Angelica wrapped her arms around Olivier. “Thank you,” she said. He would never know the depth of her gratitude.
Candace approached her with Letizia, Scarlet, and Tod. “Fooled ya!” she said, handing Angelica a glass of champagne.
“You guys!”
“As if we’d forget your birthday,” said Letizia.
“I should have known,” Angelica replied, taking a gulp of champagne.
“Honey, what’s with the diamonds?”
“Olivier’s present.”
“Now we’re talking,” said Scarlet.
“They’re way over the top!” Tod added. “I thought we were in the middle of a financial crisis.”
“I know. I can’t imagine what got into him,” Angelica laughed, toying with the sparkly letters.
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder!” said Letizia.
“And I thought he was having an affair with Kate.”
“What?”
“Isabel mentioned that Kate had come over while I was away. I just couldn’t understand why they were meeting at all and why neither had bothered to tell me.”
Candace put her arm around Angelica. “That’s a stretch of the imagination too far!”
“Kate would never betray a friend,” said Letizia.
“Only her husband!” Scarlet added.
“I thought that baby might be Olivier’s.” Angelica’s relief made her almost delirious with happiness.
“Why wouldn’t it be Pete’s?” Tod asked, confused.
Angelica put her hand to her mouth. “You don’t know?”
The three women looked at each other guiltily. “I would have thought she would have told you!” Angelica gasped.
“Told me what?” Tod’s bewildered expression spoke volumes.
“Okay, here’s the deal, but don’t say a word.” Candace looked at him steadily. “Kate had a one-night stand. The baby she’s carrying might or might not be Pete’s. There, I’ve let the great big jungle cat out of the bag. If it bites us, we’ll blame you!”
“Christ! That’s heavy,” said Tod, scratching his head.
“Don’t think you’ll get a name out of her. She hasn’t told a soul. But at least we can rule out Olivier,” said Scarlet with a laugh.
“I won’t breathe a word,” he assured them. “For God’s sake, don’t let on that I know.”
“Are you kidding me!”
“Happy birthday, darling,” he added hastily, looking past her. “Now I’ve got to go and tell Art.”
“We are in serious trouble,” said Letizia anxiously.
“Can Art keep a secret?” Angelica asked.
“It’s not Art I’m worried about,” said Candace. “Tod clearly can’t.”
After the buffet, Kate stood on a chair and clapped her hands, demanding silence for her speech. The noise died down, and everyone waited. She stood there in the tightest jersey dress that barely reached midthigh and patted her pregnant belly fondly. “Good friends, old friends, new friends, special friends like you, Angelica, Scarlet, Letizia, and Candace, and family friends, Daisy and Angie. Welcome to my humble abode, and thank you for keeping the party a secret and making it fabulous with your glittering presence. Angelica, you’re very dear to me. You’re a true friend, so I wanted to return your kindness with a party to celebrate you. Your birthday is a good excuse, but frankly, I would have done it on any other day for the simple pleasure of honoring you. You’re loyal, you’re wise, and in spite of you being a little absentminded, you never forget your friends. Please, raise your glasses to Angelica!”
“To Angelica,” they all repeated. Angelica blushed with pleasure.
Kate leaned over and took Edmondo’s hand. “And just in case you think this isn’t about me, you’re wrong. I couldn’t let an opportunity like this pass me by. Can you please raise your glasses to Edmondo and me, the future Contessa Edmondo Augustino Silviano di Napoli.”
“Yes! Edmondo and I are getting married.” She looked sheepish a moment and giggled. “Well, as soon as I’m divorced!”
“To my wife to be!” said Edmondo, raising his glass, and no one had any choice but to follow suit.
As soon as the speeches were over, the dancing began. Kate remained in the center of the dance floor, which had been set up downstairs in the children’s playroom, swinging across the wooden floorboards with her count. Angelica drank too many cocktails in a bid to forget the last party she had attended here, when Jack had waited for her in a taxi down the road. In a blissful alcoholic haze she allowed Olivier to sweep her onto the dance floor. After one in the morning, when most of the guests had gone home, Art took to the karaoke machine, singing “Crazy.” At least this time he didn’t pull down his trousers to expose his strawberry.