The chauffeur opens the door for us, and I grab the bottom of my dress, stepping into the car, and he gets in after me. When we walk into the ballroom, I see all the glitz and glamour that you see in the movies. Men wearing tuxes as the women hold on to their purses and air kiss the other people. The diamonds dripping off them, a man with a camera walking around taking pictures. The tables around the dance floor are filled with lavish high vases so you smell the flowers everywhere. Candles are lit up around the room, giving the room a certain glow along with the crystal center chandelier that hangs in the middle of the room over the grand dance floor. Dim lights around the room keep it from being too dark. Mark grabs a glass of champagne from the passing waiter and hands it to me.

“Thank you.” I smile at him and take a sip. He has people come up to him, shaking his hand and thanking him for coming. He introduces me to a couple of people who are with the SPCA, resting his hand on the lower part of my back the whole time.

“Well, well.” I hear a voice that sends shivers down my spine, and I’m hoping that it’s just my ears playing tricks on me. “If it isn’t my favorite dog walker in the world.”

Mark and I turn at the same time, and my eyes meet his for the first time in ten years. His face goes from a smile to shock, and then he catches it and smiles, coming over and shaking Mark’s hand. “I was wondering if I would see you here,” he says and I look at him. I want to say that the years have not been good to him, but he looks the same.

“Scott,” Mark says smiling. “So great to see you. Where is Juliette?” he asks him, and Scott turns to look behind him, and the woman wearing a black dress comes over with a smile on her face. I’ve never seen her close up; I only saw her that one time from a distance. She has her blond hair tied up in an updo. I try to control my breathing, try to ignore the bile rising. I want to run away and hide.

“The most handsome man I’ve ever seen,” Juliette says, coming to Mark and kissing his cheeks. My eyes fly from hers to Scott’s, and I see him just looking at me. Juliette takes her place right beside Scott.

“Vivienne, this is Scott and Juliette, one of the very first clients I’ve ever had,” Mark says, and I smile and put my hand out to shake Juliette’s hand and then Scott’s. “Their kids,” he continues, saying, “how old are they now?”