Chapter 13: Table One

The Lakeside Ballroom at Willow Creek had two hundred chairs and a stage with a podium.

I walked in at seven fifteen in the green dress.

Marcy was on my left and Rhonda was on my right.

Garson stood at the double doors, in a dark suit, with his hands at his sides.

He looked at me once and said nothing.

"The podium," I said. "Does the screen behind it take a drive?"

"Yes. The plug is on the right side, under the shelf."

"Thank you."

"The technician is in the booth at the back," he said. "He takes his orders from me tonight."

That was all he said, and it was enough.

Rhonda went to a table by the wall, and Marcy went with her.

I went to table one.

The place card read Mrs. Cory Kester.

I sat down and put my purse in my lap, and my hand rested on my stomach.

The woman beside me wore a lot of pearls.

She was a partner's wife, and she had been at my wedding.

"Beth," she said, and her smile was careful. "We didn't think you'd come."

"I wouldn't miss it."

"There's been talk."

"I know. Whitney started it."

The pearls went still.

Her husband leaned across her. "We shouldn't get into that tonight."

"Then don't," I said. "Just listen later."

He sat back.

Across the room, Cory came through the door with the managing partner of Harbor Wealth.

He saw me.

He stopped walking, and the managing partner went on three steps without him.

His eyes went to the dress, then to my stomach, then to my face.

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