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"I don't know what was in them, of course, but I feel confident telling you that there is nothing your father would want less than being the cause of any further unhappiness for you. Willow."

"I know. Thank you." I said.

It was, of course, my biggest and deepest worry: would I cause my mother more unhappiness, and would I do the same to myself?

The knock at my door startled rue.

"Come in." I called. and Thatcher appeared. He looked concerned, upset, his eyebrows turned in on each other like those of a man with a very bad headache,

"I thought we weren't going until seven-thirty,

" I told him. I was in my robe. and I had yet to fix my hair.

"No, we're not late or anything. I just... Bunny got hold of me while I was driving back from Miami,"

"Oh"

"She told me what you were doing with Linden Montgomery."

"I see."

"You're posing for him?"

"Yes. It's nothing. really. Not nude," I added quickly, thinking that was his concern.

"I'm glad of that, but regardless, I don't think you should get too involved with that guy, Willow. He's far too unstable. I mean, you've seen his work and how he behaves."

"I understand. Don't worry," I said.

"But I will worry. I feel partly responsible, introducing you to him and all." he insisted.

"I think I will know when to back away from him, Thatcher. It's all right." I said a little more firmly.

He shook his head. "Okay," he said. "but don't say I didn't warn you when he becomes even more bizarre."

"Right," I said.

He nodded but stood there staring at me.

"I'll be fine. Thatcher, Really, I will," I said, smiling to reassure him.

"Okay. I'll go shower and change for dinner." He started to turn and stopped. "Actually, from the way she spoke. I think my mother was really more upset that you chose to be with Linden over being with her at her charity ball meeting. She insists you missed a great opportunity. I told her not to worry. I'd make up for it tonight."

"What do you mean? Why tonight?"

"Before the day ended. I received an invite to the party on Hope Farris's yacht. Hope is the seventyyear-old heiress to the Farris fur empire. She's been married five times, and I had the honor of doing the prenuptial agreement for the last one. The marriage lasted fourteen months. She's celebrating another successful divorce tonight," he said. She was recently quoted in the newspaper as saying, 'For someone like me to be married and to escape with only the loss of a used Rolls-Royce is a fortunate accomplishment.' The reason I remember," he said with a wide, silly grin of pride, "is that it is all the result of my work."

"Celebrating a divorce? Why get married if you've failed four previous times?"

"Another Palm Beach game.," he said. "What of it? We'll have fun."

"But a yacht party? I don't know as I have anything to wear for that."

"With a black dress and a rope of pearls, you can go anywhere according to Franklin Noyce, the resident fashion guru of the month. and I know you have the black dress."

But not the pearls,"

"Bunny has enough to string between here and Europe. She'll provide them." he said. "I'll let her know. Hey, don't look so worried. You're going to have a good time and meet enough of the A-list to get all the information you need to complete your work."