“Marla just scolded me about that as well. I’m likely to fall with this damnable thing on. It’s terrible.” He held it out like a child. “Look at it; it’s sweaty like a kid’s Halloween mask and it’s giving me a headache.”

Lara took the mask and tried to loosen the elastic before sliding it on his head. “There.”

She followed him back through the front doors and stood there while he went to the bar. While the wait staff buzzed, she downed a mini chicken kebab and goat cheese puff that made her footing feel solid again. As she stood gazing out at the oblivious partygoers milling about and laughing, she had a strong urge to flee. She didn’t belong here with carefree people. Getting up the courage to look at the top of the stairs again, she found the space empty. It was like reopening a wound. This had been too soon.

Lara saw Kim Landau make a beeline toward Ben. While Lara didn’t want to have another exchange with Kim on how she’d felt about Todd’s disappearance, Ben looked equally uncomfortable with their conversation and seemed to be itching to gather his drinks and go, but the bartender was taking his time. Whatever Kim was saying made Ben pull at the neck of his tuxedo. Finally, he snatched two glasses and quickly sidestepped her in mid-sentence. Kim watched him all the way across the room until her gaze landed on Lara. A chill went up Lara’s neck as the woman frowned, like Lara had won a round, then smirked, before turning and heading into a sea of partygoers.

Lara was shaken by the reporter’s boldness, like there was some competition between them.

“Here.” Ben handed her the second glass of champagne she’d held tonight, only this one wasn’t an illusion.

Taking a sip, she pointed her glass at the bar. “I see Kim Landau cornered you.”

“Unfortunately.” He clinked her glass.

She took a long sip of her champagne and wondered how it was possible that she’d thought Todd was real tonight, had ached for him as though he’d never left, and yet she could still be curious about the nature of Kim and Ben’s relationship. Her thoughts were beginning to scramble. She no longer trusted them.

Just then a doorbell sound rang through the room—the xylophone being played by the wait staff to let everyone know that dinner was about to be served.

The sea of people began to move into the back courtyard for dinner. Overhead was a tent; this time, white fabric streams hung overhead. “This is stunning,” said Ben as they got their first look at the color and texture of the silk, flowers, and candles.