Her Own Rules/Dangerous to Know (14 page)

P
ART
T
WO

T
IME
P
RESENT,
T
IME
P
AST

C
HAPTER
S
IXTEEN

M
eredith stood at the far end of the drawing room, leaning against a Sheraton break-front. The interior of the antique piece was illuminated, its shelves filled with priceless Meissen figurines.

A few minutes before, she had wandered over to look at this unique collection and had suddenly felt weak. Reluctant to maneuver through the crowded room looking for somewhere to sit down, she had stayed where she was, nursing a glass of champagne.

She took a deep breath, hoping she was not going to have one of her attacks, which was what she had begun to call them. There had been two in January when she was in France, then three last month, and she wondered how many she would have in April.

They passed as quickly as they occurred, and she was never the worse afterward; nonetheless, they made her nervous. She never knew when one would strike her.

The other day in the office, she had told Amy about them, had explained how they had started in Paris and had continued off and on.

Amy had said at once, “They're becoming too frequent. I think you should get medical advice. Let me make an appointment for you with Jennifer Pollard.”

Meredith had shaken her head, told Amy not to call the doctor. Now she asked herself if she had been foolish. Perhaps she should have listened to her assistant. At that moment her legs were weak, she could feel the fatigue slowly creeping through her entire body, and she could not help wondering whether she would be able to last through the evening.

She must do that, no matter how she felt. Tonight was a very special occasion in her daughter's life, and in hers. It was Cat's engagement party, and she had been looking forward to it.

Meredith believed that by rights
she
should have been giving the party, but Keith's sister, Margery, and her husband, Eric, had insisted on hosting it at their Park Avenue penthouse; she had had no alternative but to acquiesce.

She fully intended to plan a celebration dinner for Cat and Keith, which she would give in the next few weeks. She hoped Luc would be able to attend. He had spent the past week in New York with her, and had planned to stay on for the engagement party. Then at the last minute he had been called back to France. A problem had developed with one of his larger architectural jobs, a shopping complex in Lyons, and his presence on the site had been imperative.

They were both disappointed he had been forced to leave, but he was coming back to New York in ten days to spend a long weekend with her at Silver Lake. She could hardly wait for his return. They were very much in love, and in the past two months had grown extremely close. They were rarely apart when they were in the same city, and when separated by the Atlantic they spoke every day by phone. He's everything I want in a man, she thought now, missing him. How she wished he were there with her tonight.

Meredith constantly marveled at her luck in meeting Luc, and at their extraordinary compatibility. Her children knew him now and liked him, and he was very taken by them. He and Jon got on extremely well; aside from having Yale in common, they were both sports aficionados and especially addicted to football. And Cat was equally at ease with Luc since they both had artistic natures. He was impressed by Cat's talent as an illustrator, thought her an accomplished artist. Meredith had been very proud when he had congratulated her on her fine children, noting the admiration in his voice.

She now peered into the milling crowd filling the drawing room, wishing Cat or Jon would reappear. There were about sixty people present and she hardly knew any of them, only the immediate members of the Pearson family: Anne and Paul, Keith's parents, his sisters Margery, Susan, Rosemarie, Jill, and Wendy, and his two brothers, Will and Dominick. And Eric Clarke, Margery's husband, one of her hosts this evening.

The Pearson family was a large and boisterous American-Irish clan. As big as the Kennedy tribe, Cat had informed her recently. However, the Pearsons did not hail from Boston; they were dyed-in-the-wool Yankees from the heart of Connecticut. It suddenly struck Meredith that the Pearsons were out in full force this evening, since there were innumerable aunts, uncles, cousins, and their offspring present.

And we are only three, such a small family, she thought. Not much of a match for a crew like the Pearsons. Meredith felt unexpectedly overwhelmed, and then she experienced such a sudden sense of loss, she was startled. It was a feeling she could not rightly explain to herself.

Blanche and Pete O'Brien had come in from Silver Lake to attend the party and they were extended family. Even so . . . Meredith snapped her eyes shut, endeavoring to shake off that awful feeling.

