The Jewels of Tessa Kent by Judith Krantz

Author:Judith Krantz [Krantz, Judith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780307801333
Google: dcQ3QqE7RnUC
Amazon: 0553561375
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 1998-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

22

Maggie, come on in the kitchen as soon as you get a chance, I have something to ask you,” Elizabeth the cook whispered with an air of secrecy, the day before Maggie’s Saturday-night birthday party. Madison reluctantly had realized that it was her duty to celebrate the occasion, considering the size of the legacy Luke had left Tyler, although why he’d felt it necessary to leave Maggie an equal amount she’d never understand.

During the past week, since Barney’s expulsion from school, Maggie had barely seen the Websters, both of whom were beside themselves with anger at their son and the need to find him and somehow place him, willy-nilly, in another school so that he could get into college next year. If they hadn’t turned the plans for Maggie’s birthday party entirely over to Elizabeth, they would probably have forgotten about it, Maggie thought, but the cook, who’d been through the older girls’ debuts and weddings, was perfectly capable of managing a dinner party for Maggie’s graduating class of twenty-three girls without any instructions from Madison. What special treat had Elizabeth dreamed up? Maggie wondered, as she made her way into the large kitchen.

“You’re not going to show me my birthday cake in advance, are you?” she said, grabbing Elizabeth around the waist and planting a kiss on each of her cheeks. “Isn’t that supposed to be bad luck, like seeing the bride’s dress before the ceremony?”

“Maggie, come in the pantry,” Elizabeth said with unaccustomed seriousness. “I don’t know what to do about this.” She handed Maggie a letter addressed to her. “Here, read it.”

Maggie opened the envelope and scanned the single page. It was a short note from Barney, asking the cook to give Maggie, and only Maggie, his address in New York. He was fine, he said, but he didn’t want his parents to know where he was until he had a job and could support himself, because nothing would make him go back to school.

“What should I do?” Elizabeth asked. “Should I show this to Mrs. Webster?”

“Give it to me,” Maggie said. “They’re worried sick about him. They have to know he’s okay.”

Relieved, Elizabeth turned over the paper to Maggie and went back to her preparations. Maggie memorized the address, tore the letter into bits, and put it in the trash. She promised herself to go into town that afternoon and empty her sizable bank account so she could send Barney money to live on until he could pay her back. She knew he couldn’t have much, and she’d saved most of her allowance.

Maggie waited impatiently until Madison and Tyler returned for lunch.

“Barney called while you were out,” Maggie said, as soon as they arrived. “He wanted you to know that he was perfectly fine but he said he wasn’t going back to school and you shouldn’t worry, he’s looking for a job.”

“Shouldn’t worry?” Madison screamed furiously. “Shouldn’t worry, after what he’s put us through!” She sounded relieved but doubly furious. “Where was he?”

“I asked but he wouldn’t tell me, I’m sorry.

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