"Thank you for helping me get the house ready, dear."
"It's alright, Mom. You know I enjoy these parties as much as you and our guests."
"Oh, yes! There's no question about that. You do enjoy them. Do I look okay." Clare turned slowly to give her daughter, Sandy, a good look at her outfit.
"Okay? Mom, you look fantastic! If you were someone else's mother I'd ..."
"Thank you, sweetheart. You look hot, yourself. If you were someone else's daughter, I would definitely ..."
"Maybe someday, Mom. But tonight we have Cheryl and Susan to entertain."
"Yes, they should be here soon."
Several miles away, Cheryl is looking with pride at her daughter, Susan.
"Honey, you are absolutely beautiful! You look like you're nervous, though. Are you sure you want to go tonight? You don't have to if you don't want to."
"I am a little nervous, Mom, but I really do want to go."
"Okay. How do I look?"
"You look great, Mom. That color always looks good on you."
"Thank you, sweetie. I think it's time to go."
As they get out of their car, Clare and Sandy are waiting at the front door.
"Hi, Cheryl! This must be Susan. You look adorable, Susan."
"Yes. Susan, this is Clare. She and I have met at the mall several times over the last couple of weeks, planning this for you." Cheryl sounds as excited as the guest of honor might be, even though the party has been planned for Susan.
"Susan, Clare, this is my daughter, Sandy. Why don't we go inside?" She leads the way to the family room where some snacks and a bottle of wine are waiting. "Sandy, why don't you pour us each a glass of wine?"
"I'm not sure Susan should ... '
"Oh, come on, Clare! A girl only turns 18 once! Surely one small glass of wine won't hurt."
"Well, okay. One glass won't hurt."
Sandy pours liberally into the waiting wine glasses. "One of Mom's friends threw a party just like this for me on my 18th birthday," she says as she hands a glass to Susan. "It was utterly fantastic! Probably the best night I had ever had. We still spend an evening with Joan and Carrie about once a month. Usually I spend most of my evening with Joan, just like I did at my party, and Mom spends her evening with Carrie, but sometimes Carrie and I spend an evening together while Mom and Joan spend some time with each other. It's really nice to have such good friends."
"Do you have parties like this very often?" Susan asks.
"Lately it seems like we're having one almost every week."
"I think your website helps a lot," Cheryl says. "That's how I found you. And you're being so friendly and open when we met at the mall just sort of sealed the deal for me. I can't think of anyone I know that I'd rather have Susan spend her 18th birthday with!"
"Thank you, Clare. I find that the time at the mall is really important. We've had one or two women ask about parties that I just wouldn't have been comfortable having in my home. Sandy, why don't you show Cheryl the pool and I'll show Susan the rest of the house. Later we can have some cake and ice cream. I don't think the ice cream would go well now with the wine."
As Sandy and Cheryl slip through the sliding glass doors towards the pool, Clare and Susan start up the stairs.
"Your pool is beautiful. Should we sit here for a few minutes?"
"I think so. We'll let Mom and Susan have a few minutes before we go in."
Susan follows Clare up the stairs, past a bathroom and into a beautifully furnished master suite. Clare gently closes the door behind them. "Susan, you are really pretty. I love the color of your hair. It sets off your skin tone so well. You do look a little nervous, though. Are you sure you want this?"
"Yes!" Susan is quickly emphatic. "It is my first time, but I really do want to."