第6部分(第6/7 頁)

g。

？That？s　enough；？Thaddeus　ordered；　more　firmly　this　time。　He　tugged　on　Serena？s　arm；　pulling

her　across　the　street；　？e　on。　Let？s　go。？

Serena　continued　to　smile　but　her　huge　blue　eyes　darted　around；　searching　for　a　cab。

？Who　is　she；　Thad？？　the　photographer　demanded　from　behind　them。　？What　are　you　wearing

tonight；　Thad？？　he　continued　in　an　almost　mocking　tone。　？You？re　gorgeous；　sweet…heart。　What

about　you？　What　are　you　wearing？？

Actually；　she　was　wearing　her　favorite　black　Les　Best　pique　cotton　sundress　and　black　Capezio

ballet　slippers；　but　she　was　too　freaked　out　to　open　her　mouth。

？That？s　enough；　man！？Thaddeus　yelled　angrily。

Was　he　going　to　pull　a　Cameron　Diaz？

Thaddeus　stepped　into　the　oning　traffic　on　Clinton　Street；　waving　his　arms　frantically　like　a

survivor　marooned　on　a　desert　island　flagging　down　a　plane。　A　taxi　pulled　over；　and　he　shoved

Serena　into　the　backseat。　Then　he　jumped　in　behind　her　and　slammed　the　door。　The　photographer

pressed　his　camera　close　to　the　window　and　Serena　buried　her　face　in　Thaddeus？s　broad　shoulder；

feeling　a　little　like　Princess　Di　must　have　just　before　she　died。

？Let？s　go；　let？s　go！？Thad　barked　at　the　driver。

As　they　sped　away；　the　photographer　called　after　them。　？That？ll　be　the　cover　of　thePost

tomorrow！？

When　they　reached　Seventy…first　and　Third；Thaddeus　paid　the　driver　and　hopped　out　so　he　could

open　her　door。　Their　footfalls　echoed　into　the　night；　and　the　distant　traffic　on　Second　Avenue

sounded　vaguely　like　the　ocean。　Serena　climbed　the　bottom　step　of　her　stoop　and　then　turned。

Standing　there；　she　was　at　eye　level　with　Thaddeus。

？Would　you　like　to　e　up　for　a　drink？？　sh