New
York
I was born in Philadelphia to a family of WASPs. When I was quite young, my great aunt died and my mother inherited her house in Boston. We relocated and I grew up there, where I met Esteban. He was my cousin. We were very intimate with each other and scared the family that we would one day marry. We separated when he went off to college. I was sent to finishing school. I had a few wild friends and we would travel in the Northeast about twice a year, instead of going home for breaks. I turned out to be a tall, wiry, dark haired, woman. After I graduated, I moved to New York.
New
York
I had little respect for my family. I learned that money was to be spent and not harbored. I thought of them as misers, and so did Esteban. They gave me an allowance and paid my bills. Esteban took a job in the markets. We made lots of money. I never told my family. I just continued living off their wealth. Esteban and I made many friends, some of whom we had met at our respective colleges. We entertained them with dinners and seemingly wild parties where I would dance on the table. I loved dancing. I was very fashionable. Esteban's friends would hit on me. I was flattered but I saved myself for Mr. Right. I was eventually evicted from my apartment because of my loud parties. We had live entertainment!
One Thanksgiving Holiday, we visited Boston and made the family rounds. That evening at dinner, my father talked to us about our finances. He could no longer afford to pay my bills. He had heard rumors that I was unladylike and he wanted me to move back home and get married. I argued vehemently with him and went to bed angry.
My Mom came upstairs and talked to me. I cried. She told me her sister was ill and that I could stay there and care for her and prove I was capable of responsibility. I told her I would decide later. The next day I visited my Aunt. She was deathly ill. She held my hand and talked of all her hopes for me. She admonished me to never sleep with Esteban as that would ruin the family name and our children would be idiots. I agreed. She asked me to hug her. I leaned in close and gave her a strong embrace. She died in my arms.
Esteban returned to New York. I stayed for the funeral. At the reading of the will, she had given me her house in Ohio, on the condition that I would never have a relationship with her son. And, she gave me $30,000. Esteban inherited her estate in Boston, and the rest of her money.
We
returned to New York. I had lost my apartment and stayed at the
Plaza Hotel. Esteban and his friends would
visit me in the evenings. We would party and gamble in my room.
Eventually, I was allowed to rent the ballroom and party. We
set up gaming tables and brought in liquor. Alcohol was illegal, so
we ran the risk of being arrested as bootleggers. However, all our
parties were invitation only and the New York elite attended, some dignitaries
without their wives. I was allowed to be wild and crazy and happy.
I ended every party with a dance and a song on one of the tables. We
always had live entertainment and we were always loud.
One evening, Esteban came by early before a party and asked me to cancel. I refused. He and his broker friends were warning me that the stock market was not doing as well as projected. I argued that not all stocks would fail. It was literally impossible in my mind. I told Esteban to be sure I took no losses. He advised me to sell. I refused. A week later, the market crashed. The Hotel emptied out and suicides were all in the papers. I was shocked, like everyone else. I could no longer have my invitationals. New York was dark and desolate. Rich people fled to their respective homes and were not seen as much in public. After a month, I decided to take my inheritance and I moved to Ohio.
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