Tales of the City 03 - Further Tales of the City

been middle class for years. But if you do, the story’s still the same. Say ‘foster’ every time You say ‘grandchild’ and you’ve got it licked. O.K.?”
    Frannie nodded begrudgingly. “It seems awfully silly, somehow.”
    “Mother.” DeDe’s voice was all business now. “It may seem silly to you, but it’s of vital importance. Do you understand me? The most well-meaning person could leak the story to the press before we know what hit us. Remember what Daddy used to say: ‘Loose lips sink ships.’ ”
    Frannie wrinkled her nose at her daughter. “I can do without the leaking and the sinking, thank you.”
    DeDe laughed nervously. “Bad choice. Sorry. Oh Mother, I hope you have the time of your life!”
    “I will,” smiled Frannie. “We will.”

Now, Voyagers
    T HE GANGPLANK TO THE SAGAFJORD WAS ASWARM WITH passengers, but Prue could see only one. “Look at him,” she purred. “Have you ever beheld anything more beautiful?”
    Father Paddy crossed himself, an altogether suitable reply considering the object of their scrutiny. For the creature in the Brioni blazer was beautiful, a sleek, chiseled racehorse of a man who might easily be mistaken for a diplomat or an international financier.
    “I want to run up there and hug him,” said Prue.
    “Easy,” muttered the cleric. “Clothes might make the man, but you can’t do it until the ship’s under way.”
    Prue giggled nervously. “You’re terrible, Father.”
    “Does Luke have his ticket?”
    Prue nodded. “I gave him the Olaf Trygvasson Suite. I wanted the Henrik Ibsen for myself. It seemed more literary.”
    “Entirely appropriate,” said Father Paddy. “Do you want me to come on board, by the way?”
    “That’s sweet. I’ll be able to manage, I think.”
    The priest arched an eyebrow. “I should certainly hope so.”
    “ Stop it, Father.”
    Father Paddy chuckled and hugged his friend. “Have a wonderful time, darling. I hope you meet someone marvelous on board.”
    “Something tells me I will,” smiled Prue.
    “But don’t meet him until the proper occasion arises.”
    Prue nodded. “I understand.”
    “And remember to call him Sean when other people are around.”
    “I will.”
    “And, for God’s sake, don’t fret over the fact that Frannie Halcyon is on board.”
    “What?”
    “I just spotted her on the pier. She may be seeing someone off, of course. At any rate, you have a perfect right to any romance that may happen to … come up, once you’re on board. Luke is certainly more than presentable at this point, and I doubt if Frannie …”
    “Where is she?” asked Prue. “God, that makes me nervous!”
    “Oh, Prue … lighten up. This is a vacation, remember?”
    Prue smiled gamely. “I’ll try to.”
    “God bless,” said Father Paddy.
    “Ta-ta,” said Prue.
Down on the pier, three women clustered around two small children and made uneasy chatter.
    “Now promise me,” said DeDe, squatting to confront the twins, “you’ll do everything that Gangie says.”
    Little Anna attached herself to DeDe’s neck like a koala bear. “Why don’t you come, Mommy?”
    “I can’t, sweetheart. Mommy’s got some things to do. But I’ll be right here to meet you when you get back. I promise.”
    “Will D’orothea be here then?”
    “She might, sweetheart. Mommy doesn’t know yet.”
    Mary Ann knelt next to DeDe and addressed the children: “It’s going to be so much fun. They have movies on the ship, you know. And you’ll see wonderful animals up in Alaska.”
    “What kind?” asked little Edgar.
    Mary Ann’s face went blank. “What kind?” she murmured to DeDe.
    “Uh … moose, I guess. Mooses?”
    “Big animals,” explained Mary Ann. “With big horns.” Then she saw the look on the little girl’s face, and added hastily: “But they’re very sweet … like a big ol’ dog or something.”
    DeDe rose to her feet and embraced her mother. “Thank you for doing this. I love you dearly. I hope that much is clear, at least.”
    “It is,” said Frannie, beginning to weep. “It always was, darling.”
    DeDe found a Kleenex in her purse and blotted the matriarch’s eyes. “It’s better this way,” she said. “I know they’ll be safe with their Gangie.”
    “But what could be safer than home?”
    “Now, now … you know the publicity would …”
    “It isn’t just the publicity, is it?” Frannie fixed her daughter with a gaze that demanded the truth.
    DeDe turned away, discarding