Chapter 17 17–21 January 2017 #2
Hannah and Ami stepped off their chartered helicopter and onto the snow-covered grounds.
Quickly, they were ushered by a valet in a long wool overcoat into one of several vintage Land Rovers that would take them across the large property, to the party.
Through the back window, tree after snow-dusted tree lined the orchard.
In the city, snow turned to grey-streaked slush in a matter of hours.
Here, it was pristine, the grounds a storybook forest.
The orchard soon receded into a wide, grassy expanse that would blossom into a wildflower meadow in the summer.
They passed a manicured garden, now frosted over, then the Land Rover pulled to a stop in a small lot.
Up ahead was the Concord Lodge. It would open to guests next month; for now, the cedar-shingled main house with its wraparound porch and heated stone terrace remained closed while the Fitzgeralds’ team of contractors and designers put on the finishing touches.
Orchard two more dressed yellow beet and goat cheese salads and wiped the rims of the bowls.
While Ami filled a small porcelain plate from the appetiser spread, Hannah looked around for familiar faces.
They’d travelled in from the city with Edward and Bash and one of Theo’s friends from the crew team, but the three boys had vanished the second they’d all emptied out of the Land Rover.
Now, Hannah’s eyes lit on Elle, who stood with her parents and two other adults Hannah didn’t recognise at the base of a wooden staircase providing indoor access to the roof deck.
Possibly local food journalists or members of the Prescott board.
Elle returned her gaze with a curt nod, and Hannah inwardly groaned.
This week at school, everything had been peaceful, even friendly between them. But tonight, Elle had people to impress – and Hannah was one of the least impressive people here.
Before she could stew for long about Elle’s fair-weather friendship, Ethan tapped her on the elbow and Bruno motioned them towards the stairs. The two boys, joined by Ami, passed by Elle and the adults and headed for the covered roof.
Hannah’s phone buzzed. Grace.
‘I’ll catch up!’ she called after Ami.
You’re going to say I’m nuts because we just applied like three weeks ago, but hear me out.
I emailed the woman in the housing office, the one we met on the tour?
She says all we have to do to apply to be roommates is request each other on the housing form.
IF we both get in, which we will, obviously.
Hannah swallowed and dropped her phone back into her bag. She owed Grace a bunch of texts, but she couldn’t think about college right now. She hurried up the stairs after her sister.
As seen from below, the deck was sheltered by an overhang and tall glass windbreaks on all sides. Outdoor heaters glowed, creating a cosy atmosphere in spite of the cold. Plush throws were draped over cushioned loveseats, and hurricane lanterns glowed on white wicker bistro tables.
Bruno made a beeline for the bar, and the others followed. When they’d procured winter Gin Fizzes and maple Old Fashioneds, they settled in on a pair of loveseats and Ethan slipped a glass vial from his pocket. ‘Who wants to party?’
Hannah’s eyebrows flew up. She was, by now, used to no one caring at these events. The alcohol always seemed to flow freely, something she’d never admit to her parents, who one thousand per cent would not approve. But coke?
‘Me!’ Ami grinned.
‘Ames,’ she said sharply. ‘Absolutely not.’
Her little sister treated her to a withering look. ‘I’ve done it twice with Alex before. It’s fine.’
Hannah’s mouth dropped open. Ethan motioned for Bruno, Hannah and Ami to follow him to a corner of the deck sheltered by an accordion privacy screen decorated with a delicate floral pattern.
Ami shot up to follow him, and reluctantly, Hannah followed.
Behind the screen was a table piled with extra barware and linens.
With wide eyes and a slightly gaping mouth, she watched Ethan clear a space at the end of the table and cut four lines on the hard back of a photography book he’d liberated from between two boxes of rocks glasses – a guide to wild foraging, by the look of it.
Ami leaned over, finger pressed to one nostril.
Stunned, Hannah watched as Ethan did a bump, then Bruno. When the book came to her, she looked to Ami.
Well, fuck. Hours remained before the helicopters would return to take them home.
Filled with a sudden rush of curiosity, and also not to be outdone by her little sister, she took the book and leaned down.
A bright burst of stardust filled the space behind her eyes, and every bulb in her brain lit up.
Laughing, she straightened up. What happens in Hudson…
Two drinks later, Hannah was having the time of her life.
All year, she’d been the responsible one at Prescott parties, declining alcohol altogether or limiting herself to one drink.
She wasn’t some kind of saint, but the mere second Dad and Yoko caught wind of unsupervised drinking, they’d be declining Hannah’s invites for her.
But her parents were miles and miles away, and fuck it, she was having fun.
While most of the adults migrated downstairs, where the first course was being served, the Prescott crowd stayed up on the roof – drinking, dancing, everyone doing another bump.
Madison sat at a nearby bistro table with Beatrice Whitmore, picking at a plate of prosciutto and heirloom tomato mini quiches and baked oysters.
At some point, Bash had joined Hannah, Ami, Ethan and Bruno on a loveseat and chairs set under a delicate strand of twinkle lights.
How were the lights so gorgeous? She should take a picture and send it to Grace.
Hannah dug around her bag for her phone and pulled up their chat. Two more messages about rooming together next year. She shot off a new text.
Sounds fab!!!
She snapped a photo, but somehow the twinkle lights didn’t look the same in the picture. Frowning, she slipped her phone back into her bag. Sooner or later, she was going to have to tell her best friend how seriously she was considering NYU. But not tonight.
Hannah buzzed with energy. On the far side of the deck, a few people were dancing.
That looked fun. Her eyes trailed to Theo and Edward, who were hanging around the bar, sipping whiskey.
Theo had been so kind to include Ami this evening.
Warm Edison bulbs strung from the edges of the roof above cast a honeyed glow against his white blond hair; his glasses sparkled.
It was hard to stay focused, hard to sit still.
Maybe she should go over, see if he wanted to dance…