“Thank you, Patrice,” Mom said, placing a hand over her heart. “I’m just so glad it all came together. Now I can sit back and enjoy myself as everything looks well in hand.”
By now, everyone was seated at their tables, our two moms among the last as they retook their places. The lights dimmed and the wait staff came to each table to light the tapers as Cindy reappeared, alone. A few minutes later, a few sommeliers began circulating, bringing the wine to the tables. Soon the first course, a spiced pumpkin soup, was served, along with a basket of freshly baked rolls. Cindy opened her mouth, but a quelling look from Rusty’s mother had her shift her attention to eating and not complaining. Rusty reappeared, taking his seat with a glum expression on his face.
“Where were you?” Cindy asked him, her tone petulant.
“I had to get some air,” he said, refusing to look at her.
“You know, if you want me to be your fiancee, you’ll have to try harder than this,” she said archly, putting down her spoon.
“Fiancee? Shannon whispered to me furiously. I’ve never heard of her before now. Were they even dating?”
“I’m sorry, what?” Rusty asked her.
“It’s a bit early to be discussing marriage, dear,” Rusty’s mother said. “This is your first date.”
Rusty looked like he wanted to announce it was also the last, but he pressed his lips together firmly, then picked up his spoon and studiously began eating his soup.
“Yikes,” Shannon whispered.” You can cut the tension at this table with a knife.”
While the food was delicious, the pall Cindy cast over the table with her theatrics, and Mary’s portrayal of an utterly bored woman filled with ennui made the meal drag. I was never so happy in my life to have a meal end. The servers cleared the dishes and the band began to play. I jumped up, eager to escape the farce. I held my hand out gallantly. “Would you dance with me?” I asked Shannon.
He smiled happily, his eyes twinkling. “I would! Though I don’t know any waltzes or anything.”
“We’ll manage,” I said.
“Aren’t you going to ask me to dance? He asked that Shannon guy, and they’re two men!” I heard Cindy say. With a long-suffering sigh, Rusty got up and escorted his date out onto the dance floor behind us. Our parents followed. I didn’t notice if they all stayed for every dance; it was enough that we danced until we needed to stop to grab a drink of water. Shannon drank his down as quickly as he could without appearing rude, then asked Rusty where the men’s room was.
He left, and I watched as couples came and went from the dance floor. By the third song, I began wondering if he’d gotten turned around somewhere. It was the appearance at our table of a harried-looking matron that made my guts roil with fear. She leaned in between Mom and Dad, hissing, “We’ve got a problem. A major one. Someone’s not only dumped out the thank you gifts Father Christmas was to hand out to the largest donors during the speech, but they’ve taken the suit along with the empty sack.”
“What?” Mom asked, shock writ large across her face. “Why would someone do that?”
No. He wouldn’t, would he?
“Roy,” Henry whispered, having the same thought. I jumped up, running towards the bathroom, pushing my way across the dance floor without concern for those in my way, so desperate was I to reach Shannon’s last known location by going the shortest distance. I took the stairs downstairs two at a time, Henry and Rusty hot on my heels.
“Boys, wait up!” I heard Dad call after us. I didn’t spare a backward glance as I kept going at breakneck speed. Flinging open the men’s room door, I was greeted by the sight of a very startled man that I didn’t know washing his hands.
“Shannon?” I called out, leaning down to see if any of the stalls were occupied. The man gave me a scandalous look.
“Did you see anyone else in here?” Rusty asked him.
“Just an old fashioned looking Santa lugging out his gifts. You’d have thought they would have given him a changing room and kept the gifts there, too.”
“How long ago was that?” I demanded.
“He was leaving as I went in, so about ten minutes or so ago?”
I spun around to go take a look outside, almost knocking Rusty’s father down in the process. “Sorry, sir.”
“Anything?” he asked, concern lacing his words.
Rusty told him what the man had said. I made it to the front door and dashed outside. No Father Christmas in sight. The paps were all gone as well, so there was no one to ask.
I sank onto the ground, no doubt lingering in my mind now. Roy had made good on his word. He’d shown us all up alright, infiltrating one of the most significant events of the year under all of our noses, and made off with Shannon.
I shook with fury. He was going to pay for this. I opened my mind, pouring out my feelings of helplessness, my grief, my rage into the link. I felt Arrakus rouse, a feeling of purpose sweeping over him, spilling into me.
“I found a rag in the trash in there. It smells sweet, which is what drew my attention to it. Made my head swim.” Henry’s father, my mind dimly registered.
