In the Bag Part 6

CHAPTER 63"Andrew".

The food arrived and I'm sure it was=delicious. But I had no appet.i.te. Not for=food, anyway.= I couldn't take my eyes off Daisy. Even=in her wine-splattered blouse, she looked=radiant. Webb seemed to like her, too.= "Do =you =know =how =to =make =creme=brulee?" he asked over dessert.= "Sure," she said. As =Daisy began to=explain the process to Webb in the most=wonderful and encouraging way ("It's easy=if you have the right tools"), I couldn't help=reaching under the table and placing my=hand on her knee. She =looked surprised,=but also-was it too crazy to think?-=pleased.= "Creme =brulee =is =a =great =dessert =to=serve tableside," =Daisy was saying. "As=long as you don't set your guests on fire."= "Has that ever happened?" Webb asked,=a strange delight in his eyes.= Please ignore my son's fascinationwith fire. He's really quite harmless.

"No," Daisy answered. "But you have to=be careful with the torch. Isn't that right,=Coco?"= "Mom's referring to the time I almost=burned our house down. I was trying to=make baked Alaska."= "You =know =how =to =make =baked=Alaska?" Webb asked. "With flames and=everything?"= Please stop acting like a pyromaniacc "Yeah," said Coco. "It's not hard to=make."= "Seriously?" Webb said.= "Coco, why don't you e-mail Webb the=recipe =when =we =get =home?" =Daisy=suggested.= She withdrew from her bag a pen and a=small =silver =case =containing =business=cards.= "Here =you =go," =Daisy =said, =handing=cards to both Webb and Coco. "Exchange=e-mail =addresses =so =you =can =keep =in=touch."= She replaced the case in her purse. Then=she made a face at something she saw in=her bag. She pulled out a piece of folded=paper and handed it to me. I recognized it=instantly, but reread it to torture myself.= Dear Ms. 6B,= Please =forgive =my =clumsiness=while boarding. I would be more than=happy =to =pay =for =the =cleaning =or=replacement of your blouse. Truth is, I=would be even happier if you'd let me=take you to dinner sometime when we=return to our side of the pond. That is,=if you do plan to return to the U.S.=(For =all =I =know, =you =could =be=Parisian. You have That Look.)= Were I traveling alone, I might be=bolder and introduce myself to you.=But for now, all I can do is invite you=to e-mail me if you're interested in=meeting an admirer who feels terrible=about ruining your travel attire.= =.

Most sincerely,= Mr. 13C= My =E-mail:[email protected]= P.S. You are truly first cla.s.s.=

CHAPTER 64"Daisy".

That's the thing I was telling you about," I=whispered to Andrew as he unfolded the=note.= I was trying to be cryptic because I=hadn't told Coco about my creepy secret=admirer and didn't plan to. I didn't want=her to be any more afraid of dating than she=already was.= I watched Webb and Coco trade e-mail=addresses. If I wasn't completely blind,=there =was =something =between =them. =A=spark of interest, perhaps? Or maybe just a=bit of healthy curiosity.= "So, =yeah, =e-mail =me =sometime, =Mr.=Nelson," Coco said coolly.= "I might just do that, Ms. Sprinkle,"=Webb said.= "Please =do," =Coco =said, =batting =her=eyelashes like a soap opera vixen. "I'll be=home late Sat.u.r.day night."= "Me, too," Webb said. "We're flying=from Paris tomorrow."= They =joked =and =laughed =about =flight=schedules and the merits of checking or not=checking luggage. I couldn't help silently=rejoicing. =Coco =was =being nice. =Her=weeklong cranky att.i.tude was apparently=directed only at me-and not the whole=world. This was huge. This was cause for=celebration. She would do fine at college=-and in life. My work was done!= And =Andrew's =son =was =adorable.= Maybe Webb was bringing out the best in=Coco.= "You =guys =should =trade =e-mail=addresses, too," Coco said, looking from=me to Andrew.= "Of course, how rude of me," I said,=pulling out my card case and retrieving=another =business =card. =I =handed =it =to=Andrew. "Now you know where to find me=online."= But Andrew continued to stare as if in=disbelief at the handwritten note I'd given=him. With an odd expression on his face,=he folded the note and returned it to me.= "Dad, give her your e-mail address,"=Webb said.= "I . . . don't use e-mail very much,"=Andrew said, signaling for the waiter to=bring the check.= Webb burst out laughing. "Yeah, right,= Mr. Chained-to-His-BlackBerry."= Andrew cleared his voice. "I mean, I=used to. But I'm really trying to connect=more. With people. You know, face-to-=face connections. Or sometimes the phone.=Or-"= "What =are =you talking about?" Webb=interrupted. "You don't even turn off your=BlackBerry =when =you =go =to =bed.=Remember when we first got to Madrid?=You were getting up in the middle of the=night to check e-mail. So give her your e-=mail address."= I felt my chest tighten. The room was=starting to spin. I put my hands on the table=to steady myself.= "Da-ad," Webb pressed. "Give her your=e-mail address."= Andrew's face was locked in a pained=expression. "I'm afraid I can't. If you'll=excuse me, I'm going to find our waiter."= He left the table.= Of course he had somebody back home.=Of =course =he =did. =Or =maybe =he =had=someone in Madrid. Maybe somebody in=Barcelona, too. And Paris.= Why had I been such an idiot? Why was=I so stupid?= Oh G.o.d, I'm having a heart attack.= Breathe. Breathe. Breathec "It's time to go, Coco," I said, standing=up.= It's not a heart attack, I told myself. It's=only =anxiety. =And =anxiety =is =just=unexpressed anger.= "Wait," Webb said, looking around the=restaurant for his missing dad. "Can you=wait till my dad-"= "No," I said. "We're leaving."= Who are you angry with? n.o.body. I'm=really =not =angry. =I'd =explained =this =to=Nancy a million times.= Yes, you are angry. Who are you madat? I'm not mad! I'm just tired. Tired of the=whole d.a.m.n thing.= "Where are you guys staying?" Webb=asked. "Maybe we could take a cab back=together. I think Dad's just paying the bill."="Tell =him =we =said =thank =you," =I=snapped. "Come on, Coco. Let's go."=

CHAPTER 65"Webb".

