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Most people arrived on time. When Maddy McDonald pulled a high school stunt, showing up in the same dress as Sadie, the hurt that Sadie wasn’t quite able to hide, made me furious. Sadie had been so excited about her first dress from Madame Sainte Clare. If I had my way, it would also be her last.
But Sadie was grace under pressure, and we both pretended Maddy’s dress was an amusing coincidence. We treated another dubious guest with the same outward nonchalance: Ronnie Flynn, who arrived on Del Franklin’s arm. I was pleasantly surprised when no complaints about her reached me.
The dinner went well. I made the only speech and kept it short. Then I took Sadie to meet her new horse. When we got back, the dance floor was buzzing. Sadie and I caught a dance together before other guests demanded turns with each of us. The band was playing old rock and roll for their first set but after three or four songs, they stopped. People stood, looking at them wondering what was happening.
George took the stage while behind him the musicians grinned. He announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Carol and Clyde Cavanaugh, our national dance champions for the past three years.”
The couple bounced onto the dance floor from behind the stage. The band played “Run Around Sue” and everyone stood mesmerized by the energetic performance. When the song finished, Carol and Clyde looked around for new partners. Carol grinned and chose me.
Clyde looked to the other side of the dance floor where I’d last seen Sadie. As he headed in that direction, Maddy McDonald strutted out and took his hand. The band started “Rock Around The Clock,” and he couldn’t have escaped her clutches without a fuss.
At the end of that song, Clyde brought Maddy over to where I was saying thank you to Carol. He handed Maddy to me and I realized why she’d copied Sadie’s dress. This is exactly what she wanted: to be confused with my fiancée. Bitch.
I’d known she was poison from one of the few times, years ago, when she’d coerced me into escorting her to a corporate event. That was long before Michael. Still, this was a new low, even for her.
At the end of the first dance, she hung onto my arm with both hands. “One more dance!” she demanded with a flutter of her thick, unnatural eyelashes.
I smiled at her. She looked up at me, her eyes bright with hope.
“Not if you were the last woman on earth,” I said through clenched teeth. I pried her fingers off my arm and walked away before I said or did anything I might regret.
I’d had my fun on the dance floor. Now it was time for me to resume my role as host. I went outside and wandered the garden. People were spread all over the property. Some were sitting on comfortable garden furniture. Others were playing games on the lawn. I went down my mental list of who we’d invited and made it my mission to speak to as many guests as I could. This was one of the most important nights of my life. I wanted everyone to take away good memories of it.
It was over an hour before I found Sadie. She was doing the same thing, circulating, and making sure people were comfortable and enjoying themselves. The tight lines at the side of her eyes told me she was tired. Despite her fatigue, though, she was polite, attentive, and thoughtful with each and every guest. I was a lucky man.
At the end of the evening, as we handed guests their party favors, gift bags containing boxes of handmade chocolates, biscuits, and organic skin products, all made by artisans on Seguro Island, it occurred to me that I hadn’t seen the McDonalds leave. I assumed they’d left with an earlier wave of guests who were catching the eleven o’clock ferry back to the mainland. The next ferry didn’t sail until the following morning.
It was after one when the final guests left. Sadie leaned into me as we walked back to the house. She said quietly, “Everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves.”
We undressed and went to bed, both of us too tired for conversation. When I crawled in after her and took her in my arms, I asked, “Hey, sweet Sadie, are you happy?”
She was extremely quiet for a moment, but there was a smile in her voice when she said, “How could I be anything else? The party was a huge success. I’m just tired. Very tired.”
After months of winning her trust, I believed if anything was worrying her, she would have told me.
I should have listened harder. I should have heard what she didn’t say.
SECOND THOUGHTS
Simon
More than thirty guests returned for brunch the next morning and that meal stretched on until early afternoon, but afterward, everyone was finally on their way home, including Sadie’s mom Cynthia. My sister, Tracy, was taking her to the airport on her way back to the city.
A skeleton staff of caterers had stayed to prepare and serve the morning-after meal. They were packing up the last of the small marquees. A security team was making a final sweep of the property, so Sadie and I had retreated to the sunny garden patio.
Thank God that’s over with.
The weekend had gone without a hitch and finally Sadie and I had some peace and quiet. After a few minutes of contemplative silence, she rose and headed for the house.
“Where are you going?” I asked, admiring her tall, statuesque figure and the way her long brown hair curled down her back.
“Two seconds,” she called over her shoulder.
I could have guessed what her mission was. We’d all but sworn off alcohol while we looked after our guests. Now we could unwind.
A minute later the screen door sighed as it closed behind her. She walked toward me, her face more serious than I expected. Balanced on her hip was an ice bucket containing a bottle of vintage champagne. In her other hand she held two crystal flutes. Her green silk dress swirled around her delectable curves with every step she took. I’d never seen anyone or anything so beautiful. My cock stirred in agreement.
She set the ice bucket on the table, and I took the bottle and popped the cork which flew into the rose bushes on the far side of the patio. I filled the flutes and handed one to Sadie. Touching my glass to hers, I said, “To the best engagement party ever and to the future that now stretches out before us.”
