Diamond Girl

Chapter 21



The year I turned nineteen was in a lot of ways the best year of my life. Well, I don’t want to sound all self-pitying and pathetic, even though, honestly, my present situation totally justifies sounding that way. I had two almost perfect years, actually.

Michael was the reason for them. In trying to be perfect for him, I ended up having a lot of fun. Until Michael, I didn’t really do much. I had left college, moved into my own apartment, started going out every night in Milan’s wake and spent my days sleeping, shopping and getting ready to go out again. None of it, not the apartment or the going out, had much to do with me. I was living where my mother had put me and trailing after my best friend. I guess I was a kind of tourist in my own life. Michael changed that totally.

He pointed out to me that the people I was close to had things of their own. He didn’t come right out and say 'get a life', or more specifically, 'get a job', but the inference was pretty obvious.

The whole job thing in my world is kind of a murky area. We don’t really have jobs in the traditional sense of the word. I mean, for example, I have never met anyone who has actually filled out an application and been hired to do the same thing day after day. A lot of us do work, or a kind of work, but in jobs we have created.

I mean, Daddy bought a football team, and Aunt Georgia built an orphanage and, amongst my friends, Milan became a celebrity, whatever that means, but it is still a job where you get paid and people expect you to show up. Christy wasn’t working but she was busy all day at school learning to design things she could sell later, and Michael had his P.R. company, which thanks to signing Milan, had taken off pretty quickly.

I didn’t mind the idea of having a career at all, I just didn’t know what to do. I kind of vaguely wanted to be famous, but when I had my monthly lunch with Daddy and brought it up, he wasn’t too encouraging.

Daddy had moved out of his temporary digs at Trump Towers and into a suite at The Carlyle. He wasn’t really a Trump Towers kind of guy. I think he missed the Kelleher apartment, but since my mother was in it, he would rather be homeless, as he was, than go back there. I know he could have bought something, but we don’t really do that kind of thing very often, or at least the primary Kellehers - the Kells - don’t.

Eight Hundred Fifth Avenue was his home and he was biding his time. I didn’t know for what, back then, but I get it now. He was totally done with my mother and was never going back, but he was a looong way from moving in and setting up house with his beautiful new girlfriend, Sarah.

Sarah made Daddy as happy as men like my father ever are, which is 'somewhat'. Daddy is not some kid, and even if he were, he is too inward and buttoned up and unemotional for big romantic scenarios. Sarah was/is much younger, very pretty, well dressed and, as far as Daddy knows, exists only to please him. As far as I know too, since she has never been anything but sweet to me. If there is another hard as nails, ambitious bitch side to her, say a side like both sides of my mother, I would have been the last person she would have revealed it to.

In return for her being his perfect mistress, Daddy had purchased an apartment at Trump for her. Trump Towers is actually a really fun place to live. It’s a lot livelier than other equally pricey square footage in Manhattan. Donald is his own co-op board, so he lets in whoever he feels like: actresses and models, sports people, mistresses. I think poor old Marla lived there when she was his mistress, as a matter of fact.

Nowadays, of course, he reigns happily from his penthouse with his new gorgeous trophy wife - a stretch model - and the son she so cleverly produced. Of course The Donald already had sons; Daddy was the son-less one.

Anyway, it’s a blast over at Trump Towers. I would have liked an apartment there but, of course, mother had picked out my apartment which was her idea of the fantasy young New York debutante apartment: old building, old doorman, old co-op board. She never did understand that what she pretended to be, what I had been since birth, didn’t need the trappings.

Aunt Georgia lived at Trump, boy did she ever, twenty thousand square feet, which included every necessity, like a small indoor zoo. Despite this, she was always arguing with the Donald because Aunt Georgia loved to swim and she wanted her own Olympic size pool in her apartment. The Donald argued back, reasonably enough, that if she took the elevator downstairs she could avail herself of the sixty foot pool and world class spa already in the building. New York apartments do not have indoor pools; the people on the lower floors find the idea pretty unnerving. Still, I saw Aunt Georgia’s point too. A private indoor pool is a magic thing and it was sad that she could only have them at her outlying houses in Vail and Connecticut.