Dad looked terrible when he got back to= the table.= "Yeow, did you get sick?" I asked.= "No," he replied. "Where are-"= "They left. Daisy said to tell you thank=you."= I didn't tell him how she'd said it. I=didn't have the heart to tell him how I'd=screwed up his chances with this woman=he obviously liked.= I was pretty sure what had happened.=When Coco and I were pretending to trade=e-mail =addresses-as =if =I =didn't [email protected] =tattooed =on =my =brain-=Coco must've given her mom the "We're=out of here" look.= I'd =known =since =middle =school =how=girls had all these secret codes and eye=signals. Coco probably gave her mom the="If you think I would ever go out with this=guy, you're insane" signal.= Whatever the message was, they were=gone. And Dad was sick about it.= "Sorry," I said.= "It's not your fault."= It is so my fault, I wanted to say. I=wished I could tell him the whole story,=but I couldn't. It would take too long, and=he'd get mad. And it didn't really matter=now because I'd screwed up this thing he=was trying to get going with Daisy, who=seemed =pretty =d.a.m.n =great, =like =her=daughter. Coco looked even prettier than=she had in Paris. She was funnier, too. And=once we got past the initial shock of seeing=each other, I thought it was going pretty=well.= Obviously I was wrong.= So, let's see, not only did I bungle any=chance I had with Coco, I'd also spoiled=Dad's chances with Coco's mom.= What an idiot.=

CHAPTER 66"Coco".

Mo-om," I repeated for the tenth time in=the cab back to the hotel. "What'd I do?=Just tell me what I did wrong. I'd actually=like to know."= "Actually, everything isn't about you,"=she said, staring out her side of the cab. "I=know you might find that hard to believe,=but it's true. The world doesn't revolve=around you."= Right. She was obviously mad at me for=flirting with Webb. It was 100 percent=obvious. Part of me wanted to tell her the=whole stupid story so she'd know that I=knew =him =already, =and =we =were =just=goofing. But then I'd have to deal with her=getting mad about how I knew him.= We rode the rest of the way to the hotel=in silence.= "Did =Webb =say =they =were =flying =to=Chicago =on =a =five =o'clock =flight =from=Paris?" Mom asked as we walked in the=lobby.= "Yeah, I think so. Why?"= "I =need =to =change =something," =Mom=announced. She marched straight to the=concierge =desk =and =began =making=arrangements to get us on a different flight.= "Mother," I said as calmly as I could.="Don't you think you're overreacting just a=little bit?"= "No," =she =replied. =She =was =staring=straight ahead. "We're done here."= "Fine," I said. "Be that way. Throw a=complete hissy fit just because the poor=dude doesn't have e-mail. I hate to tell you=this, but it's not like you're a real computer=whiz yourself. You still don't know how to=text very fast. And I've seen you write e-=mail =in =all =caps, =which =is =considered=completely rude."= Mom turned to face me. The wine stain=on her blouse looked like a gunshot wound.="Rude?" she asked. "You have the gall= to lecture me on being rude?"="Yeah," I started to say. "Because-"="Go up to the room," she said. "I can't= deal with you right now."=

CHAPTER 67"Andrew".

If only I'd told her about the note in the=bar after the exhibit opening. Or how about=if I just hadn't written the G.o.dd.a.m.n note in=the first place? How about that? Or how=about if I weren't such a first-cla.s.s a.s.s?= These were the thoughts that crashed=like waves in my head later that night at the=hotel.= "Are we going back to Madrid?" Webb=asked. He was in bed, but not sleeping.= "No," I said. "We're just an hour or so=away from Paris now. I've booked us to=fly =into =Paris =early =tomorrow =morning.=And then we'll catch our flight home from=there."= "Great," said Webb. "We'll see Coco=and Daisy again. They're on the same flight= to Chicago."= "They are?"= "Yeah. =Didn't you hear Coco and me=talking?"= I didn't hear anything after Daisy handed=me the note. I knew I couldn't face her=again. Not until I could explain why I had=refused to give her my e-mail address,=which meant coming clean about the note,=which meant utter humiliation.= If I really cared about her as much as I=thought I did, I should have the courage to=risk looking like a fool. But I couldn't. The=very thing I'd been telling Webb he needed=to learn, I couldn't do myself.= I used my BlackBerry to change our=flight itinerary.= "Get some sleep," I told Webb as I=confirmed seats on the 12:15 p.m. flight out=of Paris. "We've got a long day in front of= us.""

CHAPTER 68"Daisy".

Back in the room, Coco was acting p.i.s.sy=and I didn't care. I should've left her with=my parents and taken a vacation by myself.=Now, after a week of putting up with her=roller-coaster moods, I was stuck with the=prospect =of =returning =home =to =the=inevitable questions about why I'd quit=Bon Soir and where I'd be working next.= There were probably a half-dozen job=offers =waiting =for =me. =Old =restaurants.=New restaurants. I had a loyal following.=Restaurant owners knew I could bring in=good business.= Or I could go the route of becoming a=private chef for some moneybag couple on=the Gold Coast who liked to entertain. Or I=could send =lunch over to Harpo Studios=and go after a little green room business.=Catering for celebrities was practically a=cottage industry in Chicago.= "The =world =is =your =oysters=Rockefeller," Solange had told me at the=exhibit. "Decide what you want and go get=it."= "What =Does =Daisy =Sprinkle =Want?"=That =stupid =headline =had =ruined =my=vacation.= What did =I =want? =I =wanted =to =stop=falling for jerks like Andrew. I wanted to=stop getting my hopes up =like a pathetic=teenage girl worrying about prom.= Nancy thought I needed to spend more=time in therapy. I thought I needed a small=vacation. We were both wrong.= I needed to work. I was a person who=was =happiest =when =working. =Because=when I didn't work, I let my guard down.=And look what happened: Andrew.= I =was =still =fizzing =with =rage =and=indignation, but now I felt a dull headache=start to take shape in the s.p.a.ce behind my=eyes. I thought about calling Solange and=telling her the whole story. But then she'd=feel obligated to feel sorry for me, and I=didn't feel like being pitied at the moment.= It was humiliating to think I'd gotten my=hopes up over Andrew. It must've been jet=lag. I'd lost my game for a few days. There=was something in the water in Europe that=made me drop my guard. It'd happened=during culinary school and now again with=Andrew. I knew I'd get my groove back.=But still. d.a.m.n him and his "Sorry, I can't=give you my e-mail" bulls.h.i.+t. I felt sorry=for whoever he was seeing. No, I didn't. I=felt jealous. No, I didn't. I pitied her. Poor=thing. Poor fool. Poor stupid woman who=didn't know her man was. .h.i.tting on another=woman.= I thought back to the look on his face=when he was reading the note from my=secret admirer. He looked ashen. Almost=ghostlike.= Wait a minute. Did Andrew think I had=somehow encouraged that creepy guy who=wrote the note? Did he think I was a flirt?=A s.l.u.t?= The nerve of men. I took two Excedrins=and crawled into bed.= At least I wouldn't have to see him=again. =The =concierge =had =changed =our=flight reservations out of Paris from five=o'clock to twelve fifteen.=

Day 7: Sat.u.r.day"

SolangeX.

