8. The Donor Preview
THE DONOR PREVIEW
Friday evening arrived dressed as if it had done nothing wrong.
The west garden glowed under lanterns. The champagne tower stood level on the long table. The musicians tuned near the pergola. Every chair was where Katherine had placed it, every floral arrangement low enough for conversation, every guest card spelled correctly.
Katherine wore a black dress with sleeves and her mother's pearl earrings. She had considered armor and chosen accuracy instead.
The proof folder was in her evening bag. A duplicate packet was with Maris. Simone had a scanned set and had told Katherine, "If he makes a false public claim, correct the false claim. Do not speculate. Do not embellish. Say what the documents prove."
Lila arrived early and kissed Katherine's cheek.
"I can stay beside you all night," Lila said.
"I may need you to stand where you can see the room."
"Mom."
"I need a witness more than a guard."
Lila's mouth tightened. "You can have both."
Philip came down the back stairs before the first guests arrived, cuff links shining, hair perfect, smile already prepared for people who had not yet arrived. He paused when he saw Lila.
"I didn't know you were coming."
"It's a family home tour," Lila said.
His smile held. "Right."
Brenna Dacey arrived fifteen minutes later with the first donor cluster, which told Katherine the choice was deliberate. Brenna wore ivory, her hair smooth at the nape, her hands empty because women like Brenna did not carry their own bags when there were men nearby who wanted to be useful.
Maris Denton intercepted her near the garden steps.
Katherine could not hear the whole exchange, only Maris's clean, public voice.
"Brenna, the program has been revised. No design remarks tonight unless I invite them."
Brenna's eyes moved past Maris and found Philip.
Philip crossed the garden in two long strides. "Maris, is there a problem?"
"There was a packet issue. It has been corrected."
"I approved that packet."
"You approved a packet that contained unverified statements about ownership and future auction consideration."
Philip's smile did not break for the guests nearby, but his jaw shifted. "This is not the place."
"It is exactly the place if donors are about to rely on it," Maris said.
Katherine watched Philip understand that the event had another adult in charge.
He came to her next.
"What did you give Maris?"
"Documents."
"You had no right."
"To show the auction chair that her packet misrepresented my property?"
"Our property."
"Inherited property."
"You are not a lawyer."
"No. That's why I hired one."
He glanced at Lila, who stood near the French doors with a glass of water she had not touched.
"You brought our daughter into this?"
"You moved her grandmother's things into another woman's portfolio."
That was the first time Katherine had said it to his face in one sentence.
Philip looked around. Two donors near the hydrangeas had stopped pretending not to listen.
"Lower your voice," he said.
"No."
Brenna approached then, ignoring Maris's warning with a confidence that came from believing Philip could still protect her.
"Katherine," she said softly. "I think there's been a misunderstanding."
Katherine almost admired the opening. Misunderstanding made a moving inventory sound like a misplaced plate.
"Which part?" Katherine asked.
Brenna blinked.
"The storage," she said. "Philip told me the pieces were being rotated out for the tour."
"And into your apartment?"
Brenna went pale.
Philip said, "Katherine."
Lila stepped closer, not to interrupt, only to be near enough that Philip would have to look at his daughter while he lied.
"Did he tell you the blue chair belonged to my grandmother?" Katherine asked Brenna.
Brenna's eyes flicked to Philip. Blame was already looking for shelter.
Maris approached with a handheld microphone and a black folder.
"Katherine," she said, loud enough for the people nearby to hear, "I need to correct the Bowles House portion before the tour proceeds. Would you prefer that I make the correction, or would you?"
The garden quieted in rings.
Philip turned on Maris. "Absolutely not."
Maris held his gaze. "Donors received a preview note this afternoon that I am now aware contained unauthorized statements. The correction will be made before the house opens."
"This is my home."
"It is also a Hollander donor event, and I am the auction chair."
Katherine took the microphone from Maris's offered hand.
It was heavier than she expected.
Philip moved closer. "Katherine, think very carefully."
She looked at him. Then she looked at Brenna, who stood beside him in ivory in a garden Katherine had planned.
"I have," Katherine said.
She walked to the small step below the pergola where Philip had intended to speak about stewardship. Lila moved to the side, phone in hand, recording openly. Maris stood near the program table with the duplicate proof packet.
Katherine faced the donors.
For thirty-one years, she had made rooms ready for Philip.
Tonight she made one ready for herself.