The Pearl Diver by Sujata Massey Read Free Book Online Page A

some extra accessories that I hadn’t expected: a twin at the end of each arm.
    I wish she’d told me, I thought to myself. I’d had to clear my guests with Marshall, and I’d definitely not mentioned children. At the moment, Marshall was scrutinizing the two children as if they were a couple of homeless beggars who had wandered in.
    “Hey, sweetie,” Kendall said. “The restaurant is just gorge. Winnie, look at the pretty color on the walls. What color is that?”
    “Boo,” said Win Junior.
    “No, it’s purpur! Purpur!” shrieked Jacqueline, causing heads to turn.
    “Let’s get them comfortable right away,” I said to Kendall, handing an unsmiling Andrea the twins’ tiny dirt-and mucus-smeared down jackets.
    “I’ll need two high chairs right away, and the kiddie menus,” Kendall said to Andrea.
    “We don’t have any,” Andrea said coolly.
    “Really? You opened a restaurant with no high chairs?” Kendall countered with her own glare.
    “We aren’t geared to babies,” Andrea replied coldly. “However, we do have a booster seat. But just one. And as far as children’s food, Chef can prepare smaller portions of regular adult meals, if you like.”
    “Okay. I’ll stash Winnie in the booster and Rei and I will trade off holding Jacqueline. I understand this is the opening night and all, but you will probably need to improve your seating. Lesson learned!” Kendall said cheerfully.
    Without answering, Andrea led us to the table. Kendall made a face at me, and I mouthed my apologies to her. I was sorry. The restaurant should have had high chairs and at least a few booster seats. But how could I locate baby furniture that looked as if it was a hundred years old and Asian?
    The children played underneath the table, tugging at the white tablecloth so vigorously that I was on the verge of saying something. Finally, Carla the runner appeared with a plastic booster seat. Kendall strapped it around a chair and hoisted Win inside.
    “I didn’t mean to bring them,” Kendall said. “The problem is that I’d forgotten I gave our au pair the night off to go to a dance at the Naval Academy. I didn’t want to stand you up, and I have big news I wanted you to be the second to know about.”
    “Another baby?” I could ask happily, because a week earlier I’d gotten a tiny bit of proof that I wasn’t going to have one myself.
    Kendall looked as if I’d slapped her. “I guess you can tell that Imissed last week’s sessions with my trainer. When I stop lifting weights, my metabolism goes haywire.” She sighed. “Actually, I’ve been so busy because I agreed to organize a fund-raising dinner for Harp Snowden. I’m considering this as a possible location.”
    “Wow! If you have the dinner here, Marshall and Jiro will be ecstatic!” And I would be, too, if pictures of my beautiful restaurant showed up on television and in news magazines all over the country.
    “It’s going to be fun, but a ton of work. We’re meeting next week to start thinking about the logistics of it all. Food, music, the works!” Kendall snapped her fingers, and the twins started to giggle. “For music I’m thinking about trying to get Coldplay—they’re interested in liberal politics, you know. And doesn’t Hugh just love them?”
    “We both do, but you know, Hugh isn’t a citizen, he can’t vote—”
    “No biggie. He can still donate; there’s no law against that yet.” Kendall made a face. “I’m going to have a hell of a time convincing Win to write a check, though. He’s gotten so cranky about money lately.”
    “Well, he was a Republican before he married you, right?”
    “Still is.” Kendall made a face. “Thank God I have Grand’s trust to tap into for my own use. He’d never go for me spending his money on my candidates.”
    “Is Win joining us later?” I inquired.
    Kendall shook her head. “He has a late appointment in northern Virginia. It drives me crazy, but that’s what I deserve for marrying