Searching for Moore (27 page)

Mia looked at Schooner, holding her breath. He rubbed her hand in his and the look in his eyes said, “No worries, Baby Girl.”

Gary continued, “At age forty, the biggest risk is for Down’s Syndrome. The statistics are 1 in 90 births, which is considerably higher than 1 in 1300 for a woman who is twenty-five.” Mia realized she wasn’t breathing, she could feel the strength emanating from Schooner’s hand to hers, that same strength he infused in her the night that she was raped. “In about a month, we’ll do some blood tests looking for some normal first trimester proteins, a few weeks after that we’ll do Alpha-fetoprotein testing and at the same time we’ll do an early Quad Marker Screen testing for four substances that come from the baby’s blood, brain, spinal fluid and amniotic fluid. At that point, we’ll also do an amniocentesis. We have a Geneticist here on staff and I’m going to have the two of you meet with him.”

He stopped and looked from Mia to Schooner then back to Mia. “You are in good health, Mia and we’re going to watch you closely. If there are any issues, we’re going to detect it early and act accordingly.”

“Meaning?” Mia asked.

“Meaning a lot of different things — if we need to put you on bed rest, we’ll put you on bed rest.” He turned to Schooner and smiled, “Good luck with that one,” and the two men laughed. “Like I said, you’re in good health and your chances for a normal pregnancy are good. But you are high-risk and we’ll watch you. For now, enjoy your life, eat healthy, don’t drink, moderate exercise, take your prenatal vitamins and enjoy being pregnant.”

As he saw them out, he gave Mia a huge hug, “I am so thrilled for you both,” and to Schooner, “Take care of our girl.”

Yoli stood in the middle of the rotunda looking up at the frescos. “Holy shit Schooner, the pictures did not do this place justice. I cannot believe this. This space is not for real.”

Schooner just smiled, looking up at the cove lit frescos, “Pretty amazing, huh. We’re coming along on the build out faster than I thought.”

“I can see. They really do things in a New York minute here, huh.” They were ascending the main marble staircase. “Amazing.” Yoli was blown away looking at all the architectural details.

“Come, let me show you the offices,” he ushered her into an area away from the rotunda. They entered a space with floor to ceiling windows. “Like my new office?” He flashed his catalogue smile, as he stood next to one of the windows.

“Are you ever coming home again?” She asked.

“I am home, Yoli,” he gave her a real smile.

“I was afraid you were going to say that,” she leaned up on the window frame facing him, “we need to talk about California.”

“I want you to run it — all of it. It’s about time I made you COO and let’s backfill you in the CMO role. You’ve got some good people working under you, I don’t think you’ll need to go outside, unless there’s someone you want to bring in.”

“Did you just promote me?” She had a look on her face saying, “You didn’t really just do that?”

He nodded and laughed, “YOU are the only thing I’ve missed about California.” He opened his arms and she went to him for an embrace.

“Yeah well, I’ve missed your cranky ass, too,” she gazed out the window, “What am I looking at?”

“Downtown. The financial district. That’s the Freedom Tower.”

She nodded and continued to look out the window before finally turning back to Schooner who was casually leaning against the opposite side of the carved window frame watching her. “You’re happy, Schooner.” It was a statement. “I’ve never seen you so full of life as you are here. Mia is clearly really good for you.”

He nodded. “She is really good for me. I did not think I’d ever be this happy again in my life, Yoli. It’s a gift and I know it and trust me, I am treating it accordingly.” Schooner admitted. He put an arm around her shoulder and they started back toward the rotunda. “Let’s head over to Mia’s office, I know she and Kami were bringing lunch into the conference room and we’re going to make it a working lunch.” He shrugged, “Working lunch. Totally a New York thing. I’m really excited to have you finally meet Mia, but I also have to admit that I’m more than a little scared.”

“Why is that?” The first hints of early spring were in the air when they stepped through the massive front entrance of the soon-to-be L9/NYC into the bright sunshine. Schooner stepped to the curb and hailed a cab, making Yoli think, he’s really got this down.

