The High Season(51)

“What does that mean?”

    Mike looked away, over at the glittering sea. “I’ve felt more at home in that house in the last month than I ever did.”

“That’s a terrible thing to say.”

“It’s a terrible thing to feel.”

“Jesus, your self-pity is sickening!”

“Can we please not do this? We loved each other. Can’t we hang on to that? I don’t want to hurt you, you’re pushing this—I loved you, but I was never in love with you. I was never in love with anyone,” Mike said. “Until now. Now I know what fate is. I’m positive we can stay friends if we just face things. Things can be better. For all of us. For Jem.”

Jem. She pictured Adeline and Jem walking through the revolving door at MoMA. Lunching in some small, exquisite French restaurant. It would be warm, and Adeline would look slender and fresh in her summer dress and sandals, with her perfect pedicured feet.

She pictured Jem being driven to Yale, because now they could afford the tuition, Adeline would pay, and thus it would be Mike and Adeline who drove her up. Ruthie would take the bus to New Haven and stay in a bad motel. On the walk to campus, she’d get mugged.

“I called an attorney,” Mike said. “I think it’s time we finalized this.”

She grabbed the back of a chair. She felt the wood underneath her hands and she wanted to dig her nails in and come up with splinters to flick at him, sharp and flecked with her blood. “You think I was controlling, that I managed you? Well, you needed managing. You think Adeline Clay isn’t managing you already? Introducing you to the right people, grooming you? Where did you get that shirt, anyway? You’re her problem. She’ll probably hire you a therapist. You’ll be her fixer-upper.”

“Mommy!”

She turned. Jem behind her, looking from one to the other. “Daddy? Are you seeing Adeline Clay?”

    “Sweetie, we can talk about it on the way to work.” Mike ran his hands through his hair. “Do you have your stuff?”

“What’s happening?” Jem looked afraid. “What are you two talking about?”

Ruthie turned back to Mike. “She is not getting the house.”

They glared at each other, enemies.

“Mommy!” Jem cried. “Why is the table in the pool?”





28


THE BELFRY NEWS was out, and the phone calls and emails began.



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SAMANTHA WIGGINS: “WE started out hating Mindy and now it’s spread to hating each other. This board used to be fun. Honestly? I think she’s emotionally disturbed. Ruthie, I’ll help you any way I can. Shall I see if I can talk to people?”



* * *



—

CRYSTAL SCANLON: “I can’t believe this! Well, actually? I can. She’s such a pill. But Ruthie, what can we do? Let’s have lunch next week, I’ve got a household of guests.”



* * *



—

EDITH HOLLIMAN: “I called Mindy about this as soon as I heard. She said that it’s better for the Belfry, and it’s better for you. The place has to move forward out of a box, or something. What does Carole think?”



* * *



—

    STEPHANIE GREEN: “I can’t believe this. It’s a coup. I didn’t know anything about it! I’m calling Mindy right now. Ugh. Nobody likes that woman except Gloria. And everyone hates Gloria.”



* * *



—

WALKER HOLLAND: “CATHA gave a presentation to the exec committee on taking over the job permanently. She has some good ideas. The North Fork really is changing. There are new markets to tap. And Mindy is such a force.”



* * *



—

TOM CRANDALL: “MINDY told us that we can’t talk to you. It’s against board policy. She’s hired her father’s attorney. She’s always so thorough. I’m sorry, Ruthie. It was a great run. We’ll just have to see where it goes.”



* * *



—

PAM WOLFER: “I can’t imagine the Belfry without you. Are you selling your house? Because my daughter is looking.”



* * *



—

CLARK “QUADS” FUND: “They suck.”



* * *



—

TOBIE PINCUS: “I told Catha that she was a traitor and a skunk. Right to her face. She started to cry and say how hard it was for her. The staff is furious. We hate her! Did you know she’s been undermining you for at least a year? She knew there were board members who didn’t think she was doing a good job, so she went after yours. Even after you protected her. I was there, I saw it. You had her back, she stuck a knife in yours. It’s nice when things work out that way.”



* * *



—

GUS ROMANY: “MUSEUM boards are brutal, baby. Get out while you can.”



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—

    SAMANTHA WIGGINS: “I can’t get in touch with Carole. Don’t they have cellphones in France?”