n　Prospect　Park。　Picnickers　found　shade　underneath　leafy　green

trees；　and　small　children　ran　around　wearing　as　little　clothing　as　possible。　The　lake　in　the　middle

of　the　park　was　surrounded　by　people　looking　longingly　at　the　water；　wishing　it　were　swimmable；

and　the　dog　beach　was　filled　with　wet　pooches　splashing　and　slobbering　as　their　owners　tried　to

keep　up　with　them；　leashes　tangling　into　one　huge　knot。

Tiny　beads　of　sweat　trickled　down　Vanessa？s　back　as　she　unloaded　food　from　coolers　onto　a

picnic　table　near　the　lake；　its　white　tablecloth　flapping　in　the　breeze。　She　wiped　a　hand　across　her

brow；　wishing　the　wind　were　stronger。　At　least　she？d　ditched　that　hot；　itchy　blond　wig。　Her　crazy

night　of　table　dancing　at　Coyote　Ugly　had　been　a　lot　of　fun；　but　her　wicked　hangover　the　next

morning；　bined　with　her　reflection　in　the　mirror；　was　positively　sobering。　With　black　mascara

streaked　all　over　her　face；　red　lipstick　smeared　clownlike　around　her　mouth；　and　the　blond　wig

hanging　off　her　head　like　a　dead　animal；　Vanessa　hadn？t　felt　sexy　anymore？she？d　just　felt　like

roadkill。　Today；　she　was　back　to　her　trademark　shorn　scalp　and　black　bat　boots；　though　she

had　worn　a　sky　blue　Betsey　Johnson　party　dress　for　the　occasion？Blair？s　influence；　of　course。

Of　course。

She　pulled　a　tray　covered　in　tinfoil　from　the　last　cooler　and　peeked　inside。　Her　sister？s　famous

soy…tempeh　lasagna。　Of　course　the　wedding　food　was　gross？other　than　Vanessa；　the　entire　Abrams

family　was　vegetarian。　It　would　be　the　first　time　she？d　seen　her　parents　since　their　visit　in　March；

when　their　？found　art？　exhibit　was　on　display　at　a　gallery　in　the　city。　The　exhibit　had　rather

memor