“Frankie, do you know Charlie Acton?” Pippa interrupted them.

“Not really.” Frankie looked up, grateful to be pulled away from nursery school evacuations.

“Oh, well you should. Why don’t I introduce you to his gorgeous wife.” Pippa waved and happily Samantha caught her eye.

“I’m so glad you found me. Your daughter was just breathtaking.” Still holding her beer, Samantha stopped by to give Pippa two kisses on the cheek.

“Thank you so much.” Pippa graciously took the compliment and introduced Samantha to Clarice and Frankie.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I love your husband’s films.” Samantha shook Clarice’s hand, then embraced Frankie. “Of course, we’ve known each other for a thousand years, from school!”

“It’s good to see you again.” Frankie was caught off guard.

“You must come over and have dinner sometime soon. I’d love to catch up. I’ve really lost touch with most of the girls in our class and we were just in the same ridiculous magazine. Who the heck were they talking about, right?” Samantha flashed a smile.

“Oh yes, definitely.” Frankie assumed Samantha said “You must come over and have dinner” in the same nonbinding way that many of her patients’ mothers almost reflexively suggested “Let’s do lunch.”

From across the room, Judy watched Samantha kissing and joie de vivring Frankie Weissman. Her anticipation and awe now literally forced her out of her seat. “Just sit here,” she told her daughters. “Don’t move!”

Judy leapt across the Grande Promenade, setting what must have been a table-hopping world record. “Pippa, hello! And hello, Dr. Weissman. What a great treat to see you too!” She beamed.

“Hello, Judy. Do you know Samantha Acton?” Frankie introduced her ex-classmate, still standing beside her.

“No. But I am so happy to meet you.” Judy was now firmly rooted holding hands with Frankie and Samantha with no intention of letting go of either. Bingo!

Clarice vaguely recognized Judy. She knew Judy was married to Albert Tremont, who was on the board with her at Spence. When Clarice had mentioned to Barry what a nice man Albert seemed to be, Barry had dismissed him as a “soft trust-fund kid with too-good fucking manners.”

“Hello, Judy. Clarice Santorini.” She extended her hand. “Would you care to join us?”

“If you have room.” Judy immediately pulled over an available chair.

“Judy, where are your children?” Pippa asked.

“Oh, they’re over there. They’re fine.” Judy shrugged, then covered for herself. “Charlotte is an enormous ballet fan but The Nutcracker is not her favorite. She prefers Giselle.”

Clarice saw Tina Schultz catch the eye of Antonia Chen at the mention of Judy’s daughter. The eBay Prada purchase had become infamous. “Yes, well so many of us prefer Giselle.” Clarice smiled. “But wasn’t Pippa’s daughter wonderful today?”

“Wasn’t Clarice’s daughter Venice wonderful today?” Pippa immediately responded.

“Hear, hear.” Samantha lifted her glass. “To all your wonderful daughters.”

“Hear, hear!” all the women toasted. “To our daughters.”

Clarice was grateful to Samantha for the generous toast. Despite Samantha’s almost uncanny sophistication, she seemed like a lovely person. Watching Samantha take a small sip of her beer, Clarice thought how grateful she was to Barry for giving her this wonderful life in New York.