Chapter 21
Later that Evening
“Good evening,” Giovanni said. “We are guests of Annie De Silva.”
The man took out his tablet, ticked off their names, and let them pass through.
The courtyard was alive with song and laughter.
The atmosphere was as spectacular as any celebration could be.
A bar was set in each corner, waitstaff presented bites of mini dessert offerings, and servers glided through the crowd with trays of glasses filled with champagne.
It took almost fifteen minutes for everyone to be introduced to one another.
Around eleven-thirty, Annie suggested the couples from Santa’s crew join her crew and toast the New Year on her rooftop patio. Frankie hesitated for a moment until she heard a familiar sound began to play. “Doot … doot-doot-doot. Doot-doot-doot.” It was “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.
Frankie excused herself and joined the line on the dance floor featuring Amy, Rachael, and Nina.
After two years, Giovanni, Richard, and Peter had no option but to join in.
To be honest, they really enjoyed it. Richard watched the expression on his brother’s face.
He yelled over to him: “Get used to it!”
Annie, Myra, Kathryn, Maggie, Fergus, and Charles stood with their mouths open. Very little surprised them, but Santa’s crew blew them away with their flash mob choreography.
When the dance number was over, Annie asked the band to play a conga song. The two crews joined together and zigzagged their way to the top of Annie’s townhouse. They arrived just in time to hear the fireworks and see the glow.
It was truly a very Happy New Year!