“Indeed,” Sophia said. “Poor James. He’s totally clueless, and he adores her. If he knew two of his three children are not his, it would be the death of him.”

Sherry wanted to ask why nobody thought it necessary to enlighten James, but Madison said her goodbyes and pulled her away.

“Olivia probably doesn’t even have a yoga instructor,” Madison murmured before plastering on yet another artificial smile to approach the next group.

After a brief introduction and chat, one of the three stiff women said, “Sherry, you must come back later to tell us more about yourself.”

What had Madison told her to say? “But of course.”

The women smiled, satisfied.

A few feet away, Sherry whispered into Madison’s ear, “I can’t believe it, but you were right about your three sentences.”

Madison gave her a fleeting kiss on the cheek. “Decades of experience.” She checked her wristwatch. “About three more hours left until midnight. Do you think you’ll survive that long?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No.”

Sherry squeezed Madison’s hand. “Then lead the way. The next snobs and gossips are waiting.”

“I like your way of thinking.”

“Ten, nine, eight…” Everybody, some slurring, some shouting, was counting down.

Madison’s pulse was racing. It had been weeks since she had kissed Sherry on the lips—not that even an hour had passed without her thinking about it.

Sherry licked her lips and followed Madison’s example of placing her glass on a shelf.

“Four, three, two, one.” Cheering drowned out everything else when the New Year began.

“Happy New Year, Sherry,” Madison said breathlessly, and stepped up to her.

“To you too.”

Madison had to read from Sherry’s irresistible lips to understand her over the noise.

Everything faded away when she tilted her head to Sherry and kissed her softly. Unable to think about what she was doing, she wrapped her arms around Sherry’s fragile form. Like always when they kissed, heat surged through her body immediately.

“Happy New Year,” Grandmother Eileen slurred beside them.

Madison forced herself to step away from Sherry. She cleared her throat. “Happy New Year, Grandmother.”

Grandmother Eileen stopped a waitress.

“Yes, ma’am?” the young woman asked.

“Bring me another scotch.”

Her grandmother already smelled like a liquor store after an earthquake. Given that she usually restrained herself somehow, she probably still wasn’t over her sister’s death. Or maybe she’s lost track of all the booze she has consumed. Whatever it was, she should go to bed before she did or said something to embarrass herself.

In the past, Madison wouldn’t have cared, maybe would have even liked the idea of destroying Grandmother Eileen’s carefully built imagine of the highly educated and successful businesswoman. But now… It just would’ve felt wrong to let that happen. “Can I talk to you in the hall?”