She was older now, and she should be able to tolerate, to blend, to understand, to compromise.
But she couldn’t help it. What these people were interested in just wasn’t what she was interested in. She couldn’t care less where Ralph Tumult had bought his newest Mercedes, what stock prices did last week, whether or not Jane Pitt hocked all her jewels and was now wearing paste and pretending—though God knew even a blind man’s Seeing Eye dog could have told the difference -- , or if Jordan Kash should be kicked off the club board because he’d been caught sleeping with the golf pro’s wife-—right in the middle of a tournament. She wasn’t made to belong to the club set. It wasn’t in her.
When Jennifer got up to visit the powder room, the other two women rose to go with her, chattering all the way in. Astrid sat beside Jennifer at the long mirror, and they both combed their hair and freshened their makeup.
Jennifer sneaked a look at the woman beside her and decided to jump right in. “I’m sorry to have turned up as sort of a fifth wheel on your arrangement here,”
Astrid laughed softly. “Don’t worry about it, dear.” She dabbed powder on her nose from a golden compact. “Reid is obviously fascinated with you for the moment.” She turned to smile with genuine friendliness that took Jennifer aback when it was combined with what she was saying. “I understand you two were friendly once in the past.”
“Yes,” Jennifer began, prepared to launch into a full explanation, but Astrid waved it away.
“I understand fully. I know what men are like.”
Muffy came out to sit on her other side, and she turned to her. “They’re all the same, aren’t they? It’s like spring fever or something. They get all obsessed by something or other—a new car or a sailboat or a new sport—or a girl—and they act quite demented for a while.” She shrugged and laughed, turning back to Jennifer. “But it always passes.”
A chill went through Jennifer. It hadn’t been meant as a dig at her. Strangely enough, she knew that. Astrid was being modern and objective.
She glanced at Muffy and received an apologetic smile and a tiny shrug. Then Mufly asked to borrow a dab of Astrid’s perfume, and the conversation left the issue of Reid behind. Astrid turned and offered Jennifer a dab as well. No, Astrid hadn’t intentionally meant to insult Jennifer.
But it had been meant as a bit of friendly advice. Astrid had merely let her know that she didn’t feel threatened. Despite Jennifer’s appropriate clothes and attempt to fit in, it all came down to the same thing. Astrid had the same opinion of her that Dan had at first. She figured Jennifer was one of those “male things” that Reid had to get out of his system.
Jennifer wasn’t affronted this time. She was saddened. Astrid didn’t even know the quality of what she had. That was what made Jennifer angry. Astrid expected to be cheated on. And Reid was no cheater.
Reid stood as they came back to the table.
“We have to be going, Jennifer,” he told her softly. “I’ve got some plans.”
She nodded, glad at the prospect of being alone with him again. They said good-bye to the others and walked through the club toward the parking lot.
“Did you have a date with Astrid?” she asked him as they went through the glass door.
“Just for tennis.”
She threw him a baleful glance. “I’m sure she assumed it would be for more than that.”
“Not really. Her family has out-of-town guests this week, and she’s expected home soon to help entertain them.”
“Oh.”
Talk about contrary, she chided herself. First she’d been worried that he was walking out on a date with Astrid, then—when she found out that wasn’t the case —she felt just a little miffed to discover he hadn’t given everything up just to be with her after all.
They drove home in the MG, and he didn’t speak again until they reached the house. “Have you thought about
But she couldn’t help it. What these people were interested in just wasn’t what she was interested in. She couldn’t care less where Ralph Tumult had bought his newest Mercedes, what stock prices did last week, whether or not Jane Pitt hocked all her jewels and was now wearing paste and pretending—though God knew even a blind man’s Seeing Eye dog could have told the difference -- , or if Jordan Kash should be kicked off the club board because he’d been caught sleeping with the golf pro’s wife-—right in the middle of a tournament. She wasn’t made to belong to the club set. It wasn’t in her.
When Jennifer got up to visit the powder room, the other two women rose to go with her, chattering all the way in. Astrid sat beside Jennifer at the long mirror, and they both combed their hair and freshened their makeup.
Jennifer sneaked a look at the woman beside her and decided to jump right in. “I’m sorry to have turned up as sort of a fifth wheel on your arrangement here,”
Astrid laughed softly. “Don’t worry about it, dear.” She dabbed powder on her nose from a golden compact. “Reid is obviously fascinated with you for the moment.” She turned to smile with genuine friendliness that took Jennifer aback when it was combined with what she was saying. “I understand you two were friendly once in the past.”
“Yes,” Jennifer began, prepared to launch into a full explanation, but Astrid waved it away.
“I understand fully. I know what men are like.”
Muffy came out to sit on her other side, and she turned to her. “They’re all the same, aren’t they? It’s like spring fever or something. They get all obsessed by something or other—a new car or a sailboat or a new sport—or a girl—and they act quite demented for a while.” She shrugged and laughed, turning back to Jennifer. “But it always passes.”
A chill went through Jennifer. It hadn’t been meant as a dig at her. Strangely enough, she knew that. Astrid was being modern and objective.
She glanced at Muffy and received an apologetic smile and a tiny shrug. Then Mufly asked to borrow a dab of Astrid’s perfume, and the conversation left the issue of Reid behind. Astrid turned and offered Jennifer a dab as well. No, Astrid hadn’t intentionally meant to insult Jennifer.
But it had been meant as a bit of friendly advice. Astrid had merely let her know that she didn’t feel threatened. Despite Jennifer’s appropriate clothes and attempt to fit in, it all came down to the same thing. Astrid had the same opinion of her that Dan had at first. She figured Jennifer was one of those “male things” that Reid had to get out of his system.
Jennifer wasn’t affronted this time. She was saddened. Astrid didn’t even know the quality of what she had. That was what made Jennifer angry. Astrid expected to be cheated on. And Reid was no cheater.
Reid stood as they came back to the table.
“We have to be going, Jennifer,” he told her softly. “I’ve got some plans.”
She nodded, glad at the prospect of being alone with him again. They said good-bye to the others and walked through the club toward the parking lot.
“Did you have a date with Astrid?” she asked him as they went through the glass door.
“Just for tennis.”
She threw him a baleful glance. “I’m sure she assumed it would be for more than that.”
“Not really. Her family has out-of-town guests this week, and she’s expected home soon to help entertain them.”
“Oh.”
Talk about contrary, she chided herself. First she’d been worried that he was walking out on a date with Astrid, then—when she found out that wasn’t the case —she felt just a little miffed to discover he hadn’t given everything up just to be with her after all.
They drove home in the MG, and he didn’t speak again until they reached the house. “Have you thought about
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