Elizabeth was staring into her closet when Abby came upstairs.
“What are you wearing to Leigh’s birthday party tonight?” Elizabeth asked her sister, hoping it would help with her indecision.
“A black Armani silk baby doll dress and a pair of Burberry black boots that have a streamlined biker edge to them,” said Abby.
“Sounds like a great outfit,” Elizabeth responded. “I need to go shopping with you.”
“From the looks of this closet, yes, you do,” Abby said teasingly. “But I do like your Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses, and I love your Tocca silk dresses. You should wear one of those and mate them with these snakeskin Delmar shoes, or if you don’t want to wear heels, your brown Ralph Lauren riding boots.”
Abby, who should have become a fashion designer as she originally planned, had always had better clothes and related accessories than Elizabeth. In fact, when they were children, as soon as Elizabeth fit into Abby’s clothes, she started raiding her closet. Abby went ballistic every time she realized something of hers had been worn without permission, but that never stopped Elizabeth, whose school bus came after Abby’s. Her taste in clothing had only improved as she got older, and Abby spared no expense when filling her closet.
“I like those, too,” Elizabeth said. “But just watch—tonight, no matter what I wear, Leigh will make a snide comment. Every time I see her, she says at least one nasty thing about what I’m wearing. Remember what she said about updating my ‘classic look’ at her house? Does she do that to you, too?”
“She did a few times when I was first getting to know her.” Abby responded. “That’s her nature. She’s like a dog, always testing those around her and trying to determine the pack order. But I started saying meaner things back, so she eventually stopped.”
“Of course you did,” said Elizabeth, laughing.
“The last person you should be thinking about during your dress selection is Leigh,” said Abby. “She has absolutely no taste. Every time I see her, she’s covered in designer logos and looks ridiculous. You could buy a ratty dress and stick a Missoni label in it and she would wear it.”
“Did I tell you what she said to me last week, the day after the Richards’ party?” Elizabeth asked. “I had just gone running and stopped in the market to pick up a few groceries. She walks up to me and literally said, ‘You look as bad as I feel. I way overdid it with the chocolate martinis at the party last night. With all the sugar and alcohol in my system, I barely slept. Looks like you didn’t, either.’”
“She is unbelievable,” said Abby. “You would think her desire to appear in Cannondale Cottages & Gardens would curb her bad behavior. She just can’t seem to help herself. I’d tell her off for you but I have to watch myself given my new job. You just need to get better at retaliating—which you’ve never been good at, by the way. That would eventually shut her up.
“So who do you think is going to be at this party besides her potentially volatile neighbor, Brianna?” Abby asked, flipping through a few clothing items in Elizabeth’s closet.
“Well, she’s also friendly with Anastasia Barlow and Dalisay Ward,” Elizabeth said. “Have you met them yet?”
“No,” responded Abby.
“You’re well traveled, so you’ll find lots to discuss with them,” Elizabeth said before plopping down on her bed. “Conversations with them are limited to their latest trips and foreign shopping sprees. Most annoyingly, they’re always literally wearing their trip. ‘Oh, I bought this at CÉLINE in Paris when I was there last month’ or ‘Thank you, I bought it while on holiday in Meghalaya this past fall. I searched for days until I finally found a lovely shop that sells silk tunics that don’t look too ethnic India, if you know what I mean’. If I ever saw them in jeans and a plain white shirt, I’d have no idea what to speak with them about.”
“How about just not speaking with them at all?” Abby offered. “You’re not a real estate company manager who has to ensure she’s liked. The women in this town want you to like them because they want their homes featured in the magazine you edit.”
“Now you sound like Andrew,” Elizabeth responded, annoyed. “I just stick with being polite. As you well know, I’m forced to spend time with the same women again and again and again because of the kids.”
“So who else will be there?” Abby asked, changing the subject.
“Well, my boss and his wife Monica will be there,” she said.
“You’ve said she’s nice and not a snob,” Abby replied.
“No, she isn’t a snob and is pleasant enough,” Elizabeth said. “But she has a myopic focus on her children. After she goes on about their dance and soccer and lacrosse for what feels like hours, she always finally says, ‘And what about your kids? You have two girls, don’t you? You haven’t said a word about them!’ As if I had an opportunity.”
“Maybe Betsy and her husband Tom from my office?” Abby offered. “She isn’t Leigh’s agent, but I know they know each other from their children’s preschool.”
“Oh, I doubt Betsy will be there,” Elizabeth said. “I saw her at Balducci’s a few weeks ago and Leigh’s name came up. She had an amusing story about her. Shortly after Leigh first moved to town, they were placed together on a preschool committee that welcomes incoming families to the school. According to Betsy, Leigh insisted that she divvy up the list. When Betsy saw both lists, which included addresses, she realized that Leigh had picked the families on her list based on their addresses. All the homes on Leigh’s list were worth $3 million and up! When Betsy called her out on it, she said Leigh giggled and admitted that she signed up for the committee to troll for landscape clients.”
“That’s definitely a Leigh move,” sighed Abby, noting the time. “So what are you going to wear tonight? I have to pick up Quinn in twenty minutes.”
“My navy wrap dress with the brown riding boots,” responded Elizabeth. “Pretty and comfortable and perfect for a long dinner party. Thanks for helping.”
“Anytime, little sis,” Abby said.
“Oh, are you sure you don’t want Andrew and I to pick you up?” Elizabeth asked.
“No, I’ll drive myself,” Abby replied. “I like to have a car at parties in case I want to leave early.”
“See you there, then,” said Elizabeth.