Wicked Forest (DeBeers 2)

"I like just Willow."

"Then just Willow it is."

"Please follow me, Willow," she said, and pivoted like a military parade guard, her posture perfect but as stiff as someone with an imaginary book balanced on her head.

Mother and I smiled at each other and walked behind her.

She led us through the wide and long entryway, down the marble hall to a grand room almost as large as some palace ballroom. The guests were all sipping champagne and plucking hors d'oeuvres from silver trays offered by three waitresses. Two waiters kept everyone's champagne glasses filled.

The guest of honor has arrived!" Whitney cried, and the crowd of at least two dozen or so women stopped talking and turned our way. I saw that everyone from Manon Florette's Club d'Amour was present. Bunny. the Carriage sisters, and some other women I had seen at Jaya del Mar from time to time were seated on the baroque-style settees, each woman looking more wrapped up in her jewelry than the next.

Someone began to applaud, and then they all joined in. Whitney crossed the room quickly to greet us.

"Thank you, Laurel," she told her daughter, "You're free to do what you wish now."

"Can't I stay. too?"

"No," Whitney said sharply, then smiled at my mother. "How nice to see you someplace else than the back of Joya del Mar. Grace, and you look so pretty, too. What a nice dress."

"Thank you, Whitney," Mother said. Her lips trembled a bit, but she held her smile. I squeezed her arm gently.

"Let me get you two some champagne." She turned and with a simple glance started the closest waiter in our direction. We took our glasses.

"The first toast of the day," Whitney cried, and everyone raised her glass. "To my brother's bride-tobe. Welcome to the looniest family in Palm Beach.'

There was only a ripple of laughter, as though some thought Whitney had made a faux pas referring to anyone being loony.

"I know there are many people you don't know here, Willow, and even you don't know. Grace, so we have designed a fun way to introduce everyone to you. Girls," she cried.

Everyone began to form a circle around the large table between the settees on which Bunny and her friends were sitting. A large straight chair that looked more like a throne was brought up and placed next to the table, upon which was placed a silver bowl. In it were pieces of folded paper.

"Willow," Whitney said. indicating I should take the seat. I looked at Mother, who shook her head and smiled.

"It's all in good fun," Whitney emphasized. I approached the chair and looked toward Manon and the others as I sat. They were all staring at me with tiny smiles on their lips, except for Marjorie, who looked as angry and critical as she had at lunch at the club.

"What is this?" I asked.

"We have asked everyone here to jot down a suggestion as to how to make your marriage successful. You have to pick each one out and read it aloud, and then we'll all try to guess who wrote it. That will give you an instant idea of what this new friend of yours is like, what she considers important in a marriage," Whitney said, turning and panning her gaze over the guests.

To me they all suddenly looked like little girls at a pajama party about to disclose their heartfelt secrets. I could see the anticipated titillation in their eyes.

Not everyone here is married," I pointed out, gazing at the Club d'Amour.

Whitney pursed her lips, then smiled again.

"But everyone here has her idea of what it takes to make a marriage successful, even the divorced ones. Or should I say, especially the divorced ones?" she added, and everyone laughed.

"Can't everyone simply introduce herself?" I asked.

"Don't tell us you're afraid of good advice," Whitney challenged. "A little thing like that can't frighten a Palm Beach woman, and you're soon to be a Palm Beach woman, right. ladies?"

"Right," they cheered.

I glanced at Mother again. She was still smiling politely, but I saw the look of anxiety in her eyes. She didn't want me to be as uncomfortable as I knew she was. I decided to play along and make it seem as harmless and silly as I could, more for her sake than my own.

"Very well, let the games begin," I declared.

Whitney looked very satisfied. She glanced at Bunny, who nodded at the Carriage sisters. The two looked like they were about to take notes.