Who knew, in a few months’ time she might be looking out onto Central Park, the most famous park in the world. She might even see Jackie jogging around the reservoir, as was the ex-First Lady’s wont, Colette thought with a thrill of anticipation at seeing the most stylish woman in the world and one that she greatly admired. Jackie Kennedy Onassis too, was a connoisseur of fine art. She had made a superb job of renovating the White House when she was First Lady. New York was a treasure trove of antique stores. Perhaps, in the future, Colette might even open a gallery and have a fine art business herself. She was certainly well qualified to do so. She had a lot to offer. She should stop feeling anxious about her place in New York society.
No one who knew her would ever think she was prone to moments of insecurity. They wouldn’t believe it of her. Only Hilary knew the real Colette. She could always tell her friend her true feelings and worries because Hilary was no threat to her in any way, shape or form. Colette knew that she was brighter, slimmer, prettier, more elegant, and more successful and infinitely wealthier than her childhood friend, and always had been, and that was the way of it. And that was why she could show her insecurities. She supposed it was like having a sister. Hilary was the sister she had never had. If she needed a bit of bolstering in the Big Apple she could always phone her.
She took one last look at the view, wondering when she would see it again, before snapping shut the locks on her case, just as a young porter arrived to collect their luggage.
Their chauffeur-driven car was waiting at the hotel’s entrance and Colette smiled at the doorman as he held open the door for her. Had she ever, in all her sauntering around one of Dublin’s premier locations, thought that she would take a chauffeur-driven car for granted? When they were in New York, Des always used a Town Car and put it on expenses. They had come a long way from taking yellow and black cabs and she squeezed his hand as he got in beside her. ‘Let’s go impress the legal eagles with the news. I’m so proud of you, Des. You deserve it.’
‘Thank you, darling.’ He leaned across and kissed her. ‘A lot of it is down to you too. We worked our butts off, and it paid off, and the best is yet to come.’
The best is yet to come. She liked the sound of that, Colette decided, wishing that that little knot in her tummy she always got when she and Des were meeting her parents would disappear.
C
HAPTER
T
HIRTEEN
‘But we’ll never get to see Jasmine! We hardly get to see her enough as it is,’ exclaimed her dismayed mother when Colette revealed their momentous news an hour later as they sat down to eat in the sunny conservatory that overlooked the shimmering, silver-blue sea.
‘Cut back on work and come and spend summers in the Hamptons with us,’ Colette said smartly, knowing full well that work and ‘the Firm’ were sacrosanct.
‘We can’t do that, we’re up to our eyes in work, you know that,’ Jacqueline said tetchily, handing her a platter of crab, prawns, oysters and scallops.
‘Delish,’ Colette approved, spooning portions onto her plate before handing the platter to Des.
‘Your father got them fresh in Howth.’ Jacqueline smiled at her husband.
‘Nothing but the best for my little girl.’ Frank passed her a bowl of crispy Caesar salad.
‘Thank you, Dad,’ she said coyly. Her father had always spoiled her rotten. She was the apple of his eye.
‘So you’re off to New York, Des. Big step! They’ll work you hard over there.’ Frank eyed his son-in-law over the top of his bifocals.
‘Nothing I can’t handle,’ Des said a touch defensively. He wasn’t particularly fond of his in-laws. They always made him feel a mite inferior. They thought they were so smart, so intellectual, and so successful. Their smugness and sense of entitlement knew no bounds. Jacqueline in particular seemed to have forgotten her roots and acted the lady to the manor born. She had looked down her pointy nose at his mother and her travel agency business. It hadn’t stopped her looking for a free upgrade to the Caribbean for a flight once though.
‘But poor Jasmine, having to leave all her little friends.’ Jacqueline nibbled on a prawn while Frank poured a chilled Sauvignon Blanc into the sparkling Waterford crystal glasses.
‘She’s young, she’ll adapt.’ Colette repeated her mantra, trying to hide her irritation.
‘And what about her nanny? Will you bring Elisabetta with you?’ her mother enquired.
‘We haven’t really discussed it yet,’ Des shrugged.
‘At least Jasmine would have some continuity and some sense of security if you did. I’ll never forget how devastated you were when Denise Boyle left us so unexpectedly and with no notice. I was very put out about that,’ Jacqueline observed, remembering the upset her thoughtless nanny’s abrupt departure caused the family all those years ago. ‘You were very fond
