"Me too,” she said.
"You look so incredibly beautiful.So much like your mother, my love."
"I'm sorry Dad couldn't be here."
"We’ll get him over here when he’s up and around.I’ve made it my sole mission.”
"He really wanted to come, but it would have been too much.Ever since he fell, his mobility hasn’t been the same.The plane ride here and back would have been tough."
"I'm sure he's raising a glass in my honor as we speak."
Claire winked."I'm sure he started long before we did."
"Now, I promised Nicole the first dance, butyoupromise me you won't run off before we've had a chance to take a spin.Molly too."He stood and lightly tapped his date on the shoulder.
"I promise," Claire said.
"Not every penguin mates for life.Plenty of single tuxedos about.You need to get out there," he urged, taking Nicole by the hand and disappearing into the crowd.
Claire looked across the table at Molly, knee deep in a serious conversation with the couple on her left, which meant Claire would have to visit the ladies’ room solo.She excused herself from the table and she made a beeline for the closest facilities, frowning when she hit a lengthy line.Not wanting to wait, she made her way back to the main entry.
After a brief chat with a security guard, she took the stairs down to the lower level and followed a quiet hall to a deserted restroom.She examined her face, touched up her lipstick, and removed her shoes for a moment.She strolled around the lounge area, giving her feet a much-needed break.Avi needs to break into the formal footwear game.There’s gotta be a way to combine actual comfort and elegance.I’m gonna pitch it to Isaac first thing Monday.With regret, she stepped back into her heels.A spin with Uncle Ham will have to be a quick one.
The merriment of the event happening above her echoed throughout the lower level.On her way to rejoin the festivities, she spied a smaller event space off the abandoned corridor.Curious, Claire wandered inside.The walls were lined with stunning pieces of modern artwork and in the center of the room sat a sleek, black Baby Grand.Claire could not resist the urge and tapped out a few notes on the exquisite instrument.Running her hand lightly across the keys, she found middle C and played it softly.The note echoed through the vacant space.Claire grinned, remembering the night at the piano bar in Negril.She sat down on the bench and played the only song she knew—a weak rendition of “Itsy, Bitsy Spider”.
"Are you taking requests?"
Claire stopped playing, startled by the sound of a man's voice.
"Please, don't stop."A shadowy form in the doorway moved slowly in her direction.Not wanting to show signs of alarm, Claire stood and calmly collected her handbag with a nonchalant air.
"Looks like I've been caught.I do apologize."She spied a side exit and turned to make her way back to the comfort and safety of the crowd upstairs.
"You’re no Nancy Chen, but it’s a start."
Claire's heartbeat revved as the man's frame and face came into focus.Plain Ol’ Jay!
"It's you,” she said with a mix of shock and relief.
"I thought that was you.I saw you earlier.Upstairs, I mean," Jay said.
"What are you doing here?"she asked, unable to hide the shock in her voice.
"The same thing you are.Looking for a few moments of peace and quiet."
"No, I don't mean down here.Well, what I mean is, are you a friend of Hamish's?"
"Not a friend per se, but we travel in similar business circles."
"What a coincidence.I had no idea."She tried to remain guarded, battling against his hypnotic smile.
He gave the piano a nod."I didn't know you played."
"I don't.”She laughed.“You were privy to my one and only tune.Do you play?"
He shook his head.“Not a note."
The dimness of the room couldn’t conceal the sparkle in his honest brown eyes.Or how amazing he looked in his tux.She expected the night to hold some degree of surprise, but she never expected it to be in the form of her Jamaican bar mate.She fought the urge to pop her knuckles, struggling to find something interesting to say.
