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第28部分（第2页）

In　a　way；　everything—the　movie；　the　takeout；　the　fact　that　it　wasn’t　even　ten　o’clock　on　a　Saturday　night　and　she　was　curled　up　on　the　couch　wearing　an　oversize　purple　NYU　sweatshirt　and　a　pair　of　Hollis’s　boxer　shorts—was　the　same　as　her　life　had　been　five　years　ago；　when　she　was　fifteen　and　friendless。

Except　she　wasn’t　fifteen　anymore；　and　she　was　far　from　friendless—she　was　dating　Hollis　Lyons；　even　if　he　had　been　away　in　Iceland　for　the　last　ten　months。　She　was　living　in　a　spacious　loft　with　its　own　elevator　and　a　gorgeous　view　of　the　Williamsburg　Bridge。　She　was　a　junior　at　the　Tisch　School　of　the　Arts。　She　had　a　so…ugly…it’s…cute　reddish…brown　choodle；　currently　snoring　gently　on　the　floor。　She　had　everything　she　wanted。　So　why　did　she　feel　so　lame？

The　inter　buzzed；　which　was　odd；　since　she　wasn’t　expecting　anyone。　She　didn’t　hang　out　with　her　friends　much　anymore；　preferring　to　be　home　in　case　Hollis　called　from　Reykjavík。　The　movie　shoot　had　raged　on　for　months　and　months　longer　than　originally　planned；　and　now　he　was　still　there；　editing　on　location　until　the　end　of　January。　She’d　visited　once；　during　her　spring　break　in　April。　It　had　been　amazing　to　see　him；　but　devastating　to　leave　after　only　five　days。　They　e…mailed　as　much　as　they　could；　but　between　the　time　difference　and　his　insane　work　schedule；　they’d　barely　even　spoken　save　for　a　crackly　ten…minute　call　on　Christmas。　It　had　been　so　long　since　they’d　seen　each　other　that　Vanessa　sometimes　wondered　if　Hollis　had　been　a　figment　of　her　imagination。

Filmmakers　are　creative　people。

Vanessa　quickly　threw　the　empty　aluminum　container　into　the　plastic　takeout　bag　and　skidded　on　her　stockinged　feet　over　to　the　door；　pressing　the　video　inter　buzzer。　A　grainy　image　of　Ruby　and　her　baby；　Moxie；　sprang　onto　the　screen。

“It’s　your　sister　and　your　favorite　niece！”　Ruby　trilled；　unaware　that　Vanessa　could　see　them。　“And　it’s　fucking　freezing　down　here；”　she　added。

“e　on　up！”　Vanessa　yelled　happily。　Ruby　and　Piotr　had　moved　to　a　two…bedroom　apartment　in　Prospect　Heights　right　after　they’d　had　Moxie。　It　was　two　subway　rides　away；　and　Vanessa　missed　having　them　right　around　the　corner。　She　hurriedly　picked　up　a　pair　of　jeans　from　the　floor　and　pulled　them　on　over　the　boxers。

The　elevator　door　slid　open。　Ruby　was　bundled　up　in　a　black　Brooklyn　Industries　puffer　coat　and　a　red　hat；　and　eight…month…old　Moxie　wore　a　white　fur　hood。　She　looked　like　the　monkey　Chuck　Bass　used　to　tote　around　in　high　school。

Vanessa　immediately　plucked　the　baby　from　her　sister’s　hands。

“Don’t　say　hi　to　me。　I’m　just　the　mom；”　Ruby　joked　as　she　walked　into　the　large　loft。　“So；　Piotr’s　family　is　here　through　New　Year’s　and　I　seriously　need　a　break。”　She　pulled　out　a　bottle　of　wine　from　her　voluminous　bag　and　set　it　on　the　counter。　She　paused　and　glanced　around　the　room　suspiciously。　“God；　it’s　always　so　neat　in　here。”

“I　like　it　this　way；”　Vanessa　explained。　She　naturally　had　sloblike　tendencies；　but　in　the　last　year　that　had　all　changed。　She　liked　scrubbing　the　tiles　in　the　shower　and　Swiffering　under　the　Sub…Zero。　It　gave　her　something　to　do　besides　miss　Hollis。

If　it　makes　you　happy…

Vanessa　pulled　Moxie’s　hood　off　her　tiny　head。　“Still　no　hair；”　she　observed；　checking　the　baby’s　bald　head。

