Patty's Fortune

Patty Fairfield spends her Labor Day at the breezy seaside estate “The Pebbles,” where the warm September sun feels like midsummer. Surrounded by her doting father, step‑mother Nan, and the lively chatter of relatives, she lounges in a pink silk sweater, half‑laughing at the endless parade of social invitations that have been piled onto her schedule. The house hums with the promise of garden teas, country‑club balls, and luncheons, each one a stage for the fashionable elite she’s expected to charm.

Yet beneath the polished veneer, Patty craves something more than another polite dance. When news arrives of Chick Channing—a striking newcomer from Mona’s western circle—her curiosity spikes, and she imagines a fresh spark amid the routine. As the first guests begin to arrive, Patty’s mind whirls between duty and the tempting lure of a new romance, setting the tone for a summer of witty banter, subtle intrigue, and the challenge of choosing her own path.