‘I know. I couldn’t.’ Hilary got up from the chair and went over to Colette and put her arm around her. ‘Just tell me what you want me to do and how I can help. You know I’m here for you. And I can come over to London and help you to settle back in if you want,’ she offered generously.
‘Thanks, Hil.’ Colette laid her head on her shoulder. ‘I know I can always depend on you.’
‘Jazzy, it’s so good to see you, you look amazing,’ Hilary said warmly the following morning when Jasmine arrived at the apartment to join them for brunch.
‘Thanks, Hilary. I was only talking to Mom about you at lunch yesterday. Little did I think I’d actually be seeing you.’ Jazzy kissed her and then hugged Colette. ‘Hi, Mom. You look a train wreck.’
‘Thanks,’ Colette drawled.
‘I’m sorry it’s under difficult circumstances,’ Hilary said kindly.
‘Thanks for coming over for Mom. That was a kind thing to do. How’s Sophie and Millie?’ Jazzy perched on a high stool at the kitchen counter, casually elegant in jeans and a black-cashmere polo. Big silver hoop earrings her only jewellery. She had inherited her mother’s sense of style, Hilary observed.
‘They’re good. Both working, as you know. Which is great because the job situation at home is getting pretty bad. Lots of people being made redundant.’
‘Sophie and I Skype every so often. It’s a great way of keeping in touch.’
‘I’ll be able to Skype you when I’m in London,’ Colette interjected, handing her daughter a Kir royale.
‘Thanks. Mom, Dad said you were going to London for Christmas, and that we won’t be going skiing in Aspen because he’s lost money with Bernie Madoff. Is he just doing a Dad on it and exaggerating?’ she said plaintively.
‘I’m going to London. I don’t know what your dad plans to do. And I don’t think he’s exaggerating. I don’t know exactly how much of our money he’s lost in his investments. But it’s a lot. I don’t even know if he’ll be able to keep up the rent here. I would imagine not,’ Colette said grimly.
‘Jeez, is it that bad? What about my allowance?’ Jazzy’s blue eyes widened in dismay.
‘Look, until your dad has had his op and gets to meet our wealth manager, I don’t know what the situation is. I’m going to divorce him, that’s a given. It’s over between us. But I don’t know how much of a settlement I can expect. Once I’m settled in London and see how I’m fixed financially I can sort out an allowance for you. Until then, if I were you, I would cut down on my spending,’ advised her mother.
‘What do you mean, settled in London?’ Jazzy asked, perplexed.
‘I’m leaving New York. I can’t stay here. I’d love it if you wanted to come too but you have to make up your own mind and do what’s best for you,’ Colette said firmly.
‘Leaving? For good? And what about Dad?’ she demanded, appalled.
‘Look, should I give you both some privacy?’ Hilary said awkwardly, getting up off her stool.
‘No, you’re fine,’ Jasmine said miserably and Hilary’s heart went out to her.
‘Dad might want to be with that woman. Did you ever think of that?’ Colette carried a platter of antipasti to the table. ‘Sweetie, bring the hummus and pitta bread to the table with you.’
‘Don’t you mind, Mom?’ Jasmine couldn’t hide her shock as she brought the food to the table.
‘Whether I do or not, what’s done is done. Your dad didn’t think about us when he did what he did. I have to look to the future and start afresh. That’s the only way I can deal with it, Jazzy. If I stay here I’ll go to pieces and I won’t allow myself to do that. So please, I beg you, don’t make this any harder for me than what it is already. Now sit and eat with us and then, if Hilary wants to, she can go with you to see your dad.’
‘OK,’ her daughter muttered, struggling not to cry.
‘Jazzy, it’s not the end of the world. This too will pass and good times, different times will come again. Enjoy your life with Jackson—’
‘He might leave me now that we’re not rich any more,’ she blurted tearfully.
‘Well if he does he’s not the man I think he is and he’s not worthy of you, isn’t that right, Hilary?’ Colette reached across the table and squeezed her daughter’s hand.
‘Indeed it is. Look at you, Jazzy, a gorgeous young woman making a life for yourself in this fantastic city. As they say at home, “What’s for you won’t pass you by.” If your boyfriend is the right one for you, terrific. If he’s not, the right one will come.’
And pigs will fly, thought Colette cynically at the notion of a ‘right one’. She said nothing. There was no point in making her daughter feel any more distressed than she already was.
‘Sorry to see you under the weather, Des,’ Hilary said awkwardly, deciding against kissing him and handing him the box of chocolates and the latest John Connolly thriller she had brought for him.
‘Hey! That’s kind of you. I didn’t expect to see you, Hilary,’ he said, abashed, hardly able to look her in the eye. He clicked off the TV and smiled at his daughter. ‘Hi, Jazzy. Thanks for coming in and bringing Hilary with you.’
‘Hi, Dad,’ Jazzy said glumly.
‘Just wanted to wish
