fantasies?”
“Sort of. Long story.”
“I wanted you to be the very first to know, my parents haven't even heard this. I'm getting married in three months in New Jersey.”
“I'm flattered. You haven't told your parents?”
“I first want to rub some serious shit in your face.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I just got engaged to Sally from the tour. Let me put her onâ”
“Gary! This isn't theâ”
“Shari?” says a pert Midwestern voice. “Isn't this the most amazing thing ever?”
I'm forced into a reply. “Congratulations. Hey, I can say I was there when you met.”
“You sure can. We're thinking of renting out one of the Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Oak Park. We're going with an arts-and-crafts-movement theme.”
“Sally, I'm in England now.”
“You are?”
“Yeah. I'm really worried about my battery running out. So congratulations again, but can you put Gary on for one second again? I'll definitely come to Chicago.”
“Can't wait. Hold on!”
“Hey,” Gary says for the second time.
“Incredible, my friend. I really thought she despised you.”
“You can't beat chemistry.”
Kit looks mighty confused that I'm continuing to talk on a mobile when he has just spilled out his heart-rending life abstract. “Yeah, you can't.”
“So what about you? You still dating that nice Jewish boy?”
“Can I call you back later?”
“Just give me the quick update.”
“Let me give you a call later to fully congratulate you. You caught me at a very awkward moment. Same number?”
“Same number.”
“What was that about?” Kit is readying another home-rolled cigarette.
“Nonik!”
I cry out. “No!” in Volapük.
“What's wrong?”
I grab the lighter and slip it into my purse. “We need to talk about your smoking.”
“Is this going to be a lecture? I just had one from my mother.”
“This is going to be an order because I'm not fucking losing you this time.”
He smirks. “Maybe we need to break out the ice cubes again.”
With stinging wet eyes, I kiss him. Tomorrow I will scream my head off at Owen, after I thank him profusely.
THE ANGLOPHILE
A Red Dress Ink novel
ISBN: 978-1-4592-4871-7
© 2005 by Laurie Gwen Shapiro.
All rights reserved. The reproduction, transmission or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission. For permission please contact Red Dress Ink, Editorial Office, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, incidents and places are the products of the author's imagination, and are not to be construed as real. While the author was inspired in part by actual events, none of the characters in the book is based on an actual person. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental and unintentional.
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