understanding；
but Captain Archibald seemed oblivious to what Nate was trying to say。
His father smiled and clinked glasses with Nate again。 ？I？m glad it helped； son。You certainly are
one lucky kid；？ he repeated； looking at Blair appreciatively。 Blair giggled and squeezed Nate？s
hand。 Nate just buried his nose in his champagne。
Glug； glug； glug。
？Nathaniel！？ He heard someone call from behind him and turned around to see his mother
approach from the neighboring Egyptian exhibit。 She wore bright red lipstick； a red poppy in her
dark hair； and a sweeping red gown that looked like it had e straight from the set
ofCarmen 。 ？Darling；？ she cooed in her French accent； kissing her son on either cheek。 ？Your
father？s told me the good news。 I？m so glad。 But I？m afraid we can？t stay to celebrate？we？re off
to the opera。？ Throughout Nate？s life； his mom had spent more time shopping and attending the
opera or a gala to benefit the opera than she had with her only son； leaving precious little to talk
about。 Once a year； at Christmas time； she met him for a drink at the bar in the Carlyle Hotel；
where she？d attempt to pry into his love life。 It was totally embarrassing。
？I？m so 。 。 。 glad you？re glad； Mom；？ he responded lamely。 ？Congratulations；mon cherie 。？ His
mother gave him another kiss； squeezing his hand before she dragged the Captain away to their
waiting town car。
Nate turned to Blair； ready to confess to her how confused and freaked out he felt； but she was
chatting with the bartender while he tried pathetically to get her number。 Maybe Blair had bigger
balls than he did； but she couldn？t figure this out for him。 No one could。
Excep