Fountains bubbled in the background, the DJ was setting up his area, the dance floor was ready to go, and Candy had laid out a bunch of cookies from the shop. Jase had even added large arrangements to each table that matched the flowers on the trellises.
Before she left, it was awesome. Now? With the jungle-themed additions? It was freaking stunning.
She gasped and gripped the fabric of his tuxedo jacket sleeve. “You did all this?”
He squeezed her against his side. “Hope you like it.”
“I love it.” She gulped, refusing to cry and ruin her mascara.
“Ve are here,” Babushka announced herself.
She bustled into the room, Morty trailing behind her, and a group of elderly women following him. Babushka had decked herself out for the evening in a floral mumu. She had a corsage on her wrist and wore bright-red lipstick with sky-blue eyeshadow. Morty took her arm, strutting alongside her like a peacock.
“When do you suppose Harry’s turn starts?” Heather asked Jase.
He shook his head. “No idea, but I’m choosing to ignore her antics tonight.”
Er…that didn’t seem like the best idea.
Jase snatched the bundles of red roses he’d brought for the ladies, and passed out handfuls to Brek, Eli, and Dean to distribute.
The residents started to pour in. Heather gestured for the DJ to turn on the music. On cue, big band music played through the speakers.
“Vere is Eli?” Babushka pushed through the throng to them. She’d lost Morty somewhere along the way. “You have no date, yes?”
“That’s right.” Eli handed her a rose. “Tonight, I’m everyone’s date.”
She didn’t take the rose. “No, no. Vait. This is my friend Doris.” She waved over one of the women. Doris was pushing eighty. She was also pushing a walker. “Doris, this is Eli. He is here stag. Isn’t that vonderful?”
“Hello, Doris.” Eli handed her a rose.
“I do believe stags and cougars can get along very well.” Babushka pushed Eli toward Doris. “You vill dance vith her?”
Eli glared daggers at Jase. “Of course I will.” He focused on the other woman. “Doris? Let’s go find a spot on the dance floor.”
“Did she just…?” Jase side-eyed Heather.
“I believe your grandmother found Eli a date.” Heather giggled and buried her face against the side of Jase’s arm.
“You fuckin’ owe me, Dvornakov,” Eli said under his breath. Still, he extended his arm to Doris, grinning like he was about to give her a prom to remember.
“Very good.” Babushka clapped her hands.
Harry entered the rec room in a tuxedo, a bouquet of roses in his hands. “Nadzieja, my dear.”
Alarm bells started dinging in Heather’s head over “Mack the Knife” playing through the speakers.
“You are early,” Babushka admonished Harry. “Ve agreed you get the second half of the evening.” She reached for the bouquet.
He held it back. “These are for Carol, my first date.”
Oh geez. Heather held on to Jase’s arm, in case he decided to go rogue on one of Babushka’s dates.
“You both have two dates tonight?” Jase held up two fingers in illustration.
“Morty first. Then Harry after eight,” Babushka said as though it were the most normal thing in the world.
“Nadzieja had plans until eight, and I didn’t want to miss out on the fun.” Harry bounced on the balls of his feet. “But tomorrow she’s all mine.”
