Page 57
Story: Willow (DeBeers 1)
At the table, the conversation went from the latest economic news to the latest Palm Beach gossip. The women were very concerned about a fashion outrage at the last charity ball. Someone had come in a pants suit with too much midriff
"A belly button is not exactly appetizing." Dolly said.
"It depends." Asher commented. The women all turned to him. I could see he had Thatcher's impish smile at times, or. rather. Thatcher had inherited his. "On whether it's an innie or an outie."
The men laughed.
Throughout the conversations. I kept catching Thatcher looking at me, studying my reactions. He continually wore a smile of amusement. Since I had told him something of the truth, it was as if we were both conspirators now.
Before we had a chance to get to the desserts. Jennings appeared. "There is a phone call for you. Mr. Eaton," he told Thatcher.
"Oh?"
He excused himself, and, as if he had been the one keeping them from focusing on me, they all turned and began to fire questions about my work, my home and family, and my impressions of Palm Beach so far. I tried to be as diplomatic as Thatcher, who returned to announce he had to leave immediately to go to court.
"What?" his mother cried, "Now? We're having brunch."
"It's a weekday. Mother. You might have noticed people are at work. Something was moved up unexpectedly. It won't be long. but I have to appear."
"Don't you have a lunch hour?" she countered.
"Yes. Mother. but it usually doesn't run more than three." he said. smiling.
"Ridiculous. What about this poor young woman you've brought? Is she to be a slave to your work habits?"
She can stay. obviously," Thatcher offered as a compromise. I'll go and come back."
'Good,' his mother said. "I would have had our driver take you back to your hotel anyway if he wasn't," she told me. She glared at Thatcher, "How anyone could pass up freshly baked Giandika chocolate cake is a mystery to me."
Thatcher laughed and the
n pulled me aside to ask if I wanted to stay.
"Yes." I said, my gaze moving off to the beach house. "I'll return as soon as I can. Sorry about this."
"I'm fine," I said I'm enjoying it."
"I knew you would." he said. He kissed me quickly and left,
When I turned to rejoin the brunch party. I saw Thatcher's mother had been watching us. She smiled as she approached me.
"Walk with me for a few minutes." she said. "I do like to walk after I've stuffed myself like that. Besides, the rest of them are in a big argument about how to renovate the yacht club. and that is so boring."
We started down the walkway toward the beach.
"Thatcher obviously is somewhat taken with you," she continued. "Do you know that you are the first young lady he has brought to this house for over two years now?"
I shook my head.
He didn't tell you about Mai Stone?"
"No. Who is that?"
"I suppose that's good," she said. "I suppose I shouldn't have even mentioned her name."
"But you did." I said quickly.
"He'd be very upset with me if he knew," she replied.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57 (Reading here)
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136