While Lawrence was waiting for Audrey to return he was approached by Hector.
"Hey, Lawrence. Are you having a good time?"
"Yes. It's a very nice party."
"Great. I hate to do this, but I need to ask you a favor." Hector paused, but Lawrence said nothing. "Chad isn't here yet and we need someone to give a toast. Could you fill in for him? I know it's a lot to ask, but you don't have to give a big speech. Just say something like, here's to the bride and groom and their happy future together. You know the kind of thing people say at these events."
"There must be someone else you can ask," Lawrence hedged.
"I wish I could tell you there was, but you're the best guy for the job. It would really mean a lot to me and Eileen."
Lawrence shook his head. "I can't do it. Sorry."
The conversation was interrupted when Audrey joined the pair. When Hector looked up he saw Chad walking into the room behind her. "Never mind. He's here," Hector said and walked over to Chad.
A moment later, the band stopped playing and the guests were called to attention as Chad stepped in front of the group to make his speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for coming here tonight to help our friend Hector and his beautiful bride-to-be, Eileen, celebrate this new stage in their lives. This is a very happy time for them and it couldn't happen to two better people." Chad spoke slowly, trying to remember the speech he had prepared while keeping his balance and trying not to slur his words. He got through the introduction before he gave up trying to remember and just improvised.
Audrey sat stiffly through the speech, avoiding eye contact with Chad. She was very uncomfortable just being in the same room with him. When she glanced up at Lawrence, he didn't seem to be enjoying himself either. She leaned over to him and whispered. "Lawrence, I think I'm ready to leave."
"Oh, alright," Lawrence said, trying to mask his disappointment. He thought Audrey was having a good time on their date, but this was just like the blind date Hector arranged with that nurse. He was being ditched again.
"Unless you really want to stay," Audrey added. "I just thought you looked like you weren't having much fun."
"Oh," Lawrence said with relief. "No, I don't care to stay any longer."
Audrey smiled. "Come on then. Let's go."
Meanwhile Chad was rambling on about his college days with Hector. The more he talked, the less sense his stories seemed to make. When the topic wandered towards the wedding night, Veronica decided to step in and put an end to the disaster, by starting a round of applause. As the other guests joined in, Chad cut off his speech and lifted his glass for a drink.
Eileen noticed Lawrence and Audrey stand up and walk towards the door. She was a little disappointed to see them leave together in the middle of the toasts, but she reminded herself that it shouldn't matter to her. She and Hector were going to have a wonderful life together. She turned to Hector with a smile as the room raised their glasses in a toast.
The ride back to Lucy's house had been a quiet one. Jordan had asked Lucy if she was alright, but when she said she didn't want to talk about it, he didn't press her and drove in silence until they were at the front door.
"Well, thank you for coming with me tonight and driving me home," Lucy said out of politeness. Her mood was too melancholy to be any more than that. "I'm sorry I completely wasted your night."
"You have nothing to apologize for," Jordan insisted. "Why don't you sit down and I'll make you some tea?"
"Oh no, you've done so much for me already. Go home and enjoy the rest of your evening."
"No, I insist," Jordan refused to take no for an answer. "I'll go put the kettle on."
"Thank you," Lucy said meekly and retreated to the parlor.
A few minutes later, Jordan joined her. "No one deserves to be home alone after they've had the night you've had."
Lucy couldn't retain her composure any longer and started to sob. Jordan reached for her hand and tried to comfort her.
When Lucy felt like she could speak again, she said. "I've just felt so alone. I have no family left living and I've lost my best friend to a stupid argument. Everyone I could count on is leaving me. I'm really trying, but it's so hard to be all on my own."
"But you aren't alone," Jordan gently insisted. When Lucy turned to look at him, he continued, "You still have your friend Chloe and your fiance, Craig."
"And I have you," Lucy added, grasping Jordan's hand in her own. "Thank you so much for being here for me and for staying with me this evening."
Jordan squeezed her hand once, before pulling it away. "I should see to the tea."
By the time Jordan returned with the tea tray, Lucy was starting to feel a little better. Jordan poured them each a cup of tea and then took his seat next to her on the sofa.
As they sat together, Lucy talked about her life and her family. It had been a long time since she had talked openly about what she was going through and it felt good to finally let some of it out. Jordan let Lucy do most of the talking and just listened supportively, occasionally sharing similar experiences from his life.
"There's just been so much for me to take care of since my father died. I feel like if I don't manage all of it, I'm letting everyone, my parents, my grandparents, down. It's all left to me and I don't know if I can do it."
"You're a very capable woman. I know you can handle it."
Lucy smiled at him, but before she could speak, she heard the grandfather clock chiming midnight in the hallway. "Oh, I didn't know it was so late. I really must let you go home."
"You're right," Jordan said raising from his seat. Lucy seemed in better spirits now and he had no doubts that she would alright on her own. "Goodnight, Miss Stuart."
"Goodnight, Jordan," Lucy said, standing with him. She took his hand and stared into his eyes. "And thank you."
They stared at each other for an extended moment, before Lucy leaned forward and kissed Jordan on the lips.
After Lawrence and Audrey left the party, Audrey suggested stopping by a little club that she knew of. Lawrence agreed, so they stopped in for a nightcap. It was a quiet place with a jazz band playing soft music in the background.
They sat down at an empty table and enjoyed the music as they talked.
When the music ended for the evening, they decided it was time to call it a night. Lawrence drove Audrey home and then walked her to her door.
"Thanks so much for taking me out tonight. I had a really great time with you," Audrey said.
"I had a good time too," Lawrence replied sincerely.
"We should go out again sometime," Audrey suggested.
"I'd like that."
Audrey smiled. Lawrence was so unlike the guys she usually dated. He was such a gentleman. "Great just give me a call." Audrey leaned forward and kissed Lawrence on the cheek before saying goodnight and going inside.
Back at the reception hall the party was breaking up. All of the guests had left, except for the parents of the bride and groom-to-be, who were getting ready to go, after exchanging congratulations and personal well-wishes with the happy couple.
When their parents had left, Hector turned to Eileen. "What did you think of the party? Was it everything you'd hoped for?"
"Not quite," Eileen admitted with a grin. The unexpected guests, Cassandra's fainting spell, and Chad's drunken wedding toast hadn't been anything she had hoped for, but other than that it was a everything she could have wanted. "but it was almost perfect."
"Just almost?" Hector teased. "I'll have to make that up to you somehow. When it comes to you, everything should be perfect."
Eileen smiled as Hector took her hand and led her to the dance floor.
"But maybe you're right. I'm glad the party is over and everyone is gone. Just you and me, now this is my idea of perfect."
As they danced together on the empty dance floor, Eileen imagined their future together. She couldn't think of anything else she could possibly want. "We're going to have a great life together, aren't we?"
"You know it," Hector replied and pulled her close for a kiss.
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