Page 43 of Just a Plot Twist
And then, a bloodcurdling shriek.
Claire’s hand instinctively grabs mine as we cower away from the shrieking swans, all the more ear-piercing since the quartet has ceased playing.
That’s right. Shrieking swans.
In their clammer to reach the feed Claire threw in, the swans start duking it out, hissing and pooping and causing a ruckus. Soon, they slosh andtumble out of the tank, bringing with them a wave of water that puddles on the floor.
“Whoa!” The handler engages, his neck red as he faces the portable pool, spreading his hands wide and backing up. “Everyone step back!” he says over his shoulder to the crowd. He tosses Claire and me a look. “They don’t do this. Ever!”
Still holding hands, Claire and I shuffle out of the way, narrowly avoiding a line of cater waiters. The swans lift above the puddle a foot or so, their long wings flapping wildly.
“Maybe their wings are clipped,” I say to Claire. And sure enough they start traipsing across the floor, attempting to fly. Shouts of alarm echo through the ballroom as the swans enter and people bend and cower away to dodge them as they charge after each other. It’s chaos as they run into people’s legs, waddling and squawking, leaving deposits of swan doo-doo near their feet. An older woman looks like she’s about to faint and her husband wraps his arm around her waist to hold her up.
I never knew swans could be so destructive. Or loud.
They blare a big honk as the one in the front tussles into a cater waiter carrying a tray of appetizers. The tray is upended, and half its contents spill to the floor. And there’s another wave of hysteria over the crowd as the swans peck ravenously at the finger food.
But Claire’s hand is in mine. My heart starts to pound, and it has more to do with Claire’s touch than the swans going rogue. The warmth and pressure of her skin, smooth and soft, gives a zing straight to my core.
It’s not the first time we’ve touched. Carrying her on my back was more…up close and personal than this.
But this is nice. Somehow more intimate.
My head clears enough to become aware that Claire’s breaths are heaving, and her face is white. I place one arm around her back.
“I can’t believe they attacked each other,” Claire says, her voice warbling. “That was my bad.”
“No. The handler said they never do that. It was just a fluke.”
With the swans now preoccupied with the food on the floor, the handler approaches cautiously, talking to the swans in low, calming tones as they bristle and startle. He gently guides one of the swans closer to him, helping to tuck its wings close to its body. After he gets the bird close to the tank, it gracefully flutters in and the other one follows suit.
The handler turns to us. “Are you two okay?” When we nod, he continues, his face reddening. “I’ve never had that happen before.”
Most of the guests are still watching the ruckus with curiosity, but I sigh and gently maneuver Claire away.
“Everything’s fine now,” I whisper in her ear as we back away from the scene. There’s already a couple of event workers cleaning up the mess.
“I wonder if my grandparents know what happened from backstage?” Claire gives up a little, nervous laugh and points across the ballroom floor. “Oh look. There’s someone else who’s confused.”
Chapter 14
Benson
Sophie and Oliver are a little dumbstruck from across the ballroom. Oliver has Elizabeth on his hip, his expression sort of aAnd you have your arm around my sister-in-law…why?Sophie’s amused. The string quartet has started playing again, and with the din of polite conversations all around us, they approach.
Claire squeezes my hand tightly and I glance over. Her jaw grows tight.
“You good?” I whisper.
She glances up at me and our eyes meet. But then she pulls her hand out of mine as Sophie nears. Claire steps to her to give her a hug.
“What is this?” Sophie purrs.
“We’re friends,” I say, right as Claire says, “Nothing!”
Sophie steps back from Claire, holding her at arms’ length, appraising her. Then she turns to me. “Claire told me about the phone mishap. So youcame to exchange phones and decided to stay? Love it!” Her glance goes from me back to Claire and then to me again. Oliver steps up behind her, and their daughter babbles something in baby-talk and reaches for Claire.
Oliver grunts out a laugh as he and I do a brotherly back patting thing and then Elizabeth wriggles out of Oliver’s grasp and into Claire’s arms.
