Cosmo's Deli by Sharon Kurtzman Page A

reading the same line for five minutes, she closes the computer and takes out her phone and dials.
    â€œHello,” Gaby answers groggy.
    â€œHey, it’s me. What are you doing?”
    â€œNothing. Just having a splash a wine and watching TV. Where are you?”
    â€œI’m on the bus coming back from my parents.”
    â€œHow are Shirley and Herb? Is your mother still trying to marry you off?”
    â€œShe’s making me crazy. Now she wants to set me up on a blind date with a podiatrist. And get this name—Marty Toezoff.” She expects to hear Gaby’s loud guffaw, but instead there is silence. “Did you hear what I said?”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œAre you listening to me?”
    â€œYeah, podiatrist, Toezoff. Sounds, whatever, footy.”
    â€œShe says she won’t be able to die in peace until I’m settled down.”
    â€œI guess my Mama has no peace then,” Gaby’s voice is shakey.
    Shit, Renny thinks, why did I say that? “Gaby, I—”
    â€œIt’s okay,” she tells her. “But look, I’m tired. I’ll call you tomorrow?”
    â€œSure.” Renny hangs up. She taps her phone on her thigh and then dials her answering machine. Bingo! Georgie called at nine forty-five, just as the bus was pulling away from the curb. Renny checks her watch. Ten. Is it too late to call back, she wonders?
    â€œShit!” She grumbles. “He can’t be asleep yet.” Before she can lose her nerve, she looks his number up on her Palm and dials. As it rings, her hands sweat and she almost hangs up.
    â€œHello.” His deep voice massages her ear.
    â€œHi, is Georgie there?” Renny keeps her voice steady.
    â€œThis is.”
    â€œHi, it’s Renny. I got your message.”
    â€œI just called you. Are you home?”
    â€œNo. I had dinner with my parents tonight. I’m sitting on a bus heading up the New Jersey Turnpike.”
    â€œDo you have a fat guy sitting next to you?”
    â€œThat’s not very pc,” she admonishes.
    â€œOh, sorry. I meant a weight challenged individual.”
    She laughs. “No, I have my own row.”
    â€œLucky you, wish I was there. So what did Mom make for dinner?
    â€œChicken. That’s all she ever makes. If not for the bird, I’d have grown up a vegan.”
    â€œI’m a meat and potatoes man myself. There’s a great little steak place out in Brooklyn that my agent took me to a couple of weeks ago. The Embers.”
    â€œI don’t think I’ve heard of it.”
    â€œI’ll take you some time.”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œSure. I called you tonight to see if you wanted to come out and meet me for Italian ices or something.” He emphasizes the ‘something.’
    â€œSomething, huh? What kind of something?”
    â€œClose your eyes and imagine, oh, a kitchen counter.”
    Renny has goose bumps. “My bus should be in about ten-thirty. Something could happen then.”
    â€œThat’s really tempting. But, I’m in bed now. I’ll take a rain check. Okay, tunnel girl?”
    â€œOkay.” Renny keeps the disappointment from her tone.
    â€œHave a good night. Get home safe.”
    â€œYou, too. I mean okay.”
    Renny closes her phone. “You, too. Duh.” She thwocks her forehead with the phone.

Chapter Eight
    Sara’s hair hangs wet around her shoulders, creating water spots on the lime green shirt she bought at Liz Lange Maternity. Coupled with a pair of cropped khaki maternity pants and beige Tod drivers, Sara is fashionably pregnant and ready to go to her Wednesday morning OB appointment. Kneeling in front of Megan in the kitchen, Sara holds up three child-sized shirts.
    â€œNo, I don’t want those,” Megan cries clutching the sides of the Barbie nightgown she wears.
    â€œMegan, please! Pick one or Mommy’s going to be late for the doctor’s.”
    â€œNo, they