himself. Don’t worry. At the rate he’s going, he’ll be passed out before dinner is served. I’ll just prop him up on a chair in the lobby, and you won’t even know he’s here. We can drape coats over him or something.”
Ava laughed. “Sounds like a plan. Hey, we could put out a tip basket and give the coat room some competition.”
Holly joined in the laughter as they took a seat at the bridal table. She was grateful for a chance to give her feet a rest. Between walking around all day in high-heels and the nightmarish dance escapade with Jared, sitting felt like heaven. She peeked over to the table across the room. He was back.
“Hey, Ava,” she started, “do you know—”
“Oh, Hol,” her sister interrupted. “Have you ever met Cynthia?”
A beautiful older woman with perfectly styled platinum hair, wearing a gorgeous blue silk gown, approached their table.
“From the gallery?” Holly asked, her aching feet protesting as she rose.
Cynthia nodded. “You must be one of Ava’s sisters. She’s talked so much about you both, I feel like I already know you. Now let me guess—gorgeous blonde hair, stunning blue eyes. You must be Holly?”
“Yes, that’s right. And thank you.”
“Well, it’s a pleasure to finally meet.”
“And you as well,” she replied, taking the hand Cynthia held out to her.
Ava stood up, too. “One of these days I need to make a trip back to Wolfenson to visit. I haven’t been there in so long. I really miss it.”
“It hasn’t been the same without you,” Cynthia told her, letting some sadness through in her voice. “From what I hear, you’re doing quite well for yourself out in California. It sounds like the Silver Leaf Gallery is the talk of the town.”
“I don’t know about that, but I do love working there. I still can’t thank you enough for helping me get my job. It’s been a dream come true.”
Holly could tell by the woman’s warm smile how much she admired her sister. “You wouldn’t have gotten the job if you didn’t deserve it.” Cynthia turned to Holly. “Are you in the art field as well?”
“Me?” She tried to hold back her laughter. “No. I can barely draw a stick figure. Ava was blessed with all the talent in our family.”
“Oh, now, my sister is being modest. Holly teaches math to fifth graders. If you ask me, that takes much more talent than anything I do.”
“Indeed! Well, I’ll let you two get back to the rest of your guests. It was lovely to meet you, Holly, and Ava, I hope we can chat more before you head back.” She kissed each of the sisters on both of their cheeks, in a very high-fashioned style, before walking off toward another group of guests.
“I can see why you like her,” Holly said. She looked back over to where the mystery man was sitting, now deep in conversation with the man next to him.
“Ah, so this is where my beautiful bride is hiding,” Max said, leaning in to give Ava a kiss. “Jared seems like he’s having fun, Hol, eh?”
Glancing over to the dance floor, she braced herself for whatever he was up to now. She shook her head as she watched. He was on the ground, in the center, doing some sort of pseudo-breakdancing move, while a circle of women surrounded him, clapping their hands. In all honesty, it looked more like he was squirming around on his back trying to peek up their skirts.
“Yeah.” Holly couldn’t keep the sarcasm from her voice, rolling her eyes in disgust as she watched the man she hoped to marry one day make a spectacle of himself.
“Are you okay?” Ava asked gently.
“I’m fine,” she answered, curling her lips into a sorry excuse for a smile.
“Well if you’re sure …” Ava peered over to a group of people Holly didn’t recognize. “Those are some of the artists we’ve hosted over the years at the gallery.”
“Go. You need to mingle, ” Holly said, squeezing her hands. “I’m good—I promise.”
“Okay,” Ava said, giving both Max and