Chapter 6
Six
Ellie
“So tell me about Columbia,” Kat says as she holds a flute of Prosecco by the pool Saturday afternoon, her elegant legs crossed
at the ankle and an oversized sunhat perched on her head. Even when she’s relaxed her gestures are poised, her tone even.
She’s everything I could ever hope to be someday—a picture of grace that I will fall hopelessly short of achieving.
I push a hand through my wind-tousled waves and smile. “I enjoyed it. My dad is an alum so Columbia was a natural choice for
me—I knew half of the staff by the time I was a senior in high school and campus felt like a home away from home. Dad is a
major donor.”
“And your degree is in finance and econ?” she inquires politely.
“Mhm.” I take a drink from my glass, unsure of what else to say.
“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 word mom feels 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 find the 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.”