A Brilliant Ride (7 page)

“But…”

“But nothing…perhaps now you’ll agree to that stylist I’ve been telling you about. Honestly, when was the last time you updated your look?” She winced. “Oh, and an apartment, you’ll need something fabulous! Candace Rockbury mentioned an opening in her building…not far from here…a penthouse, I believe. Perfect!”

“Sam wants some land,” I said, hoping Maria would show up with that drink. “He wants to get out of
the city, a pool, tennis court, that type of thing.”

“Don’t be silly. That’s what a country house is for,” she tutted loudly.

“Well, he said something about waterfront and a yacht…”

“A y
acht!” Her face fell. “Darling, yachts are for rock stars and actors…you’re being silly again. Now, a private jet, that’s a different story,” her eyes glistened. That is practical…for getting to your summer place. Oh, we’ll have to get on that as well; maybe something in Newport. Hmmm…let me think. I know…I’ll call Bunny Preston; she absolutely has her pulse on the Nantucket market…or Mary Holmes…in Southampton! Yes, that’s a done deal.”

She set a gimlet eye on me, and a trickle of sweat ran down the side of my face.

“Now, that’ll be fine for the summer season, but year round you’ll need to be here in town. Penelope, you cannot live in the wilderness, for God’s sake. It’s unheard of; I won’t allow it,” she clucked.

“That’s what he wants, Mother. After all, he’s the boss, right?”

“Well…we let them believe that…don’t we my darling?” She winked slowly. “It is a fact that the women of New York run everything…
and their husbands pay for it
.”

“You can say that again.” My heart went out to Robert.

Maria sauntered in with an ice bucket, two flutes, chilled champagne, and a few finger sandwiches, all arranged beautifully on an enormous silver tray. My eyes poured out to her. She smiled slightly and placed the tray on a large pink silk ottoman positioned in front of the fire. “Congratulations, Miss Penelope,” she said and nodded her head.

I took her hand and thanked her.

“Finally, Maria,” Mother boomed. “That’ll be all…scoot, scoot. Honestly, such lollygagging.” She clapped again and turned her attention back to me, her eyes blazing.

Maria shuffled out of the room, and I poured a glass of champagne. I threw it down my throat as fast as I could.

“Penelope, you’ll have the best, that’s a given. This is going to be a whole new way of life for you! Oh, and another thing, you have to think about heading some more committees, set up some charity foundations…break loose from those party girls you know. Speaking of party girls…how is Jacqueline? Still pursuing her ‘how many men can I sleep with before I die’ campaign?”

“Mother!”

“What? Just being what your generation calls
real
, darling.” She shook her head. “Well, honestly, that’s what I mean. There’s been more page six ink wasted on her than…well, it’s true, these swingers you’ve taken up with have done nothing to further your….well, I don’t think I really have to remind you, Penelope. You have a lot to live up to, and quite frankly, you’ve failed in that department. Now perhaps we can start to rebuild your reputation. Being married to a fine young man…he has money, too. I heard his family has a title…some Euro-babble something or other. That’s in again, you know.” She paused briefly, undoubtedly lost in a vision of thrones and crowns.

“Oh, well forget about that. Finally, I can relax knowing you’re established.” She held her heart dramatically and looked off into space with a starry expression.

“Oh, yes, I forgot. It’s all about you.”

“What was that?”

“Um, I’d be lost without you…”

“Yes, and we have to start on the perfect wedding dress. I’ll call Wang!”
she squealed.

My heart raced. Suddenly, I felt lik
e the last of the summer leaves clinging desperately to the strong old tree I considered home for so long, frightened by the reality it was time to detach and blow free. Mother, on the other hand, looked like a racehorse ready to break through the gates.

“Well, here’s to you and Sam, my darling.” She clinked my glass and actually giggled. “It’ll be absolutely perfect.” Her eyes lit up like two firecrackers. “L
eave everything to me, Penelope.”

“Yes, but…”

Mother stood up, galloped over to the massive gilt mirror hanging in her foyer with the imported black and white marble floor, and surveyed herself. “Oh, stop looking like such a lost puppy.” She adjusted her caramel colored coif. “It’s all good. For crying out loud, Penelope, say something…you’re so quiet.” She cocked her head.

I stared at the colossal Waterford chandelier
sparkling above her head suspended from the hand-painted trompe l'oeil ceiling and blinked. “Er…I’m just taking it all in…”

Mother spun around quickly - sort of a little pirouette - and held her heart. “Yes, it’s all so exciting, I know. We can have the wedding right here, i
n the ballroom, my darling.
I better get cracking
; I think we need to spruce this place up a bit.” She marched through the giant rooms of her gilded perch in the sky and slid her hands along the hand painted silk wallpaper. Surveying her lair with a discerning eye, she took in the floor to ceiling oil paintings, French silk upholstered furniture, and imported Aubusson rugs and thundered, “There’s a lot to do, Penelope. I need to call the decorator, the caterer, the florist, the…Maria, get the decorator on the phone!
Mariaaaaa
!”

I tried to quell my fears and told myself it was a fantastic opportunity. It all seemed so perfect and exciting. After all, Sam was a great catch…everyone said so.

Phyllis made an
appointment for the two of us to have a “reading.” The thought scared the hell out of me, but I agreed…simply because Phyllis was hard to put off. I suggested we stop for coffee beforehand.

“Oh, one thing, before we head over to the shop to see Saffron…”

“Saffron?”

“Yes, Pen…Saffron. That’s the Reader’s name…Saffron.”

“Listen, Phyllis, I’m really having second thoughts about this. Can’t we just….”

“Oh, knock it off. Look, I want to show you this book I picked up. It’s about the higher self.”

“Huh?”

