And then something dawned on Julia. "I really don't know anything about you," she said. "What's your mother's name?"
"Donna."
"What does she do for a living?"
"She manages theater companies, anywhere and even-where that will have her. She's great at it."
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"It was just me and my mom."
"Let's see," Julia said, struggling to think of more questions. "I already know you like whole milk and full-calorie pop—does everyone in your family have good metabolisms?"
A wide smile spread across Lance's face. "Yes."
"Too bad. I was just starting to like you."
"Jules, you look magnificent!" Caroline cried when they neared Ro-Ro's table. Even Steve seemed to take notice as he] stood to kiss her cheek and shake Lance's hand.
"Turn around," Caroline said. "Let me look at your dress."
"Caroline, you picked it out."
"I know, but I don't remember it being this stunning on you."
The black gown was floor-length with an empire waist, a simple scoop-neck collar, and an emerald-green wrap. Seven years and eight pounds ago, the dress had been Julia's idea of perfection. As she eased into a chair between Lance and Caroline, she wondered if it might still have the golden touch.
Right up until the point when Nina showed up wearing it.
Halfway through the silent auction, Julia looked up from the table to see her best friend floating through the geriatric ocean like a feather on the tide—a feather wrapped in emerald green. Julia's mouth gaped. Instinctively, she looked around the table, wondering if Lance or any of the others had seen. She said a silent prayer of thanks that they were all listening to Steve talk about tax-sheltered annuity limits, and no one had noticed Nina, who stood frozen on the dance floor, obviously unsure what to do.
"Excuse me," Julia said. "I'm going to run to the ladies' room."
She gave Nina a look, pointed to the powder room, and sprinted there herself. As soon as she'd checked for feet beneath the stall doors, Julia hissed, "What are you wearing?"
"My bridesmaid dress from Caroline's wedding?" Nina asked, as if it might be a trick question.
Julia smacked her on the shoulder. "You've got to go home and change!"
"Me? Why do I have to go home?"
"Because you live five minutes from here. I live sixty miles away!" Julia scolded.
"I can't," Nina admitted. "I don't have anything else to wear."
"Neither do I," Julia shot back.
"Well, I can't leave!" Nina said, anticipating what Julia was going to say next. "There's too much potential business in that room. Plus, I can't tell Jason he rented a tux for nothing."
Julia froze, dumbfounded. Could she have heard that correctly? "You're here with Jason "
"Well, I couldn't come by myself. And he called last night—"
"Nina, I cannot believe you're here with him."
"Jules, it's okay. We're here as friends."
"Like you went on vacation to Vegas together as friends?" Julia mocked. "I seem to remember you coming home from that one remarried."