The gala was everything Julia had expected.
And nothing she was prepared for.
The venue was one of those converted spaces that had been something industrial once high ceilings, exposed beams and had been transformed into something deliberately beautiful. Warm light everywhere. Flowers she didn't know the names of arranged in ways that looked effortless and cost a fortune. People dressed in the particular way that signaled money without announcing it.
She stood at the entrance with Nora's hand in hers and did the thing she always did in unfamiliar spaces found the exits, found the corners, mapped the room quickly and quietly before anyone could notice she was doing it.
Nora had no such instincts.
Nora walked in like she owned the place.
"Mommy," she said, craning her neck at the ce
