day, and Ben hoped not. They each had their own style.
“What are you going to do with the girls this summer, with all this crap going on?” Athena asked her. “You can come and stay with us, if you want to get away and hide out. I’d love it.”
“Actually, that’s why I’m calling. I’m trying to organize a girls’ weekend over the Fourth of July at the château. Venetia’s in, Olivia is thinking about it, and Mom said she’d try to come for two days, if she can. I’d love for you to come for the long weekend. You can stay as long as you want. It would be nice to be together.” Nadia was hungry for time with her family. She needed them more than ever before. Her life had never gone as wrong as it was right now. And being with her sisters was the best medicine there was. “Mom suggested it originally, and I think it’s a great idea for all of us to get together at the château. Is your show still on the air then?”
“Actually, we go on hiatus a few days before. I don’t know what Joe has planned. He’s all wrapped up in looking at a space in Malibu. He wants to open something there. I love the idea of coming to see you in France. Let me check in with him. I’ll call you back tomorrow.” They functioned as a team after thirteen years together, and were considerate of each other. “He’s so busy these days, he won’t even notice I’m gone,” Athena added. They had a flock of dog sitters and walkers and a housekeeper who could take care of their animals in her absence. Joe insisted on that so they weren’t constantly running home to feed and walk them.
Their life ran surprisingly smoothly, despite Athena’s haphazard casual nature and disorganized style. She was more efficient than she appeared. She just didn’t want to end up like their mother, with nothing in her life but work. All four girls thought Rose paid a high price for it, and worked too hard, especially now, with their father gone. But it was what Rose wanted, and their father had respected her dedicated work ethic. It was only since the kids had grown up and his death that she had eliminated almost everything except the magazine in her life. It filled the void that he had left, so she was happy.
Nadia and Athena talked for a few more minutes, and Athena promised her an answer about July fourth the next day. Nadia was in good spirits thinking about spending four days with them, and hoped that all or most of them could make it. She didn’t mention it to Sylvie and Laure at dinner, in case it didn’t work out, so she wouldn’t disappoint them. They loved their aunts, and their cousins, although Nadia hadn’t invited her niece and nephews. It would be easier without them, to just make it a sisters’ weekend. They could focus on each other, and talk more freely, when her own children were busy or in the pool at the château. There was lots for them to do there, and the two little girls played well with each other. They noticed their mother’s good mood at dinner and were relieved to see it. She had seemed very quiet and sad lately, and Sylvie particularly was concerned about it. It was hard to hide her sorrow from them, although she tried.
* * *
—
Nadia heard from Olivia first, much to her surprise. She and Harley had discussed it over dinner after Nadia’s call, and had included Will in the conversation, as they did with all things. It was easier for them having only one child, due to their demanding careers, and they included him in everything and had treated him as an adult since he was old enough to talk. By fourteen, he was used to participating in decisions. Both Will and Harley agreed that they could manage without her for the long weekend. Harley knew how worried she was about her sister, and it was a sacrifice he was willing to make. Since Will was bringing a friend up to their house in Maine, it was fine with him. Although he loved his parents, he was trying to get a little distance from them lately. His father was older than his friends’ fathers, and his mother had been even busier since she’d been on the bench. He