Tom continued, “Brom’s brother … the one who’s into cars? … lent it to me. He came by the house in Greenwich early this morning, and apologized he hadn’t made it back in time for mom’s funeral service.  Then he tossed me this key fob and said something about how taking a car like this for a drive down here could help get my mind off things for a bit.”

“Aww, that was really nice of Matthew!” Bette exclaimed softly.

Tom nodded. “I know.  Let me tell you … this beast, as you say, drives like a dream.  The irresistible thrill of driving it certainly kept my heart pumping all the way here, and kept me alert, thank goodness.  I have no idea how I avoided getting a ticket at any point along the turnpike or even in I-95, at the speeds I’d reached at some points.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get to share the thrill with anyone else because I drove by myself down here.  Everyone else left Manhattan earlier than scheduled this morning.  I think Brom was anxious to get here…”

“Yeah, Tom. Sorry again that we had to leave ahead of schedule.  But I’m glad you enjoyed your drive down here, anyway,” Jules cut in, squeezing their handsome friend’s beefy shoulders in a friendly manner.

As he nodded, Jules turned to look at Bette sheepishly, “I was about to go get my car when I saw you slip out of the back door of the ladies room just as I was entering the restroom. Then as I hurried out, I saw this shiny blue Lambo slinking up the gravel road, wending its way here and remembered Brom had said Matthew had lent Tom a car like this for the weekend.  So I thought it would be perfect to follow you wherever you went since you wouldn’t recognize this car…”

Tom smiled at Bette, who was shaking her head again. “Yeah, Jules ran like the wind towards me, and blurted out that you needed help with something. Diane had texted me, too, to keep an eye out for you, saying that you’d complained of a headache.  Jules told me neither one of them believed you.”

They looked around them. It was nearly quarter to eight and the parking lot closest to the polo field had been packed with long lines of luxury cars, limousines and a sprinkling of shiny exotic cars.  The overflow lot where Bette had parked the SUV Spencer had lent her was quickly filling up also.