Sarah smiled at Lucy gratefully and followed her across the room. She really did like Lucy, despite her audacious tendencies when it came to Emory.
After preliminary introductions were made and a few niceties exchanged, the redhead in the group turned to Sarah. While she was overly pleasant, confusion was written all over her face. “So are you and Emory an item?”
Lucy laughed out loud. “Geez, Mia, you know how to get to the point.”
“I’m sorry, was that bad? Sometimes I forget myself. It’s just that Emory hasn’t mentioned you. At all.”
“But we haven’t seen Emory much lately,” the woman named Barrett, chimed in. “That’s probably why.”
Sarah nodded politely and addressed Mia. “We’ve been seeing each other for a couple of months now. I’ve been anxious to meet you all.” That wasn’t exactly true. Emory hadn’t talked too much about her friends, a detail Sarah now found interesting.
Mia sipped from her glass and regarded her. “You have the slightest accent, am I wrong?”
A waiter whisked past with a tray full of white wine glasses. An actual waiter? Lucy snagged two and handed a glass to Sarah. “You may need it,” she whispered.
She accepted the drink and turned to Mia. “No, you’re not wrong. English is my second language, and sometimes, especially when I’m nervous, my accent peeks through.”
“Where are you from originally?” the blonde, Christi Ann, asked. She seemed to be examining Sarah as if she were a bug under a microscope. Sarah found this somewhat unnerving and chose instead to focus on Barrett and the warmth of her smile. Within the small group, she definitely seemed the most easygoing. “I spent the first part of my childhood in Mexico, and then my family immigrated to California.”
“How wonderful,” Christi Ann answered a little too enthusiastically. “I love this dress. Is it a de la Renta?”
Sarah glanced down at her outfit. “No. I wish it were.”
“Well, it’s very flattering. Who designed it?” Mia lifted the fabric delicately.
“Uh, I don’t know. I saw it at a department store in the mall.”
“Oh, fabulous,” Mia said brightly and exchanged glances with Christi Ann. Sarah felt her confidence flutter beneath her.
Barrett rolled her eyes at the exchange and that was something. Sarah was pretty sure she wasn’t the type to get caught up in fashion. She wore dark jeans, boots, and a sleek black shirt. Sarah could tell Barrett was a lesbian, but she wasn’t as sure about Mia or Christi Ann. She would ask Emory later. Emory, who was taking an awfully long time getting dressed. She glanced wistfully to the second level.
Upstairs, Emory surveyed her reflection in the mirror but wasn’t really looking. She was annoyed. Annoyed the night with Sarah had been so abruptly derailed, annoyed that Lucy hadn’t included Sarah in the party plans, and annoyed that she now had to go play nice with a house full of people she hadn’t invited over. Walter pulled her from her mental rant, whining softly from atop her bed. When she’d first entered the room, he’d greeted her with the enthusiasm usually reserved for a prisoner returning from war. Emory knelt next to him and scratched his fur, happy to be in his company after her weeklong absence. Lucy had dressed him in a smart red bow tie that he seemed to completely enjoy. “You look so handsome, buddy.” He licked her face in agreement. Emory was grateful for Walter’s recent presence in her life and kissed his soft nose now to tell him so. “Here goes nothing,” she whispered to him. “Wish me luck.”
As Emory descended the stairs, the room broke into spontaneous applause, and Sarah happily joined in. Sarah looked on with pride, taking in Emory’s graceful transformation into guest of honor. She’d swept her hair up into a simple twist and wore a royal blue cocktail dress that hugged her just so. Now that might be a de la Renta, she thought to herself, still not really knowing.
“She looks gorgeous,” Mia said to their small group, “but then she always does.”
Sarah turned back to Lucy, intent on asking what she could do to help with the party, but discovered she was gone. She scanned the room and located her easily at the bottom of the stairs standing next to Emory. With a spoon to her glass, Lucy dinged until she had the full attention of everyone in the room.
“I hope everyone has a glass,” she stated, once a hush fell over the party, “because I plan to offer a toast to this beautiful woman next to me. You know her as Emory Owen. I know her as my savvy business partner and best friend. Thirty-three years ago, this firecracker entered the world, and it has never been the same since. She’s amazing, smart, stubborn, funny, and confident. Unfortunately, in addition to all of those things, she’s now old as well.” The room erupted into laughter, and Emory turned to Lucy, looking appropriately offended. Finally, Lucy lifted her glass. “A toast to you, my friend, for your energy, strength, and the many ways you continue to inspire us all. We love you. Cheers.” They clinked glasses as Sarah watched, smiling.
Christi Ann shook her head as she looked on. “Tell me again why those two broke up?” Sarah felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Barrett nudge Christi Ann subtly. “Sorry,” Christi Ann said to Sarah. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Just a habit I need to break. They’re ancient history, trust me.”
“I do,” Sarah said as politely as she could manage. “If you’ll excuse me, I should go find Emory.” But it had been hard to hear. She struggled with the fact that Emory had once been with someone like Lucy. Lucy of the sleek, straight brown hair. Lucy of the sexy legs that went on for days. Lucy of the rich and successful. It was a lot to compete with. Hell, she knew who she’d pick between the two of them. No contest.
With a shake of her head, she pushed the intrusive thoughts from her mind and focused on the task at hand. Unfortunately, finding Emory proved more difficult than she’d anticipated. There was an expansive receiving line of people blocking her path, all waiting to wish Emory a happy birthday. Rather than interrupt, she decided to wait it out. Taking a seat in one of the accent chairs across from the sectional, she made small talk with Emory’s attorney and his wife while she waited.
When she found herself alone again just a short time later, Sarah couldn’t help but notice how unaware these guests seemed to be about the mess they were making of Emory’s home. Small appetizer plates had been discarded in a pile on the coffee table. One had overturned and dripped some sort of sauce onto the hardwood floor. Knowing Emory and her stringently ordered house, she decided to help matters rather than waiting for the caterers to get around to it. She gingerly stacked the small plates and carried them into the kitchen along with an empty champagne flute. At least she could make herself useful and help Lucy with the gathering she’d known nothing about.
Emory took in the state of things. Thirty minutes had passed since the toast, and she realized she was going to have to take drastic measures to get out of the endless receiving line. Who even did receiving lines anymore? Spotting Trevor next in line to speak with her, she seized the opportunity and whispered in his ear as they hugged. “You have to get me out of this thing.”
He didn’t miss a beat. “Ms. Owen, you’re needed in the kitchen,” he said in an overly loud voice. “And right away. Catering emergency.” Emory feigned surprise and took Trevor’s offered arm as he whisked her away. She smiled and said hello to her guests as she passed, all the while scanning the room for her wayward date. “I saw her head this way,” Trevor whispered as he steered them behind the bar and into the kitchen.
Sure enough, there she was, dutifully stacking dishes. “What are you doing hiding out in here?” Emory said, though there was a smile on her face. She took Sarah’s hand. “We can do those later, or someone can. Maybe Lucy. She owes me for this. Have you eaten?”