Kwan Kevin - Sex and Vanity

“Where are you going?”

“Oh, Charlotte texted as we were leaving the city. She was at the Maidstone meeting up with a friend, and she wanted to catch a ride back with us.”

“There’s no room, Mom.”

“Well, you could squeeze into the bucket seat in the back for a few minutes, can’t you?”

“Why can’t Charlotte just take a cab like everyone else? She’s so cheap! And of course she’s richer than all of us put together.”

“Stop complaining. We’re almost there and I did promise her.”

“Can you put the top down if I’m going to have to squeeze in the back?” Lucie asked.

“If you can figure out how to get the top down, you can have the top down,” Marian replied.

“How many PhDs do you have? See, it’s this button right here,” Lucie said, reaching for a switch on the center console. The convertible roof of the car began to retract in the most elegant manner. As the view opened up around them, they drove passed Cissinghurst, and through the hedges Lucie glimpsed several moving trucks parked in the driveway and men carrying Goyard suitcases out the front door. Lucie said nothing, but a sudden panic washed over her.

The car pulled up to the quietly dignified entrance of the Maidstone Club. “Go get Charlotte, please,” Marian said. Lucie hopped out of the car and ran into the clubhouse. A minute later, she reappeared.

“No sign of Charlotte, Mom. There’s hardly anybody inside the club right now. They’re in the midst of switching over to dinner.”

“Well, this is annoying. Where could she be?” Marian asked as she began texting Charlotte.

“Maybe her friend gave her a ride home?”

“She would have texted me if she had. You know, she probably walked over to Cissinghurst to say hi to Rosemary and poke around. You know what a busybody she is,” Marian surmised. “Let’s head over there.”

“No, no, I think we should stay right here. Maybe Charlotte is in the ladies’ room or something,” Lucie said nervously. The last thing in the world she wanted to do was run into Rosemary right now.

“Well, why don’t you go check the toilet and I’ll run over to Cissinghurst to see if she’s there?”

Trapped by her own suggestion, Lucie could say nothing. She got out of the car again as Marian drove down the block to Cissinghurst. A few minutes later, Marian returned with a frown on her face. “No Charlotte, but it’s the oddest thing, Lucie. There were movers at the house, packing up all of Rosemary’s belongings. They couldn’t tell me much, except that she was moving out.”

“Rosemary’s moving?” Lucie pretended to be surprised.

“Yes, but I thought she had taken a one-year lease on the house. It’s so strange. No sign of Charlotte?”

“Nope.”

“Then let’s go. I’m done waiting.”

As they drove past Cissinghurst for the second time, Marian said, “I hope nothing bad has happened. Why would Rosemary suddenly give up the house? She said nothing to me Saturday night at the gala. I hope she’s not having to leave New York for good. I would be so sad. She’s become a good friend, and for the first time in ages I feel like I’m reconnecting to my Chinese roots.”

Lucie pondered her mother’s words, feeling a piercing sense of guilt. Her mother’s phone let out two chirps.

“I’m sure that’s Charlotte. Will you check it?” Marian asked.

Lucie picked up her mother’s phone and read it in annoyance. “You’re not going to believe this. For some reason Charlotte found her way to Auden’s Preppie Guru Lounge in Amagansett, and she’s requested that we pick her up there.”

“Oh, for Chrissakes! Classic Charlotte Barclay!” Marian sighed.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The Preppie Guru Lounge

Amagansett, Long Island

Lucie wandered through the healing center, peeking into the various spaces. There was an afternoon Ashtanga class in the big lotus lounge, a five elements acupuncture session in the chakra lounge, and no sign of Charlotte in the juice bar. Where could she be? Lucie walked to the back where the staff offices were and heard some voices coming from Auden’s private lounge. She poked her head in and saw Charlotte relaxing on the Flag Halyard chair facing the door.

“Lucie! Come in,” Charlotte said with a little wave.

Lucie entered the room, expecting to see Auden seated at his usual place on the sofa against the wall, but in his place sat Rosemary.

“Oh! Hi,” Lucie said, recoiling a little.

“Rosemary is here seeking temporary refuge from her movers. I took an Uber here when I found out where she was.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting you two.”

“Not at all, Lucie. Not at all,” Charlotte said with a strange look on her face.

“Um … Mom’s outside waiting.”

“Yes, I’m sure she is.” Charlotte got up from her comfy perch reluctantly and said, “I shall go to your mother.”

Lucie attempted to make a quick break for the door, but Charlotte blocked her way. “No, no, you stay.”

“What?” Lucie said in shock.

“Yes, be a dear and keep Rosemary company for a while,” Charlotte said with a smirk as she left the room.

As she arrived at the car, Marian sighed in relief. “Oh, good, Lucie found you!”

“Yes, thank you so much for coming all the way here to pick me up!” Charlotte said as she got into the convertible.

“But where’s Lucie?”

“Lucie won’t be joining us. We’d best head home first.”

“Huh? What is the girl doing now?”

“Don’t worry, she’s going to be quite occupied for a while.”

“I don’t get it. What’s Lucie up to? If she thinks I’m driving back here to pick her up, she’s out of her mind.”

“You’re quite right. She has been out of her mind, but I think she’s going to be fine now. Rosemary will set her straight.”

“Rosemary? Rosemary is here at the Preppie Guru Lounge?”

“Just drive, Marian, and I’ll explain.”

After Charlotte had left the room, Lucie turned to Rosemary with a sense of dread. She had known she would have to face the music eventually for all her machinations, but she didn’t expect it would happen now. She assumed Charlotte and Rosemary had talked, and all hell would break loose now.

But instead of being angry, Rosemary gazed at her mournfully. “Lucie, this is very hard for me to say, but I am sorry. Very, very sorry. I truly am ashamed.”

Lucie was baffled. “Ashamed of what?”

“I’m ashamed for my son. He finally told me everything, on Sunday morning. How he loves you. How he hurt you and embarrassed you. I’m sorry, I never knew a thing, dear. I didn’t know you two had a little romance in Capri, and I certainly didn’t know about the terrible drone thing until Charlotte just told me. Oh my, what you’ve been through all because of my silly son!”

“It’s okay, Mrs. Zao. It was a long time ago,” Lucie said, rather surprised at Rosemary’s words.

“And then for George to try to win your love again in East Hampton, when you are already engaged. Aye yie yie, my son has no shame. I know how he must have offended you and Cecil. As his mother, I am ashamed too. Because it’s all my fault.”

“How is any of this your fault?”

“I have always encouraged George to pursue his passions, to always seek out his truth and follow his heart. I just didn’t know he would go so far following his heart that he would end up hurting you like this. That’s why I have to leave.”

“You’re leaving?”

“I moved out of Shittinghurst today and I’ve also retracted my offer on the cute little apartment in your building. Who was I kidding? I would have never been accepted by that board anyway. It’s such a nice building, I’m sure they don’t want more than one Chinese family.”