Adeline smiled. “Very well. Thank you, Elsa.”
All three women took a deep breath at the same time, which caused them to laugh. A very welcome tension breaker.
“Shall we?”
Anna started toward the door. “We shall.”
The limo was a beautiful pewter color, and the inside was rich leather and beautiful woods. As the driver helped Carolyn into the car, the word serene came to her mind. She was careful to arrange her dress so that she wouldn’t be wrinkled when she arrived, nor would the other girls trip on it.
As they settled in the car, Carolyn smiled at Adeline. “No matter the outcome, thank you for this evening, and please know that anything I do that is less than stellar is completely unintentional.”
Adeline shook her head. “Carolyn, you will be fine. Please relax. Everyone will be charmed by your presence.”
“Charmed. People are charmed by bumpkins.” She let out a little chuckle. “I know I’m being obnoxious now. I’m just trying to vent it all inobnoxiouslessly. That’s a word, is it not?”
Anna took a deep breath. “I just want to put in a little disclaimer. I know they are your kids, but if they do anything to harm you, or make any one of a million comments I can think of off the top of my head, I will not be responsible for the outcome. If you see these earrings come off, I suggest you back away quickly.”
The girls laughed.
“I almost look forward to that, but please do not put yourselves in harm’s way for me. Remember that although my children are not what they once were, they are not without resources, and if they have evil intent, they can bring quite a bit to bear.”
“Bring ’em on. I know they are your kids and all that, but when I see the kind of luxury they are a part of, and I see that instead of being grateful and helping others — the way you do — they use their good fortune to the detriment of others, especially their own mother, it makes me a little bit cranky.”
Carolyn nodded. “Me too. That’s a very good way of putting it, Anna. I would hope that if I were as fortunate, I would have a little bit more grace, especially toward the woman who provided it all for me in the first place.”
“I believe the issue is multifaceted. The children have never known any hardship, not in financial terms anyway. They were born to the manor. In many ways that is a difficult life.” Adeline sounded melancholy.
“I know, but they had some good examples in you. I’m sure that you haven’t changed that much over the years. I’ve heard about your helping with school expenses for your runners and that sort of thing. That was years ago. I gotta believe that you have always had a soft side. And look at your grandson. It seems to have skipped a generation, because he seems to be a good young man, even if he was raised by wolves.”
Carolyn laughed. “Was that a Wolf of Wall Street tie-in? Clever.”
Anna chuckled. “Hadn’t even thought of it.”
“Girls, this is our stop. Remember, you are far more important to me than anyone at this little soiree. Please try to enjoy your evening.”
Carolyn took a breath. “I’m ready.”
“Me too.” Anna looked out the door as the driver opened it for them. The front of the building reminded her of a museum she’d once explored with her grandmother. She hoped her Nana T was watching over her tonight. Nana T would love all the gowns and glitz, she was always a very stylish woman, and she would know exactly the right thing to say and do. Anna hoped she would whisper in her ear if she needed any help. She often heard the older woman’s voice when she needed support. Always had. Prayed she always would.
Adeline was the last to alight from the car, and as the girls turned slightly to witness the moment, they watched as not only her demeanor but her total aura changed. From the woman they knew to a woman they would never have the audacity to approach.
To say it was intimidating would be an understatement worthy of mention.
“Girls, are we ready?”
“As I will ever be.” Anna smiled as Adeline led the way.
SIX
ANNA AND CAROLYN were introduced with style and accepted into the group with well-practiced grace. The social skills of the elite are to be acknowledged if not admired.
Anna would have preferred less manners and more genuine pleasure, but at least everyone was polite and unquestioning of her presence.
The girls were standing in a group with their hosts, enjoying a cocktail, when Adeline’s hand tightened on the fine crystal she held. Not noticeable to anyone but the girls. Carolyn was sure of that.
The kids must have entered the room.
It took everything Carolyn had not to turn and stare.
Their host, Barnett, whispered, “And so it begins.” He excused himself and walked toward his guests.
Anna didn’t move a muscle, but whispered to Adeline, “You okay?”
“Never better. Thank you.”
It was an obvious power play, and Carolyn found it heartbreaking. Instead of recognizing the presence of Adeline immediately, her children — both her son and her daughter along with their spouses — worked the room a bit.
Carolyn found it disrespectful.
She might not know proper etiquette in these social circles, but she would never have dreamed of ignoring her parents to shimmy up to anyone else. Even her children, who were far from perfect, would never have done something so… so… the only word she could think of was crass.
Anna should have been a spy. She seemed to be enjoying the evening, but she didn’t miss anything. She made mental notes of things she wanted to ask Adeline, things she wanted to look up on the Internet. Things that just hit her wrong.
Adeline seemed completely unfazed.
The girls knew how hard this was on her, but no one else in the room had a clue.
When her offspring finally made their way to her, she greeted them warmly and introduced them to the girls.
“Please meet my children.” Indicating Carolyn, Adeline said, “This is my friend Mrs. Cooper. Carolyn, please meet my daughter Talbot and her husband Greg as well as my son Granville and his wife Piper.”