“It’s very informative.” Phyllis pulled a large book out of her tote bag and began thumbing through it. “For example, it lists specific meditations to use. You know…to connect with your inner child.”

“Inner child..?”

“Oh yes.” She
pointed to a paragraph highlighted in bright yellow. “Connecting to the inner child is very important. Pen, are you listening to me?”

I tried to look interested and put my readers on to enhance the effect.

“According to this book,” she continued, “getting in touch with your inner child is the first step to unlocking the goddess within.”

“
Goddess
…?”

“Pen…try and focus, will you.”

I was trying to, but the little gemstone she had pasted to the middle of her forehead was very distracting. She took to wearing it a week ago, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from it.

“Does that thing
hurt
?”

“Pen, this is imperative. You really need to pay attention. You simply can’t get anywhere until you make friends with and embrace your inner child. It’s the first step to melding with your higher self...you know, for the Ascension.”

I looked at Phyllis in amazement.

“It says so right here.” Her fingers traced the lines as she read aloud. “You must connect the inner child, the higher self and the physical body. You see, Pen…the trouble with you is…you’re just not whole. And, you won’t be until the anchoring.”

“
Anchoring
…?”

“Oh yes. It takes about three hours.”

“Er, I don’t have that kind of time…”

“It’s important! You need to connect the inner and outer you,” she sang, while rubbing what she explained was her third chakra. She then started some kind of deep breathing, and I couldn’t help laughing out loud. I wondered if she needed a paper bag.

“Look Phyllis, about this reading thing. I’m not sure I’m ready. Can’t we just go shoe shopping? Why don’t we head downtown? The new
Fabio Kabooki
line just hit the stores and…”

“Stop. Honestly, Pen, it’s a good thing you have me,” Phyllis shook her head. “You just don’t understand the importance of being
integrated
. I really have my work cut out for me,” she sighed. “Well, I’m hoping this visit with Saffron will catapult you into a higher dimension. We can only hope.”

“Higher dimension..? Maybe we should be drinking something stronger…”

“Look, Pen, it’s clear you’re not ready to be enlightened, let alone transformed into your inner goddess. Sometimes these things take time. But, I’m warning you…we’re coming into the Age of Awakening, and those not ready will be left behind.”

“I guess I’ve mis
sed the boat.”

“That’s okay,” she patted my hand. “I’m going to help you. It’s going to take a great deal of work, but with my incredible knowledge and psychic insight, I’ll be able to teach you some life altering techniques.”

“Sounds daunting…”

“Oh, stop. Let’s finish up and get going.” We gulped our coffee and off we went.

The Up and Coming Goddess was a trip. As we entered, the smell of burning incense and scented candles was overwhelming; I had to steady myself. The quirky shop was packed with crystals, metaphysical books, wind chimes, and a long rack of “goddess dresses.” It was scary. What’s more, I felt over dressed in my silk blouse and slacks and thought perhaps a muumuu would have been more appropriate.

Within seconds a tall, exotic looking woman with six earrings, an armful of bangles and an outfit consisting of several brightly colored scarves wrapped tightly around her lanky frame, approached us and kissed us dramatically on both cheeks.

“Oh, j
ust as I read. You are here,” the woman said in a strangely hushed voice.

“Read?” I queried. There’s that word again.

“Why yes, I was reading my tarot cards earlier, and it was very clear the two of you would be entering my enchanted space today.”

I remembered Phyllis called for an appointment.

“Er, enchanted space?” I looked around again.

“Oh, Saffron, this is my friend Pen…you know…the one I told you about.” Phyllis gave her a wink.

“Oh, yes, I see.” Saffron looked me up and down with new interest. “Well, it’s a good thing you’re here,” she said in a very concerned voice. “I can see your aura is quite muddy.”

“
Muddy
…?”

“No worries,” she chirped. “I can change that. You
’ve come to the right place…and just in the nick of time.” She touched her forehead and recited some kind of mumbo-jumbo and then spun around quickly, snatching something from a nearby shelf. “Aha, perfect! This is exactly what you need. You must wear it always. Allow me to bestow this upon you with great love and respect,” she said in a solemn tone and placed a necklace of turquoise beads around my neck. “It’s for balance…that will be $199.99. I take all credit cards.”

“
Well I do feel sort of dizzy.”

The two women exchanged looks.

“Er, Saffron, let’s get on with the tarot reading,” said Phyllis. “Pen is in dire need of psychic guidance.”

“Psychic guidance..? Look, let’s not rush into anything,” I pulled on my sleeve. “I’m not so convinced my future can be seen in a deck of cards,” I said, trying to sound super casual.

“Oh, don’t be so square. Come on, it’s fun. Loosen up,” growled Phyllis as she pushed me into a little room behind a long silk curtain.

The room was dark, and in the center stood a small round table with four velvet chairs.

“Is that a crystal ball?” I giggled. The two didn’t look amused.

“Come on, Phyllis…do you really take this stuff seriously?”

“Look, Pen, this is serious. You need to hook up to other dimensions…find the answers the universe has ready for you. Saffron here is a pro. She can tell you things.”

I’m sure she can, I thought, and rolled my eyes.

“She has the gift.”

“The
gift
..?”

“Yes, the gift…the gift of clairvoyance. Saffron is a conduit to other realms of intelligence. You know…she can talk
to spirits. It’s very powerful.”

I wondered why she didn’t have her own talk show or something. Maybe she hasn’t been
discovered
yet. I remembered the name of the shop, “Up and Coming Goddess,” and bit my lip.

Saffron wrapped a shimmery purple cape around her shoulders and lit about a hundred candles. Then she lit more incense.

“Great, just what we need.” I grimaced.

“What was that?” asked Phyllis. “Did you say something, Pen?”