Danielle Steel - Full circle

“One mother, no dogs, no illegitimate kids.”

He looked sad. “I'm disappointed in you. I thought you would have done better than that.” The music was winding down and Harry looked around. “What a bunch of bores. Want to go somewhere for a hamburger or a drink?”

She smiled. “I'd like that, but do we take Chandler along?” She laughed and Harry bowed.

“Leave that to me.” He vanished and returned again with an outrageous grin.

“Oh, God, what did you do?”

“I told him you were upset about the way he's behaved all night with that redheaded tart, and I'm dropping you off at your psychiatrist's.…”

“You didn't!”

“I did.” He feigned innocence and then laughed. “Actually, I just told him that you'd seen the light and preferred me. He congratulated you on your good taste, and ran off with his chubby little friend.” But whatever Harry had said, Chandler was waving happily at them and leaving with the other debutante, so there was obviously no harm done, “I have to say something to my mother before we go. Do you mind?”

“Not at all. Well, actually, I do, but I guess I don't have much choice.” But he behaved himself when Tana introduced him to Jean, and he looked very proper, much to her delight, as they left the ball, and Jean went home alone, wishing Arthur had been there to see it all. It had been a beautiful evening, and it was obvious that Tana had had a wonderful time. And she was leaving now with Harry Winslow IV. Jean knew who he was, or at least she knew the name.

“What about your old man?” He stretched his legs out in the cab, after giving the driver the address of “21.” It was the hangout of his choice when he was in town, and Tana had been impressed. It was certainly a lot more fun than going out with Chandler George. And it was so long since she'd been out on a date, she'd forgotten how it felt, and her dates had never been like this. Usually, they all went out for pizza in a group on Second Avenue. And that had been before graduation … before Billy Durning.…

“My father died before I was born, in the war.”

“That was considerate of him. It's less of a wrench that way, than if they stick around for a few years.” It made Tana wonder why his mother had committed suicide, but she would never have dared to ask. “Did your mother remarry?”

“No,” Tana shook her head hesitantly, and then, “She has a friend.” He was the sort of person you told things like that to. There was something about his eyes. Something that made you trust him and like him all at once.

He raised the mischievous eyebrow again. “Is her friend married?” He was receptive too.

She blushed beet red but he couldn't see. “What made you say that?”

“Just smart, I guess.” He was so impossible, one would have wanted to slap his face if he weren't so boyish and so appealing all at once. And he was so openly impudent that it somehow made it all right. “Was I right?”

Normally, she wouldn't have admitted it to anyone, but she did now. “Yes, or at least he was for a long time. He's been a widower now for four years, and he still hasn't married her. He's a real selfish son of a bitch.” It was the strongest thing she had ever said about him publicly, even to Sharon at school.

But Harry didn't look perturbed. “Most men are. You should meet my old man. He leaves them bleeding by the side of the road at least four times a week, just to keep his hand in.”

“Sounds nice.”

“He's not.” Harry's eyes were hard. “He's only interested in one thing. Himself. It's no wonder she killed herself.” He had never forgiven his father for that, and Tana's heart suddenly ached for him, as the cab pulled up in front of “21,” and Harry paid and they stepped out. And a moment later, they were swept up in the excitement of the exclusive restaurant. Tana had only been there once or twice, like on graduation night, and she loved the toys hanging over the bar, the well-dressed peo- pie crowded in, there were even two movie stars she recognized at once, and the headwaiter pounced on Harry with glee, obviously ecstatic to see him again. It was clearly his favorite haunt and he went there all the time. They stayed at the bar for a while, and then went to their table, where Harry ordered steak tartare for himself, and Tana ordered eggs Benedict, but as they sipped the Louis Roederer champagne he had ordered for them, Harry saw her face go taut. She was looking across the room at a table of people who seemed to be having a good time and there was an older man with his arm around a fairly young girl. Harry watched her face, and then her eyes and a moment later he patted her hand. “Let me guess … an old love?” He was surprised to see that she went for older men. She didn't look the type.

“Not mine, anyway.” And then he instantly knew.

“Your mother's friend?”

“He told her he had a business dinner tonight.”

“Maybe it is.”

“It doesn't look like it to me.” Her eyes were hard as she turned to Harry again. “What irritates me more than anything is that he can do no wrong in her eyes. She always makes excuses for him. She sits and she waits and she's so goddamn grateful to him.”

“How long have they been together?”

“Twelve years.”

He winced. “Jesus, that's a long time.”

“Yeah.” Tana glanced malevolently in Arthur's direction again. “And it doesn't seem to be cramping his style.” Seeing him made her think of Billy again, and she turned her head as though to avoid the thought, but Harry saw the sudden look of pain in her eyes.

“Don't take it so hard, princess.” His voice was gentle in her ears and she turned to look at him.

“It's her life, not mine.”

“That's right. Don't forget that. You can make your own choices with your life.” He smiled, “and that reminds me, you never answered all my rude questions before. What are you going to do after Green Hill?”

“God knows. Maybe Columbia. I'm not sure. I want to go on.”

“Not get married and have four little kids?” They both laughed.

“Not for a while, thanks, although it's my mother's fondest dream.” And then she turned to him with a curious look. “And what about you, where do you go to school?”

He sighed as he put down his champagne. “Harvard, actually. Sounds obnoxious, doesn't it?” It was why he hadn't told her at first.

“Is it true?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” He grinned. “But there's hope. I may flunk out before the end of the year. I'm working on it.”

“You can't be that bad or you wouldn't have gotten in.”

“A Winslow not get in? Don't be absurd, my dear. We always get in. We practically built the place.”

“Oh…” She looked impressed. “I see. And you didn't want to go?”

“Not especially. I wanted to go out West somewhere. I thought Stanford or UC, but Father had a fit, and it wasn't worth arguing about it … so there I am, being a pain in the ass, and making them sorry they let me in.”

“You must be a real treat for them.” Tana laughed, and she noticed that Arthur Durning and his group had just left. He hadn't noticed her, and she wasn't sure if she was glad or not.

“You'll have to come up and see me sometime, maybe during spring break.”

She laughed at that and shook her head. “I doubt that.”

“Don't you trust me?” He looked amused and very debonair for a boy of eighteen.

“As a matter of fact, no.” She took another sip of champagne and they both laughed. She was feeling giggly now and she was having a good time with him. He was the first boy she had liked in a long time, and she liked him as a friend. He was fun to laugh with and she could say things to him that she hadn't been able to say to anyone else recently, except Shar. And then she had an idea. “I might come up if I could bring a friend.”