Lady Be Good
Page 26
And Charles did seem to be seething. His face was locked in a scowl, and he downed a martini in one gulp. At his side was Patricia, whom Kitty had last seen being pursued by a misled security officer outside the entrance to Macy’s. She spotted Kitty before he did, and her eyes narrowed to slits as she whispered something in his ear. Thankfully, Hen walked up to Kitty and Andre at that precise moment.
“Hello,” she said, giving Andre a kiss on the cheek.
“Let me say congratulations quickly, because I have about a million questions to ask about Charles and Patricia,” Kitty said. “How did you neglect to tell me about that?”
“I just found out about it myself,” Hen said. “But they’re only dating. Nothing serious yet.”
“I never thought I’d say this about Patricia Davenport, but poor girl.” Kitty shook her head. “I hope she comes to her senses.”
“He’s appropriate and she’s appropriate,” Hen said in a blithe tone. “I think that’s all that matters to them. I’m sure their parents threw them together.”
Kitty glanced one last time at the icy couple across the room. For so long, Hen had been the one at Charles’s side, for no better reason than their mutual suitability. Now, she leaned on the arm of a man devoted to her. That was a true victory, worthy of the celebration Mrs. Bancroft had reluctantly given. Kitty accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “On to more agreeable subjects. How is decorating going?”
“Slowly,” Hen said.
“But it looks great. She has such an eye,” Andre said.
Hen glanced around. “I’ll miss living here. It was home. But I’ll be glad to have a little place that’s truly all my own.”
“Don’t forget about me,” Andre said. “I’m planning to live there too.”
“Only if we can agree on the curtains,” Hen said.
Andre started to laugh, then caught sight of something across the room that stopped him. He reached out for Kitty’s arm. “I probably should have told you, but I didn’t want you to chicken out and not come.”
Kitty scanned the guests. “What are you talking about?”
Hen stepped forward. “We invited someone. Well, it was his first night back in New York, and we didn’t want him to be alone…”
At that moment, Kitty caught sight of him. Max stood in the doorway, greeting a bemused Mrs. Bancroft.
“I told you he was coming in early,” Andre said, a mischievous spark in his eye.
Kitty’s fingers and toes tingled. “Are you sure he wants to see me?”
“I think he does,” Hen said in a soft tone.
Hen and Andre stepped away as Max approached Kitty. His tentative smile failed to conceal a touch of wariness.
“It’s good to see you,” she said, her heart pounding.
He fidgeted with a button on his coat. “I got your letters.”
“I hope they weren’t a bother,” she said. “I…I had a hard time forgetting about you.”
“I read them all.”
“You did?”
“Yeah.” He held out a hand for hers. “Everyone deserves a fresh start, don’t you think?”
She took his hand, relishing the familiar feel of his rough fingers. “I’m glad you think so.”
“Why don’t I get you a drink? We can talk.”
Kitty held up her glass with a smile. “I’m taken care of. Why don’t you get something?”
His laugh was still a bit shaky. As he crossed to the bar, Kitty took the opportunity to stroll around. All she heard was the same chatter that filled the room at every party, about summer homes and business meetings. She crossed to the giant windows and looked down at the street below. Even in the fading twilight, she could see people bustling around on the sidewalks. From this height, they hardly looked like people at all. More like dolls.
She sipped her champagne, a private toast to herself. She had made the right choice in letting all this go. Change was slow, a series of tiny steps over a long distance. But it didn’t mean that she shouldn’t appreciate each inch of progress along the way. And, thanks to the people she loved, Kitty Tessler would not have to walk that road alone.
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