You're a dream to let us stay here.Lots to talk about when you come toChicago.

xxoo Daisy and Coc[.

CHAPTER 69"Webb".

When I woke up, Dad was on the phone,=ordering room service coffee.= "Don't you want to see your friend?" I=asked. ="She'll =probably =be =downstairs=having breakfast."= "I'll pa.s.s," he said in a gloomy voice.="But you should go get something to eat.=We have to leave for the airport soon."= "You're not going to stay in the room,=are you?" I asked. But Dad didn't answer.= I dressed and went downstairs. As soon=as I walked in the hotel dining room, I saw=Coco's =mom =sitting =at =a =table =by =the=window. She was alone, drinking coffee=and reading a newspaper. I took a deep=breath and walked over to her table.= "Hey," I said quietly.= "Webb," =she =answered, =putting =the=paper on the table and smiling. Then she=frowned. "Is your dad here?"= "No, he's upstairs."= "Oh." She seemed to relax.= I had to think fast. "Dad wanted me to=tell you you're welcome," I lied.= "What?"= "Remember when you told me to thank=him last night? For dinner? I did, and he=said, 'She's very welcome.' "= "Oh," she said again. This time she=lowered her eyes.= It =was =no =use. =I'd =ruined =whatever=chance they had. Coco had tipped her off=that =I =was =an =idiot. =So, =by =extension,=whoever raised me was also an idiot.= "Have =you =eaten =yet?" =she =asked.="There's a nice selection of pastries over=there."= I followed the direction of her hand.="Thanks. That sounds good."= I walked over to the buffet where I=removed two croissants from a platter and=put them on a napkin. I glanced back at=Daisy. She was reading the newspaper.= I got the hint and left.=

CHAPTER 70"Coco".

Mom was in such a lousy mood that=morning that I took my croissant to the=hotel business center, where I finally had a=chance to do what I'd wanted to do since I=saw Webb at the restaurant.= "Fr: [email protected]"To: [email protected]"Subject: Okay, here goes . . ."

Dear Webb,= I =am =still =trying =to =wrap =my=frazzled brain around what happened=-not =just =in =Paris, =but =here =in=Barcelona. And I wish I could laugh=about it. But the truth is, I feel like=such a b.i.t.c.h. You came all the way=from Madrid on a train to see me, and=what did I do but YELL at you? If I=tell you the reason, will you promise=not to =laugh? (I'm going to have to=imagine =you =promising.) =Okay, =so=here's =what =happened. =My =mother=(who =I =can't =believe =you've =now= MET) =somehow =persuaded =me =to=pack all my worst, most stretched-out,=most pathetic underwear. Stuff I never=wear. Stuff I never should've bought.=Take, for example, that pink foam-=padded bra that practically leaped out=of my bag when you opened it. I think=I =wore =that =bra =once-as =a =joke.= Maybe twice. Or three times, at the=very most. I only bought it because=some =girls =in =my =cla.s.s =thought =it=would be funny to= The door to the business center opened.= "Hey, =Coco," =Webb =said. ="Wanna= croissant?"="Webb!" I screamed.=And with one click, I deleted the e-mail.=

CHAPTER 71"Andrew".

I found myself checking out of the hotel=right behind Daisy. I considered asking if=she wanted to share a cab to the airport.=But =why? =So =I =could =ruin =yet =another=blouse? I had screwed this thing up so=thoroughly I didn't have the courage now=to be even polite.= And yet I couldn't resist staring at her as=Webb and I waited for a cab outside the=hotel. She was wearing the same black=jacket =she'd =worn =on =the =flight =from=Chicago-this =time, =over =a =T-s.h.i.+rt.=Probably Coco's.= I tried to smile as the two of them=climbed in a cab. I will never see heragain, I thought. Never. Ever. Ever.

Naturally, an hour and a half later, I saw=her on the plane. I barely had the nerve to=look up as Webb and I walked past her and=Coco =on =our =humiliating =way =back =to=coach.= As the plane took off, I closed my eyes.=The show had been a success. That was the=reason =I'd =come =to =Spain. =That =and=spending time with Webb during his spring=break.= I opened my eyes and looked at Webb.=He was sitting across the aisle from me=and staring straight ahead. Zoning out, as=he called it.= I thought back to the night in the hotel=bar when Daisy and I had talked about our=kids. It was such a rare and welcome=exchange of parental fears. But why did I=tell her the whole sorry saga about my=sister? I barely knew Daisy. And yet I'd=felt an immediate connection with her. She=was strong and confident, but also warm=and caring. I wondered if she'd minded=when I touched her knee under the table at=dinner. She didn't seem to, judging from=the look on her face.= But that face was long gone now, never=to resurface again in my company. This=was a woman who had banished steak=sauce-a condiment!-and waged a jihad=against =televisions =in =bars. =She =was =a=person =who =didn't =suffer =fools, =and =I=admired her for that.= I just wished I hadn't been such a fool.=

CHAPTER 72"Daisy".

As awkward as the whole stupid situation=had become, there simply wasn't time to=worry about it on the flight from Barcelona=to Paris. When we landed, we had to get=from the airport to Solange's apartment so=we could pick up Coco's bag and the rest=of my stuff, and then back to the airport-=all in two hours.= "Depechez-vous, s'il vous plait," I said=several times to the cab driver.= "I cannot understand you," he said in a=thick, unidentifiable accent.= "I'm trying to ask you to hurry," I said.="Please."= "I =am =attempting =it, =of =course," =he=barked. ="But =Cinco =por =Cinco. =Quelle=horreur."= Only then did I notice the protesters=marching down the center of the street,=holding their hand-shaped signs and tying=up traffic. I remembered the newspaper=article Andrew had read to me about the=Amish extremists, subsisting on a diet of=water and uncooked oats.= Maybe they have a point, I thought. I'd=been eating b.u.t.tery croissants all week and=was feeling the effects on my waistline.= When we finally arrived at Solange's=apartment, I threw fifty euros at the driver=and asked him to wait ten minutes. Coco=and I raced up to the apartment. While she=gathered =her =gear, =I =quickly =tidied =the=place: wiping down the kitchen counter,=scouring the sink, throwing a set of clean=sheets on my bed. I scribbled a note and=left it on Solange's desk.= =.