Aunt Georgia had been delighted when Daddy had leased at Trump, but poor Daddy, his sister, his pretty mistress, a lobby filled with people he would never have dreamed of associating with calling out hello to him, it was invasive and he retreated to the quieter world of the Carlyle like a shocky animal.

When Aunt Georgia, who I saw at least once a week, had told me that Daddy was moving out of Trump, I called him up and begged him to buy an apartment in my building which was a very old school Kelleher kind of place.

I envisioned us being able to spend tons of time together. Excitedly I pitched the advantages to him, promising I would learn to cook and would bring him Carey-catered dinners every night. He was sweet, like always, and said that he wasn’t certain of wanting to buy right then. I got it - too much daughter.

He did say he was delighted to hear from me, though, and asked about the apartment, and Petal, and what I was up to, and, seeing my need even if he didn’t understand it, he was the one who came up with our monthly rain-or-shine lunch dates, or, if the Lions were playing, he would take me to a game.

A couple of weeks after meeting Michael, I saw Daddy for lunch at The Brook on East 54th. Daddy loved the stuffy old ‘all is right with the world’ atmosphere at The Brook, and I had been meeting him in the dark rooms there for lunch since I was in Mary Jane’s and not Manolos’, so I loved it too. To me, it was our place.

For Daddy, I wore little Ralph Lauren Black Label dresses. I bought them and wore them only for him. Nubby linen and tearoom was how he loved to see me, and that day at lunch I made sure to look like his perfect princess.

His eyes lit up when I walked in twenty minutes late. He kissed me. “There’s my girl. You look beautiful, sweetheart. Sit down and catch up your old father on what New York’s prettiest is doing.”

I laughed and kissed him again before I sat down. We exchanged our customary dimples and I stared at him with the pure one-of-a-kind pleasure seeing him gave me before gushing out my news.

“Well, Daddy, it’s been a big month. First, I met the most wonderful boy and second I am in love - can you believe it?”

He shook his head bemused. “No, I can’t quite believe it. Who is this horrible boy that’s making my little girl so happy?”

“His name is Michael Annador. He has his own P.R. company. His parents are such nice people. His dad is over at Bear Sterns and his mother has a little art gallery. He has a sister at Cornell, no pets and he’s crazy about me.” I finished talking on a little bounce.

Daddy didn’t say anything for a minute. He gestured for our waiter and ordered for both of us like he always did.

When we were alone again he said. “Well, I’d like to meet him, then. You can fly out with him next week to watch the Lions in spring training. I’ve taken a place in Savannah for the season. I’m sure he would enjoy seeing the team.”

I nodded, waited for it, and he didn’t disappoint. “He knows who you are?”

“He does, Daddy, and he doesn’t care. It’s just me he wants.”

He nodded with an expression that I couldn’t read then, but know now was pity.

“Then he is very smart and I will look forward to getting to know him better. Any other news, Carey K? Have you considered returning to Brown? I think I can sway the Board of Regents enough to let you live with Petal in off-campus housing after all.”

I was grateful he was willing to meet Michael, who I knew would love the whole toy football team deal, and hurt that he had moved on so quickly, but I didn’t protest. He didn’t like arguments. Instead, I used his question to ask him for career advice. “No, Daddy, I’m sorry but I just … well, Brown, the whole college thing, it’s not really me.”

“I see. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Oh no, Daddy, please don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad, Carolyn, I’m disappointed. There is a significant difference.”

I started to cry, and at The Brook of all places. Poor Daddy was horrified. “Sweetheart, stop that, calm down. Come on, Carey K, I told you I wasn’t angry at you. Don’t sweetheart. Please. People are looking at us.” Daddy really couldn’t bear emotion.

I tried to stop but it was him, he whose opinions made my sun rise or set. Still crying, I stuttered, “But … I … I don’t want you to … be … be diss … a … a … pointed in me, not ever, and you called me Carolyn.”

Daddy reached over and took my hand, showing unprecedented physical affection. “Good Lord, so I did, though it is your name, and my favorite name in the world. Still, if I promise never to utter it again, will you stop crying?”

I gave a little sob. “Maybe.”

“Can I see it?”

I tried to keep a stern expression but flashed him a half-dimple anyway. “Maybe.”

He showed me his in return and shook his head. “You are a great deal of trouble. Now I suppose I will have to apologize and buy you a present.”

