Preface

Rory Hayden grew up in a world of black cards, fast cars, Gucci, debutante balls, prep schools, dinner parties, fundraisers, backstabbing, hypocrisy, gossip and scandal.

She grew up in Hartford Society, which is by far the most pretentious area on the American East Coast. It was a place where your last name and bank account determined more than actual achievements.

Hayden, Gilmore, Huntzberger, McCrea, Rothschild, Vanderbilt and Worthington were the seven select families that led the ranks; they were the so-called Golden Circle. The set the tone in society and they were what other socialites aspired to be. Impossible, of course, since these families came from Old Money, purebred elitists, many having ties with European Royalty and the like.

These families followed Society Law to the letter and anything, or anyone that came between them and their perfect society image was done away with, the only exception being Rory Hayden and Lane-Kim Worthington.

In 1985, sixteen-year old Lorelai Gilmore, daughter of Richard and Emily was society's sweetheart. She was a debutante, kept her grades up, and was set to go off to an Ivy League and dazzle a respectable young man, reproduce once or twice, hire a nanny or three, join the DAR and spend the rest of her days fussing over fundraisers and charities.

She was dating Christopher Hayden, a respectable young man himself, destined to become a Supreme Court Judge, like his father.

However, that all did not go according to plan. A forgotten pill and a punctured condom led to one of the biggest scandals of the eighties.

Rumors swirled at the Club for the longest time, and society was outraged. What was the Golden Circle coming to, what with a teenage pregnancy? Was this what the others were to aspire?

However, the Gilmore-Hayden pregnancy rumor was not the only thing that kept tongues wagging. The Worthington's were known to be the quiet ones in the inner circle. They did not flaunt their wealth as much as the others did; they attended functions quietly and went about their day-to-day life. The great tragedy that befell upon them was not being able to conceive. Now, it was rumored that Abigail and Gregory Worthington were adopting a baby girl.

In that era and in those circles an adoption was unheard of. Society went ballistic, who knew where this girl came from, what her background? Whom were they letting into their community? And, what's more, who would follow?

During this time the Hayden's, Gilmore's and Worthington's reached out to each other and together they broke the news to the other four golden families. Surprisingly, the families responded well to the news and the rest of society could do nothing but accept it.

Lorelai and Christopher wed in a small, but lavish ceremony and moved into the Gilmore pool house after Lorelai Leigh Hayden – or Rory for short – was born. They stayed there for the first five years of their marriage, before moving into their own Hartford Mansion, which was later known as the Hayden House of Fun. Lorelai was homeschooled, skipped college and went straight to the DAR. Christopher finished high school and joined the Gilmore Insurance Company.

Lorelai and Christopher had a happy marriage. Even though they were young to start a family, they knew they were destined to be together so it was not as dramatic as society deemed. However, they never had more children. This, in part, was because of the demanding society schedule. Lorelai and Chris both wore a society mask and needed to attend certain functions. They never employed a nanny, strictly a baby sitter for the nights when they could not be home for their daughter. Lorelai thought it would be cruel to bring children into the world that they could not care for. Besides that, the couple felt like it had six children, instead of just one.

The Gilmore's, Hayden's and Worthington's became close friends during Lorelai's pregnancy and as fate would have it Lane-Kim arrived just a week after little Lorelai was born. The two were destined to be friends. The Vanderbilts, Huntzbergers, McCreas and Rothschilds all had young children and soon they had formed their own group.

Rory, Lane, Finn, Colin, Stephanie and Logan were inseparable. There was no competition, like in many society circles, since they all ranked the same. At the same time, money or status was a non-issue. They laughed at the crazy gossip, and offered a shoulder to cry on during hard times. They knew each other's deepest, darkest secrets and each other's most outrageous dreams.

When they were younger, the six of them moved more like one person. In their teens, it was often boys versus girls. In those days, they practically lived at the Hayden House of Fun, each occupying his or her own space in Rory's wing of the grand manor. Rory, especially, loved her childhood home. At her house, it was okay to eat ice cream on the couch, have a movie marathon or popcorn fight. When she needed her Mom for make-up advice, she was there. When she wanted to bake chocolate chip cookies for her Dad, he was there. It was different at her friend's houses, she knew.

Rory's life was simple back then. Her world revolved around school, the gang, vacations, reading and shopping. It all changed that day, the day her heart stopped and she spat her cherry coke out on her grandmother's crisp white tablecloth. The day she caught the look in his eyes and she knew that he was just as shocked as she was. She could not say no, it was something that had been agreed on. And, in all honesty, back then she thought it would be okay. No regrets, they had promised each other. Those two words - no regrets - burned in her ears.

Oh, how Rory longed to go back in time, back to when life was simple.