Page 84 of David's Proposal

The guests are still scattered around the backyard while servers in sleek uniforms carry trays and offer them drinks.

Somewhere inside the tent are Mom and Pam. Not together, of course.

I so hope not.

“How do you like Colorado?” I ask Eve. “After living in New York,” I add, aware of the fact that she was born and grew up here.

She leans back into her armchair while I set my empty plate on the coffee table.

“It’s great,” she says.

“You don’t miss that life?”

Shaking her head, she chews on her dessert.

“Not in the slightest.” She shrugs.“It’s different. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy that I’ve spent a few good years overthere. I think you owe it to yourself to have that experience,” she says, sliding her dessert plate onto the table as well. “Have you considered living there?” she asks me.

“Um… No, not really. I like a lot of things about New York, in theory. And I’d probably want to have that experience, as you just said. I wouldn’t mind to get lost in the city.”

“That’s what it is,” she says, smiling. “That’s part of the allure,” she goes on. “I went to college there. I worked there. I dated there. It was a disaster,” she says, amused. “It had its charm. And then… Things had gotten to a point where they could no longer progress. I wanted a house? Well, I needed to move out of the city and commute. I wanted a man for something more serious? I needed to rely on luck. It was exhausting.”

“You were lucky,” Dahlia interferes. “With your man,” she says in response to Eve’s questioning look.

“Yeah… I was. I can’t deny it. But it took a long time to getthatlucky.”

“Is it luck?” I ask, my curiosity ignited.

Our plates are on the coffee table, our backs pressed against the luxurious pillows adorning the armchairs and the sofa.

“I think it is,” Eve says.

“And you? What do you think?” I ask, moving my eyes to Dahlia.

“It definitely is. And not only on our part. The same goes for them. You just need to meet the right person at the right time. That’s luck in my opinion.”

A few moments of silence pass, voices and laughter echoing outside before I find myself speaking.

“So, you say… Someone like…”I stop, pretending that I’m thinking.“David Moore, for instance––I’m only asking about him because everybody else is married. Is he a bachelor becausehe hasn’t met the right person?” I ask with fake cluelessness in my voice.

Smiling, they look at each other.

And maybe I’m projecting––because my cheeks are warm––but I think they blush as well.

“David, David…” Dahlia murmurs, entertained. “He’s a special type of man.”

“What’s so special about him?”

Dahlia tilts her eyes in Eve’s direction.

“She knows more about him.”

Eve pushes out a chuckle.

“No, I don’t.”

“You talked to him,” Dahlia says.

“You talked to him too,” Eve replies.

---