SolangeX You're a dream to let us stay herec Lots to talk about when you come t[ Chicagoc xxoo Daisy and Coc[ I was surprised to find the taxi still=waiting =outside. =Of =course =the =driver=couldn't be bothered to load our luggage=for us. But at least he waited while Coco=and I crammed our bags in the dirty trunk=and then settled ourselves in the backseat=of the cab.= By the time Coco and I were finally=sitting on the plane to Chicago, I was too=exhausted to be bothered by the sight of=Andrew =and =Webb =boarding. =I =simply=smiled at Webb and ignored his a.s.shole of=a father.= Chuck That.= The plane was full and noisy. Flight=attendants prodded =lagging pa.s.sengers to=hurry along.= "The plane cannot depart until everyone=is seated," a flight attendant said. She was=a tired-looking woman, probably my age,=who =looked inordinately sick of =life. Or=maybe she was just sick of her job. Sick of=people. =Sick =of =travel. =Even =the =scarf=around her neck drooped a bit.= As soon as everyone was seated, the=pilot =made =an =announcement =from =the=c.o.c.kpit.= "Ladies =and =gentlemen, =this =is =your=captain =speaking," =he =reported. ="Our=departure time has been pushed back. We=have been ordered to comply with this=nonmechanical delay."= I couldn't help groaning.= "Can I get you something while we're=waiting?" the tired-looking flight attendant=asked dully. "Coffee, juice, water-"= "I'll take a couple of those little bottles=of cabernet, please," I said. Then, trying to=be considerate I added, "In fact, bring me=three and I won't ask for another thing until=we land."= She handed me a depressing fistful of=miniature =bottles =without =making =eye=contact. I turned to see what Coco wanted=to drink, but her eyes were closed. She'd=been quiet all morning. Nothing new there.=I chalked it up to her general moodiness.=Then it hit me: This was her prom night.

Poor kid. Why couldn't I cut her some=slack? She and her friends had been e-=mailing =all =week =about =the =drama=surrounding prom. (Did Coco really think I=didn't know where she was going on those=alleged trips to the patisserie?) And yet=Coco refused to admit that any of this=bothered her. Maybe it didn't. I hoped it=didn't.= Then again, wouldn't it have been fun=for her to get dressed up and go on a date=-a real date-with a nice kid like Webb?=I loved the sweet and awkward way he'd=approached =my =table =at =breakfast. =I=applauded his respect for my privacy, even=though I tried to make it clear with my=body =language =that =he =wouldn't =be=bothering =me =if =he =wanted =to =eat =his=croissants at my table. ("Look," I tried to=say with my eyes. "I'm just reading the=paper. I won't bite!") He was a sweet boy.=It wasn't his fault that his dad was an a.s.s.= The =pilot =was =making =another=announcement. ="We =have =been =told =to=expect an indefinite delay. Please remain=seated. =Pa.s.sengers =are =not =allowed =to=move from their ticketed seats. However,=cellular phones may be used while we are=detained."= I remembered Solange's cell phone. I=reached under the seat in front of me and=pulled the phone from my bag. When I=turned =it =on, =a =closed =envelope =icon=indicated I had a message. I clicked on the=icon.= "Fr: [email protected]"To: [email protected]"Subject: Fine"

Daisy: I am fine. Will call soon.=Andrew = perfect for you.= I fumbled around with the phone until I=found the reply b.u.t.ton.= = Fr: [email protected]: [email protected]: Re: Fine No, he's not perfect for me. But.i.t's OK. Fine, in fact.Everything's just fine.

I stared at the last line. Just fine.

My tired brain twisted it into a headline:="Daisy Sprinkle's Just Fine. But Thanks=for Asking."= What a load of s.h.i.+t, as Coco would say.=And she would be right.= I could feel my eyes burning. I wished=the d.a.m.n plane would take off already so I=could get away from this stupid continent.= I started to put the phone back in my=purse, =but =then =saw, =once =again, =that=ridiculous note from Mr. 13C.= I reread it. And then with hot tears in my=eyes, I responded to [email protected]=It was, perhaps, the truest thing I'd ever=written.=

CHAPTER 73"Webb".

Oh, G.o.dc Eight cops carrying automatic weapons=were boarding the plane.= I turned to Dad. "What the h.e.l.l?"= "I don't know," he said.= For several minutes we had no clue=what was going on, other than the fact that=we =were =in =the =middle =of =something=serious. =Finally, =there =was =an=announcement.= "This is your captain speaking. We have=received an order that this aircraft will be=detained =while =security =measures =are=enforced."= I =looked at =Dad. "It's okay," he said.="I'm sure it's nothing." He was a terrible=liar.= One of the cops began giving directions=in French, English, and then Spanish.= "All =cell =phones =and =mobile=communications =devices =must =now =be=turned =off =while =we =conduct =our=investigation," the cop said, walking to the=back of the plane. "Please have no worries=about the dogs. They know what they are=doing."= Two =hyperactive =search =dogs =were=released at the front of the plane. They=made their way toward the back, sniffing=every row.= "What =are =they =looking =for?" =I=whispered to Dad.= "Drugs, I guess," he said.= But this looked more serious than a=simple drug bust. "Should we get off?" I=asked, =panicking. ="Let's =just =fly =home=tomorrow."= "They won't let us off now," Dad said.="Relax. It's probably nothing serious."= The dogs were at our row, sniffing like=crazed anteaters.= "All cell phones, BlackBerrys, iPhones,=and pagers must be turned off," the cop=said.= I =looked =at =Dad =and =then =at =his=BlackBerry.= He nodded. "It's off."= A =second =team =of =dogs =had =started=working the other side of the plane.= "Whatever they're =looking for, I don't=think they're finding it," I said.= The plane was buzzing with excitement.=Even the flight attendants looked rattled. I=heard a note of anxiety in the pilot's voice=when he made the next announcement.= "This =is =your =captain =speaking. =The=police have informed me that there have=been numerous terrorist incidents across=Europe today."= Screams and gasps of disbelief made the=next part hard to hear.= "Shhhh," a flight attendant said, holding=a finger to her mouth. "Be calm. Listen!"= "Residue from an explosive material has=been detected in a piece of =luggage that=was checked for this flight," the captain=continued. "The bag was not marked, so=the police will need to question pa.s.sengers=on this flight."=

CHAPTER 74"Coco".

