It was golden hour in Montecito, that moment between day and night when the sun turned from hot to warm, the sky turned from blue to pink, and the locals turned from iced tea to cocktails. In other words, the perfect time to arrive at the iron gates of La Mariposa, the estate of Toots and (the late) Bix Bixby. It was a showstopper, a Spanish Colonial Revival home designed by noted California architect George Washington Smith, surrounded by lush grounds that included world-class gardens, a pool and a pavilion, and a tennis court where Pete Sampras used to train on occasion. When Bix acquired the house in the eighties, it needed TLC and an infusion of cash that dwarfed the closing price. Toots took on the TLC piece and Bix wrote the checks. Her decorating style was an eclectic take on “more is more.” There was no pattern that Toots couldn’t mix with animal prints. Wallpaper ruled. The good antiques mingled with modest pieces from Crate & Barrel. Art covered every wall. But somehow it all worked because Toots had wonderful taste and a sure eye. A decade later, when the property was finally restored to its former grandeur inside and out, the couple opened their house to a few select charities a year, offering to host their fundraising galas. The invitation itself guaranteed the crowd; Toots and Bix encouraged generosity in terms of donations. The nonprofit community was eternally grateful to the Bixbys for their leadership.

But when Bix died, the magic of the house died with him. Toots maintained the property and entertained family and friends, but the public largesse ended. It wasn’t that she grew stingy, but she never quite recovered from losing the love of her life. She had waited fifty years to find a man who made her feel the way Bix made her feel: cherished, respected, and loved. She had always been reserved, on the edge of the party, but he brought her right into the middle of everything for the twenty years they had together. Without him, she returned to observing over partaking. But tonight, it would be a small group, the Merry Widows and the Blakemans, mingling for the first time, and Toots was determined to rise to the occasion.

Alexa and Ming had filled Abigail and Sarah in on the backstory on the way over, driven by Ricky. Alexa had positioned herself in the front seat, so that she could turn to see Abigail’s face when the splendor of La Mariposa revealed itself. Now Alexa witnessed the stunned look on the visitor’s face and was satisfied. She wouldn’t trust anyone who was blasé about seeing this estate for the first time. She thought about what Lord Simon Fox, no stranger to grand houses, had said about Abigail and her gardening prowess. So it was no surprise, as the car slowly rounded a sharp corner and the house and lavender gardens came into view, that Abigail gasped.