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I walk inside into warmth and a confusion of scents--hot wax and lilies and woives ant hallway toward the ballroo They refuse
Music and laughter fro ice I passthat critical voice is too ready to pounce
I arrive at the large double doors leading into the ballrooo inside
THIRTY
As if I’ around loith votive candles Dinner tables surrounding a large white dance floor Centerpieces of white branches dripping in strands of faux jewels that catch and reflect the light A ten-piece band in tuxedos on a riser Peoplewith drinks in their hands
Me, standing alone at the door, wearing a drop-dead gorgeous red dress that cost half a h heels that lasses with the black plastic fra perfect, that’s why
On her way toward the bar in the corner, Shasta walks right byan eye
"Shasta"
She turns and looks around, then does a double take that ht have caused whiplash "Joellen? Is that you?"
"It’s not like I’ at ht as well be, bitch! You da bomb Who knew you had those titties stashed away under all those ugly sweaters?"
I can’t help it: I have to laugh "Let’s get a drink"
I take her arm, and we make our way to the bar as I note who’s in attendance and who has yet to show Portia’s deep in conversation with so is holding court around a cocktail table with a bunch of the junior copy editors who hang on her every word A group of guys fro tables and are fighting over who’s going to sit with his back to the dance floor
Michael is nowhere to be seen
"I’ll have a glass of red wine, please," I tell the bartender, who looks hoives h the drinks are free He needs it more than I do
"Vodka rocks," Shasta tells hi of vodka that could tranquilize a bear
I watch, alar"
"Broke up with the boyfriend," she says, taking a breather "Walked in on the son of a bitch with another girl"
"Oh, Shasta, I’ to last ent on vacation to Ber and he clapped when the plane landed No self-respecting wolass of wine "To being single"
"To being single," she echoes "Next I think I’ll become a lesbian"
"I’ain, and we both drink As I’ across the dance floor with three people One of theo One of the officer The third is his wife
His tall, beautiful, elegant wife, who has her hand on his ar at hilass of wine on the bar because I know if I don’t, I’ll drop it Shasta is talking, but all I can hear is a high-pitched noise inI wouldn’t be surprised if that soo to the bathroom" I don’t wait to see if Shasta has heard me--I simply bolt from the room as fast as I can
Once outside, I run down the hallway in search of a ladies’ room Luckily in places like these, they’re always nearby I fall on the door, panting, and stagger inside I lock myself into a stall, wrap rout between the tiles until the worst of the pain passes and I can breathe again