Oh, s.h.i.+tc The cops were everywhere.= "Attention," =the =main =cop =said =in =a=French accent. He was trying to be a hard-=a.s.s, but he was using a d.i.n.ky microphone=to =amplify =his =voice. =My =old =karaoke=machine =had =better =sound =than =his=contraption.= "Should I be scared?" I asked Mom.= "No," she said. "They'll find whatever=it is they're looking for, and that will be=that."= The hard-a.s.s cop was fumbling with his=Mister Microphone. "We can protect the=pa.s.sengers on this aircraft only if we have=complete cooperation. Please, be calm so=we =can =investigate =this =matter =without=injury."= A younger cop came on board. He was=wearing gloves and carrying a gray plastic=bin with a piece of luggage in it.= A black L.L.Bean duffel bag.= Oh, s.h.i.+t. Oh, s.h.i.+t. Oh, s.h.i.+tc Officer Hard-a.s.s pointed at the bag.="Who =does =this =bag =belong =to?" =he=demanded. "Come forward if this is your=bag."= No =one =moved, =including =me. =I =felt=paralyzed in my seat.= "Whose =bag =is =this?" =Hard-a.s.s=continued in a louder voice. He motioned=for the younger cop to unzip the bag. Then,=with gloves on, Officer Hard-a.s.s reached=inside. The first thing he pulled out? My=freakin' pink foam-padded bra.= "This . . . item . . . belongs to a woman,=perhaps?" =Hard-a.s.s =asked, =waving =my=stupid bra over his head for all the world=to see. "Or possibly a man."= Mom looked at me in disbelief. "Coco,=is that your-"= And in that instant, I completely fell=apart. ="Mom," =I =cried. ="Do =something.=Please. =I'll never =get =into =the=undergraduate honors program now."= I =was =sobbing. =My =tears =made=everything look s.h.i.+ny and bubble shaped.= Mom stood up and raised her hand.= "Excuse me," she said. "h.e.l.lo! That bra=you're holding belongs to my daughter.=That's her bag. I thought it was properly=identified." Mom turned to me. "Didn't you=have your name on your bag?"= "It's in the side pocket," I said.= "Oh, right," Mom said. She cleared her=throat and spoke directly to Officer Hard-=a.s.s. "In any case, I can a.s.sure you that-"= Hard-a.s.s =snapped =his =fingers =at =his=underlings and then pointed at Mom and=me.= "Detain them," he ordered. "They are=perhaps terrorists."= "Terrorists?" Mom said.= "Actually," I said. But then I stopped=because Mom was glaring at me. "Er, not=actually, but just . . . What I'm trying to=say is, there's been a huge mistake."= "No mistake," Officer Hard-a.s.s said.="We have found bomb residue inside your=bag. Come with us now peacefully, or we=will detain you with force."= "Wait!"= It was Webb. He was running from the=back of the plane.= "Arretez!" =yelled =Officer =Hard-a.s.s.="Arretez!"= "Webb, =he's =telling =you =to stop," =I=called.= But =Webb =kept =running. =Hard-a.s.s=grabbed his gun.= "Webb, stop!" I yelled.= "But I can explain everything," he said.="Please!"= "What =is =it =you =want =to =explain?"=Officer Hard-a.s.s demanded.= Webb =took =a =deep =breath =and =then=started =talking =really =fast. ="I =put =some=sparklers in Coco's bag. Look in the very=bottom."= Officer Hard-a.s.s grabbed my bag from=the young cop and began pawing through it.=Sure enough, seconds later he pulled out=five sparklers.= "I bought them on the street in Madrid,"=Webb said. "I thought it'd be fun to light=one the first time we kissed in Paris."= "Kissed?" =Mom =said. ="Paris?" =She=turned to Officer Hard-a.s.s. "He means=Barcelona. We had dinner together last=night in Barcelona and-"= Webb was still talking. "And if we did=something else, well, I thought it'd be cool=to light a sparkler then, too."= "Something else?" =I =asked, =sniffling.="Like what?"= "I don't know," Webb said quietly. "We=never got around to something else because=you thought I was an idiot."= "I was the idiot," I whispered. "I was a=complete freakazoid. You were great."= "Really?" Webb asked. "You thought I=was great? Because I thought you were=great."= "Seriously?" I said.= Officer Hard-a.s.s cleared his throat. "It=appears =someone =thought =someone =was=great enough to need these," he announced,=pulling a box of condoms from the bottom=of my bag.= "Coco!" Mom said.= "Oh, I put those in there, too," Webb= said. "Just in case."=He smiled at me.= My heroc Officer =Hard-a.s.s =made =a =sour=expression. He was still rifling through my=bag. "And the fromage?"= "Cheese?" I asked.= "Yes," Hard-a.s.s said. "There is the=smell of fermenting cheese in this bag."= I looked at Webb.= "I have no idea what that's about," he=said, shrugging.= One =of =the =junior =cops =approached=Officer =Hard-a.s.s =and =whispered=something =in =his =ear. =Hard-a.s.s =spun=around and yelled in French to another=cop, who pulled a photograph from his=pocket. He handed the picture to Hard-a.s.s,=who held it next to Webb's face.= "Sacrebleu, it's him!" Officer Hard-a.s.s=shouted. "The leader of Cinco por Cinco.=Arrest him!"= And with that, they slapped a pair of=handcuffs on Webb and pulled him off the=plane.=

CHAPTER 75"Andrew".

