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Around the last ten or so ainst an A few fat drops served as a prelude before the heavy shower hit Everyone scraed the flashed wildly and the crack of thunder eclipsed the crashing of c

ymbals as the band’s equipment was hastily moved to the foyer

A harsh wind roared through the terrace while I rushed about with the staff, collecting vases of flowers and hurricane laust, the sht air A couple tipped over The one I reached for flew off the table

The shattering of glass on the Saltillo tile lent to the suddenly eerie at up Kyle ju decorations quicker than I could and adding them to a service cart Strands of hair slashed across th

“Get inside, Ari!” he shouted

“This is ht “You’re a guest You get inside!”

“Yeah, right And leave you out here?” He rounded up the last of the arrange off to the side with the gift table

My breath labored fro had struck

The guests remained dry, thankfully, and incredulous conversations over how fast and furious the te

Meghan hurried over, delicately holding up the heown “Ari, you’re drenched!”

She dropped one side of her fluffy skirt and snatched a clean linen napkin froh-top table set up specifically in the event the rain didn’t hold off until dinnertime She handed the napkin over and I dabbed at my cheeks and throat while my pulse raced

“You were so right about the h the cereeous, Ari!”

“I’lad it worked out—for the most part”

She waved her manicured hand in the air as she was prone to do “It’s all fabulous Exactly what I wanted Well, with the exception of you getting soaked”

“It orth it We salvaged just about all of the arrangements”