“I really want you two to like each other.”

“Well, I really like Kami a lot and she says wonderful things about Mia. And… “ she looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

“…And what?” He shifted to face her, the black leather seat of the yellow cab creaking.

“I spoke to Holly.” Yoli looked almost contrite. Almost, being the operative word.

“…And?” Schooner urged, surprised by Yoli’s admission.

“She had great things to say about Mia, but more importantly, the thing that struck her the most, Schooner, was the change in you. You’re happy.”

Schooner nodded and looked out the window as the streets passed by.

They were laughing so hard, it didn’t feel like they were working. Yoli was immediately blown away by the casual chic atmosphere of the agency that clearly came top down from their Levi’s clad owner. Levi’s, Yoli thought refreshingly, not 7 For All Mankind or Dolce & Gabana, but a well-worn, broken in pair of Levi’s. And they weren’t even camel-toe tight, they were more like boyfriend jeans.

“I think you’ll be soft-opening in summer,” Mia was saying, “which is good, because a lot of people are out of town and it’s just a great time to work out the kinks,” they all agreed. “My recommendation is that we don’t do the big event until after Labor Day when everyone is back in town. Here’s what I’m thinking, Fashion Week is the week after Labor Day, make it part of the Fashion Week festivities. Means a lot of stars in town. Everyone is party hopping, throw a big opening gala in conjunction. Will give everyone something to look forward to in the fall social season.”

“Do we run the risk of getting lost in the shuffle?” Kami threw out on the table.

“We do if we don’t do it right. If we do it right, we can garner a lot of press out of it. If we launch prior, it’s pre-Labor Day and no one is in town and if we wait until later in September, we lose a lot of the star power that will be in town for Fashion Week — many of whom are already L9 members. I think we’re locked into a box and we just need to manage it to our advantage.”

Yoli made some notes on her laptop, “I’ll pull a member roster so that we can start taking a look at who we think will be in town for Fashion Week. We have a lot of models.”

“We have enough time,” Mia began, “to pull this together and really work on the details and make it a huge event. My concern is that is runs smoothly and the fact that we’re brand new, transparent to the attendees.”

Grabbing a Black & white cookie from a tray at the center of the conference room table and looking at it like “I can’t believe I’m going to eat this,” Schooner turned to Yoli and said, “Do we have our list together of staff that we want here for the opening and transition period?” Yoli pulled a sheet from a manila folder and slid it over to Schooner. He looked over the list. “I wonder how they’re going to feel about sleeping bags?” Schooner muttered. All eyes turned to him. He looked up stone-faced and looked around at all the sets of eyes on him, then broke into a huge smile, a real smile, “Scared you all, huh?”

“Asshole,” muttered Yoli.

“Love her.” Mia informed Schooner, pointing to Yoli.

“A woman to abuse me on each coast. Some guys just have it all,” he quipped.

Mia looked at Yoli with her devil grin and lifted her hand for a high five, which Yoli was right there to meet.

Later in the afternoon in a small dark pub around the corner from the office, drink in hand Yoli, sat with Schooner watching Mia talk and laugh with Seth, Kami and other members of her staff.

“So, what do you think?” He asked.

“I think you got it right this time. She’s so real. And you, you’re a different person.”

“I’m me.” Schooner countered, lifting his Johnnie Walker Blue to his smiling lips.

“How bad is CJ going to make this?”

“She’s going to drag her feet as long as she can, but it’s inevitable.” Schooner shrugged.

“And how is Mia with all of that?”

“Surprisingly unfazed,” he turned to Yoli smiling and shaking his head, “She could care less. She’s just worried about the aggravation it causes me.”

Yoli tossed back the rest of her drink and motioned to the waitress for another, “Well excellent, that is one less thing you have to worry about.”

Schooner turned to Yoli, a huge grin on his face, “Did you hear that CJ called Mia?”

