“I’m not sure I understand,” Tori said, in as neutrala tone as she could manage. She was losing her ability to sit and absorb the anxieties of the well-to-do.
“Remember that woman I told you about? Whose kids have suddenly decided to include my daughter in their social circle?”
Tori straightened up. “Yes, I remember. Is she involved in this?”
“This is so petty and stupid, I feel shallow just talking about it.”
“This is your time. Talk about what you want.”
“You’re right. Last year I joined the school’s booster club board. You know, we raise money for athletics—uniforms, field upkeep, things like that.”
“Okay.”
“Well, Jo, that’s her name, she’s on the board and she wanted to hold the annual fundraiser at this very expensive restaurant in Bethesda, like eighty dollars a plate. It had always been held there, but the price kept inching up and I suggested we find a less expensive place that more parents could afford. I mean, eighty dollars a plate? It’s not really in keeping with the school’s ethos. We are a pretty diverse school, we’re a public school, and yes, some of our students come from higher-income homes, but many do not.”
“Go on.”
“The other board members agreed with me. No biggie, right? Well, she took it as some kind ofcoupattempt. She froze me out. I was left off emails, Zooms, etcetera. And everyone just went along with it. I resigned. I don’t need that bullshit. So that was last year. Thisyear, I started looking into college counselors and guess what? Both were booked up.”
“Both?There must be more than two.”
“Well,” she scoffed. “There are dozens out there, but there are only two that get results. Everyone knows that. Crimson Edge and IvySelect.”
“And you think this Jo woman had something to do with that?”
“I know she did!” The woman’s eyes widened. “I know for a fact. She basically told me. We were at a party last weekend and she said, ‘Oh, I hear you’ve been having some trouble finding a college counselor. I hear Montgomery County Community College is offering some free prep courses online.’ Can you believe that? The local community college!”
“So you think she was able to get these in-demand counselors to turn you away?” Tori wasn’t sure what to think. It sounded absurd, over the top. But she wanted to believe it. She wanted to believe the absolute worst about Jo. “Tell me more.”
A few hours later, filled with enough trash talk about Jo for her mind to chew on for days, Tori stood in the parking lot of Rodman’s in DC loading her groceries into the trunk. Professionally speaking, Tori should have explored why her patient was so obsessed with a woman she barely knew. It wasn’t healthy. But Tori’s ethics had taken a little holiday during the session as her patient turned out to be a gold mine of gossip and innuendo about the Allards. In fact, it had taken all of Tori’s strength to maintain a neutral demeanor andnot cackle with glee at some of the more outlandish stories.
Like Daniel Allard donating a case of Echezeaux Grand Cru for the music department’s silent auction, then winning it himself with a bid of twelve thousand dollars, which Jo made sure everyone knew. Or Eloïse’s sweet sixteen where every guest received an iPad with a picture of Eloïse as the home screen. And the Allards paying for the entire Bethesda–Chevy Chase sailing team to go to Antigua for spring break training last year.
“That’s a lot of wine you got there.”
The voice sent an electric current along her spine. She looked up to see Van Allard standing next to her car, nodding at the case of bottles in her cart. She was taken off guard by his sudden appearance. She wasn’t expecting to see him here. It was almost as if she had conjured him by obsessing over his family.
“It’s cheaper if you buy a dozen bottles,” she said. “You get ten percent off the case.” She sounded nervous, unsure of herself, and she despised herself for it. Why should this entitled prodigal son have any power over her?
“Sure.” He smiled, the curve of his lips triggering a shameful warmth in her. “That’s what they all say.” He pulled a bottle from the case, his fingers brushing against hers for the briefest of moments. The contact burned like fire. “Sancerre, huh?”
“You a wine fan?”Like your dad?she almost added. She tried to sound casual, detached.
“My parents like wine. I prefer whiskey.”
She laughed. “You do not.”
“Nah, not really. But I do like Jack and Coke.” He returned the bottle and then picked up the case with ease. He nestled it into her trunk, his muscles flexing beneath his thin tee. She found herself staring, transfixed.
He straightened up. “No need to tip me, ma’am. But you can buy me a Jack and Coke sometime, if you want. You know, to celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
“I just graduated. I’m done with high school. I’m a free man.”
“Congrats.” She laughed again, this time with a nervous edge. He was cocky as hell. A week ago he had broken into her house, and here he was now cracking jokes, and—was he flirting with her? The realization made her stomach drop, a mix of alarm and forbidden excitement coursing through her veins. She was old enough to be… well, if not to be his mother, at least nothing appropriate.
“Not a big Jack and Coke fan,” she said. “More of a Manhattan girl.”