The Good Life by Jay McInerney

Author:Jay McInerney
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780307264695
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2006-01-31T05:00:00+00:00

21

Corrine almost skipped the party. None of this ever would have happened, and Russell’s life certainly would have been different, and better, if he hadn’t twisted her lightly downed and freckled arm, which, he couldn’t help noticing at the time, was lately dry and almost powdery to the touch.

“It will do us good to get out,” he’d said. “Besides, Hilary must have gotten bored with policemen, because she called up this afternoon and offered to baby-sit.”

“I’m sorry, it just seems weird,” Corrine replied. “I’m not in the partying mood. I don’t see how anyone could be.”

“Well, the poor girl didn’t plan on spoiling a national tragedy by having a book party. She’s not going to sell eight copies. The least we can do is lend a little moral support.”

“Fine, you go.”

“You know Nan—it’s her book. You like her.”

“I like her fine, she’s great, but I certainly don’t loom so large in her universe that she’ll notice if I’m not there.”

“I’ll notice. I want you to come with me.” Oddly enough, this was true. He was acutely conscious of the bifurcation of their social life in recent years. After the kids were born, they’d started to go out separately, ostensibly to take turns baby-sitting. He didn’t want to do that anymore. If something else happened, he said, he didn’t want to be apart from her on the other end of town, one of them trapped in a building or a subway car full of gas or biotoxins. He suddenly found himself afraid to be alone, even for short periods of time, whereas she seemed somehow more independent.

“Well,” he said, “I’m not going if you’re not.”

“Don’t be a martyr. Go. Take Hilary.”

“I don’t want to take Hilary. What would she do at a book party? I’d have to spend an hour and a half explaining to her what a book is.”

“You know she’s writing a novel. And if I’m not mistaken, Washington seemed kind of interested, in his perverse way.”

“Yeah, and I’m starting a hedge fund. I am not taking Hilary. I want to take my wife.” Having expected her to appreciate his change of heart, his new uxoriousness, he instead felt as if he’d returned home after a long journey, only to find the house empty.

“Oh God,” she said, with an exasperated sigh of acquiescence. “What am I supposed to wear?”

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