Page 59 of Home Run

“Your brother has been bringing me these superfruit, bright green smoothie things every morning, but they do not hit the spot like this,” I mumbled through a bite, then swallowed. “Thank you, Hol, this is really kind of you. This baby’s kept me chained to the toilet, or I’ve been so tired all I want to do is lie on the couch. I haven’t been out for so long.”

“Neither have I,” added Radley.

Holiday turned around in her seat. “Me either. This is the first short break from filming I’ve had in weeks. And I haven’t had a girls’ day in forever.”

“Where are we going shopping? Come to think of it, are there any stores open before ten?”

“Bergdorfs is opening early for us. We get two hours of uninterrupted shopping, where no one can bother us.”

“Bergdorfs? How did you get that?” I spluttered, though even as I asked I knew it was a stupid question.

There were doors open to celebrities that mere mortals like me would never even know about. Radley could usually get some good perks, but only for security reasons and we rarely used them.

“My contact at Gucci has a hookup with all the personal shoppers,” she replied as the driver finished up his conversation, closed our passenger doors, and jumped into his seat. “Let’s go, ladies.”

It could have been the sugar rush from the brownies, but I think it was a sense of excitement that placed the wide smile on my face as we made our way out into New York, with the thought of buying new clothes that actually fit. Summer had turned into fall, which would become winter before we knew it, and a couple of snuggly, cozy sweaters were immensely appealing. I also needed new jeans, new shirts, new everything.

Today would be the first day I’d truly ventured out in a while, and the change in the air was noticeable. The sun was lower and the trees lining the road looked like they were on fire now that their leaves had turned color.

Since we’d moved into the apartment a few weeks ago, I’d spent most of the time unpacking and arranging our bookshelves in between naps while Radley got ready to start her new school year. Over the summer when we hung out and spent most of our spare time together, it was hard to tell anything had changed, but now she was buying all the books she’d need for the coming semesters, while I was working my way throughA Modern Guide to Pregnancyor whatever it was this week.

I’d already decided that I’d get ahead with my reading for when I went back to school after the baby was born.

Holiday spun around from the seat in front. “So where are we starting first.”

She happened to ask the question right as I was pulling at the bra strap digging into my side. “Underwear?”

“You got it,” she replied. “Start from the inside and work out. If we run out of time, I can push brunch to lunch.”

“There’s no way Millie is going to forgo brunch for shopping, no matter how much she loves it.” Radley laughed, rubbing her hands together. I wasn’t going to disagree. “Ooh, this is so exciting. I haven’t been to a store in so long, everything I buy is online.”

“Tell me about it,” agreed Holiday.

I realized that of the three of us, I was the only one who could lead a normal, private, and totally unregulated life. I could go to a store without paparazzi taking my photos or passersby wanting an autograph. And no one stared.

“How’s filming going?” I asked as we passed a giant movie billboard with Holiday’s face on it.

She puffed out her cheeks and her head fell onto the headrest. “I love it, but it’s exhausting, I’m never doing a back-to-back again. Promoting one movie while filming the next one is not for the fainthearted.”

I glanced behind me, but the billboard was already out of sight. “When’s this one out again?”

“December. In time for the holidays, and to make the deadline for the awards season. The second part is out next December.”

“When are you getting a break?”

“We finish filming the second part in a couple of weeks, then it’s full throttle for promo and awards season, so after the Oscars in March. Which means I’ll be around for the baby.” A big smile pulled at her mouth. “Then I’ve decided to take the rest of the year off.”

“What are you going to do?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Find a beach? Escape the chaos? Eat all the cookies? Maybe rent a cute house somewhere you and Tanny can visit Auntie Holiday.”

“A beach sounds so good right now.”

“Mmm. With someone to bring you cold cucumber face cloths and poolside cocktails all day.”

“You know what I’d like to do?” Radley said, staring wistfully out of the window, “I’d like to go to England and live in a little cottage. Visit where Shakespeare lived. You should totally do that.”

Holiday sighed quietly. “Maybe. I do have to be in London for the BAFTAs in February, but I’ve never had the opportunity to see anywhere else and that might be fun. Doesn’t it always rain?”

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