A Very Good Life (24 page)

“Thank you,” Dana said as she turned and straightened Brett’s tie. He had been a charming host the night before, and he had surprised her with his invaluable assistance to Johnny. The old Brett, self-absorbed and distant, would not have taken the time to help her childhood friend extricate himself from a potentially damaging situation that would also have led to a marriage of questionable merit. He was still distracted at times, but Dana felt that she had indeed, to paraphrase her brother at lunch, found the right person.

“You do know how to wear a tux, Mr. McGarry. You look quite handsome.”

“I bet you say that to all of the lawyers who are in line for partnership,” Brett said.

“Only the thoughtful ones.”

• • •

The Sugar Plum Ball was a black tie event preceded each year by a cocktail reception at six o’clock at the Waldorf. When it was time for the ball, the guests were seated as the finalists’ fathers escorted their daughters, all wearing white gowns, into the winter wonderland ballroom. The first dance between father and daughter was to “The Way You Look Tonight.” Later, the contestants were seated at tables with their respective families. Seated at the B. Altman table were Dana, Brett, Andrew, Helen, Bob and Bea, each with their spouses. At Brett’s invitation, Davis, Konen and Wright was supporting the charitable event, and Jack and Patti Hartlen were seated at the firm’s table. Brett surmised that Richard was still tenaciously trying to get the Hartlens to retain the firm.

Opening remarks were made by John S. Burke, Jr., the chairman of B. Altman and the president of the Altman Foundation. Burke welcomed the guests and thanked them for their support of the Eighth Annual Sugar Plum Ball for the benefit of the Children’s Aid Society. Burke explained that in 1913, under the provisions of Benjamin Altman’s will, the Altman Foundation was established to support charitable institutions that benefited the people in the city of New York. Committed to that mission was the Children’s Aid Society, founded by Charles Loring Brace in 1853, when orphanages and “poor houses” were the only services available to homeless children on the streets of New York. Brace introduced “Orphan Trains,” which took tens of thousands of abandoned orphans from city slums to live with farm families across America. Currently, the Society, together with dozens of other agencies, provided foster boarding care, adoption programs, and community centers offering healthcare and leadership training. The Society was also a founding member of the Boys & Girls Club of America.

Champagne was poured before coffee and dessert as Dana rose from her seat and made her way to the front of the ballroom to make the much-anticipated announcement. As she faced the audience, she was distressed to see Brett get up and leave the ballroom. This was her moment! Where could he possibly be going? In fact, Andrew had also left the table. She’d worked for three months on the contest. Where were her biggest supporters?

• • •

Brett had deemed this the perfect time to step out of the ballroom and call Janice. Dana was occupied and hopefully wouldn’t notice his absence. He’d be back within five minutes. He entered a phone booth in the empty cocktail area and closed the door.

“Have you told her yet?” asked Janice.

“No. She’d get pretty aggravated if I hit her with a bombshell before her presentation. I’ll wait until we get home.”

“Are you prepared for the storm? From what I saw at the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association Meeting, she’s feistier than I thought.”

“If she wants a country home, she’ll have to accept it. What are you doing tonight, by the way?”

“Packing for San Francisco.”

“Are you making an itinerary to show me the sights?”

Janice laughed heartily. “You’ve got to be kidding! And we’re not starting a photo album either, although you might be interested in the scenery at Black Sands Beach.”

“What’s so special about Black Sands Beach?” Brett asked.

“No East Coast inhibitions, if you get my drift.”

“I’m intrigued,” Brett said, “but I have to run before my absence is noticed. Bye.”

As Brett placed the black receiver in its cradle, he looked out the glass panel in the phone booth door and saw Andrew and Jack in a heated conversation. Andrew, visibly upset, turned and started to walk away as Jack grabbed his arm. Andrew resisted and continued to the men’s lounge.

As Jack straightened his tuxedo jacket and began walking back into the ballroom, Brett hurried out of the phone booth, approaching Jack just as he was opening the door.

“This town gets smaller by the minute!” Brett exclaimed as he touched Jack’s shoulder.

Jack froze in his tracks like a deer caught in the headlights. A look of panic seized his face.

