On the Avenue Read Free

“Lupe,
please.
You
have
to. You don't understand. If I don't go to the gala tonight, I'll never want to wake up again. I'll spend the next year crying my eyes out.”
    Lupe was dusting off Trevor Hamilton's prized mahogany Civil War-era desk. It was situated in the middle of the library and flanked by four walls filled with books. “No,” she said again. “Your father said no, and I can't lie.”
    “Come on, be a sport,” Lex pleaded. “I'll never ask you for another favor again.”
    “No.”
    “I'll clean my own room and do my own laundry.”
    “No.”
    “I'll vacuum the living room.”
    “No.”
    “I'll make my own dinner.”
    “No.”
    “I'll load the dishwasher.”
    “No.”
    “I'll go to confession with you at St. Patty's tomorrow.”
    “No.”
    Lex sighed. She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. What a waste. After today's exhausting shopping trek, she deserved to show herself off. Two stores. Crowds of people. All that time creating the perfect dress and now—
    Dress.
    The word echoed through Lex's mind and a little lightbulb clicked on over her head. Of course. That was the answer. Why hadn't she realized it earlier?
    She whirled around. “Okay then, Lupe. We'll cut a deal. You lie for me tonight and I'll buy you the Oscar de la Renta cashmere sweater you've been wanting for the past three months.”
    Lupe stopped dusting off the desktop. Her back straightened. Her fingers clenched into tight little fists. And for the first time since they had begun arguing, she didn't say anything.
    Lex walked over to her. “You have a picture of it inyour bedroom. Just think how great it'll look on you,” she whispered seductively. “Think how your friends will be staring in envy when you go to your nephew's wedding next month.”
    Lupe had been listening intently. She closed her eyes, bit down on her lower lip, and then quickly shook her head. “Enough. No. I can't do it.”
    “Of course you can. It'll be my treat. Our secret. By the time you finish saving up the money to buy the sweater, it'll go onto the clearance rack and into the hands of someone who totally doesn't deserve it.”
    Silence.
    “And I'll buy you great shoes to match,” Lex said, fully aware that she'd hooked Lupe in. “Going once …”
    Lupe sighed loudly. She ran a hand over her forehead, where a trail of sweat had broken out.
    “Going twice …”
    “Oh, why you do this to me? It's not nice.”
    “Going three times,” Lex trilled. “In five seconds the deal's off—”
    “Okay,” Lupe cut in. “I'll do it. I'll tell your father you're asleep when he calls.”
    Lex smiled broadly. She threw her arms around the small woman and hugged her tightly. “Monday after school I'll pick up the sweater. Then we can go to Barney's for shoes! Just you and me!”
    Lupe nodded guiltily, then made the sign of the cross.
    Scurrying from the library, Lex flew through the living room, past the dining room, and back into the kitchen. She went into the small pantry and clapped her hands vigorously. “Where are you, honey?” she called out. “It's time to go.”
    Champagne, her tiny teacup Chihuahua, came prancing out of his favorite corner. He was an adorable dog, with closely cropped well-groomed golden hair. A dark brown collar wrapped his little neck, and from it hung a gold charm in the shape of a champagne flute. He stared up at Lex and barked.
    She bent down and scooped him into the crook of her right arm. Then she headed for the foyer, where her purse sat on an oval table. Stealing a final glance in the mirror by the front door, she bolted out of the apartment and into the waiting elevator. The floors dinged one by one as she and Champagne descended. The Hamilton apartment was, of course, the penthouse at 974 Fifth Avenue. The prewar building was beautiful, but as far as Lex was concerned, it retained too much of its antiquated charm. The carpet in the elevator was a faded red. Many of the numbered buttons had smudged into