Chapter 40
Lauren stepped into the dining room and selected a plate from the end of the long buffet table.
A chef in a tall white hat staffed a carving station positioned in the far corner of the room.
Two people waited in line for him to layer thin slivers of prime rib onto small French rolls and place them on their plates.
Lauren moved along the table, adding Caprese skewers, au gratin potato puffs, bacon-wrapped asparagus, and tiny triangles of spanakopita to her plate.
She left room for one of the miniature French dip sandwiches.
She picked up cutlery and a linen napkin at the end of the table and took her place in line for the carving station.
The couple in front of her was engaged in good-natured debate. “This is an incredible spread,” the woman said. “I don’t think there’s any risk of Mandy and Eric running out of food.”
“You know what they say,” her husband replied. “A bird in the hand and all that.” He glanced back at Lauren and smiled. “What do you think, young lady? Your plate looks almost as full as ours. Are you planning to come back for dessert later, or go for it now?”
Lauren laughed. “You read my mind. I was just considering that very question.”
The woman snapped her fingers. “I’ve had a brilliant idea.” She handed her plate to her husband. “I’ll go through the dessert buffet and load up a plate with a little of everything. We’ll take it outside and share.” She turned to Lauren. “All three of us, unless you’re here with someone.”
Lauren shook her head. “The only person I know here is my business partner, and she hasn’t arrived yet. So I’m on my own.”
“Not anymore,” the woman said warmly. “You’re with us now. We’ll find a spot where the three of us can sit together.” She stepped out of the carving line. “Anything in particular you’d like me to grab from the dessert buffet?” she asked Lauren.
“Surprise me,” Lauren said. “I have a serious sweet tooth.”
“Do you like chocolate?” the woman asked.
“Especially chocolate,” Lauren replied.
The woman nodded and headed for the sideboard. By the time she returned, carefully balancing a dessert plate piled high, the chef had assembled Lauren’s sandwich and placed it on her plate.
The three new friends carried their food outside and found seats at a round table under a palm tree.
Lauren started the conversation by asking how they knew the hosts.
The husband turned out to be Eric’s uncle, and recounted Eric’s childhood mastery of Lincoln Logs with affection.
As they ate, the conversation flowed to book recommendations, favorite television shows, and things they were looking forward to in the coming year.
The couple was expecting their first grandchild in the spring and spoke with joy about their plans to travel to Oregon for the birth, and to visit at least once a month afterward.
As the conversation continued, Lauren felt herself unwind, and realized that she was having a great time.
When they finished their food, the wife slid the dessert plate toward the center of the table.
Lauren selected a tiny chocolate éclair, and was taking her first bite, when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
She turned to see Kathy behind her. “Hi!” Lauren said, covering her mouth as she chewed.
“Hi, yourself,” Kathy replied. “I’ve been looking for you for the last fifteen minutes. I almost thought you hadn’t come.”
Lauren swallowed the last bite and shook her head. “I got here early,” she said. “And I met these lovely people.” She introduced the couple to Kathy.
“We’ve been having such a good time talking,” she glanced at their empty plates, “and eating, that I didn’t notice how crowded it’s gotten.”
“Mandy told me two hundred twenty people RSVP’d,” Kathy said.
“Wow,” the woman said. “That’s quite a party.”
Kathy nodded. “I wanted to make sure you were all right,” she said to Lauren. “Our babysitter was an hour late, so we didn’t arrive when we expected to. I was worried you might be sitting here all by your lonesome.”
Lauren gestured toward the couple. “They took me in at the buffet line.”
“And we’ve been fast friends ever since,” the husband added.
Kathy gave Lauren an approving glance. “I’m so glad to hear it.”
“This spread is fabulous,” Lauren said. “Are you going to eat?”
Kathy nodded. “Jake has our plates and is hunting for a place to sit somewhere over there.” She pointed toward a cluster of tables near the pool house.
“Then you’d better go find him,” Lauren said. “And don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
“Will do,” Kathy said. Then she added with a grin, “But don’t forget. I want to introduce you to Mike Miller tonight.”
Lauren nodded with mild resignation. “It’s only a little after ten. You’ve got plenty of time. Now go find Jake and enjoy your dinner.”
Mike drove around the block twice before finally finding a parking spot along the curb two streets away. As he walked toward his friend’s house, he pulled up the nanny cam app on his phone.
Buddy was still on the sofa where Mike had left him, but he wasn’t asleep as Mike had hoped. The pup was frozen in a half-seated position, chest lifted, head tilted sharply to one side, and ears pricked. He was alert, not relaxed.
Mike slowed his pace. For a moment, he considered turning around and driving home. Eric’s house was only three doors away now. And Buddy wasn’t barking or howling. He was just watching, tense and uneasy.
You’ve come this far, Mike told himself. He didn’t want to disappoint his friend by being a no-show. Mike slipped the phone back into his pocket and picked up his pace.
He had been inside Eric and Samantha’s house many times before and had always admired the spectacular job Eric had done designing it, and the stunning way Mandy had decorated it.
But he had never seen it like this. Every light was on.
Music floated through the rooms. Laughter and conversation filled the air as guests drifted from one space to another.
The house seemed built for this moment. It was a home that loved to throw a party.
Mike navigated through the crowd and strolled into the backyard, where the outdoor kitchen and buffet tables had been arranged.
He served himself a few things from the spread, then retreated to a quiet spot.
A low retaining wall near the edge of the patio offered a perfect vantage point where he could eat and observe the party without being swallowed by it.
He had just popped a stuffed mushroom into his mouth when Eric rounded the corner and nearly collided with him.
“You came!” Eric said.
Mike transferred his plate to his left hand and shook Eric’s with his right. “I did,” Mike said with a grin. “This is a fantastic party. Thanks for keeping me on the guest list.”
Eric chuckled. “I knew we’d wear you down one of these days.”
Mike nodded toward the crowd. “What are you doing over here?”
Eric shrugged. “These big parties are more Mandy’s thing than mine. Sometimes I need to step away and breathe for a minute.”
“I get that,” Mike said.
They stood silently together while Mike finished eating and Eric enjoyed the brief calm. Their peaceful pause ended when Mandy appeared around the corner. “There you are,” she said to her husband. Then she stopped when she saw Mike. “Well, as I live and breathe,” she laughed. “You actually came.”
Mike set his plate on the wall again and leaned in as they exchanged quick cheek kisses.
“I hate to interrupt the two of you,” she said, “but we’ve got a situation with the bartender, and I need to steal Eric away.”
“Of course,” Mike said.
Eric gave Mike’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll call you this week. We need to schedule lunch and catch up.”
“Sounds good.”
Mandy took Eric’s hand and began pulling him toward the house. Then she glanced over her shoulder at Mike. “Don’t go anywhere,” she called. “I’ll be back to get you. It’s time you met Lauren Simpson.”
Mike watched them disappear into the crowd. He didn’t respond. Instead, he pulled out his phone and opened the nanny cam app again.
Buddy was no longer on the sofa. Now he sat in the middle of the family room floor, his body rigid.
His snout pointed toward the ceiling as he cried and howled.
A throw pillow from the couch lay shredded beside him, its stuffing scattered across the floor like snow.
In the background, Mike heard the sharp pop of fireworks.
“Damn it.” He vaulted over the wall, hurried along the side path, and headed for the street. Meeting Lauren Simpson would have to wait. Some idiot had set off fireworks early, and Buddy was clearly suffering. Mike needed to get home.