Oh h.e.l.l, I thought as I followed Webb to=the front of the plane. I wished he'd stop=talking long enough for me to call my=attorney.= But now we were being led to a private=room inside the airport police station.= "There's been a mistake," I told the=French-accented senior officer.= "Erreur," =Daisy =said, =her =voice=cracking. She and Coco had been pulled=off the plane along with Webb.= "Just tell us what's going on," Webb=said, sounding calmer than either Daisy or=me. "I have a right to know what I'm being=accused of."= "There =have =been =multiple =terrorist=threats and one serious explosion today,"=the =officer =said. ="An =Amish =extremist=group called Cinco por Cinco has claimed=responsibility."= "Cinco por Cinco," Daisy said, looking=at =me. ="Isn't =that =the =group =that =was=protesting outside the museum? The people=who believe the Internet is Satan's toy?"= "You're right," I said. I turned to the=lead officer and explained what we'd seen=after the opening gala.= He =listened =to =everything =and =then=responded =coldly. ="An =explosion=destroyed the Crystal =Palace two hours=ago."= Daisy screamed. "Solange! We have to=call her."= "There will be time for phone calls=later," the officer said. "For now, we are=here to discuss the role of this young man=in the terrorist attack." He was staring at=Webb. ="My =colleagues =have =been=investigating you since Tuesday, when you=tried to recruit four young men to join=Cinco por Cinco in Madrid."= "Recruit people?" Webb said. "What=are you talking about?"= "On Paseo del Prado," the officer said.="At two thirty on Tuesday morning."= "What evidence do you have?" Webb=asked.= "Webb," I said. "Don't talk. Let me call=-"= But the officer was waving pictures in=front =of =Webb's =face. ="You =want=evidence? I give you evidence."= As =Webb =looked =at =the =pictures, =a=glimmer of recognition pa.s.sed over his=face. "Oh, that. I was just buying sparklers=from those guys. They were trying to rip=me off. I wanted five sparklers for five=euros. Cinco por cinco."= "I =don't =want =to =continue =this=conversation until we have a lawyer in the=room," I announced, raising my voice for=the first time.= "It's okay," Webb said. "I'm fine with=this."= The officer continued. "When we finally=identified you, we began asking questions=of =those =who =know =you =in San Luis, Missouri."= I prayed Webb wouldn't =laugh at the=French =p.r.o.nunciation =of =our =city. =He=didn't. To my surprise, he was =listening=intently and looking the officer directly in=the eye.= "We =spoke =with =several =of =your=teachers," the officer said. "We =learned=that you do not drive."= "I =like =public =transportation," =Webb=shot back. "And our driver's ed teacher is=a s.e.x maniac. Coco's driving teacher was=a perv, too, for what it's worth."= The officer continued. "And according=to Mademoiselle Fogerty, you are a fan of=Henry =David =Th.o.r.eau, =an =American=anarchist and a hero of the Cinco por=Cinco =movement =because =of =his=renunciation =of =technology =and =modern=civilization."= "You talked to Miss Fogerty?" Webb=asked.= Now it was Coco's turn. "For heaven's=sake, =he =can admire =Th.o.r.eau's =writing=without being a terrorist."= "Thanks, Coco," Webb said.= "You're =welcome," =she =replied,=smiling. Then she spoke directly to the=officer. "If you knew Webb at all, you'd=know that he wasn't ant.i.technology. He=uses the Internet all the time."= The officer condescended to smile. "It is=the nature of extremists that in the name of=their cause they often embrace the thing=they hate."= "Tell me about this explosion you think I=caused," Webb demanded.= Oh, h.e.l.l. He was practically admitting=he'd done it. My mind reeled back to the=scene =at =the =police =station =after =Laura=admitted her role in the bank robbery. It=was exactly the same: the sick feeling of=dread combined with the realization that=the person you loved the most could also=be the person you knew least.= "Webb," =I =pleaded. ="Please =stop=talking."= "No, Dad, really," Webb said, holding a=hand up to me and motioning for the officer=to continue. "Tell me what I did and how I=did it. I'm curious."= "Our =bomb =investigation =team =has=concluded =that =the =low-tech =explosive=device that destroyed the Crystal =Palace=was planted on the night of the opening,"=the investigator stated.= Webb exhaled a huge sigh of relief.="Well, I'm sorry to hear that. But you'll be=sorrier to know that I wasn't even there=that night."= "G.o.ddammit, Webb," I said under my=breath. "This is serious. Stop s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g=around."= "Dad, I'm not kidding. I wasn't there. I=was in Paris."= "With me," Coco said. "And I can prove=it!"= She pulled a digital camera from her bag=and turned it around so we could see the=pictures stored on it.= "See?" she said. "Here we are at an=Internet cafe. The time and date are right=there on the picture. And here we are with=Glen Campbell."= "Glen Campbell?" Daisy said.= "Well, just his picture on YouTube,"=Coco explained. "And here are a couple=more =pictures =of =us." =She =handed =the=camera to the officer. "Oh, and just so you=know, Webb and I exchanged bags. But=we're still ent.i.tled to five hundred dollars=from the airline. We earned it."= "Coco, please," Daisy said, squirming.="That has nothing to do with this."= The officer wasn't listening. He was too=busy =scowling =as =he =clicked =through=Coco's digital images. Then he turned to=me.= "But you say your son was with you on=Tuesday night in Madrid."= "I =thought =he =was," =I =admitted =with=equal parts joy and embarra.s.sment. "He e-=mailed me throughout the night, telling me=how much he was enjoying the show."= "Sorry, Dad," Webb said. And then he=explained how he'd programmed his e-=mail account to send me messages so I=wouldn't know he was gone.= By =the =time =the =inquisition =ended, =I=didn't know who was more confused: me=or =our =French =interrogator. =He =finally=released us after more than four hours of=questioning-and after the real =leader of=Cinco =por =Cinco =was =apprehended =in= Madrid.= "We have to call Solange," Daisy said.=We were walking, all four of us, with our=bags through the terminal. I turned on my=BlackBerry. I had two new messages.= =.

Fr: [email protected]= To: [email protected]= Subject: OK= Just in case you get this message=before =we =talk, =I =am =fine. =I =was=having =coffee =on =the =Plaza =Mayor=with =Maria =Luciana =when =the=explosion occurred. And to think I=volunteered to curate a quilt show for=those idiots! The Crystal =Palace is=gone. The exhibit destroyed. But no=deaths or serious injuries, so that is=good. I am trying to get in touch with=the police. The electrical contractor=tells me the caterer (remember? he=said his father died?) was a member=of =Cinco =por =Cinco-and =hired="waiters," also members of Cinco por=Cinco, to dump many bags of oats=down the toilets. The septic system=backed up resulting in a sewer gas=explosion-and =a =stinky =mess. =I=suppose =I =need =to =start =running=background checks on the people I=hire, yes? Anyway, I am on my way to=Paris now. We will talk later. If you=see Daisy, tell her I am fine. I cannot=get through to her on the cell.= I remembered the earlier problems with=the toilets. I thought someone had poured=wet cement down them. Could it have been=oats? So this is what they meant by low-=tech terrorism.= I sent Solange a quick message ("Thank=G.o.d you're okay. We'll talk soon."). Then=I opened my second message. I read it,=barely breathing.= =.