Opening her eyes a moment later, she scanned the room, wondering where Blanche and Pete were. Somehow she had lost track of them in the last hour. Perhaps they were in the crowded dining room, where a buffet table groaned with all manner of fancy hors d'oeuvres.

Meredith felt strangely isolated, standing there alone, propped up against the breakfront. I must sit down, she thought, and decided to head for a chair near the fireplace. It was then that she spotted her daughter.

Catherine was glancing around, obviously looking for her.

Meredith raised her hand, waved.

Instantly Cat saw her, smiled, waved back, and hurried across the drawing room.

“Mom, there you are, I've been looking all over for you,” Catherine said, rushing up to Meredith. “Isn't this a wonderful party? I'm so excited tonight. I can't stand it.” She looked down at her left hand, gazed at her sapphire ring admiringly, then flashed it at Meredith. “It's gorgeous, isn't it, Mom?”

“Beautiful, darling,” Meredith answered, and caught hold of Cat's arm to steady herself.

Catherine gave her a quick look and exclaimed, “Mom, are you all right?”

“Yes.”

“But you seemed to stagger just now, and you're very pale. Not only that, you look taut, tense. Are you sure nothing's wrong? Look, if you're not ill, is there something else the matter? You're not angry, are you? I mean because Margery and Eric insisted on throwing the party?”

“Don't be silly, you know I'm not like that. I feel a bit tired, that's all. I've probably been overdoing it at the office.”

“Let's go and sit on the sofa over there, Mother. My feet are killing me anyway These shoes are fab, but gosh, they're agony”

Meredith allowed her daughter to guide her to a sofa near the fireplace, and she sat down gratefully. A moment earlier she felt as though all of her strength were ebbing away The last thing she wanted was to pass out here. She would be humiliated in front of all these people.

Turning to Catherine, she said, “Perhaps a glass of water would help. Could you get me one, please?”

“Of course, Mom. I won't be a minute.” Catherine threw her mother a reassuring smile and glided across the floor toward the large entrance foyer, where a bar had been set up.

No one would know her feet are killing her, Meredith thought, watching her daughter float through the room as if she were walking on air.

How beautiful Catherine looked tonight, so elegant in her short midnight-blue taffeta cocktail suit and Amelia's pearls. Her brown hair was cut in a sleek shape, and her lovely, open face looked so young and fresh, her wide-set eyes very blue. Cat was tall, as she was, with long, shapely legs. I can't imagine why she wants to wear five-inch heels, Meredith thought in bafflement, then leaned back against the sofa, trying to relax.

Suddenly, there was her son, pushing forward through the throng. She watched him walking rapidly toward her, tall, slender, as blonde as she, with her green eyes. Cat resembled her father, while Jon took after her.

As he drew closer, she saw that he wore a worried expression on his lean face. “Mom, what's the matter?” he asked, drawing to a standstill by her side. “I just saw Cat getting you a glass of water, and she thinks you're not well. Are you ill?”

“No, Jon, I'm not,” she answered evenly in a firm voice. “Truly, darling. I felt a bit queasy earlier. Perhaps I'm tired.”

“You work too hard,” he said, bending his lanky frame over her, resting his hand on the sofa's arm. Bringing his face closer to hers, he dropped his voice. “If you want to leave, I'll go with you. I wouldn't mind splitting this scene myself.”

“I'm fine,” she replied swiftly. “And I don't think we can leave. It wouldn't be polite, and anyway, we can't abandon Cat to all these Pearsons.”

“She's got Keith to protect her, and anyway, she'll be a Pearson herself soon.”

Meredith frowned, searched his face. “Aren't you having a good time, Jon?”

“Sure, it's okay, but. . .” He shrugged. “I'm just here for Cat and you, Mom. I don't have a lot in common with this group.”

“
Oh
.” She drew back, looked at him closely. “Are you trying to tell me something?”

Jonathan shook his head and grinned. “No, not at all. And don't get me wrong, I like Keith. I think he's a pretty nifty guy, and he's great for Cat. But I'm not particularly close to their friends, my group's different, that's all.” He looked directly at his mother, grimaced, and finished, “The Pearsons are a nice family, just a bit too social for me.”

