Part Eight
Sydney stands on the Hansens' balcony, clutching a glass of red wine. Jake and Heather Hansen live in a gorgeous condo in Manhattan with a fantastic view; Sydney excused herself between dinner and dessert to spend some time enjoying it.
She has only been there a couple of minutes when she feels arms around her waist and lips on her neck, and she leans into her husband's touch.
"You okay, baby?"
"Mm," she affirms, moving her left hand up to caress his cheek. "Just getting some air."
"The view's incredible, isn't it?"
"Amazing," she agrees. "Jake and Heather have a beautiful place."
"Are you having an okay time?"
"Sure," she says, turning in his arms to face him, careful not to spill her wine as she wraps her arms around his neck. "Should I go back inside, see if Heather needs any help with dessert?"
"I think Lisa's helping her, she's fine," Michael assures her.
Sydney nods. "Lisa's really sweet, we should have her and Todd out for dinner sometime."
"That's a good idea," Michael agrees. He runs a finger lightly under the strap of her dress, smiling softly at her. "What do you say, another hour and then we call it a night?"
"Mm, a whole hour?" she asks, beginning to kiss a trail down his neck.
"Hey, you two-- oh, I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay, Heather," Michael says, blushing a little as the door to the balcony opens. "We were just coming in."
"Well, good," Heather says with a smirk. "Because the coffee's ready, and we're about to have cake."
"Great." Michael steals one last smile at Sydney, squeezing her hand as they head inside.
Everyone has arranged themselves on couches and chairs in the Hansens' large, sunken living room, and Sydney winds up seated near Heather; Sheila, a partner at the firm; and Lisa, Todd's wife.
"God, what, ten years and you can't keep your hands off each other?" Heather asks, downing the last of her glass of wine-- her third, Sydney notes. "I can only hope Jake and I end up like that."
"What are you talking about?" Sheila asks with a frown. Of all the women there, she is Sydney's least favorite; she strikes Sydney as a jealous, bitter shrew. Kerri Weiss in ten years. Oh, I can't believe I just thought that.
"Syd and Michael," Heather says casually, reaching for her cake plate. "Having a little fun out on the balcony."
Sydney blushes. The way Heather is talking, you would think that Michael's pants had been down, or something. "How long have you and Jake been together, Heather?"
"Almost two," Heather says. For a minute, Sydney thinks she has succeeded in changing the subject, and then-- "Trust me, if he looked like Michael, I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off of him, either."
"So, Sydney, Todd told me you had your kids at the office today," Lisa says, and Sydney shoots her a grateful smile. "He says they're adorable."
"Thanks, that's sweet of him to say," Sydney says.
"Syd and Mike's kids? Oh, they're totally sweet," Heather gushes. "Jake and I visited after the little one-- Gretchen, is it?-- was born."
"Gracie," Sydney corrects.
"How old are your kids, Sydney?" Sheila asks.
"Jack is six, Emily's three, and Gracie was born in October."
"You know, my girls are sixteen and twelve, and I'll bet they'd love to baby-sit," Sheila says, and Sydney thinks maybe she's not so shrewish, after all. "My sister has a little boy not much older than Gracie, and the two of them are great with him."
"That's a really nice offer, I might have to take them up on that," Sydney says with a smile. "I can use a break every now and then."
"I'll bet," Sheila says sympathetically. "I stayed home with Ellen and Cassie-- my girls-- when they were little, and it can get pretty trying."
Sydney smiles gratefully. Sheila had seemed like the type who might belittle what Sydney does, staying home with the kids, and she's happy to find this is not the case.
"Syd, honey."
Michael appears at Sydney's side, and Sydney smiles up at him.
"Are you about ready to go?"
"Taking off so soon?" There is a gleam in Heather's eye, as if she knows exactly what they are leaving to do. Of course, Sydney has to admit that her guess is probably not far off.
"Yes, Heather, everything was wonderful, but we should be going. If you're ready, Syd."
"Absolutely."
"I'll get your coats," Heather says, scrambling up.
"And I'll give you our number, in case you need a sitter," Sheila adds.
It takes a few minutes to say their thank yous and goodbyes, but eventually they are out the door, headed towards their car.
"That was a lot less than an hour, Michael," Sydney points out.
Michael smirks. "I figured if they're already talking about us having fun on the balcony, they might as well also be talking about us leaving early to be alone."