“Do you still have friends there?”
“I don’t keep in touch as much as I’d like, but I attend events with Dad sometimes. They’ve renovated one of the buildings and are naming it after him—the dedication ceremony is in August right before the fall semester starts. They asked me to give a speech, but public speaking isn’t really my strong suit.”
“What a nice opportunity. You should accept it—I’m sure your father would be honored.”
“Oh, I don’t have a choice,” I say with a smile. “Dad would shame me into the next century if I turned it down. His public persona is everything.”
“I bet. He sounds like a very influential man.” She sips her drink, eyes lingering on Aubrey and another woman who are getting poolside massages. “That must be a lot to live up to.”
I let her words linger between us before replying, “I’ve never thought about it, actually.”
“Oh?” She tips her chin at me. “That’s unusual.”
“Is it?” I drink as I think about it.
“Well, most kids born with a silver spoon are taught to carry the weight of legacy.”
“Oh,” I say, “that’s not my dad. He’s too busy working to think about things like legacy. He’s very driven—making money is his passion.”
“More than his daughter?”
“I think so,” I reply without hesitating. I’ve thought about this a lot—by the time I was twelve I knew I came second to my father’s business.
“What about your mom?”
I gulp. The wordmomfeels foreign to my ears. This is something dad and I rarely talk about. “She... wasn’t a part of my life.”
“Oh?” Kat says, swirls and sips her champagne, then levels me with her intense gaze. “Why?”
“She struggled with mental illness. She was institutionalized by the time I was five.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” She gives me a sympathetic smile.
“Thanks. I don’t have many memories of her. Not even any pictures. There was a fire that destroyed almost everything.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”
“It was a long time ago,” I say with a sad smile.
She nods, then finishes her wine. She lifts her empty flute in the air and out of nowhere a gentleman in a crisp white shirt and black slacks appears to refill her glass. “Drink up, my dear. This is what the weekend is all about—connection and togetherness. It’s the missing piece in our society today—I recognized it when I first founded our little group over forty years ago, and it’s even more so now. Capitalism teaches us to consume to keep the wheels turning, but so much is lost in that paradigm. Profit over people, consumption over connection—it just leaves a terrible taste in my mouth. For that reason we try to have these ladies’ weekends at least quarterly and more often if we can make the time for it.” She smiles after the waiter refills my flute and then walks away. “The twelve of us are like family. It’s always been that way, and now you’re a part of the family too.”
“I’m so honored,” I reply.
I’ve only been here for twenty-four hours and already these women feel like home. Like a dozen doting aunts—a society of women with the sole focus of empowering and supporting each other. “I’m so happy you invited me. I admit I was hesitant at first—it was an unexpected request—I don’t think I would have had the courage to come without Aubrey at my side. I’m pretty much a hermit when I’m back in the city.”
“Oh, we’ll do our best to change that. I’ve already got a few things in mind for you—if you’re interested, anyway. It might feel a little out of your wheelhouse at first, but I think you’ll findthe work you do with us so rewarding.”
“I think so too.” I smile, feeling excitement course through me for the first time in too long. “I would love to help however you need.”
Seven
Ellie
“Endless champagne, massages by the pool, and a private chef—I think we’ve stumbled into heaven on Earth.” Aubrey waves one of the waitstaff over and smiles as he pours champagne into her flute. “I think I’ve been wine-drunk all weekend. If you don’t join The Society I will, El.”
I laugh. “I’m definitely joining—I was hesitant when we arrived but after this weekend, I’m all in.”
“You’d better be—we couldn’t be friends otherwise.” She smiles. “I want to be your plus-one for everything, got it? Whatever events they send you to, I’m your wing woman, do we have a deal?”
