cushions, and the beer cans that were stacked in the corner of the rooms.
Sam walked in just when Kim was waiting for the guests to arrive. She fluffed the cushions for about the twentieth time, when Sam said angrily, “Will you stop fussing? We are not having the Queen of England or the Sheikh of Dubai coming over; just your friends. Will you relax?”
Then Sam asked, “Did you figure out what you are wearing?” Just then there was a ring at the door. “There, that must be Cheryl or my friends.” Sam said and went to answer it.
“I didn’t manage to buy anything like I had initially thought, so I’ll just wear the first thing I can find in my closet.” Kim hurried into her room, trying not to panic.
From inside the room, Kim could hear Sam at the door greeting her friends. “Hey, you guys are on time! That’s a marked improvement from how you were.” Kim guessed them to be Neel, Becky and Anita, Sam’s friends. She then entered her room to find a beautiful white chiffon gown laid out on her bed with dull gold bangles, dangling earrings, and a long chain with a pixie pendant and with a note at the side table that read ‘For my Love’.
Of all the things Dave did to pamper Kim—and he did a lot of pampering—this had to top it all. She couldn’t help but smile ear-to-ear as she got dressed, and the smile did not fade as she went back into the living room where Bill, Cheryl and Beth had already arrived amongst Sam’s and Judith’s guests.
Dave came in behind Kim and whispered, “Perfect!” He then slid his arm around her waist and escorted her to Saurabh and Suzanne to introduce them to her.
The party was just as Kim had expected. It was easy, everyone mingled around, the hired help did just fine, and even though she would have loved to check on them, she reminded herself that she needed to be out with the guests.
“Really, what is the point? They are doing a fine job without you breathing down on them,” Beth teased.
The music, which Bill had taken charge of, was perfect for the evening. Everything was just perfect, but could have been so much more if Richard was there to be a part of this. The thought was like a piercing dagger that left Kim felt teary. No I am not going to this to myself. She thought and forced to make sense of what Dave and Sam were talking. It seemed like Sam had introduced some of her friends and Dave interrogated them with a series of questions.
“….so Jake, where is this gallery that you said you have leased?” Dave seemed unusually interested in Jake, a slim guy with a slight hunch, with a mop of ruffled brown hair. But he came across as confident in his faded jeans and buttoned down white shirt. That is why Dave was grilling him; he was too casual for Dave’s standards.
Sam looked at Dave and nodded, “Dave, please.” There was a plea in her voice.
Dave gave her a wink and walked to his other friends.
Kim raised an eyebrow at Sam and asked “Who is he?”
“He came to the mall to talk about exhibiting some art pieces. He is new to this place, so I invited him over. I was just being polite,” Sam justified. “Please tell Dave not to go all big brotherly on me again. It’s embarrassing, especially in front of strangers, and strangers whom I am not interested in.”
Then she hastily went away to join Jake and her other friends.
Just then, the music was turned off and the growling crowd was silenced by the clinking of a spoon to a glass. The two hired helps swept in and went around offering everyone a glass of champagne and Dave voice was heard loud and clear over the murmur.
“Now that I have everyone’s attention, I would Kim, the host of this lovely party, to come join me here.”
Kim was a little surprised and a lot embarrassed with whatever it was that Dave was planning to do. Dave knew she did not like to be put on the spot this way, then why was he doing this?
Kim could feel her face flush as she walked across the room and stood beside Dave
Sam walked in just when Kim was waiting for the guests to arrive. She fluffed the cushions for about the twentieth time, when Sam said angrily, “Will you stop fussing? We are not having the Queen of England or the Sheikh of Dubai coming over; just your friends. Will you relax?”
Then Sam asked, “Did you figure out what you are wearing?” Just then there was a ring at the door. “There, that must be Cheryl or my friends.” Sam said and went to answer it.
“I didn’t manage to buy anything like I had initially thought, so I’ll just wear the first thing I can find in my closet.” Kim hurried into her room, trying not to panic.
From inside the room, Kim could hear Sam at the door greeting her friends. “Hey, you guys are on time! That’s a marked improvement from how you were.” Kim guessed them to be Neel, Becky and Anita, Sam’s friends. She then entered her room to find a beautiful white chiffon gown laid out on her bed with dull gold bangles, dangling earrings, and a long chain with a pixie pendant and with a note at the side table that read ‘For my Love’.
Of all the things Dave did to pamper Kim—and he did a lot of pampering—this had to top it all. She couldn’t help but smile ear-to-ear as she got dressed, and the smile did not fade as she went back into the living room where Bill, Cheryl and Beth had already arrived amongst Sam’s and Judith’s guests.
Dave came in behind Kim and whispered, “Perfect!” He then slid his arm around her waist and escorted her to Saurabh and Suzanne to introduce them to her.
The party was just as Kim had expected. It was easy, everyone mingled around, the hired help did just fine, and even though she would have loved to check on them, she reminded herself that she needed to be out with the guests.
“Really, what is the point? They are doing a fine job without you breathing down on them,” Beth teased.
The music, which Bill had taken charge of, was perfect for the evening. Everything was just perfect, but could have been so much more if Richard was there to be a part of this. The thought was like a piercing dagger that left Kim felt teary. No I am not going to this to myself. She thought and forced to make sense of what Dave and Sam were talking. It seemed like Sam had introduced some of her friends and Dave interrogated them with a series of questions.
“….so Jake, where is this gallery that you said you have leased?” Dave seemed unusually interested in Jake, a slim guy with a slight hunch, with a mop of ruffled brown hair. But he came across as confident in his faded jeans and buttoned down white shirt. That is why Dave was grilling him; he was too casual for Dave’s standards.
Sam looked at Dave and nodded, “Dave, please.” There was a plea in her voice.
Dave gave her a wink and walked to his other friends.
Kim raised an eyebrow at Sam and asked “Who is he?”
“He came to the mall to talk about exhibiting some art pieces. He is new to this place, so I invited him over. I was just being polite,” Sam justified. “Please tell Dave not to go all big brotherly on me again. It’s embarrassing, especially in front of strangers, and strangers whom I am not interested in.”
Then she hastily went away to join Jake and her other friends.
Just then, the music was turned off and the growling crowd was silenced by the clinking of a spoon to a glass. The two hired helps swept in and went around offering everyone a glass of champagne and Dave voice was heard loud and clear over the murmur.
“Now that I have everyone’s attention, I would Kim, the host of this lovely party, to come join me here.”
Kim was a little surprised and a lot embarrassed with whatever it was that Dave was planning to do. Dave knew she did not like to be put on the spot this way, then why was he doing this?
Kim could feel her face flush as she walked across the room and stood beside Dave
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