I called to set up hair appointments for Friday for Aurora and me the next morning and for once I was glad Annabeth was late so she wouldn't try to tag along with us. I don't want them meeting before the party and I can't let it slip that Aurora and Lola are the same person.

Using the quiet to concentrate I manage to reply to a few emails and order the sommelier's new shirts. I glance to the clock to see it's almost lunchtime and Annabeth's truancy is now becoming a problem.

While she's out I decide to call Scarlett to change my R.S.V.P. and she was delighted to hear I was coming and even more excited to meet my "friend" from the D.A.R- which then reminded me to place Annabeth's envelope back into her mail pile.

Once she finally saunters in from god knows where I immediately take in her fancy pink sundress and become curious. She's dressed similarly to how LulaBelle Anders dresses and the comparison makes me want to laugh.

"New dress?" I ask her as she wanders across the small office and she stops before pulling her leather chair out. She smiles before twirling around in the small space and then says, "Brand new from Draper James. Isn't it to die for?"

To die for? Is this A.B? Her odd reply throws me off but she's still smiling to me with her hands placed on her hips. I know for a fact she's never bought Draper James before so the expensive cotton sundress has her glowing.

"It is darling," I admit. "Isn't that brand kinda pricey though?" I ask her and she simply shrugs her shoulders, "So? Everyone round here wears it. Thought I could too." The subject drops with her into her seat but I want to ask more questions about her spending Gus's money. She's been doing a lot of it lately and I want to tell her not to drain the well so quickly. I decide to try a different approach, "Oh yeah, what are you wearin' to the Hemming's party this Saturday?"

Her long red lacquered nails tap on her keyboard as she vaguely replies, "I ordered a few things from Neiman Marcus, so whichever one fits the bump." Her back is to me so she can't witness my grimace. Now she's ordering from Neiman's?

"You didn't go to Blush? I feel like we always find our holiday gowns there," I ask her and she shakes her head, "Nah, I feel like Blush never has a good inventory. I wanted somethin' current and preferably designer."

I think back to me buying half of her non-designer dress for the auction a few months ago and realize how quick she was to jump into her newfound wealth. I know I shouldn't judge her and be happy that she is happy but my mind constantly goes to Gus. I know he is the least materialistic person so I have to wonder if he's truly okay with her new spending habits. My heart hurts when I think of him with his big brown friendly eyes and I have to figure out a way to get back to normal with him. I miss our little trio.

I watch as she pulls up a catering website and then she suddenly spins her chair around to face me, "Did I tell you that Margot asked to go to the catering tasting together this week?"

I nod, "I told Austin I was supposed to go with you and I think he found a way to weasel his way out of going. And also if it's alright with you since you are now going with Margot I think I am going to get what I need for the Hemming's party after work instead."

I catch the confusion flash across her round face, "I thought you and Ryan weren't going to this party? I thought Ryan wasn't all that welcome at the Hemming's." Her tone has something to it and I get the feeling she is annoyed that I am now going- I really don't know why though. I decide to put Ryan and Aurora's plan into action.

"Oh, Ryan isn't going. I'm being forced to escort my mother's D.A.R friend, Lola, to the shin-dig. She's stayin' with us for a couple days and my mother wanted me to introduce her to some Hollis contacts," I reply.

"Why is someone comin' to stay with you from the D.A.R? They aren't trying to fill the fundraising panel with members from outside Hollis are they?" She asks and I can tell she's suddenly anxious. She never mentioned the letter to me or about reaching out to them in the first place so I decide to play dumb.

"I'm not sure. They might be. They were trying to get me to join for months but I've been so busy I haven't been able to pledge any hours.  Maybe they are recruiting from other chapters to help around the holidays?" I suggest and I watch her get more agitated. I know for a fact Annabeth is not a Daughter of the American Revolution so I don't know why she is suddenly so interested in the organization.

"I told those inbreds I could volunteer!" She blurts out and she swings back around to her computer. Her nails clack against the keyboard and she's typing faster than I've ever heard her type. She's flying through an email and I decide to just come out and ask her.

"Why do you want to volunteer? It's not like you're a part of the D.A.R."

