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I sighed and stood up. “You’re right, let’s go back out there and dance with those two good-looking men.”
Violet and I walked out of the restroom and joined back up with Zayden and Emilio. I was enjoying myself in Emilio’s company and we danced nonstop for over an hour, until an announcement came over that dinner was being served. None of the tables were allocated, so people were free to sit wherever they wanted. Each table sat eight people, so me, Emilio, Violet, and Zayden chose to sit down at an empty table. An older man and his wife came and sat down beside me.
“Do you mind if we sit here? I have two more friends coming,” the man asked.
“Of course not, go right ahead,” I smiled. I saw the man wave to someone across the room and then Nathan and Sonja walked over to the table.
“Nathan, I got you a seat. Come sit, catch up with Frances and I,” the man called.
Nathan looked at the man, then at me. He sat down in the chair right opposite me. “Thank you, Nigel. I thought we were going to have to sit out in the kitchen.”
I thought I heard Violet mumble, ‘where you belong’ but decided to let it go, not wanting to cause a scene.
“Hi, I’m Zayden. This is Violet, Emilio, and Rose,” introduced Zayden as he reached over to shake Nathan and Nigel’s hands.
“I’m Nigel, this is my wife Frances, my godson Nathan and sorry miss, what was your name?” Nigel asked, looking at Sonja.
She frowned, obviously not liking that she had been forgotten. “Sonja,” she remarked dryly.
“Sonja, of course,” Nigel smiled and he glanced at me. “The old minds not what it used to be.”
I smiled. “I’m sure you can still remember the important stuff.”
Sonja shot me a dark look and leaned closer to Nathan in what I guessed was an attempt to make me jealous. “Nathan, darling, would you please get me a glass of champagne? I’m so thirsty.”
“Sure. Would anyone else like a drink?” Nathan asked as he stood up. Everyone at the table nodded.
“I’ll come with you,” offered Violet as she jumped to her feet. “You won’t be able to carry all those back by yourself.”
Violet and Nathan walked off towards the bar set up in the corner of the room. I knew that he was going to cop an ear-full as soon as the two of them were out of hearing range.
When Violet and Nathan walked back to the table carrying a tray of drinks both of them had deep frowns on their face’s and I had no doubt that my sister had just had a go at Nathan, most likely for Sonja’s petty little discussion in the bathroom.
“Nathan, would you believe, Rose and I were just talking and I dated her mother back in high school. Small world, isn’t it?” Nigel asked smiling.
Nathan smiled back, but it seemed forced. “Very small world.”
“Of course, that was before I met my Frannie. Happiest day of my life the day I got married.” Nigel turned and winked at me. “I can’t describe the feeling of seeing your loved one walking down the aisle towards you, just magic.” He glanced at Nathan and raised an eyebrow slightly. “Nathan here is the closest thing I have to a son. We have four daughters. I don’t think I’ll live long enough to see him happily married.”
“Marriage isn’t for everyone, Nigel,” Nathan shrugged. “Half of all marriages end in divorce.”
“And the other half doesn’t. I think that a fifty percent chance is worth giving it a go,” I challenged, looking Nathan right in the eye.
“Marriage is a costly waste of time. A certificate does not make a relationship anymore special,” Sonja remarked dryly, clearly sharing Nathan’s point of view.
“Hopeless romantics these two, hey?” Nigel laughed, shaking his head at Nathan and Sonja. “They will see one day.”
“Maybe some people just don’t deserve that kind of happiness,” Violet declared, shooting a dark look at Nathan across the table.
“Geez, they’re harsh words, Violet,” Zayden laughed, breaking the tension he and Emilio didn’t know was there. “I love how you’re not afraid to say what’s on your mind.”
Violet lifted her glass and clinked it with Zayden’s. “Here’s to saying what’s on your mind. I wish everyone was more like me!”
The conversation during the rest of dinner was pleasant. Nathan didn’t say much and I tried to forget he was even there. It was hard though, because Nathan wouldn’t stop glancing at me. Sonja noticed Nathan as well and shot me dark looks from across the table. When Emilio put his hand out and took mine in his, I watched as a deep frown creased Nathan’s forehead. If looks could kill.
Dinner ended and the music started playing again. Violet and Zayden got up to dance and Sonja excused herself to go and talk to some people she knew from her equestrian club.
“Rose, I’ve just spotted some mates of mine from work. Will you be right if I go and have a quick word with them?” Emilio asked.
