Comeback Love by Peter Golden

Author:Peter Golden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Washington Square Press

Chapter 19

ON THE SUNDAY my Madame Restell story appeared, Glenna and I got up early and zipped over to a candy store on Johnson Avenue, where I bought ten copies of the Long Island Press. My story had made the cover of the magazine, with a byline right above a four-color artist’s rendering of Madame Restell dead in her ornate marble tub, one fleshy arm hanging over the side.

Glenna and I ordered coffee and cinnamon Danish and sat at the counter. I was still admiring my byline on the cover when Glenna finished reading the story.

“This is terrific, Gordo. It’s fascinating.”

Glenna had a half smile on her face, and her gaze was so warm it felt as if I were sitting under a sunlamp.

She said, “I know there are people who can write well.”

“Because they have libraries and such.”

Her smile widened. “Because my boyfriend can. And I love it—that you write so well, and your story’s on the cover. Want to go home and celebrate?”

What I felt like doing was driving to Brooklyn, slapping the magazine down in front of my father, and saying, Read this. And dig it—they paid me two hundred and fifty bucks.

It was a tempting fantasy—tempting enough that it was a good thing my folks had gone to Montreal for a long weekend with Aunt Lil and Uncle Jerr.

“Breakfast’s on me,” Glenna said, and asked the kid behind the counter how much we owed. He told her, and she began digging into the front and back pockets of her Levi’s. She dug through all of her pockets twice and came up with a dime and two pennies.

“Wrong jeans?” I asked, trying not to laugh.

“Wrong jeans. This guy I live with took the right jeans off me last night and tossed them behind a rubber tree.”

“Sounds like a smart guy.” I put a five on the counter.

“Oh, yes,” Glenna said, taking my arm. “He is.”

AT HOME, our celebration lasted until late morning. When we went downstairs, talking about where to go for lunch, Biff and Robin were in the living room.

“We certainly can do it,” Biff was saying.

“Do what?” Glenna said, as we sat on the couch.

As Robin opened a fresh carton of Breyers, she said, “Palmer had breakfast with Andy Westrich.”

“How is he?” Glenna asked.

Biff said, “He’s out of jail. But his lawyer says he’ll eventually have to do a year. And he’s going to lose his medical license.”

“What a drag,” Glenna said.

“I liked your article,” Robin said to me, holding up a copy of the Long Island Press Sunday Magazine. I’d left my copies on the coffee table when Glenna and I had come in from the candy store.

“Same here,” Biff added. Since I’d threatened to strangle him with his scarf, he had cut out his condescending digs, but his mentioning that he liked the Restell piece should have tipped me off that something was up. “Your article and Andy’s arrest gave me the idea.”

Robin said, “NYMSRAL is branching out. Taking over for Andy.”

“You’re gonna help?” Glenna asked Robin.

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