She's quiet while she unleashes her fury. I wait while she's in her head and she finishes typing before she replies, "No, but Mrs. Blackwood is and I feel like once I am married to Gus I should be able to be a member. That and if I have a girl she'll be eligible to join so why can't I? I wrote to the Hollis chapter representative and she agreed to meet me but not until after the holidays," she answers and she jabs the send button once she's done. She slumps back into her chair and turns to face me again. I can tell she's still agitated and I am still surprised she has any interest in that organization.

"A.B I thought you weren't into that kind of club. And we have our New Year's Eve grand opening to be planning so I don't see you having many hours to devote to another group. You're hardly able to focus on that and your wedding," I tell her. She shockingly rolls her eyes at me before answering, "Sawyer, just because you aren't into Hollis's social clubs doesn't mean I can't be." She laughs a little laugh like I am being ridiculous but her answer has me thrown.

"Annabeth, you are welcome to any club you want to be in I just wasn't aware the D.A.R was one of them. If I would have known I could have had my mother use her influence with the board to secure you a spot," I reply back to her and I sit up a little further into my chair.

"But that's just it Sawyer, I don't want to get into the organization because of Delilah, I want to get in because I am going to be a Blackwood- which that in itself should be able to get me into most of the clubs. Why are these geriatrics draggin' their feet?"

Once again I am thrown off. Annabeth has never once shown interest in joining any of the Hollis social clubs. I knew she wanted to be married to a founding family I just didn't know she wanted to be the next LulaBelle.

She is sitting straight up in her chair and her long legs are crossed at the ankles. Her hands are in her lap and her auburn hair is twisted into a neat bun. Her nails are neatly manicured and her oval lips are painted a pretty pink color to match her expensive dress. The resemblance to all the girls we went to cotillion with is uncanny. She has finally come out into society. Annabeth Matthews is the newest southern belle. The realization is like a punch to the gut.

"Well, I admire you for wanting to get into the clubs on your own as opposed to asking for favors but just know the Sweeney's are always here for you if you need to call one in. What other clubs are you interested in?" I ask her.

She pops a shoulder up before replying, "Dunno yet. I know there are spots open on the Historical Society after the whole Arthur and Lucy thing. I also am trying to convince Gus to let me join the country club. Then there's the D.A.R and the Hollis Event Planning Committee. I was thinking I could help plan the parade for the Anders to announce the birth of their baby."

A burst of laughter escapes my lips but when Annabeth doesn't laugh with me I realize she is serious. She looks angry with me so I suck back in the humor and reply, "You seriously want to help plan the most ludicrous parade in Hollis history? You know LulaBelle is not a princess who stands at the entrance to the hospital after giving birth so all the newspapers can get pictures? And she certainly does not need a parade to show off her spawn."

Annabeth releases an annoyed sigh and replies, "This is why I didn't tell you of me joinin' any clubs. I know you find them all ridiculous and would rather get wasted on the roof than go to a council meetin' but I wanted to embrace the Blackwood side. Not mock it."

I shake my head at her, "The Blackwoods shun it too! Gus hates all the high society hoopla. His mother runs the dance rehearsal for Founders Day and they join the floats for it but that's it. The Blackwoods aren't the Anders, Hemmings, or the Samuels, they are the Blackwoods- Hollis's most humble family." I also want to yell that she usually provides the wine when we get wasted on the roof but clearly that activity is beneath her new status now.

"If you were Sawyer Hemming right now you wouldn't be ownin' this here winery. You'd be playing hostess to society get together's and spritzen yourself with Chanel no.5. You would have fallen in line with what Scarlett and Jackson wanted from you and you know it. None of this would seem so ridiculous to you. But Ryan allows you to mock all of the things you ran away from but those things are still very much desirable. I am going to be a foundin' family member and I want to set those same expectations for my children. That there are standards that come with the last name and even though grammy and pop-pop are simpletons doesn't mean the newest generation of Blackwood's have to be," she says with a snap.

I take a deep breath before replying, "So what you want is to be the next LulaBelle or Scarlett? That's what you're sayin'."

She shakes her head, "No, I want to be Annabeth Blackwood, the new standard for Hollis's higher society."

At that, I choke out a laugh. She wants to be even bigger and better than Scarlett Hemming? My response infuriates her and she stomps her Kate Spade kitten heels right out of the office.  I slump back into my chair and spin around to grab my purse off the wooden floor. I rifle through my small bag to find my cellphone and finally do what I have been trying to do for weeks.

Call Gus.