After dinner, Vivienne poured two cognacs and pulled me outside.
“Tell me you aren’t going to bring my part-time assistant to the charity gala just to spite our parents.”
“So now she’s your assistant?”
“Yes. What else would she be? She’s not your anything.” Her nostrils flared as she spoke.
I didn’t like my sister churlish. She pursed her lips so hard they disappeared on her stern face.
“She’s been my friend longer than she’s been your assistant.”
“Which is all of about ten minutes longer, Jonah. As her friend, why subject her to the scrutiny of a high-society event? She’ll be completely out of her element. And I don’t mean that to be nasty. I like her.”
“She’s not the hillbilly you make her out to be. She went to an event at Jeff’s and did just fine.”
“Wasn’t that a barbecue?” Viv
