There was a story circulating about how Nico Barone once went to breakfast at the Candy Kitchen in pajamas and flip-flops, which Carrie never told the reporter. Why should she?
He wouldn't get it. He wouldn't be able to help himself: He would feel compelled to point the finger. Because a girl who would wear pajamas to the Candy Kitchen wouldn't be the kind of girl who would go to breakfast with him. He'd get revenge in print.
So it wasn't strange when Nico Barone called Carrie sometime in the beginning of May Ostensibly for advice on what to do about the reporter.
"I'll take care of it," Carrie said.
She called the reporter. "The story's premature," she said. "Right now, there is no story."
So it wasn't strange that shortly after that she and Nico began talking on the phone again. Even though they hadn't been in touch for eight years. Even though they'd both been in New A fork all along.
And it also made sense that when one of the telltale incidents took place, Nico Barone was there.
It must have been early June, in Manhattan. According to their usual morning routine, Carrie and Mr. Big discussed what they were doing that evening.
"I have something. I don't know what," he said.
"O.K.," Carrie said. By then, she'd been beaten down enough to have learned to be cautious when he didn't want to divulge information. Even though he had his daily schedule in his hand—a schedule that his secretary printed out every evening detailing the next day's activities. Even though he was in the middle of the golf deal.
Don't ask questions.
Thank you for making Mr. Big a nicer guy. "What
are you doing?" he asked. "Seeing Nico."
"O.K.," he said. "So, either way, we'll meet back here around eleven."
That afternoon, when they spoke, he said he was having dinner with Keemi Tailon, the banker from Goldman.
At eight, Carrie walked into La Goulue and saw Keemi Tailon having dinner with his girlfriend. Nico Barone was sitting outside. There was a man with her, holding her hand. It was the good-looking, formerly drug— addicted son of a U.S. Ambassador, who now worked as a lawyer for one of the telecommunications moguls.
"I know who you are," he said to Carrie. "He
wanted to meet you," Nico said.
"I know who you are," he said, and he put his elbow on the table. "I've read your stuff." "That's great," Carrie said.
"She's probably told you about me," he said, indicating Nico. "No,"
Carrie said. "Not a word."
"I thought you wanted to keep it a secret," Nico said. According to him, the telecommunications mogul was in love with Nico. And jealous. According to him, the telecommunications mogul might or might not be having her followed.
According to Nico, they were both crazy
There was an uncomfortable moment when Keemi Tailon came to the table to say hello after the formerly drug-addicted son of the US. Ambassador had left. He stood next to the table and put his shoe on the rung of a chair. "I just wanted to tell you," he said. "I just remembered. Mr. Big is having dinner downtown. With some people from the golf company"
"Thank you," Carrie said.
"It doesn't matter. It's not important. It's a setup," Nico said when he had left.
Later, when Carrie arrived at Mr. Big's apartment, there was a message on the machine. She played it, although she hadn't played
his messages for a long time, because the last time she had, he'd gotten angry. "O.K., O.K.," she'd said. "I won't play your damn messages. I won't answer the phone when you're not here."
"You can answer the phone, but people have told me that they've left messages and I didn't get them."
She just gave him a look.
The message was, as she'd known it would be, from Keemi for Mr. Big.
Frantic. "I just wanted to let you know that Carrie saw me tonight. . " She saved it. When Mr. Big arrived at 12:43, she played it for him. "Oh, that's nothing," he said. He was in a very good mood. "Keemi doesn't know what's going on."
Carrie did not remind him about their conversation that afternoon. Two days later, she ran into someone who claimed to be in the restaurant where Mr. Big was having dinner, who claimed that it was obviously business, although there was some girl there, but she was obviously part of the business, too.
By then, Carrie wasn't paying attention. She didn't care. By then, she was disassociating, moving into her own space.
She still can't remember who the person was who claimed to be in the restaurant.
On Fourth of July weekend, Mr. Big kept disappearing with Mr. Marvelous in Mr. Marvelous's Hummer. They claimed they were going to the store. They claimed they were going to the store six times in two days. They came back with pickles. Then they claimed they were going rollerblading. Carrie wasn't paying attention.
As soon as Mr. Big left, she'd turn the stereo all the way up and dance around the house. K.C. and the Sunshine Band.