ago. I don’t know where he is now. Excuse me.”
For the next hour Beth was insanely busy, so much so that she nearly forgot that her sparkling contribution to the yachting club social season had become a charade. Despite the insanity, she found herself anxiously looking for Amber all the time. Her niece wasn’t alone. Ashley was with her, as she had promised. Apparently Kimberly’s parents had dropped her off to enjoy the event, as well. Both girls were stunning in their fancy outfits and heels.
She caught her brother watching her, as well. He still wore a look of accusation every time his eyes turned her way. They had been so close all their lives. She felt a pain in her heart because now he felt she had betrayed him. She longed to tell him she wasn’t at fault, but she couldn’t. Not yet.
The other dancers had arrived. Mauricio stood beside Maria.
The Masons were there, ringed around Eduardo, Maria and the dancers.
Then, in the crowd, she saw Matt Albright, and a small distance from him, helping himself to a glass of champagne, Lee Gomez.
Still, no sign of Keith. But then, he’d said he wanted to stay unseen, and apparently he’d meant it.
As she greeted some of the members, Commodore Berry came to her side. “Beth, this is incredible. Already a hit, and we’ve hardly even started.” He lowered his voice. “I know the place is crawling with police, but how can you tell who’s who in such a crowd?”
He had a point, she decided. In a moment of panic, she excused herself and threaded her way through the crowd.
She breathed a sigh of relief. Ashley was still with Amber. Sticking like glue.
The band stopped playing just then, and the commodore asked everyone to start taking their places for dinner. People began to file to their tables. An older man, tall and well built, with thick white hair, beard and a mustache, and sea-green eyes, passed her and smiled. She smiled back, though she had no idea who he was. There were too many guests from their sister clubs that night, she decided. She watched the others file into the dining room and take their seats. The dance instructors were together at a table with Manny and Eduardo Shea. The Masons were all in attendance, including Gerald. They were at a table with Matt and Lee.
If Brad and Sandy were present anywhere, she hadn’t seen them.
The commodore gave his welcome speech. Beth joined her own family at last. When she sat, she was at Jake Dilessio’s side. Ashley was beside her husband, and Amber was on Ashley’s other side, with Ben next to her, and Kimberly next to him.
She tried to relax, tried to eat.
Whoever the man was with the white hair and Colonel Sanders mustache, he must have been a friend of Commodore Berry’s, because he had a seat on the dais.
The commodore announced the menu, welcomed the members and guests, and hoped that all the docking arrangements had gone smoothly. He thanked the chef and the staff, and made a special announcement, thanking Beth, as well, and introducing her. She was startled when he demanded that she rise, which she did, and she tried not to feel awkward as she received applause.
Her brother clapped with the others, politely, but he stared at her as if he felt he had nurtured a traitor. She wondered if she would ever be able to fix things between them.
Yet again, she wondered where Keith was.
Dinner was served, and it was as delicious as the chef had promised. Kim and Amber chatted; even Ashley and Jake seemed casual.
As courses came and went, people hopped sociably from table to table. Amanda joined them for several minutes, complimenting Kim and Amber, flirting with Ben. Hank dropped by, then Gerald.
There was a tap on Beth’s shoulder. She nearly jumped a mile. It was Matt Albright. “Hi. I just came over to see how you’re doing,” he said cheerfully.
“Great. Good to see you,” she told him.
“Have you seen Keith?” he asked her. “He was supposed to be here with us.”
“No, I haven’t seen him in here,” she answered honestly.
“There’s just no telling with that guy,” he said, and shrugged. “Well, I hear there’s dancing later. Save something for me, huh?”
“Sure. Though I hear it’s salsa—and your best partners are over at that table,” she said, pointing to Eduardo and his group.
“I have a feeling you’d be a great partner,” he told her.
“Well, thanks,” she murmured.
Roger Mason stopped by next to greet her brother.
Amber rose. “Where are you going?” Beth asked sharply.
Amber stared at her, surprised by the tone of her voice. “The bathroom, if it’s all right.”
“I’ll go with you,” Beth said.
“Aunt Beth, I know where it is.”
“I know, but, um, I need to go myself.”
“We’ll all go,” Ashley said cheerfully, rising. “Kim, join us?”
“I don’t really have to go,” Kim said, bewildered.
“But you don’t want to have to go during the dancing, right?” Beth asked. She didn’t know why; she just wanted the girls together, no matter what, and with Ashley or Jake at all times.
She didn’t understand, either, why she was nervous all the way to the ladies’ room and back. The place was swarming with people, guests, members, staff, everyone having a good time. Ashley was as casual as could be, making the girls laugh. Beth thanked God for her friend—and for the fact that her friend was a cop and married to a cop.
Back at the table, she sipped champagne, realizing that throughout the day she had become more tightly wound with each passing moment. She had to calm down or she would wind up jumping out of her chair and screaming.
Dessert was served, and as the flaming soufflés went around, Commodore Berry rose again, announcing their entertainment.
Mauricio escorted Maria to the dance floor out on the patio, open to the dining room and surrounded by additional tables.
The music began.
For several minutes Beth found herself as transfixed as the others. As she had felt earlier, it seemed impossible that anyone could move so fast, that steps could be so sensual and erotic, that anything could appear as miraculously, glitteringly swift and elegant, all in one.
Then the music broke, and Mauricio and Maria stopped dead, dramatically posed. The old cliché was true, Beth thought. She really could have heard a pin drop.
Then the moment was over. The music began again, and the dancers swirled into motion once more until at last the performance came to a halt.
Everyone in the room rose; the applause was thunderous.
Beth blinked. Eduardo was walking forward to thank his dancers. He was carrying