Both the girls were well aware that Adeline had chosen to introduce Carolyn first so that Anna could stand back and observe. Once all the niceties with Carolyn were complete, Adeline introduced Anna. Anna watched their eyes, and although they were practiced at the art of high society shenanigans, they couldn’t hide their nerves or their reluctance to have their mother looking so healthy and engaged. The last they had seen of her she was arguably at death’s door. Here she was, animated and sharp, standing fully erect and quite in command of all before her.
Talbot spoke first. “Mother, you look well.”
“I am.”
Granville couldn’t hide his tone. “Quite a turn around.”
“When you have the support of those closest to you, miracles are not only possible, I’m learning that they are expected.”
Trying to take control again, Granville commented, “Then I’m glad that we allowed Christophe to run to your aid.”
Adeline wasn’t interested in a power play. She knew she had all the power. “As am I.”
“How long will you be in town?”
“That remains to be seen. I find that while I was incapacitated, some details were overlooked on the business side of things. I intend to remedy that.” She took a moment to look into each of her children’s eyes. “At any cost.”
Talbot asked, “Were you unwell long?”
Adeline didn’t grace them with a response.
Piper reached out and touched Adeline’s arm. Both the girls were impressed that Adeline didn’t pull away. Piper seemed not to notice. “You know that Jenny always lived closer to you, so we just assumed that if there was a problem, she would be in touch. I’m so disappointed that she didn’t contact us if you were not feeling up to par.”
Not falling out of character, even for a moment, Adeline responded, “Genevieve was deployed. She, however, did make arrangements for my care when s
he thought that I might need assistance. As it turns out, she was right to do so. The house was quite toxic. I’m told many things that once resided there are toxic as well.”
They couldn’t miss the meaning of her comment. Adeline was not speaking of things. She was speaking of her children.
There was stunned silence for a moment.
Adeline’s tone lightened. “That, of course, gave me the opportunity to refurbish and redecorate, which is always uplifting.”
Talbot leaned in to get a better look at her mother’s face. “Well, you certainly seem to be making a near miraculous recovery.”
“Yes, with the help of my friends, I’ve been able to heal quite well. Please, do not allow me to monopolize your night. I know that you must want to mingle a bit before dinner is served.”
It took everything that Anna had not to laugh. She knew that Adeline’s kids were chomping at the bit to try to get more information from her so that they knew exactly where they stood with her, but she wasn’t going to give them any of that. Not yet, anyway.
The remainder of the evening was a bit of cat and mouse. Multiple times Adeline’s kids tried to engage her. Each time her shields were impenetrable. Adeline was polite, kind, cheerful, but her children were never able to get any more information from her. Not about her health. Not about her plans for her stay in the city. Not about Christophe’s role in her “complete rework of her approach to business and her financial legacy.”
The look on the face of each of the kids was priceless when she let that phrase loose.
Anna and Carolyn were so proud of Adeline.
All evening she had kept the perfect balance.
She was completely in control of the situation. Of the room. Of the kids.
As the girls thanked their host and his wife, the twinkle in Barnett’s eye was unmistakable. He leaned in close, under the guise of giving each of the girls a peck on the cheek, and stood close enough so that no one in the room could hear his comments.
He whispered, “Watching you this evening was worth the funds I invested in that bogus scheme. Thank you for a wonderful evening. If there is any way I can be of further assistance, please ask.”
The girls laughed good-naturedly — just enough to make the kids uncomfortable — and took their leave.
Once in the limo, they let out a collective sigh.
“I think that went quite well.” Adeline smiled.
Carolyn shook her head. “I’m not entirely sure what happened, but I’m very certain you threw your kids for a loop. They aren’t going to recover from this evening for some time to come.”
Anna laughed. “I’ve got so many things running around in my head, I’m just gonna make some notes here on my phone. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves.”
Carolyn and Adeline laughed.
Adeline rested her head against the seat back. “I am so grateful you girls were with me tonight. I was able to draw such energy from you. This evening was actually quite difficult for me, but with the two of you there, I felt as if I had someone on my side. I drew strength from that.”
Anna looked up from her phone. “We will always be on your side, Adeline. Always.”
Carolyn leaned forward. “Yes. Please, don’t think I’ve lost my mind, or that I’ve had one too many Yip Pips tonight, but I would swear that the car behind us is following us. Don’t look.”
“It always seems that way in the city.”
“Your driver has moved in and out of lanes very gracefully, and that car is stuck on our bumper like dried chocolate syrup.”
“Well, let us find out.” Adeline picked up a phone and spoke to the driver.
“It is a lovely night for a drive. We will take a somewhat circuitous route home.”
Ten minutes later the car behind them was pulled over by police. The phone beside Adeline buzzed. “Yes?” A few moments later she said, “I see. Thank you.”
Carolyn’s eyes were wide. “They were following us!”
“It would appear so.”
Anna looked back with big eyes. “Who is it?”
