The Matchmaker's Gift(89)
Abby tried her best to sound confident. “I’m sure he’ll sign it soon,” she said. “He wouldn’t throw this lavish engagement party if he didn’t intend to get married.”
Diane picked up her glass of wine and sauntered off in search of some food. She called out to Abby over her left shoulder. “For your sake, I certainly hope you’re right.”
* * *
Abby needed something stronger than the champagne the waiters were offering. With Diane gone, she settled in at the bar and asked for a vodka martini. She was rifling through a crystal dish of mixed nuts when Will took the empty seat beside her. “So that was Diane Berenson, huh?”
“How did you know?”
“I’ve seen her picture in the paper a couple of times.” He asked the bartender for a beer, glanced around the room, and whistled. “This is some party,” he said. “Have you seen Nicole? I can’t find her anywhere.”
“Nope,” Abby mumbled, through a mouthful of cashews. “Did you take my advice? Were you honest with her?”
Will looked sheepish. “Yeah,” he said. “I felt like an idiot, though. Can you imagine how many times she’s heard that speech? Guys fall in love with girls like her every day.”
Abby felt a dangerous combination of self-doubt and vodka coursing through her veins. What if she was wrong about what she had seen? What if this attempt at her grandmother’s calling was nothing more than a means to cling to old memories? What if the lights and signs she perceived were only flashes of lingering grief?
“What did Nicole say when you told her?”
“Well, she didn’t seem surprised. She told me she had some things to sort out and that she didn’t want to promise me anything yet.”
“Yet, huh? That has potential.”
“Maybe, but it was impossible to tell. Later, she left a message on my machine asking me to come tonight and saying we would talk.” Will put down his beer and gestured to the crowd. “But what is there left to talk about? We’re at her engagement party, for God’s sake. She’s never going to turn down Victor étoile for some nerdy guy like me.”
Abby ordered a second martini. “Don’t count yourself out yet,” she said. “This evening isn’t exactly going according to plan.”
As if on cue, Victor and Jessica emerged from the door on the other side of the room—this time, accompanied by Nicole. “Excuse me,” Abby asked the bartender. “That door over there. Where does it lead?”
“That’s the stairway to the rooftop terrace.”
“Is there another party there tonight?”
The bartender shook his head. “Mr. étoile reserved the whole venue. He’s planning a surprise for the guests later this evening.”
“Is there going to be dancing?” Will asked.
The bartender put one finger to his lips. “Sorry, sir, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”
“Don’t look now,” Abby said to Will. “But it looks like Nicole is on her way over.”
Nicole’s long blond hair hung sleek and straight. Her slip dress was similar to the ones from her fashion show, but not quite as sheer or as long. Abby couldn’t help but be impressed by the speed with which she crossed the room in her strappy four-inch heels.
“Will!” Nicole gushed. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you.” When she leaned forward to kiss Will’s cheek, Abby quickly averted her eyes. She was too tipsy to look for light flashes now. She busied herself with the bowl of nuts, picking through the almonds in search of cashews, before she felt Nicole tap her shoulder.
“Abby! Can I speak with you for a minute? Will—would you mind excusing us?”
Will was surprised but perfectly agreeable. “Sure,” he said, grabbing his beer. “I’ll be over by the cheese table if anyone needs me.”
“First of all, Abby, thank you so much for coming.” Nicole tugged nervously at the hem of her dress and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I hate to ask this,” she continued, “and I’m afraid you’re going to think I’m awful. But … what is the situation with you and Will?”
Nicole looked so serious, so painfully concerned, that Abby almost wanted to give her a hug.
“Me and Will? We’re friends, that’s all. Truly—nothing more than friends.”
Relief blanketed Nicole’s delicate features. “I hope you don’t think—”
“You don’t have to say any more,” Abby assured her. “Will is a wonderful guy.”
Nicole beamed. “He’s the only person I know who doesn’t tell me to slow down or to relax and stop working so hard all the time. Not that the people in my industry don’t work hard—but there’s this expectation to never actually show that you’re working, you know? It seems like we’re always supposed to be having fun and living these glamorous, fabulous lives. Will is just so completely real.”
Abby nodded. “Absolutely.” Out of the corner of her eye, Abby noticed Victor making his way toward Diane. In the meantime, she spotted Jessica heading for the ladies’ lounge. “It looks like he’s waiting for you,” Abby said, pointing across the room to where Will was pacing in front of a table piled high with Brie and Camembert. “You should go rescue him. I’m going to say hello to a friend.”