Fifteen

One Day Before the Fashion Show
9:00 a.m.

Nell

IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE New Year’s Eve, and the village was swarming with people enjoying the end of their holiday. Women browsed in the shops, debating between sequined evening gowns and chic black dresses to wear to holiday parties, and families loaded up on Swiss chocolates to take home.

Nell was meeting her father for breakfast at Le Lapin Bleu, and she was already late. Tomorrow was the fashion show; this would be Nell’s last chance to figure out why her parents got divorced.

Her father glanced up from his newspaper, and Nell was reminded of how much she enjoyed his company. Even when her parents were being stubborn and childish, she knew they both loved her, and she was lucky to have them.

“Nell, I’m glad you came.” He waved to her. “I brought you a present.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said, eyeing the red box.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing extravagant,” he chuckled. “Well, maybe a little extravagant. I was passing Valentino and saw a dress that would look stunning on you. I know you get hoards of free clothes, but I don’t have anyone to buy things for, and you can wear it to a New Year’s party.”

Nell unwrapped the paper and gasped. The dress was gold lamé with a scooped neckline and open back. There was a quilted evening bag and silver bracelet.

“I can’t accept this.” She slid the box across the table. “It must have cost a fortune.”

“Of course you can.” He pushed it toward her. “Send me photos. I’ll miss being with you when you’re back in New York, and it will give me something to look forward to.”

“Thank you.” She nodded. “It’s very thoughtful.”

“The strangest thing happened when I walked through the village this morning.” He folded his newspaper. “There was a woman inside Bogner who looked just like your mother.”

“My mother?” Nell froze.

“I only saw her through the window, but she had your mother’s cheekbones and ash-blond hair,” he said. “I went inside to find her, but she had disappeared.”

“I’m sure it was just a woman with the same coloring.” Nell tried to keep the panic out of her voice.

“I suppose you’re right,” her father agreed. “Your mother would never go inside Bogner; she hates everything to do with skiing. I’ll miss hitting the slopes, I feel ten years younger.” He added cream to his coffee. “Though I’ll be very busy. We just wrapped a film that we’re going to show at Sundance and the Aspen Film Festival. I’m very excited about it.”

“Mom and I were talking about Aspen.” Nell toyed with a packet of sugar. “I didn’t know I was named after The Little Nell.”

“When did she tell you that?” he asked in surprise.

Nell bit her lip. Why had she mentioned Aspen? It slipped out when she wasn’t thinking.

“I called and told her I was in St. Moritz,” she said hurriedly. “She said it was very similar to Aspen. The Little Nell was one of her favorite hotels.”

“Why on earth was she talking about The Little Nell?” Her father seemed strangely bothered. “We only went there once before you were born.”

Nell sipped her coffee and wondered if her father had had an affair with the woman who delivered the script. Maybe her mother hadn’t told her the whole story.

“I asked what it was like with you always traveling, and she recalled the time you and her father stayed at The Little Nell,” she said casually. “It was an interesting story. A woman came to her parents’ house to return your script, and she thought something was going on between you. She couldn’t believe that The Little Nell would send someone to Los Angeles to personally deliver the script.”

“I never saw that woman before in my life,” he said tightly. “Your mother wouldn’t believe me. I made her call the hotel so she knew I was telling the truth.”

“She told me that,” Nell concurred. There was something in her father’s tone that made her want to know more.

“She shouldn’t have told you any of it. She still blames me, and none of it was my fault. I was only trying to do the right thing, but your mother never forgave me.” Her father continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “That’s what’s impossible; she still thinks I was wrong. It all came to a head at her father’s funeral. There was a reception at the house afterward. I think you and Pete had just left.”

Beverly Hills
Five Years Ago

Todd

Todd examined the bottle of Hennessy and poured a shot of whiskey. It was a pity that Alistair wasn’t here; he appreciated a good whiskey more than anyone. It was one of the things Todd admired about Alistair. He worked hard for the good things in life—the hacienda in Beverly Hills, membership to the country club—and he wasn’t afraid to enjoy them.

Alistair’s death had been so sudden. They were drinking scotch in the den, and Alistair had dropped dead of a heart attack. Todd would miss him, and he was nervous about running the studio by himself. But if there was one positive thing about Alistair’s death, it was that Todd could work on saving his marriage.

Todd looked up from the bar and saw Patty standing at the buffet. At forty-three, she was still a beautiful woman. Her hair was the same honey blond, and her legs looked stunning in a black dress. They had grown apart over the last few years, and Todd was determined to change that. Alistair was gone and he would do whatever it took to keep her.

Patty was with a woman who looked vaguely familiar. Suddenly there was a pit in his stomach, and he froze. He ducked behind the bar and waited for the woman to leave.

“I’m so very sorry, this must be a terrible time,” the woman was saying to Patty. Her blond hair was cut in a bob and she wore a navy dress. “I didn’t go to the funeral, of course. I hope you don’t mind me stopping by to pay my respects.” She paused. “I debated coming, but in the end I thought it was the right thing to do. After all, it wasn’t just a holiday romance. We were together for years.”

