Sunday morning and Bobbie woke up about 9. She looked at her phone and there was a text message from Trixie. “I need to debrief! Yacht club brunch at 11?” Bobbie typed back. “Sure.” And saw that Barb was coming too.

She got up and fed Fossy and threw his toy around while she made coffee. He actually played fetch. She shuffled into her media room and turned on the news. Brose sent her a text saying that they made it home and she sipped her coffee and thought. Was there really a space for Brose in her world? Hosting that dinner made her feel proud that she could entertain even her wealthiest friends and not seem cheap or uncultured. In some ways she felt her little motel passed some test that meant Brose would accept it. God who did she think she was anyway, just a big fish in a really small sea if she was honest. What could someone like Ambrose Hennessy see in her anyway? She decided she was really glad she was meeting Trixie and Barb for lunch.

She took a shower and got dressed and went out and down her back stairs to see how things were going with the motel.

Effie was coming out of Number six. “The room’s done now. That Fox lady left a good tip.”

“You could take Drey and Roger out to dinner tonight.”

Effie laughed. “I think we’ll buy a couple week’s worth of groceries instead.”

“Good thinking.” Bobbie waved and went over to reception. It was empty, on Sundays the reservations were handled on line and Bobbie unlocked it and went inside. The light was streaming though the windows and it was so quiet it was almost like being in a cathedral. We could totally host the Planned Parenthood Gala here. She locked up and walked back to her car and headed for the Yacht Club.

Trixie was already there. Bobbie and Barb arrived almost as the same time.

“Hi guys. First of all.” Said Barb. “That was one fancy, fun, party Friday night.”

“Right? I’m a regular Jet setter now. I’m just worried that it was all to impress Brose and when he finds out I’m faking it, he won’t put up with me any more.”

“Oh Bobbie you’re overthinking. If you had to go to Brose’s house and plan a dinner. How would you do it?”

“I don’t even know what dishes he has. I guess I’d find a good caterer and try to be a good host.”

“See you think like a rich person already. You’ll be fine.” Said Trixie.

“Oh God!”

“Anyway let’s order, I have a lot to talk about. When I was with the ladies playing bridge on Saturday I learned that Katherine Fox is sick. She was hanging out with your mother to talk about Doctors.”

“You know, I had breakfast with her yesterday and I could swear she was taking some chemo drugs.”

“Not chemo, she doesn’t have cancer, she’s got Huntington’s Disease.”

“Huntington’s Disease? I’ve only seen that on TV.” Said Barb.

Bobbie shook her head. “Oh no, that’s horrible. It seemed like she was low energy but I thought she was just tired from travelling.”

“She’s trying to get her business sorted before she gets too sick. She’s known about it a long time. It runs in her family. She never had children because of it. She swore me to secrecy but knows it can’t remain secret much longer.”

“I won’t even tell Brose.”

“How is Lester handling in all this?”

“I think he’s just happy to finally spend time with her. He has his own money. They went into their marriage with a prenup of steel and Lester doesn’t like business. She’s asked me to be her CEO and direct her Board. She wants me to move her company from resource extraction to greener renewable energy and I would have free rein to hire and fire who I please. She wants to give me her company(s).”

Bobbie knew all along that Trixie was not really meant to be an all around helper for her. She gave up her career and threw herself into the motel project and that was finished now. “Trixie that’s incredible. You’ll be working so hard. Your life will change.”

“We’ll never see you.” Said Barb

“Certainly not at first. But in 5 or 6 months, when I get the lay of the land, I think I’ll begin to have some spare time.”

Well, that certainly is big news. Bobbie tried to sound supportive. Are you planning to travel to Cap City? Say hi to Brose for me. How did Kathrine know you would want to do this?”

“We just talked at you’re dinner and at the market a bit. And then at your Mom’s. She’s heard of me and said if you and Florence trust me, so can she. I’m heading out at the end of the week. I’m meeting with Brose and he’s going to introduce me to a few people in the government. Then with Katherine’s lawyers; who will soon be my lawyers.”

“We are really going to miss you Sweetie, I have so many questions. You were born for this Trixie, I’ll host special dinners when you come visit with all the Saudi Princes.”

“That’ll be perfect Bobbie.”

“What about Greg?”

“He’s got some of his own business to handle so he’ll join me in Cap City. We’ll see after that.”

“We’ll miss you at the motel. I know I should be running my own business but I’ll need to call you for help.”

“No problem, I’ll be back most weekends. How’s it going with you and that cute cop Barb?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t been with a guy in so long. Jer and I were kind of platonic a long time. Anyway I’m not comfortable at this weight; I gained so much when Jeremy was sick. I think I ate for the two of us and after a while, food was the only thing I looked forward to.”

“Oh Barb, I can’t eat when I’m stressed and being too skinny can also be a problem. Both Johnny and I have to be careful of osteoporosis. We all deal with this stuff differently. Maybe you should find a behavioural therapist. It might help you deal with the loss of Jeremy. You cared for him a long time. It’s jarring to have all that just vanish. Maybe worse than me losing Alex so suddenly. We have to try to get together after Trixie goes. Maybe we can go for walks sometime.”

Trixie patted her hand. “Barb you are beautiful inside and out. You are understandably nervous about getting intimate with Harry but don’t let that get in the way. You’re not too big. You are you. You might be smaller sometime but live for who you are now because you have great hair and rosy cheeks and great boobs and an even greater booty. You look 10 years younger than you are.”

Barb smiled. “I love you skinny bitches. I was just getting used to having the three of us back together. I guess I knew we couldn’t keep Trixie down for long.”

“We have to take turns visiting each other every month. Barb and I can go to Cap city and you can come here. We have plenty of room if you want to visit. Oh and I guess you are still officially at Thurston Manor.”

“Katherine has an apartment in Cap City for the Chairman of the board and CEO. She and Lester stayed there when Katherine had business. I can give myself a budget to redecorate it, you better come visit!”

Trixie was really shutting everything down. She moved out and closed her office and stayed with Bobbie for an afternoon, explaining all the pay system software and her investments. Bobbie wasn’t sure she could take the reins but she knew how to hire somebody, she was mostly staffed anyway and she knew how to pay them. Bobbie took many notes and took control of some of Trixie’s software so she was reasonably sure she could handle things.