Winter Solstice (Winter #4)(63)
“Let’s enjoy it,” Patrick says. He buttons his overcoat and slips Jennifer’s wrap over her shoulders.
“Bye, kids!” Jennifer calls out. “Bed by ten!” She takes Paddy’s arm and descends the steps of their townhouse to the waiting car.
“Good evening, Ms. Quinn,” the driver says.
When the car pulls up in front of the Mandarin Oriental and Jennifer steps out, photographers snap her picture.
“I can’t believe this,” Jennifer says to Paddy. She fears that Patrick might take issue with his role as her arm candy. After all, in their former life he was the breadwinner, the big deal; Jennifer was resolutely “the wife,” who did some interior decorating in her spare time. But Patrick is beaming; unless he’s putting up a very good front, he couldn’t seem happier.
He offers one of the photographers his hand. “I’m Mr. Jennifer Quinn,” he says. “But you can call me Patrick.”
They are escorted to a ballroom that is completely decked out for the holidays. There’s a huge tree, swags of garland, white lights, electric candles, and a three-part jazz combo with a scantily clad woman crooning “Merry Christmas, Baby.” Servers circulate with trays of cocktails in champagne flutes. The cocktail is called a Santa Baby and is made with champagne, St-Germain, and blood orange juice. Patrick takes two flutes, one for Jennifer and one for himself.
“Cheers to you,” he says.
“They spared no expense,” Jennifer says. There’s a raw bar set up in a wooden dory, and next to the raw bar are tiered trays of crudités and cheeses, and next to that is an elaborate spread of sushi.
“There she is!” Danko swoops in, wearing jeans, a white shirt, and a Robert Graham velvet blazer. “You look gorgeous,” he says, kissing Jennifer’s cheek and simultaneously fist-bumping Patrick. “You both do. Ready to circulate?”
“Circulate?” Jennifer looks at Patrick.
“You go,” Patrick says. “I’ll find you in a little while and we’ll get some food.”
She is the luckiest woman in the world, with the most supportive partner. “I’m ready to circulate,” she tells Danko.
Everywhere she goes, people fawn. The men kiss her hand, and the women squeal, especially the Millennials, all of whom, Jennifer supposes, watch SinTV and are anticipating a big hit. Jennifer feels like a real celebrity—but all she has done so far is film half a day’s promotional material in which she wore AG cigarette-leg jeans, a black scoop-neck bodysuit, and black suede Gucci loafers, which will be her “uniform” on the show. It’s professional, classy, simple—or, as Danko says, “the essence of Jennifer Quinn.” She also wore bright-red lipstick in all the photos. The shade is Gabrielle from Chanel’s Rouge Coco collection, and Chanel has already promised Jennifer a lifetime supply of the shade.
She meets up with Layla, who is stunning in a silvery-lavender sequin sheath and black cage stilettos, and there are more photographs.
“If only our dealers could see us now,” Layla says.
As if on cue, Jennifer spies Norah Vale across the room. Jennifer wants to go over and say hello and thank her again—because look what a big deal this is! Jennifer has money, a new career, a fresh start. She is going to be on TV every week, she is going to be famous—and all thanks to Norah.
Jennifer has given a lot of thought to her interaction with Isabelle over Thanksgiving. She is sorry that Isabelle feels hurt by Jennifer’s continuing relationship with Norah, but she isn’t sure what to do about it. Should Jennifer have turned the show down because Isabelle feels insecure?
Jennifer meets people from Gucci and Chanel and Adriano Goldschmied and Hermès. The painfully elegant French woman from Hermès mentions that they’d like her to wear their watch as well and maybe the occasional scarf.
Yes! Jennifer thinks. Yes! Yes! Yes!
Next Jennifer meets the head of SinTV, Victor Huggins, known to all as Huggy. Jennifer sees Derek and Leanne talking to Natalie Jacobson, formerly of Channel 5 news, but she’s afraid to excuse herself from Huggy. He’s the boss! Huggy introduces Jennifer to Heidi Watney and Jason Varitek. Where is Patrick? He’s going to die! Jennifer then meets a man named Ellis, who gives Jennifer his card. He owns a speakers bureau. He can get her five-figure speaking fees if she’s willing to talk about overcoming her addiction. Has she done much public speaking?
“Not really?” Jennifer says. The only place she ever talked openly about the pills was in her support group. And just as Jennifer is thinking this, she sees Sable approaching. Sable led Jennifer’s group; she’s the reason for Jennifer’s recovery.
If Jennifer tells Sable this, however, Sable will say that Jennifer is the reason for Jennifer’s recovery.
“Sable!” Jennifer says.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetie,” Sable says, pressing Jennifer’s hands between her own. “You are going to help so many people.”
Am I? Jennifer wonders. If she helps one person, if she provides even one person with hope where before there was only despair, then this whole thing will be worth it. The champagne and the car service are nice. Never having to buy lipstick again is nice; five-figure speaking fees are nice. But helping other people who are as lost now as Jennifer was is the Reason.
Before Jennifer can feel too self-congratulatory, she comes face-to-face with the one person she hoped never to see again: Grayson Coker.