“You were together for years?” Patty said. Todd noticed the look of shock and surprise on her face.

“He was so generous, and we really cared about each other.” The woman held a plate of canapés. “Then he wanted to marry me, and I felt terrible breaking it off. But I couldn’t go through with it; after all, he had a family. You never want to be wife number two: what if it happens all over again?”

“Patty, there you are.” Todd stepped out from behind the bar. “Mr. and Mrs. Harvey want to see you.”

“Do you remember Grace Cannon? You met in Aspen, and she delivered the script to you.” Patty’s voice was like ice. “She was just telling me about your relationship. Apparently you wanted to marry her. But she was too clever; she didn’t want the same thing to happen to her.”

“Oh, goodness!” Grace flushed. “I’m sorry if you misunderstood, you have it all wrong.” She glanced from Patty to Todd. “I wasn’t talking about your husband, I was talking about your father.”

“My father?” Patty gasped.

Todd downed his whiskey and wished for some kind of distraction: a flood or an earthquake. Patty would cling to him for safety, and this whole ugly scene would be forgotten.

“This isn’t the time or the place to discuss it,” he said to Grace, and took Patty’s arm. “There are a dozen people waiting to pay their respects. We must go.”

“No one is going anywhere until you tell me what is going on,” Patty said firmly. Todd was reminded of how stubborn she could be.

“I’m sorry, I thought you knew.” Grace was puzzled. “Alistair said he told the family everything.”

“I’ve never heard of you except for the day you brought my husband his script.” Patty looked from Todd to Grace, and the realization came over her. “That’s not what you were doing here at all.”

“I really think you should leave,” Todd said pointedly to Grace. “It’s an emotional time for everyone.”

“Of course.” Grace turned to Patty and held out her hand. “It was nice seeing you. Alistair talked about you all the time; he was very proud of you.”

*   *   *

Todd sat on the sofa in the living room and nursed a glass of scotch. He could barely remember the rest of the reception. Finally the last cars pulled out of the driveway and he drove the few blocks home. Nell and Pete were seeing old friends, and the house was quiet except for Patty’s heels clicking on the parquet floor.

“That woman didn’t come to return your script. You made the whole thing up.” Patty turned to Todd. “She had a rendezvous with my father. Did you know they were having an affair?”

“I never saw her before in my life,” Todd said. “Alistair met her in Aspen and gave her a card with my name and his phone number.”

“So that if she called and my mother answered, it wouldn’t look suspicious.” Her voice was anguished. “And you protected him. How could you lie to everyone!”

“I had no idea the affair continued,” Todd admitted, and looked at Patty. “But I was aware of other women.”

“That’s why he traveled with you! So you could be an accomplice to his infidelity.”

“That’s not the reason; I was very good at what I did,” Todd said hotly. “Your parents had been married for over twenty years when we met. I couldn’t change who he was.”

“You could have told my mother the truth. Instead, you were playing God,” Patty spat. “She wasted her life on a man who collected women like bottles of liquor from a hotel minibar.”

“You’re overreacting. Your parents had a wonderful life, and it had nothing to do with me.” He refilled his glass. “I was practically a kid when I started working for your father. I wasn’t about to start grilling him on his personal life.”

“So you let him romance women all around the world while my mother sat at home and sewed my theater costumes.”

“I’m completely against cheating, but you must see the position I was in,” he fumed. “Your father gave me a job that supported his daughter and grandchildren. I had to be loyal to him; he gave us everything.”

“The only person you owed loyalty to was your wife,” she said furiously. “You could have told me what was going on, so I didn’t discover it at my father’s funeral.”

Todd walked over to Patty and touched her hand. “Maybe I didn’t handle things correctly, but I had the best of intentions. Your father is dead, so it really doesn’t matter. Things have been strained between us, but perhaps we can start fresh. You can travel with me to shooting locations, and we can do all the things we dreamed of.” He pulled an envelope out of his pocket. “It was going to be a surprise, but we can start with Paris. I have to be on the set next week, and I booked four nights at the Ritz. We’ll take a dinner cruise and go to the ballet.”

Patty stared at the ballet tickets, and for a moment Todd thought everything would be all right. He would tell the company jet to prepare an extra meal, and make sure the Ritz had Patty’s favorite lotions waiting in the suite.

“Starting fresh is a good idea.” Patty walked briskly to the bar. She poured her scotch down the sink and smoothed her skirt. “I suggest you move out of our pool house and get your own place. I’m going to do some remodeling, and there won’t be anywhere for you to sleep.”

“What are you talking about?” Todd asked.

“Nell is in New York, and Pete is in China; there’s no reason to stay married,” she answered. “We never liked the same things anyway. You never read a book from start to finish, and I have no interest in tennis or fancy cars. We can get a divorce and do exactly as we please.”

“I don’t want a divorce! I know we haven’t been getting along, but I plan on changing that. And lots of couples have different hobbies, and everyone in Beverly Hills drives an imported car,” he fumed. “We’ve loved each other since we were in our twenties; that has to count for something.”

