such a worrywart. Everything's going to be absolutely perfect. It's like a dream come true. But, listen, I have to go now. I'll fill you in on all the details when I get home. 'Bye!"
As she hung up, Jessica couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt about the way she'd lied to Elizabeth. The truth was, everything wasn't absolutely
perfect. After the cool treatment she'd gotten from Pete, she was certain she'd never see him again. Besides all that, she was starting to feel a little homesick. In fact, she'd called Elizabeth just to hear her voice. Jessica was lonely. She felt hopelessly uncomfortable around Mrs. Devlin, who did nothing to put her at ease. And Mr. Devlin, though friendly, was always off at some embassy function or other. On all but two of the nights since her arrival, Jessica had gone to sleep before he'd gotten home. She was starting to have second thoughts about this whole trip. It was something she would never have admitted to anyone in a million years. She had even tried denying it to herself. The night of Evelyn's dinner party, for instance, she'd thought she was having fun at first--until things got out of hand and she realized she was in over her head.
Evelyn was Suzanne's best friend. Her family lived in a building on Sutton Place, one of the most exclusive streets in Manhattan. A doorman with gold-braided epaulets had ushered her in. At the door to Evelyn's apartment a woman in a uniform met her to take her coat and show her into the living room.
Suzanne's friends were all drinking champagne when she arrived. A tall, sleek brunette wearing
an outfit that looked like silk pajamas got up as she walked in.
"Hi," she drawled. "I'm Evelyn Meeker."
Evelyn introduced her to the others, but their names were a blur to Jessica. Several of the boys eyed her appreciatively, but the girls didn't seem too interested. As soon as they'd greeted her, they went back to what they'd been discussing before.
"Daddy says real estate makes more sense," said a nasal-voiced blonde with pinched good looks. "If I put Grandmother's inheritance into the stock market, I could lose everything."
"Diamonds," piped a petite red-haired girl. "When I come into my money, I'm putting it all into diamonds."
"With the family you come from, you might need a whole room for those rocks," said a boy standing next to her.
"Oh, Simon," the redhead retorted with annoyance. "Don't be so crass."
Someone filled a champagne glass and handed it to Jessica. These people were all so sophisticated! It seemed impossible that they were the same age as she. They all appeared so much older. Quickly, she downed her champagne. Just as quickly, her glass was refilled.
"Where are your parents?" she asked Evelyn, glancing about nervously.
Evelyn gave a tinkly little laugh. "My parents? Oh, you mean like in chaperon. Don't worry-- they couldn't be bothered. Besides, they're in the Caribbean right now. They always go this time of year."
Wow! Jessica thought. If only she could have parties like this, without her parents hanging around.
"It must be nice having the whole place to yourself," she said.
"Oh, I hardly ever stay here when they're gone. My boyfriend has an apartment in the Village. I usually stay there."
"Your boyfriend has his own apartment?" Jessica echoed incredulously.
Evelyn laughed again. "Well, he's twenty-five, after all. Don't you just adore older men? Honestly, boys our age are such incredible babies."
"Unfair!" cried a boy sitting on the plush beige couch. Leering tipsily at Jessica, he added, "All I ask is that you give me a chance. I may be seventeen, but I'm old at heart."
"Malcolm's OK," Evelyn whispered. "His family owns a big estate in Connecticut, and he drives a Maserati."
The woman who had answered the door announced that dinner was served. They all retired
to the dining room, where a fabulous feast had been assembled as if by magic. Evelyn produced several more bottles of wine she'd "borrowed" from her father's
As she hung up, Jessica couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt about the way she'd lied to Elizabeth. The truth was, everything wasn't absolutely
perfect. After the cool treatment she'd gotten from Pete, she was certain she'd never see him again. Besides all that, she was starting to feel a little homesick. In fact, she'd called Elizabeth just to hear her voice. Jessica was lonely. She felt hopelessly uncomfortable around Mrs. Devlin, who did nothing to put her at ease. And Mr. Devlin, though friendly, was always off at some embassy function or other. On all but two of the nights since her arrival, Jessica had gone to sleep before he'd gotten home. She was starting to have second thoughts about this whole trip. It was something she would never have admitted to anyone in a million years. She had even tried denying it to herself. The night of Evelyn's dinner party, for instance, she'd thought she was having fun at first--until things got out of hand and she realized she was in over her head.
Evelyn was Suzanne's best friend. Her family lived in a building on Sutton Place, one of the most exclusive streets in Manhattan. A doorman with gold-braided epaulets had ushered her in. At the door to Evelyn's apartment a woman in a uniform met her to take her coat and show her into the living room.
Suzanne's friends were all drinking champagne when she arrived. A tall, sleek brunette wearing
an outfit that looked like silk pajamas got up as she walked in.
"Hi," she drawled. "I'm Evelyn Meeker."
Evelyn introduced her to the others, but their names were a blur to Jessica. Several of the boys eyed her appreciatively, but the girls didn't seem too interested. As soon as they'd greeted her, they went back to what they'd been discussing before.
"Daddy says real estate makes more sense," said a nasal-voiced blonde with pinched good looks. "If I put Grandmother's inheritance into the stock market, I could lose everything."
"Diamonds," piped a petite red-haired girl. "When I come into my money, I'm putting it all into diamonds."
"With the family you come from, you might need a whole room for those rocks," said a boy standing next to her.
"Oh, Simon," the redhead retorted with annoyance. "Don't be so crass."
Someone filled a champagne glass and handed it to Jessica. These people were all so sophisticated! It seemed impossible that they were the same age as she. They all appeared so much older. Quickly, she downed her champagne. Just as quickly, her glass was refilled.
"Where are your parents?" she asked Evelyn, glancing about nervously.
Evelyn gave a tinkly little laugh. "My parents? Oh, you mean like in chaperon. Don't worry-- they couldn't be bothered. Besides, they're in the Caribbean right now. They always go this time of year."
Wow! Jessica thought. If only she could have parties like this, without her parents hanging around.
"It must be nice having the whole place to yourself," she said.
"Oh, I hardly ever stay here when they're gone. My boyfriend has an apartment in the Village. I usually stay there."
"Your boyfriend has his own apartment?" Jessica echoed incredulously.
Evelyn laughed again. "Well, he's twenty-five, after all. Don't you just adore older men? Honestly, boys our age are such incredible babies."
"Unfair!" cried a boy sitting on the plush beige couch. Leering tipsily at Jessica, he added, "All I ask is that you give me a chance. I may be seventeen, but I'm old at heart."
"Malcolm's OK," Evelyn whispered. "His family owns a big estate in Connecticut, and he drives a Maserati."
The woman who had answered the door announced that dinner was served. They all retired
to the dining room, where a fabulous feast had been assembled as if by magic. Evelyn produced several more bottles of wine she'd "borrowed" from her father's
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