In Kimmie’s updated, Valentine’s Day version, she’d be wearing different clothes, of course, probably a pink dress, which sounded so basic, but Kimmie couldn’t help it if she looked best in a cliché color. Even though Kimmie found the flower crown tired, she had one on like the redhead, only not in such disgusting colors and for sure with zero baby’s breath. Once the street cleared, there he’d be. Count Vronsky was for sure her Jake Ryan, and instead of a red Porsche, he’d be leaning against a black Maserati. But Vronsky would do the exact same shy-smile-and-wave that Jake Ryan did. In Kimmie’s version she wouldn’t do whole “who, me?” thing and look behind her in shock, because Kimmie would know he was there for her. And he’d be holding a heart-shaped box of chocolate marshmallows, because it was Valentine’s Day, after all.

Kimmie had honestly believed this was going to be the first Valentine’s Day of her life to experience being in love and having a boyfriend. But that was before Sucky Saturday, which was what she was calling that agonizing night at the club.

“C’mon Kimmie, stop daydreaming. Let’s go! We’re running late.” Her mother ushered her into the backseat of their Uber, which was waiting at the curb. Kimmie was horrified to discover it was the same car with the giant red teddy bear in the front passenger seat that had passed by her earlier. If she survived this ridiculously stupid day, it’d be an honest-to-god miracle.

IV

Anna held the cardboard box in her lap for a few minutes before opening it. She first exchanged pleasantries with Thomas, one of her father’s regular drivers. She hadn’t seen him in a while, so he showed her a few pictures of his new twin grandbabies born on New Year’s Day in Virginia. In return Anna explained the inner workings of Westminster to him, which reminded her that she had forgotten to bring the plush, heart-shaped squeaky toys she had gotten for her two dogs.

Lee Ann and Ali, her dogs’ trainers and handlers, had picked up Gemma and Jon Snow on Sunday evening before Anna left for dinner with Alexander. She needed to get them used to being without her, and they would both be groomed first thing Monday morning in the city. Anna could have brought Gemma back to Greenwich last night, but she decided Jon Snow would be calmer with his sister around. This reminded Anna of her own brother, who got in less trouble when she was present, too.

Anna noticed her hands were shaking when she started to peel the tape off the box with her fingernails. She knew she was being silly, but there was nothing she could do to calm her nerves. She would never get a job with the bomb squad, that was certain.