Tales of the City 03 - Further Tales of the City

company?”
    Frannie smiled. “I know you think I’m silly. I get these feelings sometimes. There’s no rational explanation for them.”
    Her fears disintegrated as soon as she saw the gossip columnist’s blonde tresses emerge from the launch.
    “You see?” said Claire.
    But then they saw that Prue was alone.

DeDe Day’s D-Day
    M RS. MADRIGAL WAS TRIMMING THE IVY IN THE courtyard when Mary Ann left for work.
    “Off to the station, dear?”
    Mary Ann nodded. “A big day. A big day.”
    The landlady set down her shears and stood up. “Your little surprise, you mean?”
    “You know about it?”
    Mrs. Madrigal smiled. “Michael told me. He didn’t say what, actually … just when. I can’t imagine what it is.”
    “It’s a wonderful surprise, actually. Not to mention a great story, if I do say so myself.”
    “A marriage proposal and a great story. How many milestones can you squeeze into one week?” The landlady grasped Mary Ann’s shoulders, planting a kiss firmly on her cheek. “Congratulations, in advance, dear. I always knew you could do it.”
    Mary Ann beamed. “Thanks.”
    “And I want to plan a little do for you. For you and Brian.”
    “As a matter of fact,” said Mary Ann, “I was hoping you’d plan the wedding.”
    The landlady’s face lit up. “I’d be thrilled. Here, you mean?”
    Mary Ann nodded.
    Mrs. Madrigal looked about her in the courtyard. “Let’s see. You can say your vows under the lych gate. A coat of paint will fix it up just fine. And we can bring in a cellist, maybe … or a harpist … a harpist would be heavenly.” She clapped her hands together almost girlishly. “This is so wonderful … my little family … God’s been so grand to us, Mary Ann.”
    “I know,” she replied.
    And she meant it, too, for the first time in years.
Her revenge, she had just begun to realize, would be sweeter than she had ever dared to dream. Larry Kenan saw to that by being an even bigger bastard than usual.
    “Well, how’s our little fighting journalist today?”
    Mary Ann didn’t look up from her desk. She was organizing her note cards on DeDe, pruning and reshuffling to keep within her five minute format. It wasn’t easy.
    The news director remained in the doorway, thumbs hooked in his Gentlemen’s Jeans. She could feel his smirk burning into the top of her head. “Look,” he said, “Denny needs to see your props for today’s show.”
    “Right,” muttered Mary Ann, continuing to shuffle.
    “Now, lady.”
    Mary Ann gazed up at him, steely-eyed. “It’s just a goddamn sea sponge, Larry.”
    He snorted noisily. “For what?”
    Mary Ann looked down again. “An alternative to tampons.”
    There was silence for a moment, then Larry began chortling like an idiot.
    Mary Ann picked up a pencil and made a meaningless note on her calendar. “Toxic shock your idea of a big yuck, Larry?”
    “Not at all,” said the news director, turning to leave. “Just glad to hear you’re doing a little in depth reporting. Break a leg, O.K.?”
The movie for today’s show was Move Over, Darling and the irony wasn’t lost on Mary Ann. Doris Day has been marooned on a desert island for seven years and comes home unexpectedly to find her husband, James Garner, on the verge of marrying Polly Bergen. Meanwhile, DeDe Day shows up at intermission. It was too delicious for words.
    Mary Ann’s phone rang at 2:15.
    “Mary Ann Singleton.”
    “It’s DeDe, Mary Ann. Listen to me carefully: Have you told them anything yet?”
    “Where are you? I need you here before the …”
    “Have you told them anything?”
    Mary Ann was thrown by the urgency in DeDe’s voice. “Of course not,” she replied. “We won’t say anything until we’re on the air.”
    “I can’t do that, Mary Ann. We can’t.”
    “Now wait just a minute!”
    “Mother just called! The children have been kidnapped!”
    “What? In Alaska?”
    “He’s got them, Mary Ann. I’m almost positive.”
    “Jesus … are you …? How is that possible?”
    “There isn’t time to talk. I’m flying to Sitka in an hour. Will you come with me?”
    “DeDe, I …”
    “I’ll pay for everything.”
    “It isn’t that. I’m supposed to be on the air in …”
    “I need you, Mary Ann. Please.”
    “O.K. Of course. Where shall we meet?”
    “At the airport—catch a cab. And don’t say a word to anyone, Mary Ann … not a word!”

A Sucker for Romance
    T HERE WAS A RUMOR RAMPANT THAT THE HOTTEST BODIES from the