“A limo?” she asked as she gingerly sat down on the soft leather seat next to an already tipsy Allyn. “You go all out.”
“Oh yes!” Allyn giggled. “And by the way, va-va-va-VOOM. Charlotte Sanders, you are a smoke show. The red really was the best choice.”
“A smoke show?” Charlotte laughed. “Jesus, you’re drunk already.”
“It’s the only way to get through these sorts of events,” Allyn smirked. “Now you need to catch up. Drink some damn champagne.”
********
It was the type of event where people’s entrances were actually announced. The ball was held inside the South Carolina Society Hall, a historic building that had seen its share of cotillions, balls, and weddings over the last hundred years.
As Allyn and Charlotte got to the entranceway, a stout old man bent over to ask who they were being escorted by.
“Each other!” Allyn said. “I know, it’s scandalous.”
The man looked at her with a gruff expression, one that reminded Charlotte of Henry DeGraff.
“Tradition says you need to be escorted in by a gentleman,” he scowled.
“Well, being that my daddy just paid to have this place renovated, I think I can skip on tradition, just this once. So, please. Announce us. Allyn Legare Huger and Dr. Charlotte Sanders.”
The man rolled his eyes, but two minutes later he announced their arrival, causing the entire room to stare at them in astonishment.
“I really do love shocking these pretentious assholes,” Allyn said, as she took Charlotte by the arm and led her toward the bar. “My husband would be so pissed if he saw me do that. Which makes it that much more fun.”
Charlotte laughed, “Good Lord, you have changed.”
Allyn smiled, “That’s the best compliment I’ve received in a long time.”
The two women giggled like school girls as they asked the bartender for a drink.
“Let’s see,” Allyn thought out loud, tapping her manicured nails on the wooden bar. “Since we’re trying to be traditional, let’s have our first drink in honor of Charleston. Two shots of GrandMa, please.”
“Grandma?” Charlotte asked as the bartender began to pour. “What did I miss?”
“GrandMA,” Allyn enunciated. “Grand Marnier. It’s a Charleston thing. Leave the mint juleps and bourbon punch to the Yankee tourists.”
Well, Charlotte wasn’t one to be rude, and four shots of GrandMa later, she was feeling pretty damn good. There was a warmness floating inside her, and between Allyn’s contagious laugh and the music, Charlotte had almost completely forgotten the drama of the last 48 hours.
Almost. Until a familiar name was announced.
“And I’m proud to announce,” the stout man at the door suddenly bellowed. “Charleston’s very own has graced us with his presence. Declan Degraff! Mr. Degraff is… unaccompanied.” This last line was said with a hint of disdain.
Charlotte’s heart dropped into her empty stomach. The booze hit her all at once and she felt like vomiting. But then she remembered the dress she was wearing probably cost more than her car, so she refrained and attempted to gain some composure.
What the hell was he doing here?
“Allyn,” Charlotte said, grabbing her friend’s arm. “I need to get out of here.”
Allyn looked at her, puzzled, “Why? Are you okay? We can slow down on the shots, I’m sorry.”
Charlotte shook her head, “It’s not that. Declan is here.”
Allyn’s eyed widened, “He is? He didn’t RSVP. I never thought he’d come.”
“Well,” Charlotte said. “I just heard his name announced. I can’t see him. It’s too long a story, but… I have to go.”
Allyn shook her head, “No! Don’t let your douche ex make you leave this beautiful party! We’re having so much fun! We can ignore him!”
Charlotte smiled, “Oh, how I wish, Allyn. I saw him yesterday… Let’s just say, we’re in a really bad place. I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown just knowing he’s here. You don’t have to leave. Stay and enjoy this beautiful night. But I can’t- “
Before Charlotte could finish, she heard him say her name.
“Charlotte?”
********
He’d seen her as soon as he entered the ballroom. How could his eyes have not been drawn to the curvaceous woman in the red gown, laughing and looking more stunning than any woman that had ever graced these halls in all the countless parties and balls it had hosted in the many decades it had been in existence? Seeing her there was like a dream, something he was sure he must be hallucinating.
Until he saw her reaction when his name was announced. Then he’d known it was her, without a doubt. All the life drained from her expression almost immediately. It killed him.
He’d seen her start to scurry, to try to find a way out before he could find her. And if he was a better man, maybe he would have walked away.