Chapter 14 #2
They walked that way first to check out the various items up for bid. Claire was happy to see that her purse was nicely displayed on a center table, on a silver velvet cloth that made the black lizard leather shimmer in the overhead light.
Marsha’s eyes lit up when she saw the bag. “I didn’t realize you were donating that purse. I’ve always loved it,” she said.
“I had no idea. You’re welcome to borrow my plain black one anytime,” Claire offered.
“Thanks, honey. I may take you up on that. That shiny lizard is really striking. It will be great advertising for you, and I bet it will go for a good amount.”
“I hope so.” Claire hated to think of the purse going for less than its value. But since it was all for charity, she supposed it was all good.
“Let’s get seats.” Marsha led them to a table near the front where they’d be able to see the speakers easily.
Claire knew there were going to be only a few speakers.
The charity was a literacy program, so the executive director would say a few words once everyone was seated for dinner.
And probably the event organizers would recognize the main sponsors.
Other than that, it was mostly a networking and social event.
They picked out their seats and set their purses down.
“I want a glass of chardonnay. What can I get you two?” Marsha asked.
Claire asked for her usual soda and cranberry, and Lily wanted a Coke.
“I’ll go with you to help you carry them back,” Lily offered.
They headed off, and Claire settled in her seat and looked around the room.
It was starting to fill up, and she recognized a few faces.
Jenna and Molly from the book club were there.
Mandy walked in with a man who Claire didn’t recognize, but she guessed it was Matt, the man she’d been dating for a while.
Rachel and Stephanie arrived, and Claire waved them over.
“The guys didn’t want to come?” she asked as they settled next to her at the table. Both of them already had glasses of red wine in hand.
Rachel laughed. “They wanted no part of it. They are having a guys’ night out. They went fishing a while ago and were going to grab a few beers at the Rose and Crown after that.”
“How is it going at the shop?” Stephanie asked.
Claire filled them in, then turned when Stephanie waved her brother over. Cody was looking sharp in a gray tweed suit and a navy silk tie. His hair was smoothed and tamed, and he’d shaved. He grinned when he saw them.
“Do you want to join us?” Stephanie asked.
He shook his head. “Thanks, but the guys are saving me a seat. I’m sure I’ll see you all after dinner.”
He headed off, and Claire watched as he joined a table of men who were all equally handsome and well dressed. She didn’t recognize any of them.
“I feel like I hardly know anyone here these days,” she admitted.
“You know us! And you’ll get to know more people and reconnect with others. It won’t take long before you know everyone. It’s a small community here,” Stephanie said.
Marsha and Lily returned with the drinks, and a few minutes later, Lily saw Kenzie and Kenzie’s mother, Anna, and waved them over.
Claire recognized Kenzie’s mother as Kenzie made introductions.
Anna had been a year ahead of them and had been an “it girl” before that was even a thing.
She’d always had that special quality that drew people to her.
She was very thin—always had been—and had almost an ethereal, fragile way about her, yet she was always energetic and fun—people just wanted to be around her.
And she had a way of talking to people one-on-one so that they felt like they really mattered.
Now Claire understood why Lily said Kenzie was one of the most popular girls in school. She took after her mother.
“Do you want to sit with us?” Lily asked. “We have plenty of room.”
Kenzie glanced at her mother. “Can we? Please?”
Anna hesitated and looked across the room to another table filled with glamorous women. “Honey, the others are saving us a seat.”
Kenzie’s face fell.
“You can sit here if you want, if that’s okay with everyone else?”
“Of course she can,” Claire said.
Anna smiled graciously. “Thank you. I’ll catch up with you all in a bit.” She floated off as Kenzie sat next to Lily, and the two of them were immediately in their own world. Claire smiled. It reminded her of how she and Rachel had been at their age.
While they chatted, servers came by with platters of appetizers—chicken satay skewers, tuna tartare on endive leaves, crispy crab cakes, scallops wrapped in bacon, baked Brie bites, and spoonfuls of creamy mac and cheese topped with braised short ribs.
Claire tried everything as it passed by and was almost full before dinner was served.
But the dinner was good too. It started with mixed greens with roasted beets, goat cheese, and toasted walnuts.
Then the entrée was miso cod or tenderloin.
Claire went with the cod, and it was one of the best pieces of fish she’d ever had.
It was done perfectly and melted in her mouth, and the accompanying whipped potatoes were light and buttery.
She surprised herself by finishing all of it.
Dessert was a six-layer chocolate cake. It was decadent and delicious, and Claire was grateful that she had gone with the looser dress.
Once they were on coffee and dessert, the speakers were introduced, and people were recognized and thanked.
Jenna spoke about the silent auction and ran through the list of items—a wide range that included hotel stays, gift certificates to local restaurants and spas, jewelry, artwork, Patriots and Red Sox tickets, Cody’s rocking chair, and Claire’s bag.
Jenna also mentioned that Claire’s shop was now open, and she encouraged everyone to stop by.
Stephanie looked around the table. “Let’s hope they were all paying attention!”
“Cheers to that!” Marsha lifted her glass, and they all toasted to the new shop.
“I can’t wait until your celebration on Wednesday. Can I help you with anything?” Rachel offered.
Claire thought for a minute. “Maybe just remind everyone you know to come?”