“I can’t believe that you know Andrew, too!” Brett continued. “He’s Dana’s best friend. They work closely at B. Altman. They’re always together running around town, doing something or other. He practically lives at our apartment. Has Patti met Andrew?”

Jack’s stare was frozen with fear and guilt, and Brett played it for all it was worth.

“Listen, let’s all get together for a holiday dinner,” Brett suggested.

“Certainly,” Jack managed to whisper, the blood draining from his face.

“And with the wives,” Brett said. Handing Jack his card, he added, “Let’s hammer out the details on the consortium first. Call me next week and let’s get it done.”

Brett clapped Jack on the shoulder. “Shall we get back to the party?”

The men re-entered the ballroom.

• • •

“It’s always the highlight of our evening,” Dana said, “when we introduce the five outstanding finalists who started competing a year ago for the title of Miss B. Altman Teen of the Year. The girls joined our twelve-week program last September and were selected among forty contestants for their excellence in writing, fashion design, and public speaking.”

As instructed, the girls rose when their names were called.

“As we observed these exemplary young women during the competition this year,” Dana continued, “we recognized their unique and diverse talents, personalities, styles, and interests, and we saw a wonderful opportunity for each of them, as well as for B. Altman.”

Helen sat up straighter at the B. Altman table, wondering what Dana was about to say.

Dana paused, looking out across the tables and the anxious audience members. There was complete silence in the ballroom.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce B. Altman’s very first Teen Advisory Board, consisting of Kate Daley, Robin Flowers, Lisa Gelber, Mari Kamura, and Kim Sullivan. Or to put it another way, all of our finalists have been declared winners. The young women will serve as ambassadors for B. Altman. Each will receive a monthly shopping bonus for the Junior Department, hostess in-store events, model junior fashions throughout the store, and will provide Ms. Helen Kavanagh, B. Altman’s junior buyer, monthly reports about what their peers are wearing and doing. This will support the store’s new focus on the growing and diverse youth market as will shortly be seen by the addition of a teen makeup counter. I’d like all five winners and their families to join me on stage, and I ask that you now congratulate them on their hard work and success,” Dana said, putting her hands together.

The ballroom erupted into applause as everyone got to their feet. The five contestants looked as stunned—and as pleased—as everyone else. The finalists were handed roses and Tiffany necklaces by the contest staff, after which Dana prepared to make a final announcement.

Dana had gotten the idea to make all the girls winners at the Winterberry Christmas Tree Farm when Andrew had looked at the many sizes and shapes of the trees, noting that he could use all of them in one way or another since they complemented each other perfectly. And if they were all winners, Bob couldn’t object that Kim Sullivan hadn’t gotten the emotional boost she needed. An advisory board would also augment the new teen makeup counter, giving it more importance despite its small size.

“B. Altman looks forward to working with our winners in the coming months, and I invite them to have a victory dance with their fathers and other relatives. We’ll then be served coffee and dessert. Please enjoy the evening!”

Dana was on the way back to her table when Patrick Denner stopped her on the edge of the dance floor.

“I think that the event coordinator for this contest deserves a dance as well,” Patrick said, “and since Brett must have stepped out for the moment, I’d be privileged if you’d do me the honor.”

“Always the gentleman,” Dana said, taking Patrick’s hand while wondering where her husband was. Why wasn’t he present to share her moment of accomplishment?

On the dance floor, Patrick congratulated Dana for her success with the contest. “I’m sure Brett will be back shortly,” he added. “I suspect he may be on the phone since the firm put so much on his plate this morning.”

“He’s always so incredibly busy,” Dana said, thinking nothing of the remark. “Just as all of you are.”

Patrick laughed. “You’re very understanding, Dana. Going to San Francisco goes far beyond simply being busy.”

“San Francisco?” Dana said. “A business trip?”

“I’m afraid so. A six-month business trip, to be exact. You mean he hasn’t told you yet?”

“Not all the particulars,” Dana said, not knowing how to answer. She felt numb but finished the dance, trying to muddle through the awkward situation.

As Dana returned to the table, Brett walked into the ballroom and seated himself at the same time that Bea and Helen stood.