Fr: [email protected]: : Why You're an a.s.s(continued) I didn't have time before-andperhaps I wasn't in the proper frameof mind-to fully respond to the noteyou left in my bag. But I have a fewmoments now, and there's somethingI'd like to tell you. It's about a boyfriend I had in college. Weagreed before we left school for thesummer that we'd keep in touch bywriting letters. I lived in Chicago.He lived in Rhode Island. He wroteme one letter in early June. I wrotehim probably 20 letters. And I keptwriting, waiting for him to writeback. Or call. We'd agreed back atschool that we'd call each other andhang up after one ring-becauseneither of us had money for long-distance phone calls back then, andthe phone company doesn't chargefor calls that don't get answered.But he never called me. Never. Noteven a one-ringer. How do I knowthis? Because I sat next to the d.a.m.nphone all summer long. And when Iwent back to college in the fall, Ifound out he'd moved in with an oldgirlfriend in the middle of June to"save money." Which meant I'dbeen calling and hanging up onsomebody else's phone all summerlong. And even worse than that, I'dgotten my hopes up that someone outthere was thinking about me;someone who needed me more thanhe wanted me. (I'm referring to aline from a Jimmy Webb song. Nevermind. You wouldn't understand.) Mypoint is, I was crazy about that guy.Emphasis on crazy. And I resolvedthat I would never again put myselfin that situation-which resulted inmy dating men I didn't especiallywant or need or even *like* fordecades. But recently I met a guywho had a lot going for him: kind,handsome, good job, decentconversationalist. And he seemed tolike me. (Always an admirablequality in a man.) And I'll bed.a.m.ned if I didn't get b.u.t.terflies inmy stomach every time he called. Hewas funny. He was obviously a goodfather. And a wonderful brother. And(AND!) I found out last night that hehas somebody back home. My point?I fell into the same G.o.dd.a.m.n trapthat I fell in when I was 20 yearsold. And okay, maybe part of it's myfault. Maybe I let my guard down.Maybe it was jet lag. The fact thatyou were able to stick a note in mybag without me noticing it suggests Ihaven't been as careful lately as Ishould've been. So I take someresponsibility for that. But if itweren't for guys like him and youand Chuck who hit on women whenyou already HAVE someone at home -or someone you're TRAVELINGWITH, I wouldn't FALL into thistrap. Do you get it? Am I makingmyself clear? Some idiotic reporterwrote a story with the headline"What Does Daisy Sprinkle Want?"Can I tell you what I want? I want tostop wanting things I can't have. Iwant to stop falling for jerks I don'tneed. And I want to stop feeling likean f/ing gooey b.u.t.ter cake somebodyleft out in the rain, which is anotherJimmy Webb reference (also W. H.Auden) that you wouldn'tunderstand, you stupid, selfish,philandering coach-cla.s.s jacka.s.s.

CHAPTER 76"Daisy".