Totally smiling by then, I nodded. “Definitely.”

He laughed. “Well it won’t be easy, Miss Kelleher. You have even amazed the imperturbable Herbert with your spending recently. What in the world is there left to buy in Manhattan from a poor father?”

“Are you mad about my bills, Daddy?”

“No, I’m not, I’m mad about you. I’m only disappointed.”

We both laughed.

“Disappointed that there is probably nothing left that you want that I can get for you.”

“Daddy, I love you and, anyway, yes there is. I want a career.”

The waiter brought our entrées and we both fell silent until after he left. Daddy looked non-plussed. “A career? Sweetheart, doing what, and why this sudden drive to work? I was joking about the bills you know.”

“Oh, I know, Daddy, though,” I sighed heavily, “shopping in Manhattan is no laughing matter, I’ll tell you.” His eyes twinkled. “But I really do want a career. Everybody I know has somewhere to go all day and I don’t.”

“Your young man?”

“Him too. I told you that he has a P.R. business.”

“Yes, of course, P.R. Hmm, well, what are you interested in?”

“Maybe acting or modeling. Of course, I’m so short so I guess acting if ...”

He was shaking his head. “No, I think not on the acting, sweetheart. Neither of us would be comfortable with that. Maybe you should take up collecting. That can be very rewarding and there are auctions, and that entails travel, and personally I ...”

“Collecting? Daddy, I don’t want to collect anything but shoes.”

“Well Carey, I wasn’t speaking of collecting stamps. There are many ...”

I cut him off impatiently. “Oh, I know I could collect art, that I don’t care about, or books, that I don’t read, or furniture, that I have, but I don’t want to. I want to do something fun and glamorous.”

In a quiet voice he said. “And this something fun and glamorous has to be in the papers?”

I hesitated and backed down. “No, I guess not. Maybe something behind the scenes would be fun too.”

He smiled then. “Well, let me ponder on this and make a few calls. I imagine I’ll have some thoughts before long. Meantime, if you are at all interested in making your old father happy ...”

“Anything, Daddy.”

“Sweetheart, you are such a good girl. Well then, would you consider being my official hostess at some of the Diabetes Foundation events?”

“Of course, Daddy, I’d be happy to do it, you know that, but mother …”

He frowned. “Yes, she has become quite involved but I would prefer to see my own daughter, the girl the foundation was created for and named after, out in front more, and your mother rather less.”

“Fine, Daddy, happy to do it. Would you like to tell her or should I?”

“Oh I think … well, you see ...”

“No problem, Daddy. I’m happy to be the one to tell her and, Daddy, how is Sarah these days?”

His lips tightened. “She’s fine, Carey. Thank you for asking.”

“I didn’t mean to be nosy, Daddy. I like Sarah, I do. Please tell her I said hello and that I would love to get together for lunch, or shopping, sometime.”

His face softened. He groaned in pretended distress. “Oh no, I can’t pass on that message. Sarah is becoming quite competent at shopping, but if she gets in the hands of the ‘terror of Fifth Avenue, Miss Kelleher’, I will have to relocate to a park bench within the month.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not that bad, Daddy.”

He rolled his in return and signaled for the check. “You are, you are, but then look at you.” He sighed in pretend resignation. “I suppose you will need an entire new wardrobe of evening dresses for foundation work?”

I nodded. “Oh, probably.” I glanced at my watch. “In fact I’d better go get started now.”

We stood. He kissed my cheek again. “So you’ll be calling your mother soon?”

“Yup, right away. In fact, if I can make my daily run through at Bergdorf’s short …” He winced and laughed. “… I might surprise the old girl with a drop-in visit. It’s been a while.”

Daddy walked me as far as the curb and saw me to the car. Waving away the chauffeur, he opened the door and, when I was seated, leaned inside. “Okay, sweetheart. You go beard the old lion.” We both laughed then, but speaking more seriously he said, “But be careful. She still has some teeth left and, by the way, young lady, when are you going to learn to drive?”

“Oh, almost immediately, Daddy. Michael has been teaching me already. I'll even show you next week at training, okay? I don’t think there’s much I can run over in North Carolina.”

He shook his head, leaned out and waved off the driver who asked me where I wanted to go. I gave him the address of the home I’d grown up in.