Rachel laughed. “I can do that.”
“I will too,” Stephanie said.
“And of course I will spread the word as well,” Carol said.
Claire hoped between Marsha’s friends and everyone that Stephanie and Rachel and the others knew that she’d have a decent turnout on Wednesday. It was hard to judge how many people to expect and how much food to get.
She asked the others if they had any thoughts on how many people to plan for.
“It’s impossible to know,” her mother said. “But you really can never have too much food. It won’t go to waste.”
“Especially if you are having caviar and shrimp cocktail,” Rachel joked.
Stephanie perked up. “Are you really having caviar? And shrimp? I’ll let people know that too.”
Claire nodded. “Yes, it should be fun.” She excused herself to use the restroom.
One downside of pregnancy was having to visit the bathroom more often.
The bathroom was empty when she walked in, but once she was in a stall, she heard a flurry of high heels and women’s voices.
She didn’t think anything of it until she heard one of them say, “Is it true she’s broke and selling off her own things to make money?
How sad.” The woman’s voice dripped disdain, and Claire cringed.
She wondered who would be so miserable to talk about someone—her—that way.
Another woman chimed in. “I can’t imagine selling my things. Couldn’t she get a job?”
“I’m the one who suggested she turn it into a business.
” Claire recognized Jenna’s voice. “There’s nothing sad about it.
I think it’s incredibly smart of her. And she has some beautiful things.
You should go by her shop. She’s having an opening party on Wednesday.
I heard there will be caviar and champagne. ”
“Really? Maybe I will stop by. I have to admit I am curious to see what she has.”
“Her stuff is very high-end. And very expensive. I got this bag from her. It’s a rare mini Kelly.”
Claire smiled at the intake of breath and the oohs and aahs as they admired her bag. She stayed in the stall a few more minutes until it had quieted down. She opened her door cautiously and hesitated when she saw Jenna applying a fresh coat of lipstick. She winked when she saw Claire.
“Don’t worry about them. They’ve come and gone.”
“Who were they?” Claire hated to ask but she was curious.
“The really rude one was Muriel Jenkins, and she’s generally miserable so it’s not personal. Her friend was Bitsy Babbitt, and she’s just a snob. You might as well make some money off them if you can. I bet they’ll both show up on Wednesday.”
Claire laughed. “I hope so. I think.”
On her way back to the table, Claire stopped by the silent auction tables and took a closer look at the various items. She was tempted by a spa gift certificate for a facial.
No one had bid yet, and a facial sounded wonderfully relaxing.
She bid the minimum amount and went to see how the bidding was going for her Savette bag.
She hoped there was at least one bid. She smiled when she reached the bidding slip and saw that the first bid was from her mother.
And there were at least a dozen higher bids with the highest one almost twice the bag’s value.
She heard a low whistle and then a familiar voice behind her. “Not too shabby.”
Claire turned to see Cody looking amused.
“Thanks. I’m thrilled actually,” she admitted. “How are you doing with the chair?” She knew that would be a popular item.
“There’s a few bids. Can’t complain.”
Claire stepped over to his chair and looked at his list. He had at least twenty bids. “Very nice. More than a few.”
Cody yawned, then apologized. “Sorry about that. The day is catching up with me. I got up extra early to get a few holes in this morning.”
“You played golf before you opened the shop? What time did you get out there?”
“Seven maybe? Beautiful day. Going to do the same tomorrow.”
“That makes me tired just thinking about it.”
“Well, you have a good excuse.”
“Stephanie told you?” She’d wondered if he knew. It wasn’t the kind of thing that was likely to come up in conversation. But she was glad he knew.
“She did. I hope you don’t mind that I mentioned it?”
“Not at all. If I eat an extra sandwich at lunch, you’ll know why,” she said.
He laughed. “Are you extra hungry? Craving anything? That’s a thing, right?”
“Yeah. I’m not extra hungry. Not yet. But I have been craving peanut butter. And I have a sudden aversion to all things eggs. Have to leave the room if anyone is cooking them.”
“I hate eggs in general. But I like French toast, which is bread dipped in eggs right?”
She smiled. “Yeah, but that’s its own thing. Plus lots of butter and maple syrup. That sounds really good actually. Not that I’m remotely hungry. I definitely ate for two tonight.”
“I did too. Hard not to at these events.” He yawned again. “I’m going to head home, I think. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye.” She watched him go and wondered if he had a girlfriend.
He seemed like a catch. She wasn’t thinking of herself; she was just curious.
She couldn’t imagine she would be thinking of dating for a very long time.
Well after the baby was born. Even then, it would be a whole new world, trying to date with a newborn.
She shuddered at the thought. For now, she was content to enjoy her time with her family and friends and get ready for this baby.
As they were getting ready to leave, the winners of the various auction items were announced. Claire was shocked when her mother’s name was called for the bag Claire had donated.
“Mom! Did you really buy that bag? I saw you had the first bid, but there were so many after you.”
Marsha smiled slyly. “I had the first and the last bid. I told you. I wanted that bag.”
Claire felt badly that her mother had overpaid for her bag. She opened her mouth to say something, but her mother put her hand on her arm. “I am thrilled. And I can afford to donate to a good cause. It’s for charity after all, right?” She winked as she walked off to collect her prize.