It was the second Wednesday in October and for the last fifteen years that meant lunch at Tavern-On-The-Green with Nora Devlin. This year I was in for a real surprise from my old college chum, even though I never expected any. Nora's questions had always been as predictable as a blizzard and sometimes just as welcome. Usually, there were two: would Hal and I be coming to her annual Halloween party and what costumes were we planning to wear? I could have also taken bets on our seating arrangement; it was always the same little table in the far corner of the dining room facing the trees. I was always grateful for the view of Central Park it offered which provided an alternate topic for conversation when the need arose, which it often did.
We had barely started eating when I sensed something different about my old friend. It took me a moment to realize what it was; she was avoiding my gaze. I guessed my recent divorce might have had something to do with it. Nora couldn't deal with change; things like analysis and pap tests and divorce made her uncomfortable. My life style changes somehow threatened hers and made me an embarrassment to her. I was guessing, but I knew Nora and was sure that I was somewhere along the right track.
"Did you think I wasn't coming this year, Nora?"
Her eyes met mine and abruptly turned away again. I reached over and stroked her very expensive chenille sleeve.
"Of course I'll be there. I wouldn't miss your party for the world."
She did not answer and something made me probe further.
"Is it because you don't want me to come alone this year? Is that it?"
The reluctant nod over her endive salad told me that I had struck a minor chord.
"Well don't worry. I won't be."
I winced at the thought of my chubby neighbor, Stanley Drake, who rather than stay home and cry because his wife had left him for a saxophone player, agreed to accompany me to Nora and Don's party. Still I felt there was something unspoken lurking behind those pastel lips of hers. Suddenly she looked at me strangely, her long, well-manicured fingers playing absently with a blonde curl at the nape of her neck.
"It's more than that, Sara," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don is bringing some new people from the office. And Ziggy Doyle is coming this year too. I'm, I'm- well- a little nervous about it."
"Oh really! I would love to see Ziggy again. He was a good friend. I…"
