The Mill is already crowded by the time we arrive. My mother wanted it that way, she always believes a woman should make an entrance. Sage agreed to come fifteen minutes late, but no later. It was a compromise.
“Sage, darling, you look great,” she says and Sage’s shoulders relax.
“Thank you.”
“Casey, why aren’t you wearing the tuxedo I brought for you?”
“Because I thought that was for the wedding.”
“No, darling. But that’s okay, you look nice, too.”
After several guests greet us, Billy and Dean come say hello. Billy is holding a glass of wine and I grin. “Should I take a step back or can you handle your liquor tonight?”
“Shit, man. I’m still so freaking sorry about that.”
“Don’t mention it,” I say. “Spilling that glass of wine was the best thing that happened to me. I got to speak to Sage that night.”
Billy grins. “You know, you’re right. Well, then I’ll just…” He leans his wine toward my shirt and Sage shakes her head.
“Don’t even joke about it,” she says but smiles broadly at Billy. “How have you been?”
“Good. Dean and I have been keeping busy with the new business.”
“New business?” I ask.
“Yes,” says Dean. I haven’t seen him since high school, but he looks the same. Same hairstyle, same goatee. “We’ll tell you about it when you’ve got some time.”
I nod and take a sip of the beer Dean hands me.
Sage keeps standing on her toes and looking over our shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I don’t see Frankie. She wouldn’t be late for our party. Have any of you seen her?”
Billy shakes his head and Dean rolls his eyes. “She isn’t exactly the most reliable person,” says Dean.
“I disagree,” says Sage. “She’s never let me down.”
“Just give her some time…”
Sage narrows her eyes at Dean. “You know, neither of you have mentioned why you stopped talking.”
“It isn’t worth mentioning.”
“Mmm… she said something very similar.” Then Sage bounces on her toes. “There’s Jane. Let me see if she’s seen her. Jane!”
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” I say and walk over with Sage to speak to Jane.
“No, she isn’t here,” explains Jane. “She called but said not to tell you because she doesn’t want to ruin your day.”
“What happened?”
Jane shakes her head. “She’s okay but stole some things from the lab over in Bowmanville.”
“I can’t believe Frankie would steal equipment,” says Sage. “There’s got to be some mistake.”
“There’s no mistake. She didn’t steal the equipment, she stole the test subjects. She set free all the rabbits from their cages last night, but security caught her license plate on camera. I’m just going to bail her out and then I’ll be right back.”