“Helen and I are going to the powder room,” Bea stated. “Helen isn’t feeling well.” Bea looked over her shoulder at Dana, giving her a knowing look. The news about catering to the youth market had obviously caught Helen off guard.

Brett sat and took a sip of scotch, looking at the dancers. He was smiling but had a faraway look in his eyes.

“Would you like me to help you pack for San Francisco?” Dana asked him.

He gave no response. Obviously focused on other matters, he had not heard the question.

Dana tapped him on the shoulder. “Do you have anything to tell me?”

“Wonderful job tonight, honey! You’ve done it again.”

“Who won the contest?” Dana asked.

Brett paused before motioning to the dance floor. “Why, the winners, of course.”

“When were you planning on telling me about going to San Francisco?” she asked.

“Oh, you know about that? You must have talked to Patrick.”

“Yes. He was kind enough to dance with me after I made the announcement that all five girls were the winners.”

“Gosh, sorry, honey. I had to make a business call. Five winners? That must have been something.”

“Brett, you have a lot of explaining to do. Shouldn’t I be the first to know that—”

Kim rushed to Dana’s side. “Dana, could you come over and meet my parents?”

“We’ll continue this later,” Dana whispered. “I’m very upset with you.”

Brett finished his scotch and started another. He had expected some initial resistance, and he’d gotten it. As always, he’d use his legal mind to lay out the merits of his case when he explained the situation to Dana. Even if Janice had never joined the firm, he would still have to litigate the case in San Francisco. Dana would come around.

• • •

At their table, Kim’s parents were overflowing with appreciation for the interest that Dana had taken in Kim, noting how enthusiastic and motivated their daughter had recently become. The contest had been just what Kim needed, and in the last two days, she’d grown especially optimistic.

“We’re still going to ask Kim to take the AP placement exam in chemistry,” Dr. Sullivan said, “but we’ve also agreed to consider her request to study art history.”

“Yes,” her mother added. “Kim’s father and I agree that it’s only fair to keep both doors open right now since our daughter is still a sophomore. And now that she’ll have duties at the store, she’s going to be very busy. Her decision on a career is one of the biggest she’ll make, and the three of us realize that it should be done with more deliberation.”

“I’m very happy for all of you,” Dana stated. “Kim is a terrific young lady, and I know she has great things in her future regardless of what she chooses.”

Kim hugged Dana, and as she did so, she whispered “Thank you for everything” in her mentor’s ear.

“Come by my office anytime,” Dana said. “You’ll be at the store quite a bit from now on, so let’s keep in touch and have lunch sometime.”

“That would be great!”

“By the way, how is Lisa taking the news?”

“Like Lisa. I think she feels she should have been the only winner, and she’s acting like it, too.”

Dana and Kim both laughed. “She’ll be okay. You five will be a great asset to the store.”

Dana was happy that she would be able to stay in touch with all the girls, especially Kim. Kim still had hard times ahead, plus Dana had grown very fond of her. Now that the contest was over, she didn’t have to worry about the issue of favoritism.

• • •

The evening was drawing to a close. When Dana returned to the B. Altman table, she decided to skip dessert and prepared to leave with Brett. They needed to have a serious discussion back at their apartment.

“Where is Andrew?” Dana asked.

“It looks like both Andrew and Helen aren’t feeling very well,” Bob said. “Andrew came back while you made the announcement but then left right after you went to Kim’s table, and neither has returned. Andrew seemed troubled.”

“I hope his father is okay,” Dana said.

Brett remained silent. He knew, of course, that Andrew and Jack had engaged in a lover’s quarrel, but he would hold that piece of information very close to the vest.

Brett was privy to a lot of secrets, and he liked it that way. It made him feel powerful.

D
ana went straight to the bedroom upon returning home while Brett took Wills out for a final walk. She had not uttered a single word on the way home, nor had Brett pressed her to open up and talk about her feelings about his impending trip. It was better, he knew, to explain the entire situation when he had her undivided attention. Juries were always stationary and positioned strategically, and tonight he would, for all intents and purposes, be delivering a closing argument.