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wedding dress was
bunched up and the wiggly, drooling pup wanted no part of the attentions of the
two women. “Pen-Pen! Hold still. I’ve never seen such a nervous bride. Have
you, Liza?”
    Liza couldn’t help but giggle. The dog stopped at the sound
of her owner’s voice and appeared to be waiting for Liza’s answer. “No, I don’t
believe I have, Mrs. Dean.” They managed to get the veil and tiara attached and
adjusted with a little more effort.
    Bobbie reached over unexpectedly and patted Liza’s cheek.
“You’re a dear. I hope to see you around more.”
    * * * * *
    The nuptials went off without too much trouble. The bride
and groom were more than ready to start their honeymoon and had little patience
for the trappings of the ceremony. Bobbie lost her grip on the bride and the
little hussy attacked the groom before the “I do’s” had been said. The episode
added the last touch of whimsy that the occasion needed. The guests all seemed
to enjoy it and only a few of the men looked overly bored. Blake did his best
to play his part and not make mocking gestures, even if he had ignored his
mother’s request to put the pug pants on.
    Liza watched it all from the sidelines, as she did most of
the parties she put together. She was not a guest but part of the staff, and
made a conscious effort not to let herself get too carried away by the smiles
and niceties to think otherwise. She worked for these people, no different from
the girl passing out bone-shaped chocolate-cherry truffles. The suit she wore
was expensive, but was still a uniform.
    She watched as Blake moved in and out of the crowd, talking
easily with the elite of Dallas. Ladies’ eyes watched him as he moved, batting
eyelashes, touching his arm when they spoke. He graciously accepted their
attentions, wearing his arrogance easily as he moved from guest to guest. She
wondered what it would be like to be so confident, to move with such ease
through a crowd. How would it feel to fit in so easily with anyone you came
across? Blake was so stunningly confident, and he had every right to be. The
man was polished, educated and gorgeous. Why wouldn’t he fit in no matter where
he went?
    * * * * *
    Liza scanned the crowd, watching for anything the guests
might need. The dinner tables were long gone and the dance floor was packed
with slightly drunken socialites. Bobbie was dancing in the middle of the
floor. She was holding both the pugs, one wrapped under each arm, still in
their wedding costumes. Overly red lipstick accentuated Bobbie’s bright smile.
    Becky joined her. “Another job well done, boss lady. Totals
are coming close to two hundred thousand. That’s a lot of neuters.”
    “Ouch. They do a lot more than neutering at the SPCA, you
know.” She looked at Becky. “You’re the reason this was a success.” Becky shook
her head to deny Liza’s praise. “I think next week we need to talk seriously
about partnership. You run half this business anyway. You should be getting
more benefit from it.” Becky looked at her, mouth open, eyes big. “Close your
mouth and say thank you.”
    “I really don’t know what to say.” Becky hugged her.
    “I told you what to say.” Really, she owed her friend much
more than that. Becky had been trying to put a mirror in front of her face for
a long time. Liza had buried her life in her work but a fat bankbook was a bad
replacement for happiness.
    “Thanks.” Becky’s smile turned sly. “Blake really looks good
in those black jeans doesn’t he?”
    “You don’t stop, do you?”
    “Nope.”
    One of the waitstaff called Becky away and Liza scanned the
party again. Said black jeans were nowhere in sight. Lingering by one of the
bars, she idly sipped champagne that had bubbled out of the side of a
fire-hydrant-shaped ice sculpture. The band slowed the tempo and couples took
over the dance floor. Liza watched as lovers young and old swayed together,
laughing and kissing.
     
    Blake handed his father a beer as