Oh, pleasec "How did you get my-" I started to say=when Andrew handed me his BlackBerry.=But then it hit me. "You put that note in my=bag?"= He hung his head, but smiled in the=affirmative. "Sorry?"= My brain absorbed the news while my=body =burned =with =the =white =heat =of=profound embarra.s.sment. Andrew and I=were =walking =behind =Coco =and =Webb,=who seemed to have a lot to say to each=other =now =that =they =had =explained=everything to us.= "And the person you were traveling with=was . . . Webb?" I asked.= "Yes," he said. "And Solange is fine.=She =thinks =the =caterer =was =behind =the=explosion."= "The guy who backed out at the last=minute?"= "Right. He was the reason she asked you=to help, remember? Kismet?"= "Kismet," I repeated softly.= I felt a solid lump of shame in my=stomach. As I saw it, I had two options:=one was to kill myself; the other was to=change the subject.= "So how do we feel about the fact that=our =kids =are =escape =artists?" =I =asked=breezily.= "I =don't =know," =Andrew =answered.= "Maybe I should be mad at Webb for what=he did. But the truth is, I've never been=prouder of him. Think how much effort he=put =into =meeting =Coco =in =Paris. =It's=impressive. And I thought your daughter=wasn't a risk taker."= "I didn't think she was," I said, my mind=still =in =a =swirl. ="I =thought =Webb =had=inertia."= "What do I know?" Andrew said. "I'm=just his dad."= I smiled. "But what about the lies they=told us? Doesn't that bother you?"= "A =little," =he =said. ="But =in =light =of=everything else, it seems a small price to=pay. Speaking of prices, what was Coco=saying about five hundred dollars from the=airline?"= "Oh. Speaking of lies."= I told Andrew about the lie I'd told=Coco. It was part of my new resolution,=established in that moment, to be more=honest with myself and everyone around=me.= "It seemed worth five hundred dollars to=buy her a better att.i.tude," I confessed. "I=was afraid her p.i.s.sy mood was going to= ruin my vacation."= "Why was she in a . . . p.i.s.sy mood?"= "The age. It's not easy to be eighteen.=Plus, her prom is this weekend. Tonight, in=fact."= "Should I tell Webb?" he asked. "He=could buy her some flowers. We're not=going =to =get =a =flight =out =of =here =until=tomorrow morning at the earliest. They=could have a nice date tonight."= I looked at Coco walking with Webb.=Her head was thrown back in laughter at=something he was saying. "I think they're=managing =just =fine =without =us," =I =said.="Besides, =n.o.body =dates =anymore,=remember? But speaking of dates."= "Do you want to go to prom tonight?"=Andrew asked.= "No," I said, forcing a smile. "I don't=date-not men I like, anyway."= "Why not?"="Because I'm no good at it."="I think you should let me be the judge= of that," he said. "I had the best date of my= life a few nights ago with you."="Really?"="Daisy, you're the most lovable person= I've ever met."= "No, =I'm =not. =I'm =a =hothead. =I'm=judgmental. I have a short fuse. Honestly, I=don't even like being around myself most=of the time."= "You're too hard on yourself."="Don't you mean I'm too hard on other=people?"= "Well, =as =only =a ='pretty =decent=conversationalist,' =I'm =not =sure =I'm=qualified to continue this conversation."= "Oh, =G.o.d," =I =said, =hiding =my =face=behind one hand.=We walked in silence for a few steps= before Andrew addressed the heart of my=message.= "I knew that college boyfriend was no=good," he said. "I just knew it."= I laughed nervously.= "I'm serious," he said. "Who could call=you and let it ring once? And what if you'd=answered? Would he have hung up on=you?"= "Keep =in =mind, =it =was =my =idea," =I=replied. "And that he never called."= "That's beside the point," he said. "Any=man who would agree to a plan like that is=no good." He paused before continuing in a=softer voice. "Why didn't you tell me the=real =story =about =what =happened =that=summer?"= "I just remembered it =last night. It all=came back to me at the restaurant when you=. . . well, you know." I tried to smile. "I=told you I have relations.h.i.+p Alzheimer's."= "Yes, you did," he said. "And did I tell=you that I'm not a one-ring-and-hang-up=kind of guy?"= "No, I don't believe you did."= "Well, it's true. And there's something=else." He stopped walking and turned to=face me. "Remember when I called you at=Solange's? =How =many =times =was =it-=three? Four?"= "Five," I said.= "Right. =And =do =you =know =that =with=every phone call, when it was time to hang=up, I could barely make myself do it? I=stayed on the =line =long after you'd hung=up."= "Really?F "Every single time."= "You were still on the line, like the=Wichita Lineman?"= He looked startled. "Is that what that=song means?" He took a breath. "If it does,=I'm him. The only difference is that I want=you as much as I need you."= I elbowed him in the ribs. "You sure=talk a smooth game, Mr. Lineman. I bet you=say that to all the girls."= He shook his head. "I've never said that=before to anybody."= An =hour =later, =the =four =of =us =were=climbing =out =of =a =taxi =in =Montmartre,=where =we =found =a =shaky =Solange=unpacking her suitcase.= "Spend the night with me?" she asked,=hugging us one by one. "I know this place=is small, but-"= "No, it's perfect!" insisted Coco. "It'll=be like a slumber party."= "Exactly," said Solange. "Here, help me=rearrange the furniture. I have a sleeping=bag I keep rolled up and stashed behind my=couch."= Andrew and I looked at each other and=smiled. =Already =we =had =private =jokes.= How had this happened so fast?= And what was this, anyway?= The desire to be desired by one youdesire. My mind spun back to that old=Jesuit priest in the cold stone chapel.= And so we stayed for the night-on the=condition that I be allowed to cook dinner.=I sent Coco and Webb to the neighborhood=grocer's with a list. While they were gone,=Andrew and I had a chance to fill Solange=in on everything. She was still clapping her=hands when the kids returned with food=and flowers for everyone.= I made an old-fas.h.i.+oned, 100 percent=predigital tuna ca.s.serole that I updated=with =a =little =Camembert, =which =Webb=cutely removed and set to one side of his=plate without comment. After dinner, Coco=taught Webb how to make creme brulee.=They made a mess, but it was perfect.= On =reflection, =that's =not =a =bad=description for the whole trip. The kids=made a mess, but it really was perfect.=Because I realized that night I had exactly=what I wanted and needed: a wonderful,=quirky =daughter =who =I =didn't =always=understand and who clearly didn't always=obey me. But she would do just fine in=college-and, more important, in life.= I =had =a =generous =best =friend =who'd=known me for twenty years and understood=me better than I understood myself.= And I had a new friend: a kind man with=a good heart and an adorable son.= There we were, the five of us, cinco porcinco, talking and laughing all night long.=n.o.body wrote an e-mail or sent a text.=n.o.body felt the need to get online. There=was no steak sauce in sight. Or televisions=-flat screen or otherwise.= Sometime after midnight Solange pushed=Andrew out the door, purportedly because=she wanted more wine. But it was clear=she wanted to talk to me privately in the=living room while Coco and Webb sang= "MacArthur Park" and washed the dishes.= "He =is =an =exhibit =s.p.a.ce =designer,"=Solange reminded me in a whisper. "So=you must give him s.p.a.ce. Can you do=that?"= "Of course," I whispered back, a bit=defensively. "But Solange, don't rush me.=Andrew and I just met a few days ago. And=anyway, I need s.p.a.ce, too."= "I know you do," she said. "But you=have had a lifetime of s.p.a.ce."= Solange looked at me hard. This was the=woman who had known me when I was=pregnant with Coco. She helped me make=the hardest and best decision of my life. I=was certain she was going to tell me, once=again, to stop smoking, stop drinking, and=stop feeling sorry for myself.= Solange's phone was ringing. "d.a.m.n=that =thing!" =she =said. =She =grabbed =the=phone and tossed it in the kitchen. "Coco,=you can get this for me? Take a message."= "Sure thing," Coco said.= Solange refocused her attention on me. I=could almost hear what she was going to=say.= "I stopped smoking twenty years ago," I=said, closing my eyes. "And I never have=more than two gla.s.ses of wine."= "Uh-huh," =Solange =said =sarcastically,=holding an empty bottle in each hand.= "Okay, almost never," I admitted. "I=really don't. If I do, I wake up with a=cras.h.i.+ng headache the next morning. As for=feeling sorry for myself, I haven't and I=don't, but even if I did-"= "Hey, =Mom," =Coco =yelled =from =the=kitchen.= "Just a second, honey," I answered.= "But Mo-om," Coco continued.= That's =when =Solange =put =the =wine=bottles on the table and took my face in her=hands.= "Dammit, Daisy," she said. "I can hear=you through the wine. Stop talking and start=feeling happy for yourself-"= "Mom," =Coco =interrupted. =She =was=holding a dish towel in one hand and the=phone =in =the =other. ="It's =for =you. =It's=Andrew."= I kissed Solange. Then I took the phone=from my beautiful, capable daughter. I put=the phone to my ear and said calmly and=with confidence, "h.e.l.lo."=

Acknowledgments".

I am grateful to many wonderful people=who shared their time and talents with me=as I wrote this book. Thanks to Kelly=Bates-Siegel =and =Abby =Adams =for=cheering me along from the very first draft.=I am also hopelessly devoted to James=Klise and Tim Bryant, both of whom I=turned to often to ask, "What would a guy=like Andrew be thinking now?" Even when=I ignored your responses, I appreciated=them. A big, name-in-lights thank-you to=Elise Howard for introducing me to my=brilliant editor, Lucia Macro. Thanks to=Diahann =Sturge =for =her =page =design=wizardry. Of course I am grateful to Jimmy=Webb =for =writing ="Wichita =Lineman,"=which is simply the best song in the whole=wide world. And to the guy who slipped=the note in my carry-on bag on that long-=ago =flight =from =St. =Louis =to =Atlanta:=whoever you are, wherever you are, thank=you for planting the seed for this book.=

About the Author"

KATE KLISE spent fifteen years working=as a correspondent for People magazine,=covering everything from country music to=reality =TV =to =rappers, =rockers, =serial=killers, and serial s.e.xiest Man Alive, Brad=Pitt.= When =she =wasn't =reporting =for =the=magazine, Kate was home on her forty-acre= Missouri =farm, =writing =award-winning=children's books such as Regarding theFountain, =Dying to Meet You, =and=Grounded.= In the Bag is Kate's first novel for=adults-and =the =only =book =that =was=inspired by a handwritten note she found in=her carry-on bag after a long flight.= For =more =about =Kate =Klise, =visit=www.kateklise.com.= =V=i=s=i=t www.AuthorTracker.com =for=exclusive =information =on =your =favorite=HarperCollins authors.=

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