“You　didn’t　have　any　hair　for　four　years；”　Ruby　observed　blithely；　settling　in　on　the　leather　couch。　Now；　Vanessa’s　silky　jet…black　hair　fell　inches　past　her　shoulders。　“Hand　her　over；　she　needs　to　feed。”　Ruby　pulled　the　neck　of　her　gray　Hanes　T…shirt　down　to　expose　her　boob；　and　cradled　Moxie　in　the　crook　of　her　arm。　Vanessa　looked　away　politely。

Ruby’s　head　fell　back　against　the　couch。　“You　know；　you　should　really　throw　a　New　Year’s　party。　I　mean；　with　an　apartment　like　this；　it’s　practically　your　duty。　Do　you　ever　have　people　over？”

“Sometimes；”　Vanessa　said　evasively。　In　truth；　she’d　never　invited　anyone　except　Ruby　up　to　the　loft。　She　felt　it　would　somehow　be　disloyal　to　Hollis；　having　people　over　in　his　apartment　while　he　slaved　away　in　Iceland。　She　checked　the　fridge　to　see　if　there　was　anything　she　could　offer　her　sister。　A　forgotten　carton　of　lo　mein　from　last　week；　a　container　of　orange　juice；　and　a　plastic　tub　of　almonds　sat　on　the　center　shelf。　“Nuts？”　Vanessa　pulled　out　the　container　and　threw　a　couple　in　her　mouth。

“Thanks。”　Ruby　took　a　couple；　crunched　them　loudly；　and　threw　one　over　to　Norma。　It　bounced　off　the　dog’s　nose　and　onto　the　floor。　She　just　stared　at　it。　“Seriously；　Vanessa；　you’ve　bee　weird。”

“I　have？　Look　at　your　shoes；”　Vanessa　shot　back。　Ruby　wore　a　pair　of　burnt　sienna–colored　Dansko　clogs；　cutoff　sweatpants；　and　the　same　red　woolly　cardigan　that　she’d　worn　on　Christmas。

“They’re　not　weird；　they’re　fortable。　You’re　the　one　wasting　your　youth。　I　already　had　mine。”　She　sniffed；　tucked　her　boob　back　inside　her　shirt；　and　passed　the　baby　to　Vanessa。

“Hi；　Bunny！”　Vanessa　cooed；　inhaling　the　sweet　scent　of　Johnson’s　baby　shampoo；　which　Ruby　used　despite　the　fact　that　Moxie　had　approximately　three　strands　of　hair。　Moxie　felt　reassuringly　heavy　in　Vanessa’s　lap。

“Listen；　you’re　acting　like　you’re　in　mourning　or　something。　Live　a　little！　I’ve　been　given　the　night　off　from　Piotr’s　family　and　I　intend　to　use　it　for　good。”　Ruby　grinned。　“Let’s　buy　some　slice　and　bake　cookies　and　listen　to　Christmas　music。　I’m　not　ready　for　the　holidays　to　be　over　yet。　What　do　you　say？”

“I’m　in！”　Vanessa　smiled　and　then　headed　up　the　winding　staircase　to　the　sleeping　loft。　Their　California　king…size　bed　was　immaculately　made；　with　a　white　duvet　cover　contrasting　with　the　black　bed　frame。　Vanessa　wasn’t　sure　when　she’d　slept　there　last。　It　felt　too　big　by　herself；　so　she　often　curled　up　with　Norma　on　the　couch。　She　pulled　a　scarf　from　her　closet　and　wrapped　it　around　her　neck。　Her　sister　was　right。　Maybe　she　had　gone　a　little　bit　overboard　with　the　reclusive…widow　thing；　acting　like　Hollis　was　a　ship　captain　lost　at　sea　instead　of　a　film　director　caught　up　with　editing。　It　would　be　good　to　get　out　for　a　little　bit。

“Ready！”　Vanessa　yelled　down　the　stairs　as　she　ran　her　fingers　through　her　long　hair。　Her　index　finger　caught　on　a　large　snarl。　“And　FYI；　I　didn’t　take　a　shower　today　so　sorry　if　I　smell；”　she　called　as　she　ran　down　the　steps。　She　reached　the　bottom　and　gasped。

There；　standing　by　the　elevator；　his　hands　in　his　pockets　and　a　smirk　on　his　face；　was　Hollis。

“Okay；　we’ve　already　got　our　first　date　planned。　Shower；　here　we　e！”　Hollis　grinned。　He　had　slight　bags　under　his　gray　eyes；　as　if　he　hadn’t　slept　in　months。　He　wore　a　black　leather　jacket　and　his　trademark　fedora　over　his　thick　dark　hair。　He　stood　there　casually；　like　he’d　only　been　gone　a　matter　o