Page 78 of The Heiress
“Why would I?” I said. “Besides, I heard it’s someone else’s birthday that day.” I had double checked with Mrs. Pritchard to make sure. “And therefore I have a party to throw.”
Beth’s eyes sparked, but she was speechless. And so was I, the spontaneity surprising even me. But what an idea...what a super idea!
I would give Beth her own party.
“No,” Beth protested as my excitement grew. “My parents can’t come this year, so I won’t bother.”
“But it’s your 18th, we need to celebrate!”
“I’ll probably have a small party when I go home at winter break.”
“Winter break is a month away. That’s too long to wait.”
“Elisha—” Beth’s voice cracked. “Back in ninth grade, I gave out invitations to my birthday party a week before Addison did. She was so mad at me and, well, anyway, long story short, no one came to mine. Even my friends who said they would.” Her voice was laced with defeat. "And everybody goes to Addison’s.”
“Oh Beth,” I said, imagining her pain. “I’m so sorry.”
I respected Beth’s position, but I couldn’t let go of my fury toward Addison. Someone needed to put the girl in her place—and I had the means and the contacts to do it. And it wasn’t just a revenge plan, it was doing something nice for Beth, the first girl who had reached out to me and who had become an unexpected friend. Yes, we were like apples and oranges, different at first sight but fundamentally the same, two girls living away from home, both finding our way in the world, both fans of mini apple pies.
I brazenly invited myself over to Phoenix’s house, eating dinner as soon as the dining hall opened at 5:30. Phoenix wasn’t going to be there but that didn’t matter, because my real motivation was seeing Laura. As an event co-ordinator, she was the perfect person to give me ideas for Beth’s party. I already had an awesome idea, but I wasn’t sure of the venues available.
After auditions, Millie dropped me to the Carter house. Though it had hardly been an audition, all those who showed were cast as students for the classroom scene, and Miss Kitayama, the teacher-in-charge was keen for some extra understudies. Taylor promptly hid in the back row, but Millie and I were coerced into stepping up. I bravely agreed to be Beth’s understudy, knowing there was little chance I’d actually be needed, while Millie was named as back up for the Narrator.
“Phoenix is still at his coaching session,” Laura said after she’d welcomed and squeezed me tightly.
“I know, but it was you I came to see,” I said. Phoenix had started with Max’s brother, Clay who was the professional coach at the Country Club. Phoenix had previously been coached in Falls Creek, which had required him to travel four times a week. Clay had started at the club in summer after graduating college, so Phoenix was excited about being coached by his friend’s brother, who’d been his idol when he was a kid.
“Me?” Laura’s eyebrows dipped with curiosity.
I cleared my throat and told her about the clash of Addison and Beth’s birthdays. Laura already knew about Addison’s party and I picked up on her vibe that she was no fan of the O’Day family either.
“So, does that mean you’re not co-ordinating Addison’s party?” I asked with relief, because it had just occurred to me that she might be planning it.
“Good grief, no,” Laura said. “I already got burned once by Gwyneth O’Day. She asked me to plan a party at their house about five years ago. She wanted all the bells and whistles for a Fourth of July party. I think it took her six months to pay my bill.” She shook her head. “Never again.”
“So, where is the best view of the night sky in Covington?” I asked.
“That would be Tuttle Hill,” Laura said. “It’s a fantastic view over the countryside as well as an unobstructed view of the stars. That’s if it’s a clear night. Why do you ask?”
“Well, that’s where I want to hold a birthday party for Beth,” I said. “A night under the stars. Beth is mad about the night sky.”
“No, sorry,” Laura said, her head shaking. “Tuttle Hill is part of the Whittaker estate. It’s the best view in town. But for a public place, you’d have to go over to River Valley. Probably up by Hailey’s Tower.”
“The Whittakers who make the ice cream?” I asked, pulling out my notebook from my backpack to take notes.
“Yes, the Whittaker and Pennington families own all the land around Tuttle Hill.”
“Have you been to Tuttle Hill?” I asked.
“Yes, I’ve worked with Adele Pennington—”
“And would it be suitable for a clear top tent and a party under the stars?” I wrote down the names Whittaker and Pennington .
“Yes, it would be a glorious location, but—” Laura cut herself off, the sudden silence making me look up from my writing. I wasn’t sure if I had spelled Pennington with the right amount of n’s, or Tuttle with the right amount of t’s, but it wouldn’t matter. Dad would figure it out.
As I knew Laura had.
In fact, I was sure she’d known for days, ever since she’d accepted the handbag, even though neither of us said anything.