“I haven’t a clue, but the authorities will inform us.”
By the time the girls arrived at Adeline’s home, they had calmed down. The driver pulled into the garage area instead of dropping the girls at the front entrance as he had in the past. There were two rather large gentlemen waiting for their arrival.
“Ma’am.”
“Jimmy, do we have word?”
“Yes, ma’am. The car following you was, in fact, your daughter and son along with their spouses.”
Adeline never broke character. That’s the way Anna was starting to think about the way she comported herself around all these rich folk. She seemed so different when she was in their presence. The easygoing woman with a quick laugh and sincere compliment was buried beneath the surface of an aloof but never snobbish woman.
The girls rode up to Adeline’s home in a slightly less ornate elevator than the one they used from the reception area on their arrival.
No one said a word. Carolyn couldn’t think of anything appropriate. Adeline seemed deep in thought. Anna thought the elevator was probably bugged.
When they were in the living room of the loft, they let out a long sigh in unison.
Anna asked, “So, what do you think? How did it go? Did we accomplish what you had hoped for?”
Adeline smiled. “I think it went well. Our goal was to announce my presence, to throw them slightly off-balance, and to let them know that I am willing and able to deal with whatever it is they have planned. What were your impressions?”
Carolyn smiled. “I thought our hosts were lovely. Their home is beautiful. They were very gracious toward Anna and me. I think your children were, well, I guess the word would be stunned. When they first walked up I found it hard not to laugh. They sure recovered quickly.”
Anna chuckled. “That is why they did the tour around the room. So they could compose themselves. The way I was facing, I could see them the whole time, and they whispered back and forth as they went from one group to the next. Well, that, and they wanted to show that they were going to be the ones in power. They were the ones that would decide when and if they would approach you, Adeline.”
“I agree with everything you girls have said. I thought Piper’s comments about my younger daughter were telling.”
Carolyn shook her head. “She tried. Dear Lord, how she tried. But no matter the way you turn it, it is not your younger daughter’s fault that your older kids acted the way they did.”
“Oh, I think her comments were multifunctional. I think she not only wanted to refocus the conversation and assign blame elsewhere, but she wanted to see if I would react poorly, and further, she wanted to know just how much I knew about their part in all of it. Had I hissed at her or reacted in a particularly negative way, they would have known that I know what it is they were up to. I think I was able to eclipse that effort.”
Anna nodded her approval. “Beautifully.”
Elsa tapped on the doorframe. “Ma’am, please excuse the intrusion, you have a call, and he refused to leave a message.”
“He?”
“Roland. He said he has some important information for you.”
“Please tell him I will be with him momentarily, Elsa.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Adeline looked at the girls. “I will take this call from Roland. My assumption is that when the authorities were contacted, protocol ensured that my security would become involved. I would like to finish this discussion if you girls aren’t too tired. Perhaps over a nice cup of tea?”
“We’ll be here.” Anna spoke for them both.
“Please wait for me before you begin the conversation. Anna, you have taught me that the first time a subject is discussed is as important as revisiting it repeatedly. I won’t be but a minute.”
When Adeline hadn’t returned in twenty minutes, the girls found it hard to stay awake. It had been a long and taxing few days.
When Adeline hadn’t returned in thirty minutes, the girls were becoming concerned.
At thirty-three minutes, Elsa entered the room with a rolling cart full of little sandwiches, tea, other beverages, some fruit, and their favorite ice creams.
“Thank you, Elsa. Have you spoken to Adeline?”
“She will be in momentarily.”
Anna was just about to comment on that when Adeline walked in the door. “Everything okay?”
“There have been some advancements. Shall I pour out?”
Carolyn stood. “I’ll take care of that. Why don’t you fill us in?”
“Thank you, Carolyn. Anna, before we add any more complication, any thoughts?”
“A bunch, but I made notes so I won’t forget. What was that call about? It took longer than we thought it would. Is everything okay?”
“I’m truly sorry for the delay. I’m afraid there were a few things I had to deal with immediately.”
Carolyn carried a small, almost transparent china plate to each of the other girls. “Before we go down that path, may I ask a question?”
“Certainly.”
“I have never lived in the same place as you, Adeline. It seems to me that you have quite a busy life in addition to the life you have shared with me. Is it fair to say that once you are done doing all that you do for the two of us and the girls in your studio, and all the rest of it, then you continue your day, running a huge conglomerate that we know nothing about?” Before Adeline could respond, Carolyn continued. “And if that is the case, is it too much for you?”
Adeline smiled. “I appreciate your concern. To be frank, until very recently I have all but ignored the business side of things. I have a very large team of well-paid professionals who take care of the day-to-day business of running the conglomerate, as you put it. Since my health has improved and my younger daughter is coming online, I have taken a bit more of an interest. Only as it applies to the transitions I would like to see take place. Mine is more of a distant supervisory capacity than an actual worker, to be quite honest. I’ve not taken on the stress or labor-intensive aspects of the position. Once I have my older children in hand, I can release all of this back to those who are much more qualified than I.”
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