Free Saving Phoebe Murrow: A Novel by Herta Feely

hoped for a girl. Dylan was the second youngest. If she had to guess, Isabel put her age at forty-plus. Doubtful she would try for another.
    â€œWelcome, welcome,” Amanda said, greeting several guests at once and reaching for their hands. She folded her own around each one in succession and those she seemed to know she leaned in for an air kiss. “So good to see you.”
    Isabel introduced herself and Ron. Amanda leaned back a bit as if to fully take them in, then said, “Phoebe’s parents, right? And you’re my room parent partner, Isabel?” To which Isabel nodded. Lifting her manicured brow and shaking her head, Amanda added, “Quite a day the kids had.”
    Her statement puzzled Isabel, but not wanting to appear uninformed, she merely smiled and said, “How’s Dylan enjoying school?”
    â€œOh, it’s not school I’m worried about. It’s the rest of life these kids have to navigate that concerns me.” Amanda laughed lightly. “I suppose they’ll muddle through. The way we all do.”
    Yet again, Amanda’s words surprised Isabel. How difficult could life be with their obvious wealth, and the privileges and advantages that came with it? Ron jumped in, saying, “That’s the truth isn’t it? We all muddle through.”
    Isabel caught him admiring their hostess, her swept back hair and graceful neck that reminded her a little of Audrey Hepburn’s. Isabel was, by nature, rather confident. Still, like many women, she wasn’t immune to the occasional twinge of jealousy and she noted Ron’s reaction.
    Amanda called to one of the waiters carrying a tray of drinks and motioned him over. “Help yourselves,” she said. “Enjoy the evening.” Turning to Isabel, who chose a glass of white wine, she added, “Maybe we’ll have a chance to chat about this room parent thing. Right now, I’m afraid, duty calls. I’ll be stationed here for the next half hour or so. There’s plenty of food. Don’t be shy. I’m counting on you to encourage the others.”
    With that she turned to the next guests and welcomed them, saying something fresh and new. As if she had an endless list of phrases handy for occasions such as this. Of course, she does, Isabel told herself. She probably spends half her life entertaining. Though she envied Amanda’s effortless grace, this was a task Isabel did not covet. She and Ron received plenty of invitations, but constant socializing was not her cup of tea.
    â€œWhat on earth was she talking about?” Isabel asked Ron, then sipped the wine.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œYou know for a supposedly observant reporter you can be awfully obtuse.”
    â€œThank you,” he said, with a small bow.
    â€œI’m referring to her comment about what a day the kids had, as if something happened.”
    â€œMaybe something did.”
    Adams Morgan and the drug arrest she’d seen on TV coiled back into her mind. About to say something, she stopped herself. As far as she knew Phoebe hadn’t gone to Adams Morgan and the arrest had absolutely nothing to do with their daughter. So why would she even mention it? If she did, it would only elicit a typical Ron response, of the “stop worrying” variety, so she said nothing. She took another sip of her wine. “Mmm, delicious. I wonder what it is.”
    â€œI could go for a beer or a scotch. You mind if I get myself one?”
    â€œNo, go ahead. But come back. I want you to meet some of the parents with me, okay?”
    He nodded and trotted off. She spotted a few of the VIP guests, but before she could make her way over to them, Skyla’s mother, Liz, waved at her. She wanted to pretend she hadn’t seen her, but that would be rude. They hadn’t spoken much since all the unpleasantness between Skyla and Phoebe. Several people’s heads turned as Isabel passed. Though Isabel knew she