“Frankie didn’t realize it either until she walked in,” Pippa continued. “Her father invented some sort of stretch material and apparently they manufactured it right here. Now that’s a real New York story! From factory to chichi catering hall.”

“There’s Grey Navez and Lewis. She always looks great.” Judy had no interest in discussing the history of hosiery manufacturing in Manhattan. “And I must say, I adore her boyfriend.”

The chimes for dinner began to ring. “Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.”

“I better go find Jil.” Clarice gave Judy another kiss. “Thank you so much for inviting me to be part of this with you. It really came at the right time for me.”

As Clarice walked away, Judy turned to Pippa. “I hope she’s not getting overly dependent on Jil. He’s such a climber! He just attaches himself to every important lonely woman who comes on the market. And you know he’s dating a stripper.”

“I think they want us to sit down.” Pippa smiled.

The chimes rang again.

“I have no idea where Albert is. He’s lost at these things without me.” Judy kissed Pippa on both cheeks. “I’m so happy to see you.”

When the eight hundred guests were finally seated, the chairman of the museum’s board of directors and the museum’s director approached the microphone.

“I want to welcome everyone here tonight to our annual gala. The success of this evening is a tribute to the dedication of New Yorkers to their city and to the city’s great art institutions. We are here tonight because our beloved museum is being renovated. In two years, we will return to our permanent home.” The house broke into applause. Before I introduce David Rockefeller and our guest of honor, former mayor Giuliani, I want to ask our benefit cochairs to stand.” He began to read a list of eight names in alphabetical order.

While the others each rose from their chairs to polite applause, Judy felt a rush of heat from her toe to her crotch all the way to her hand clasping her python clutch. She knew she would be next. Judy had even prepared short remarks about New York and the arts. Even when she was in college and had orgasms, it felt nothing like this. This was like being on top of Mount Everest.

The director continued, “Judy Tremont.” Judy got up, looked around the room, and saw the best possible gathering of people; the stylemakers, the world she fantasized about when she was ten years old. She forgot her speech altogether.

As the applause ended, she remained standing and started to cry.

“Sit down, honey,” Albert whispered to her as he tried to nonchalantly pull her down.

Judy wept. “But Albert, it’s just so fun!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

·CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT·

Samantha

“I have an offer to do some sort of cable TV show on style,” Samantha casually mentioned to her therapist.