Free Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand Page B

Rose is approached by none other than Ginny Kramer, the editor of
Vogue,
who asks who designed the hat.
    â€œWhy, my boyfriend, George Umbrau,” Mary Rose says as she tugs on George’s arm. “He’s a milliner.”
    â€œI’d love to feature his hats in the magazine,” Ginny says. She hands George her card. “Send me a few samples?”
    â€œOf course!” George says. He can’t believe his good fortune. His hat business has just hit a plateau after two years of upswing, thanks to a selection in Oprah’s Favorite Things, and he’s been wondering how to reinvigorate sales. A feature or even a mention in
Vogue
will do the trick. He is in his late sixties and ready to retire. He would like to sell his business to a large retailer such as Talbots or Ann Taylor, and he’d like to get a good price so that he and Mary Rose can travel the globe in style.
    After the wedding reception, George and Mary Rose catch a ride back to town with Kelley and Mitzi, and George tells them about his stroke of good fortune.
    â€œIt’s not good fortune,” Kelley says. “She recognizes your talent.”
    George can’t believe how generous Kelley is being with his praise. He feels almost embarrassed.
    â€œThey’re beautiful hats, George,” Mitzi says. George thinks about how Mitzi had gamely tried on several styles before admitting to him that she hated to wear hats. He had known then that things would never work out between them. Mary Rose is a woman who would sleep in a hat if she could.
    â€œWell, thank you both,” George says as Kelley pulls up outside the Castle. “It was a most delightful evening.”
    â€œYes,” Mary Rose says. “Thank you for including us.”
    â€œThe pleasure was ours,” Kelley says. He gets out of the car to help Mary Rose to the curb and to shake George’s hand. “I want to let bygones be bygones. I don’t see why the four of us can’t be friends. Would you guys consider coming back and staying with us at Christmas? Maybe don the red suit one more time?”
    â€œI’d love to,” George says. He can’t believe how happy the offer makes him. He dresses as Santa for a variety of Lions Club events in Lenox but nothing gives him more pleasure than playing Santa on Nantucket.
    â€œWith your new svelte physique, you’ll have to get the suit altered,” Kelley says.
    â€œOr I could fatten him up by Christmas,” Mary Rose says, and she and Mitzi laugh.
    As Kelley and Mitzi drive away, Mary Rose and George wave good-bye, then George leads Mary Rose by the hand up the stairs of the Castle. He imagines his hats being featured in the windows of Bergdorf Goodman.
    â€œThey’re such a nice couple,” Mary Rose says. “I can’t believe you nearly broke them up. Shame on you, George.”
    Â 
JENNIFER
    A t eight o’clock the morning after Margaret and Drake’s wedding, despite a tremendous hangover, Jennifer laces up her running shoes.
    Patrick rolls over in bed and tugs on her shirt. “Don’t go,” he says. “Come back to bed.”
    She turns around and smiles, but even that small effort feels like it’s enough to crack her face in half. After Ava saw Scott at the Bar, she and Jennifer ordered Fireball shots. What a rotten idea! And it had been Jennifer’s. “I’ll be back between nine thirty and ten.”
    â€œNot only a run, but a long run,” Patrick says. “You go, girl.”
    Jennifer hopes to slip out of the inn unnoticed, but she bumps into Kevin on the back stairs.
    Kevin. Of all people.
    â€œHey!” he says. He checks his watch. “Where are you off to?”
    Jennifer tugs on her tank top. “Going for a run,” she says. She wonders if Kevin remembers the conversation they had the evening before. Did he tuck away the particulars? He’s looking at her strangely, with his head cocked, as