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“Don’t bother,” said Lance. “My father let me borrow his Escalade. We can all fit in.”
Five minutes later, Will and I were strapped into the back passenger seats. Tanya had beat me to the front seat and was chatting Lance’s ears off. This already wasn’t a good first day of school.
I wanted to throttle her.
And I knew things were only going to get worse.
SIX
NATALIE
Mondays were always busy for me. Today, I had my private Pilates instruction at nine, my weekly blowout at my hairdresser’s, followed by a board meeting at the Getty Center, and a late lunch with Gloria Zander, the CEO of Gloria’s Secret, the lingerie conglomerate, and founder of Girls Like Us, a small nonprofit that helped abused girls. She was interested in working with me to help grow GLU.
Our two-hour lunch was fantastic. I admired Gloria, a stunning woman who’d risen from challenging beginnings like my own. She offered me a job, and I told her I’d think about it. I frankly wasn’t sure Matt would approve.
The lunch went on for longer than I anticipated, but I had just enough time to pick up Tanya after school to take her shopping. I’d texted Paige to meet us, but she already had some after-school activity, as did Will. As I drove over Coldwater Canyon, I wondered how our exchange student’s first day at Coldwater Academy had gone. Starting a new school, let alone in a new country, couldn’t be easy. Especially high school. Thankfully, she had Paige to show her the ropes. And maybe Lance had too.
I was excited to hear about her day and equally excited to take her shopping. It had been so long since I’d gone on a mother-daughter shopping spree as Paige preferred to buy everything online or haunt thrift stores and flea markets that repulsed me. Goodwill was a thing of my past that I cared not to revisit.
Only one worry crept into my head as I drove to the school. That I might run into Alexa Roth, the mother of one of Paige’s classmates. To say we’d had a falling-out would be a euphemism; she had very nearly ruined my life.
My dread dissipated as I pulled into the Coldwater parking lot and found a spot. Alexa and her showy red Bentley were nowhere in sight. A smile crossed my face as I searched for Tanya. She wasn’t my daughter, but I’d felt an instant connection and already loved spending time with her. She was a breath of fresh air. Despite the horde of kids pouring out of the school at the sound of the dismissal bell, I spotted her immediately. With her tall lanky golden beauty, she stood out in the crowd. I honked my horn and called out her name. And waved. Upon catching sight of me, she broke into a smile and sprinted my way.
“Hi,” she said brightly as she clicked open the passenger door. She settled into her seat and placed her backpack and laptop bag on the floor mat between her feet. “Oh my gosh! I love your car. You didn’t tell me it was a convertible. This is my first time in one.”
In total awe, she examined the deluxe features and rubbed her hand over the cream-color leather armrest. “This car is amazing! I thought for sure you’d have one of those monster mom cars.”
I laughed. “I used to, but once Anabel got her driver’s license and a car, I no longer felt the need for one.”
I had actually hated driving my Range Rover, even though it was the Rolls-Royce of SUVs. It made me feel old and frumpy, and parking the monstrosity was a nightmare. The day after Anabel turned sixteen, I traded it in for the car of my dreams. This gorgeous two-seater Mercedes SL Roadster, the exterior a dark metallic blue that matched the color of my eyes. Sadly, it had sat dormant in my garage for almost a year after she died, on account of my breakdown. Finally, when I’d recovered, I got behind the wheel again. And now, every time I drove it with the top down, the wind blowing against my face, I felt transported. Like I was Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief driving through the winding roads of the Côte D’Azur.
“I feel like a movie star in this car,” gushed Tanya, buckling up. “I’m so excited to take a drive in it.”
“You’re going to love it.” I let her know there was a pair of sunglasses in the glove compartment. Adjusting her seat belt, she opened the box and put them on. The Ralph Lauren aviators looked great on her, and I told her so.
“How did your first day at Coldwater go?” I asked as we pulled out of the parking lot and headed down the canyon toward Ventura Boulevard.
“It was fantastic. I’m in lots of the same classes as Paige. And a few with Lance. Lance was like a big brother and showed me all around. He also introduced me to some of his cute friends, though he’s pretty cute himself.”
“He really grew up a lot this summer,” I said, reflecting on how surprised I was to see him this morning. I almost didn’t recognize him. Tan and filled out, he was a good-looking young man. I didn’t like to admit it, but what he saw in Paige bewildered me. But maybe he saw something in her I didn’t. It pained me to realize I hardly knew my second daughter. Another thing I wasn’t proud of.
“How long have he and Paige been together?”
“Almost two years. They hooked up the beginning of sophomore year. He had just transferred to Coldwater from another private school.” I paused. “And she had just lost her sister… the May before.”
“That must have been terrible. I mean, your daughter dying.”
“Yes, it was.” I needed to change the subject. With the wind blowing in my face and in such good company, I was in a happy place. And wanted to stay there.
“So, are you excited about going shopping?”
“Super excited! I’ve never had a mum to go shopping with.”
At her words, my heart pinched. I knew how hard it was to grow up without a mother. Mine might as well have been dead.
The honk of a horn behind me jolted me out of my thoughts. The red light we’d stopped at had turned green and I hadn’t moved. The guy behind me honked again.
“Bug off, asshole!” I yelled.
