“No, but…” Sophie’s voice faded as her eyes locked on the front door again. “Holy shit, it’s Eloise from the Style section of theTimes. And she brought Rachel from DesignLife.” Sophie squealed as she put her negroni down on a passing tray. “I knew this party was a good idea. This will be all over TikTok tomorrow. Come on. Let’s go mingle.”
The crowd grew, and Sophie circled the room, introducing Anne to potential clients, friends, and press. Hors d’oeuvres were passed on trays as smartly dressed waiters made sure everyone had a drink. The music faded behind a wall of conversation, dozens of people admiring the space, complimenting Anne and Sophie’s work. Still, Anne’s eyes kept darting to the door, looking for a familiar face.
Then someone tapped her on the shoulder.
Her heart tripped as she turned around. James and Ellis stood behind her, each with a glass in their hand.
“You came,” Anne said as she released a breath she hadn’t even realized she was keeping in.
“Of course we came,” Ellis said, embracing her.
“This place is incredible, and I’m so mad at you for not telling us about it sooner,” James said, looking mildly put out, even as he leaned over to give her a hug as well.
Anne laughed. “If it makes you feel better, this place has only been half-mine for two days.”
James seemed to think about it. “It does. A little.”
“Being a business owner suits you,” Ellis said. He was smiling so broadly, Anne actually believed it. “You look gorgeous.”
“It’s either that, or some tall drink of water has swept you off your feet,” James said in agreement, waving a hand in front of her face. “You’re all flushed and bubbly.”
Anne rolled her eyes, working hard not to check the doors again. “It’s probably because I had a sip of whatever that drink is that they’re passing around and nothing to eat today.”
James sighed. “That’s my favorite diet.”
“ANNE!” a voice rang out from the crowd.
They all turned just as Cricket emerged from the crowd. Her long curly hair was piled onto the top of her head, and she was wearing a gauzy lace dress that almost looked like a negligee with a faux fur coat over her shoulders. She was waving her arms so frantically that Anne almost missed Bev behind her, wearing cargo pants and a wool sweater, and looking around at the painfully stylish crowd with disgust.
“We made it!” Cricket announced when she finally arrived at the trio. “Bev said we would be late, but I told her it’s okay because we had to make a fashionable entrance.”
“This place got firebombed in the seventies,” Bev added, still looking around the space.
“Cricket, what the hell are you wearing?” Ellis asked, looking down at his sister’s almost-transparent dress.
“What?” Cricket looked down, too, concerned. Then her attention went to the coat and her lip curled. “It’s notrealfur, Ellis.”
Anne smiled, her chest filled with so much joy she didn’t know what to do with it. She had spent so much time showing up for everyone else, she never considered how much it would mean when they showed up for her, too. “This is amazing. I can’t believe you all came.”
Bev looked over at her like she had lost her mind. “Why the hell wouldn’t we come?”
“Oh! Tax fraud,” Cricket replied. “That’s why Glen isn’t here. One of his clients did some embezzling or something?”
Anne opened her mouth to ask one of the numerous follow-upquestions she had, but was cut off by Bev, who was now waving down a passing waiter with a tray of the hors d’oeuvres.
“Are those crab cakes?” she yelled.
“Hey!” Sophie’s pink hair popped into the group, her smile wide. “Sorry, I have to steal my partner for a sec!”
Sophie pulled Anne from her friends to introduce her to the other guests. They talked about their business plan and hopes for the future, posed for photos with the flowers and other patrons. It was dizzying, and Anne was about to excuse herself to get a few moments alone in the back, when she turned around and froze.
“Hello, sweetie,” Bianca Russell said, a smile on her red-lined lips. She hadn’t taken off her long cashmere coat, and there were still snowflakes on the shoulders as if she had just come in. It was a telltale sign that she wasn’t staying long, but Anne didn’t even care. Regardless of how much time her mother would spend there, she came.
Anne blinked, and it took another moment before she replied. “Hi.”
“What’s wrong?” Bianca said, releasing her. “Is it the eyebrows? I just had them reshaped.”
“No. They look perfect,” Anne replied. “I just can’t believe you made it.”