Yoli’s mouth momentarily hung open, “Are you serious?”

Schooner nodded, still laughing. “She accused Mia of stealing me.”

“She didn’t.” Yoli laughed.

“And Mia told her,” he was still laughing, “Not to confuse me leaving her with being stolen away.”

Yoli began to choke on her drink and Schooner patted her back, “And then she told her she was recording the call.” They were both hysterical laughing.

“I knew I liked her!” Yoli confirmed.

Schooner went on, “I guess Mia said something to her about that she was just embarrassing herself and that she wasn’t going to let her go on and CJ told her that she wasn’t done yet and Mia said, “Actually, you are.” and hit the click off on her speaker button and hung up on her ass.”

They were both roaring with laughter. Mia smiled across the dark bar at them, clearly happy to see Schooner so at ease and laughing.

When Yoli could speak again, “That’s it, it’s official, I love her.”

“Ditto. She is pretty damn adorable.” Schooner beamed looking at his love across the room.

Schooner and Mia were heading home in a cab. Schooner sat looking out the window.

“Hey, where are you?” Mia asked as they stopped at a red light.

“I’m here,” he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

Mia had noticed his preoccupation growing over the past few weeks. He had a lot on his plate; the divorce, building L9/NYC, still living two lives on two coasts while he transitioned California operations to Yoli.

“Let’s not go right home.” Mia suggested, “Let’s go get some frozen yogurt and take a walk on The High Line and watch sunset.”

As they walked The High Line, a linear elevated park built on an old railway spur on the West Side of Manhattan, Mia could feel the tension radiating off of Schooner, even though they were in this peaceful environment of people leisurely strolling and enjoying the beautiful balmy evening air, an early precursor of the spring that was waiting right around the corner.

“What is bothering you, Schooner? Please talk to me.” Mia looked up at his handsome profile, wondering how she could pull him back to her.

Mia spied an unoccupied bench and started steering them toward it. She sat down, tugging on Schooner’s hand to sit with her.

“I’m lost,” she looked at him, “Please talk to me. I’ve watched you going off into a space that doesn’t seem like a happy space for a few weeks now and I don’t know what’s going on.”

A couple with a baby in a stroller and a toddler holding mom’s hand passed by and they watched them silently.

“I’m just concerned about the tests coming up,” he finally admitted.

Mia took his face in her hands, so that she could look into his eyes, “Me too.”

“I’m afraid you and I will have different answers if things don’t turn out as well as we’re hoping,” his eyes looked sad.

Mia understood what he was saying and looked down for a moment to get her bearings. She sighed, “Schooner, can we cross that bridge when we come to it?”

“I’ve already been crossing it, Mia.”

Mia nodded her head. She knew what he wanted to hear. He wanted to hear that whatever the news was that she would continue with the pregnancy.

She took his hand and rubbed it between hers and brought it to her face, rubbed her cheek on it and kissed it. “Ok, here’s where you and I differ,” his beautiful eyes looked grave, “I can’t go there right now. I can’t go where you are going. I just can’t do it. Just thinking that things are not going to be perfect upsets me, I can physically feel the anxiety and my blood pressure gets all crazy. So, I just can’t go there. If I need to go there, because it’s reality, then I will. But I refuse to go there when it’s still speculative. I can’t do that to myself or to the baby.”

He nodded, “I just worry, Mia.”

“Well stop, Schooner. Right now you are worrying about a problem that doesn’t exist and may never exist. If we find out differently, we’re two intelligent people, we’ll figure it out. Please just enjoy this time. It’s my bliss time, Schooner. Please share it with me.” They sat in silence watching people stroll by, skateboarders, dog walkers and the sky turn from a blue the color of Schooner’s eyes to opalescent pinks and oranges into rubies and then dusk.

As they walked back to the apartment, Schooner finally started to vocalize. “I just have this overwhelming need to protect you, Mia. I feel like I have failed to do a good job of it so many times in my life.”