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trembling； and I let the phone drop to the floor。 A week。 I had a
week to start working at the job I’d just accepted as Miranda
Priestly’s assistant。 But； wait！ That’s what was bothering me 。 。 。
I hadn’t actually accepted the job because it hadn’t even been
officially offered。 Sharon hadn’t even had to utter the words “We’d
like to make you an offer；” since she took it for granted that
anyone with some semblance of intelligence would obviously just
accept。 No one had so much as mentioned the word “salary。” I almost
laughed out loud。 Was this some sort of war tactic they’d perfected？
Wait until the victim was finally deep into REM sleep after an
extremely stressful day and then throw some life…altering news at
her？ Or had she just assumed that it would be wasted time and breath
to do something as mundane as make a job offer and wait for
acceptance； considering that this wasRunway magazine？ Sharon had
just assumed that of course I’d jump all over the chance； that I’d
be thrilled with the opportunity。 And； as they always were at
Elias…Clark； she was right。 It had all happened so fast； so
frenetically； that I hadn’t had time to debate and deliberate as
usual。 But I had a good feeling that thiswas an opportunity I’d be
crazy to turn down； that this could actually be a great first step
to getting toThe New Yorker 。 I had to try it。 I was lucky to have
it。
Newly energized； I gulped the rest of my Coffee； brewed another cup
for Alex； and took a quick； hot shower。 When I went back into his
room； he was just sitting up。
“You’re dressed already？” he asked； fumbling for the tiny
wire…rimmed glasses he was blind without。 “Did someone call this
morning； or did I dream that？”
“Not a dream；” I said； crawling back under the covers even though I
was wearing jeans and a turtleneck sweater。 I was careful not to let
my wet hair soak his pillows。 “That was Lily。 The HR woman from
Elias…Clark called her place because that’s the number I gave them。
And guess what？”
“You got the job？”
“I got the job！”
“Oh； e here！” he said； sitting up and hugging me。 “I’m so proud
of you！ That’s great news； it really is。”
“So you really think it’s a good opportunity？ I know we talked about
it； but they didn’t even give me a chance to decide。 She just
assumed that I’d want the job。”
“It’s an amazing opportunity。 fashion isn’t the worst thing on
earth—maybe it’ll even be interesting。”
I rolled my eyes。
“OK； so maybe that’s going a little far。 But withRunway on your
résumé and a letter from this Miranda woman； and maybe even a few
clips by the time you’re done； hell； you can do anything。The New
Yorker will be beating down your door。”
“I hope you’re right； I really do。” I jumped up and starting
throwing my things in my backpack。 “Is it still OK if I borrow your
car？ The sooner I get Home； the sooner I can get back。 Not that it
really matters； because I’mmoving to New York 。 It’s official！”
Since Alex went home to Westchester twice a week to babysit his
little brother when his mom had to work late； his mom had given him
her old car to keep in the city。 But he wouldn’t be needing it until
Tuesday； and I’d be back before then。 I had been planning to go Home
that weekend anyway； and now I’d have some good news to bring with
me。
“Sure。 No problem。 It’s in a spot about a half…block down on Grand
Street。 The keys are on the kitchen table。 Call me when you get
there； OK？”
“Will do。 Sure you don’t want to e？ There’ll be great food—you
know my mom orders in only the best。”
“Sounds tempting。 You know I would； but I organized some of the
younger teachers to get together tomorrow night for happy hour。
Thought it might help us all work as a team。 I really can’t miss
it。”
“Goddamn do…gooder。 Always doing good； spreading good cheer wherever
you go。 I’d hate you if I didn’t love you so much。” I leaned over
and kissed him good…bye。
I found his little green Jetta on the first try and only spent
twenty minutes trying to find the parkway that would take me to 95
North； which was wide open。 It was a freezing day for November； the
temperature was in the midthirties； and there were slick frozen
patches on the back roads。 But the sun was out； the kind of winter
glare that causes unaccustomed eyes to tear and squint； and the air
felt clean and cold in my lungs。 I rode the entire way with the
window rolled down； listening to the “Almost Famous” soundtrack on
repeat。 I worked my damp hair into a ponytail with one hand to keep
it from flying in my eyes； and blew on my hands to keep them warm；
or at least warm enough to grip the steering wheel。 Only six months
out of college； and my life was on the verge of bursting forward。
Miranda Priestly； a stranger until yesterday but a powerful woman
indeed； had handpicked me to join her magazine。 Now I had a concrete
reason to leave Connecticut and move—all on my own； as a real adult
would—to Manhattan and make it my Home。 As I pulled into the
driveway of my childhood house； sheer exhilaration took over。 My
cheeks looked red and windburned in the rearview mirror； and my hair
was flying wildly about。 There was no makeup on my face； and my
jeans were dirty around the bottom from trudging through the city
slush。 But at that moment； I felt beautiful。 Natural and cold and
clean and crisp； I threw open the front door and called out for my
mother。 It was the last time in my life I remember feeling so light。
“A week？ Honey； I just don’t see how you’re going to start work in a
week；” my mother said； stirring her tea with a spoon。 We were
sitting at the kitchen table in our usual spots； my mother drinking
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