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. May I cut in? he asked. I dunno, said Kiran. What s that mean? I want to dance with Hannah, said Troy. Yeah, okay, she said, her stomach jumping.The band started up a quick beat. No wait, Troy said, apparently changing his mind. I want our firstdance to be a slow one. The cameras had long been turned off and several guests had leftwhen Alan strolled up to the microphone to make a special announce- "co mf o r t f o o d 31 9ment about Carmen s new show and the renewal of Eat Drink and Be.Such news wouldn t have been appropriate at a wedding reception, ofcourse, but seeing as how the marriage didn t take place.Gus thought itwas fine.She rather enjoyed Alan s effusive praise of her years on the Cook-ingChannel and his excitement about the program. Gus, would you like to say a few words? asked Alan.She jumped up the few steps to the dais. Thank you for coming, she said. It s been such a pleasure.But I mafraid Alan s wrong about one thing tonight, and that is the fact that I mnot going to be returning for another season of Eat Drink and Be.As muchas I have loved working with all of you. She caught Carmen s eye. With all of you, she repeated. But it s timefor me to go. In the weeks following Alan s offer of renewal, Gus initially felt asthough she d received exactly what she had wanted and she was re-lieved.But another idea nibbled at her, as well the feeling that, withSabrina and Aimee successfully living their own lives, she was sud-denly unburdened by the responsibilities she d so long carried.And that swhen she knew: now was her opportunity to recapture and reinventherself. And I m not only leaving the CookingChannel, which has been myhome for twelve years, Gus said, but I am also leaving Rye and New Yorkand this house, which has been such a special place.I m hitting the road andtouring the world. Aimee and Sabrina looked at each other in shock; Hannah was dumb-founded, freezing in position with a shrimp halfway to her mouth.It was as though Gus had become a different person. I didn t say I m disappearing, Gus said, speaking directly to them evenas she addressed everyone in the tent. You ll all be seeing more than enoughof me, and getting a lot of calls and emails.But it s time for some new adven-tures in my life.It s time to explore. She stepped off the dais and was immediately surrounded by a mix of "32 0 kat e j ac ob swell-wishers and stunned CookingChannel colleagues.Within seconds, shefelt Oliver s hand on her arm, pulling her out of the crowd. Gus, he said. What the hell? What am I? A little summer fun? Don t demean yourself, Oliver, Gus said emphatically. You ve made ahuge difference in my life. That s all well and good, he said. But I thought our relationshipmeant.something. Oliver held his hand to his forehead as he tried to collect his thoughts. I ve been circling around for a long time, she said. And I feel as thoughI ve finally figured out where I want to land. Look, he said, his voice cracking just a little. I know well enough thatwe ve all got to follow our dreams.If this is what you want, I support you. Thank you, Oliver, said Gus, feeling very relieved. That means every-thing to me. But don t think I m just going to wait around. He picked up his tuxedojacket off a nearby chair as if to go. Yes, about that, Gus said, lightly placing her hand on his arm to stophim. You see, I was very much hoping that you d be coming with me. the icing on the cake 32AP RI L 2 0 08It came in the mail: a formal invitation to one of Gus Simpson s world-famous parties.What was surprising was the location a private loft over-looking the Union Square farmer s market and the occasion.Gus Simpsonwas coming back to television in a new show produced by her very ownproduction company, 50/50 Ventures, and she was throwing a huge party tolaunch the first episode.She and Oliver had been away from New York for almost a year, travel-ing to twenty countries to research and film Local Food Far Away, a programdedicated to showcasing great places, great foods, and great crafts, and mak-ing those items (all fair trade, naturally) available for purchase by Ameri-can viewers.Gus had finally found a way to unify the altruism of her youthwith her professional success and her belief in the importance of fresh localingredients.She d had to sell the house for capital, of course, though shefelt it was worth it
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