Crystal Trino's Journal Oct 8 2006 Entry

October 8. Sunday Night.

Hi Journey.

With Dakota, it is harder to get facts than with most anybody I know.

Except maybe my little sister.

"Plains, I don’t know why Sid goes and shoots off his mouth to you. Yes, I asked him about a pre-nup. Why you have to go and think it’s for me, I don’t know. Wyatt Hyatt and me aren’t that tight--"

"--Not yet."

"And stop interrupting. I met your mom; and I surely know she didn’t raise you to butt in like that. No, I asked Sid for a friend of mine who used to live in St. Louis but is now out in L.A. She’s done well for herself; acted in a couple of TV shows and all that.

I don’t suppose she’s been on Criminal Intent?"

"You still watch that show? Isn’t Vince D’Onofrio a bit old for you?"

"Hey, it’s not like I’m having much luck with the guys my age. Maybe I should send him our design newsletter. Never know when a TV star might need an apartment makeover. I’d put my team up against any of your Manhattan interior designers."

"Yeah, but I’m not sure he even lives in the city."

"Dakota, I’m kidding. Goren’s way too old for me. Besides, I’d rather meet Eames, anyway. She’s more my type. Down-to-earth and completely focused on getting the job done."

"Speaking of getting the job done, your sister still hasn’t followed up with any of my friends over in the diamond district."

"I suppose she’s too busy getting ready to pick up stakes for Egypt."

"Your sister?" She harrumphed. "What’s she need to pack? A duffle and a backpack, I’ll bet, if she’s the same Casey I used to know. More likely she’s waitlisted for a seat in business class. I know flying coach cramps that girl’s travel style."

"Speaking of--you coming out her for Thanksgiving again?"

"Don’t know. We might be going to meet Wyatt’s parents."

Oh Lord above, but don’t I just love it when I have a little inside scoop on her. OK so it wasn’t a pre-nup, but this was nearly as good.

"Oh really? Where do they live, Waikiki?"

"No, Basking Ride, New Jersey". It’s just an hour outside the city. His dad’s retired from AT&T."

"Hmmm…so maybe I plan on trekking out to Long Island for Thanksgiving, and then swinging back through the city and meet your Wyatt."

"Could be a plan. Will Percy and Carmen be back by then?" Dakota asked.

"Man, I sure hope so. I am aching to get my arms around little Cora again," I said.

"Yeah, I know the feeling, girl. I do miss being so far away from my family."

"Let’s do it Crystal. Promise me. C’mon--you promise me you’re coming out here for Turkey Day. Let’s make it a ritual--one year you come to my place, the next year I’ll come to yours. We need rituals like that, you know. We’re growing up."

I laughed loudly. "Rituals are for families."

"We’re family, you and me. You know that." She hadn’t skipped a beat, but I picked up just the lightest trace of hurt in her voice.

"I mean families, with husbands carving their thumbs up and munchkins snapping wishbones."

"Plains, it might be years before we have that. If ever. In the meantime, we might as well share in the popcorn."

"Who you calling an old maid? Hey, Alex Eames hasn’t given up. Neither have I."

She just laughed at me, the way she’s been laughing at me for the past ten years, since our freshman days at Smith. We talked more, J. For an hour we talked. I told her of Jeremy Frem--oh, and I have an appointment with his branch on Tuesday, by the way--she told me more about Wyatt Hyatt. It was a good call.

And when I hung up I realized she’s my longest-running non-family friend; except of course for Sid.

Now that Mattie’s gone, of course.

Goodnight, Journey.

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