Page 32 of The Best of Friends

“Tell me about it.”

They moved toward the house. On the path to the front door, she stopped.

“About Rebecca, and the necklace…”

He grabbed her free hand and held it in his. “I get it, Jayne. I know why you did it, I know why she took the fall, and I know why you’ve kept it a secret all these years. I get it.”

It was a perfect moment, she thought hazily. With the sun shining down and the ocean in the distance. There was a light breeze. When she was eighty, she would remember everything about the first time David Worden held her hand. She would bore her roommate at the nursing home as she told the story over and over again.

He was nothing like she’d thought—mostly because she’d never imagined him as a real person. He’d been a fantasy. The good news was that reality was even better than her best fantasy. The bad news was, getting over her crush now would be practically impossible.

Elizabeth moved through the crowd in the solarium. Ten years ago she’d insisted it be added. The slate flooring and elegant pillars made it seem more like an extension of the house rather than an outdoor space. The weather in Beverly Hills meant they could use it nearly ten months out of the year. There were built-in heaters, fans and air-conditioning vents, room for two hundred standing and seventy-five seated.

Blaine had balked at the expense, but she’d insisted, and eventually he’d admitted she’d been right. As she usually was.

Now she greeted her guests and chatted with them, all the while keeping her eye on David. Her handsome son stood in the middle of a group of women, making them laugh at whatever he was saying. He was very much in demand. She’d been fielding phone calls from anxious mothers ever since the invitations had gone out for the brunch.

According to her master list, there were nine single women at the party. Two lawyers, one medical student, one pediatric resident, two models, a teacher, a social worker and—she wrinkled her nose—an actress. The latter had been a mistake, but she hadn’t realized Tiffany had left college until a few minutes ago when she’d talked to her mother. The models were questionable enough, but an actress? Not inherfamily. She would wait to see if David showed any interest before getting involved.

She returned to the kitchen for a last-minute check of the food, then spotted Jayne and called to her.

Jayne spoke to one of the servers before walking over to join Elizabeth.

“The champagne is at the right temperature,” Jayne said. “The shrimp quesadillas aren’t moving at all. I think it’s the presentation. They’re difficult to pick up. I asked the caterer to put them on those tiny plates. It’s more work, but otherwise, people won’t eat them.”

“Excellent.” Elizabeth didn’t mind paying for expensive food, but she loathed having too much left over. It wasn’t as if she and Blaine would eat it, and Jayne could be counted on to take only a few containers home.

“The Jacksons are fighting,” Jayne continued. “I think he’s drunk already. I’ve moved them to the table by the fan. They’ll be harder to hear there. But I was wondering… did you want me to separate them completely?”

“Yes. That’s a good idea. Why she doesn’t just leave him, I’ll never know.”

“I think it has something to do with the ‘B’ word.” Jayne said with a grin. “Billions and billions. With her prenup, she won’t get much.”

Elizabeth nodded. “A word to the wise, Jayne. Never sign a prenup unlessyouhave the money.”

“Not really an issue for me, although I do appreciate the advice.”

Elizabeth patted her upper arm. “You’re a lovely girl, and you’ll find someone. I’m sure of it. Blaine mentioned something about hiring a new accounting firm. I could ask if he knows of any single young men for you.”

“I’m single,” David said, coming up. “Who’s looking?”

Elizabeth sighed. “No one interested in you.”

“How is that possible?” he asked. “Have you met me?”

“Yes,” she said, wishing he was still small enough that she could hug him and have him sit on her lap. Most women couldn’t wait for their children to grow up, but she’d loved David’s being small. Those had been the best years of her life. “Now tell me about those lovely women I saw you talking to. Melissa is very pretty, although that laugh… I’m not sure I could stand it.”

David kissed her forehead. “Lucky for us, she’s not interested in you.”

“I’ll go make sure the tables are set,” Jayne said. “Excuse me.”

Elizabeth watched her go. “I don’t know what I’d do without her,” she said. “Jayne is always so capable and smart. She takes care of things.”

“Do you pay her?” David asked.

“What? Pay Jayne? What on earth for?”

“Isn’t she your assistant?”

---