“I know,” Meredith murmured. “And I'm glad you came . . . for my sake and Cat's.”

“You can always depend on me, Mom. I wish Luc were here, he'd liven things up a bit.”

Meredith laughed. “Here's Cat now.”

“With Keith hot on her heels,” Jon said, straightening up, glancing over his shoulder at his sister, who was heading their way.

“Here's your water, Mom.” Cat handed her the glass and sat down on the sofa next to her.

“Thanks, darling.”

“I'm sorry you're under the weather, Meredith,” Keith said, bending over her as Jon had done a moment before. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

Meredith looked up into his freckled face, as always thinking how honest his light gray eyes were, and shook her head. “Thank you, Keith dear, but I'm feeling much better.” She smiled at him warmly, liking him, knowing he would make her daughter a good husband, just as Jon knew. Cat would be safe with Keith Pearson; he was devoted, loyal, and loving.

Clearing her throat, Meredith said, “The three of you are beginning to make me feel like an invalid.”

Keith grinned at her. “We don't mean to, we just care about you, that's all.”

“You're very sweet, Keith,” she answered.

“You will come to dinner later, as planned, won't you?” Keith went on, fixing her with his serious gray eyes. “I don't want to pressure you, but we'll all be disappointed if you don't. It won't be the same without you.”

Meredith answered, “I wouldn't miss it,” and patted his hand reassuringly. “Jon is my escort, he'll look after me.”

“Keith's right, Mother, and the evening would certainly fizzle for me without
you
at the engagement dinner,” Catherine said.

“I'll be there.” Meredith smiled at her daughter, loving her.

Catherine smiled back, lifted her left hand, tightened a loose pearl earring. The sapphire engagement ring flashed in the bright lamplight.

It's the color of her eyes, Meredith thought. Jack's eyes.

 

“You're a good sport, Mother,” Jonathan said several hours later as he helped Meredith out of her coat and hung it in the hall closet.

“It was a lovely dinner in many respects, and generous of the Pearsons to have it in the private room at La Grenouille. But they're a bit—”

“Overwhelming,” Jonathan interrupted, and shook his head. “My God, all those Pearsons, Mom! My sister's pretty brave, taking on that clan. I wouldn't want to, I can tell you that.”

“I know what you mean, but individually they're very nice really, and Keith's parents are lovely, Jon.”

“True, but Keith's sisters are a pretty rowdy bunch.”

“The problem is, darling, we're used to a whole different kind of family life, so much quieter. After all, there's only been the three of us all these years.”

“And thank God for that,” he answered, hanging up his overcoat. “In my opinion you deserve a medal, sitting through the dinner the way you did, all those toasts.
Mind boggling.”

Meredith laughed. “Yes, it was a bit much. But I began to feel better once we left the apartment, and I got some fresh air. And I do like the food at La Grenouille.”

“You didn't eat very much.”

She smiled at her son. “I'd like a cup of tea, Jon, how about you?”

“Great idea.”

He followed his mother into the kitchen, took the kettle off the stove, filled it with water, put it back, then turned on the gas. He glanced out of the kitchen window. The lights of the Fifty-ninth Street Bridge twinkled brightly against the dark night sky; beyond he could see another bridge glowing in the distance. Beautiful glittering city. He had always loved Manhattan. Jonathan stared down at the East River flowing far below and then across at Roosevelt Island. Funny how his mother always wanted to live near water, needed to, really. This was the second apartment she had owned on Sutton Place. He liked this one the best; they lived in the penthouse and the views of Manhattan were spectacular.

Meredith said, “When are you going back to New Haven?” and put two cups and saucers on a tray as she spoke.

“Tomorrow morning, Early. I'll do it in under two hours. It's not that bad a drive. By the way has Cat indicated when she wants to get married?”

Meredith nodded. “This year, certainly. They don't want to wait too long, she told me. I've suggested September. It's very lovely at Silver Lake at that time of year.”

“Early October's better, Mom, when the leaves are turning. I think a fall wedding would be picturesque.”