Kate looked around wistfully at the tasteful decor with hundreds of fresh flowers in elaborate arrangements. The servers milled around with trays of delectable hors d’oeuvres. She wondered if she would ever be thrown a big engagement party and a fancy wedding with her Prince Charming.
Glasses were clinked as the elder Davenport climbed onto the first few steps of the staircase to address the guests.
“Thank you all for being here. We’d also like to thank Margaret, Kate, and Grant for hosting this wonderful party. As we bring our two families together, it is wonderful that our children can start their journey together amongst such loving friends.”
There was light applause, more toasts, and then the party continued.
“This is probably the most impressive engagement party I’ve ever been to,” Grant said. “Actually,” he amended, “it’s only the second one I’ve been to. The first was one we hosted in the barracks for the stripper one of my buddies had decided he was going to marry for BAH.”
“I’m assuming it didn’t work out?”
“Oh, they didn’t even make it to the courthouse. She was eight months pregnant and claimed he was the father even though they only knew each other for like two months. She said it was bloat and the baby was his. Spoiler… it wasn’t.” Kate laughed then snorted when Grant concluded, “She had the baby, and it was black. He was an Asian guy. We got a picture from him on a group text. She wanted him to put his name on the birth certificate, and he was like, ‘Nope.’”
Kate chuckled then said, “You won’t have any issues with women like that here. There’s a ton of single women from nice families—educated, good morals. You can find a good wife and settle down.”
He made a show of looking around. “Nope, I don’t see anyone I like here.”
“Just go talk to people,” she said, exasperated.
The house was a bit of a mess when the last guests trickled into the waiting cars. Kate decided they would finish cleaning in the morning.
“You can go home now, Grant,” she told him.
“Or you are more than welcome to stay here,” Kate’s grandmother offered.
Kate gritted her teeth.
Grant smiled broadly and said, “Thank you very much. I would like that.”
Kate had tossed and turned, knowing Grant was just down the hall. She fought a nasty battle with herself to stay in her own bed and not pay him a nighttime visit.
After finishing the cleaning that morning, they spent the day out in the sun by the pool. Maria brought them brunch and boozy lemonade to eat and drink by the water.
“This is nice,” Grant said.
Kate made a noncommittal noise. Her grandmother had gone inside to nap, and now she was alone with Grant.
“Ever think about your potential wedding?” he asked her.
“I’m never getting married,” she said as her phone buzzed, letting her know a text had come in. She didn’t recognize the number.
I need to talk to you
She wrote back.
Who is this?
When she received the reply, her stomach sank.
You know who it is
It was him. She was sure of it. Professor Alan Von Breuer, a scholar of Germanic poetry, and the man she had ruined her life over. She looked over at Grant. He was lying peacefully in the sun.
This is why you can’t be with him,she thought. The biggest mistake of her life was staring out at her from her phone screen.
Her message app made a loading sign, then a picture of a man’s erect member popped up on the screen.
“Oh my word,” Kate muttered.