“We didn’t know what love was then, but I do now,” she said. “It’s not keeping vital information away from the person you love most.” She walked to the door and turned around. “You can pick the divorce attorney. I won’t have time. I’ll be busy ripping up the floors in the pool house and replacing the furniture.”

*   *   *

“I couldn’t do anything to change her mind. Her anger was like a wildfire that grew out of control.” Todd ate a bite of his Danish and looked at Nell. “Now you see why I can’t attend your wedding. I wouldn’t put it past your mother to come after me with a dessert fork.”

Nell wanted to say something, but it was all too much: her grandfather having affairs and her father knowing about them, and her parents keeping secrets from her all these years.

“I have to go.” Nell put her coffee cup on the table. “We’re having a dress rehearsal later, and I have to go to a final fitting.”

“I shouldn’t have told you, but there was no other way to make you understand. Please know that I don’t regret a minute of the marriage,” her father said, stopping her. “You and Pete are the best things that happened to me, and I’m grateful to your mother for raising you.”

“I’ll see you later.” Nell stood up and walked to the door.

“Nell,” her father called.

“Yes?” She turned around, and for the first time, the father who’d always resembled a movie star with his chiseled cheekbones and emerald eyes seemed like an ordinary man.

“Your mother was wrong about one thing. I knew what love was in my twenties, and it never changed. She’s still the most spectacular woman I ever met.”

*   *   *

Nell strode through the lobby of Badrutt’s Palace and punched the elevator button. She wished she could call Eliot, but it was the middle of the night in New York. Felicity was the only other person who might understand. The elevator stopped at her floor and Nell knocked on the door.

“I just got out of the shower and was about to text you,” Felicity said, answering the door. “Come in, I have so much to tell you.”

“I have so much to tell you too.” Nell followed her into the living room. Felicity sat opposite her on the love seat, and Nell noticed the tray with two empty shot glasses.

“It looks like you had a visitor,” Nell said, pointing to the tray. “Did you and Adam finally make up?”

“He went back to his hotel an hour ago,” Felicity said, nodding. “We ate at Le Restaurant and he apologized and said he loved me. He doesn’t want to get engaged yet, but he wants to be together forever.”

“Is that what you want?” Nell asked.

“I’d like a ring eventually,” Felicity acknowledged. “But he was sweet and sincere. Afterward we came up to the suite and made love and it was like we’d never been apart.”

“As long as you’re happy,” Nell said. “I had breakfast with my father. He thought he saw my mother inside a ski shop! Yesterday, my mother said he dialed her number and she could hear people talking in French and German in the background. What am I going to do if they find out what I’ve been up to? Neither of them will speak to me again.”

“Of course they’ll speak to you,” Felicity assured her. “You are their daughter, and you’re not doing anything wrong. It’s only natural that you want them to attend the wedding. Did you learn anything new from your father?”

“Yes—wait until I tell you,” Nell said, and the color went out of her cheeks. “I know why my parents got divorced. My grandfather used my father as an accomplice for his affairs.”

“What do you mean?” Felicity raised her eyebrows.

“My grandfather gave women my father’s name with his own home phone number. If his wife answered, she wouldn’t be suspicious,” Nell continued. “My mother found out at her father’s funeral and she never forgave him. I can see why my mother was so upset, but my father was in a bad position. He really should have told her the truth; they were her parents, after all.”

“Oh, I see.” Felicity nodded her head slowly. “That is tricky. What a terrible situation.”

“I was so upset, I ran out of the restaurant,” Nell said. “There’s no chance they’ll both attend my wedding. I’m so miserable, I don’t know what to do.”

“What will happen when they see each other at the fashion show?” Felicity wondered.

“The fashion show!” Nell panicked. “I’ve been so focused on keeping them apart, I completely forgot they’d see each other at the fashion show.” She took out her phone. “I’ll call my father and tell him not to come. I’ll say it’s overbooked and we have to save the seats for some big fashion editor.”

“Don’t call him yet,” Felicity said, stopping her.

“Why not?” Nell looked up from her phone.

“I have an idea. How fast can Eliot get to St. Moritz?” Felicity asked.

“Eliot?” Nell repeated. “He’s covering the ball drop on New Year’s Eve.”

“He must be able to get someone to cover for him in an emergency,” Felicity said excitedly. “Call him and tell him to get on the first flight. I have to go see Raj.”

“Will you tell me what’s going on?” Nell asked.

“Not till I figure it out.” Felicity walked to the door and turned around. “You’re welcome to stay in the suite. The bottle of brandy is under the minibar.”

*   *   *

Nell opened the door to her room and walked to the window. How could her father have lied to her mother for all those years, and why couldn’t her mother forgive him?

The bells chimed eleven o’clock, and she picked up her phone. She’d promised Felicity she would call Eliot, and then she had a final fitting. Tomorrow was the fashion show, and she would glide down the runway in an organza gown with diamond buttons. Her job as a model was to make everyone believe she had a perfect life. She took a deep breath and wished they were right.