Chapter 11
New York
Mid-December
F rankie and Matt were going over some of the BLADS (basic layout and design) for one of the cookbooks that was being published the following year. “Do you think Moroccan food is going to be popular?” Matt asked.
“The publicity department is going to have to work on that angle, although my gut is telling me yes. No pun intended.” Frankie made a few notes in the margins of the pages.
“Are you ready for SantaCon this year?” Matt asked off-handedly.
Frankie groaned. “Another extravaganza where drunk people roam the streets of New York.”
“Doesn’t that happen every day?” Matt asked sarcastically.
“Yes, but this is filled with people dressed like Santa, elves, and fairies.”
“Aw, come on. Don’t be a Grinch,” Matt shot back.
“I’m not, but why does everything have to turn into an event? It’s no wonder some people think the holidays are too commercial.”
“Funny you should mention that, Boss Lady,” Matt said. “Did you know that it started in San Fransisco in 1994, when it was originally called Santarchy , as a rebuke of all the commercialism surrounding the holidays?”
“No, I did not know that. Why didn’t I know that?” Frankie said, smirking. “I thought I knew everything.”
“But now it has spun itself around to be a celebration.”
“Is that what you call it?” Frankie said, and twisted her mouth.
“What’s gotten into you lately? You tossed people out of the tree-lighting party, and now you are poo-pooing SantaCon.”
Frankie wrinkled her brow. “Huh. You’re right. I’ve been feeling a bit cranky lately.”
“It’s not like you’re not under any pressure, or anything,” Matt said sardonically.
Frankie was pensive for a few minutes, then said, “I think I’m in over my head.”
Matt leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Whatever you need, you know you can ask for my help.”
“I appreciate that, but it’s more about Giovanni’s mother and aunt coming. I want to show them a good time while they’re here.”
“I am sure you will,” Matt said reassuringly. “You’ve planned all the holiday trips the last few years, and everything was a success.”
“Yes, but not without trauma and drama,” Frankie said, and sighed. “I guess I just want things to go smoothly for a change, and everyone can enjoy being together. But I still haven’t figured out what to do about New Year’s Eve.”
“A house party is always good. You can drink and not drive.”
“I don’t want to put my parents through that.”
“It’s not like you’re a teenager and are going to go wild and set the sofa on fire.”
“Have you met Rachael?” Frankie chortled. “I’m being mean. She’s never set anything on fire. Not that I know of.”
“How about reserving something at Del Frisco’s Grille? It will be like a private party. It’s festive and you don’t have to do anything.”
Frankie tapped her pen on her desk. “That actually sounds like a good idea. I’ll run it past Giovanni and see what he thinks. His mother and aunt invited their fidanzatos to join them.”
“Finn what?”
“Boyfriends. Two brothers for two sisters-in-law.”
“Aw. That’s kind of sweet.”
Frankie finally smiled. “It is.” She then told him the story of the makeover she and Nina accomplished with the two women, who had been wearing black, blacker, and blackest for several years.
“So, they really do that? Do they roll down their stockings and wear black shoes?”
Frankie burst out laughing. “Yes. It reminded me of my grandmother and her sisters. But Nina and I convinced Rosevita and Lucia that they should return to the land of the living, and we colored their hair and decked them out. Giovanni didn’t even recognize his mother.
The ladies went to a party, met the Parisi brothers, and the rest is amore . ”
“Wow. That’s such a nice story,” Matt said, and smiled. “But Frankie, I don’t know what you are worried about. Can’t you make a few plans and then let them go wild on their own?”
Frankie laughed. “Ha! Who knows what kind of trouble they could get themselves into! But I did buy tickets to the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City, and we have plans to take them to Keens Steakhouse.”
“Didn’t you tell me that Giovanni’s mother lived in New York for a long time?”
“Yes, she did.”
“So? I don’t think she’ll need a chaperone during her entire stay here. You know, you can’t boss everybody around all the time.”
“I can’t? Wait a minute. I think I have a certificate somewhere in my drawer,” Frankie joked.
“Look, why don’t you focus on the memory book, talk to Giovanni, and then sketch out a plan. Then you can let Giovanni’s mom decide what she wants to do,” Matt suggested.
“You’re right. I’ve been stressing about things I shouldn’t worry about, and I should be taking care of the things that I can actually do.”
“See? Am I not the best assistant you ever had?”
“You are! I could kiss you!”
“Ew, cooties!” they said in unison.