Life Choices, Challenges and Changes

Reception Part I

Chapter 49 Cocktail Hour

After the ceremony, guests slowly proceeded down the aisle and under the arches to the main bar that was set up for the cocktail hour. A piano player was playing a variety of Christmas songs while guests gathered around the high-top tables that had been scattered around the room. Josh, Honor, and Rosemary quickly left their seats and followed the other guests. Walking slowly, Logan stopped to talk with Lucy, Aidan, Olivia, Seth, and his wife, Ronnie. When Rosemary realized that Logan wasn't behind them, she waited for him at the arches. Seeing her standing there, he became concerned. When he reached her, Logan said, "Rose, why don't you go ahead with Josh and find us a table where we can all sit together. I will be out in a few minutes."

Rosemary nodded and followed Josh and Honor out into the main bar. Waiters and waitresses from both the Dragonfly Inn and the Manor House were walking around the room, serving hors' d'oeuvres and taking drink orders. Josh looked around the room and found two empty tables along with eight chairs and walked over to it. As Josh pulled out the chairs for Honor and Rose, a waitress came over with a tray of bruschetta. The girls each took some and placed it on the napkin that she offered to them.

"Girls, what can I get you to drink?" Josh asked.

"I'll have a scotch on the rocks," Rose said.

"Honey, I would like a cosmopolitan," Honor told him, squeezing his hand.

Kissing his wife on the cheek, Josh left and walked towards the bar. While he was standing at the bar waiting for the drink orders, he noticed Lucy, Aidan, Olivia, and Logan entering the room. Since he had the bartender's attention, he included tonic water with lemon for Logan. When the others arrived at the bar, Josh asked them what they wanted to drink. Aidan turned to the girls and asked, "Girls, what would you like?"

"I would like a mixture of half Cranberry and half Orange juice on the rocks," Lucy said.

"Oh, you mean a Madras without the Vodka," the bartender said, smiling at Lucy.

"Yes exactly," Lucy said.

Olivia, who was standing beside Lucy, added, "I'll have a Gin Martini with two olives."

"And "I'll have a Sam Adams," Aidan replied.

Josh slipped ten dollars into the tip jar when the bartender returned with their drinks. Aidan picked up Rosemary's drink, while Josh picked up Honors and followed Logan, Lucy, and Olivia to the table.

Handing the drink to Rosemary, Aidan said," Thanks, guys. I appreciate that you went ahead to find a table for us to sit at. I was concerned when I walked in and saw the high-tops. I 'm sure Luce and Logan wouldn't be comfortable standing at one of those tables for over an hour." Aiden pulled out a chair for Lucy and sat down beside her.

" He's so sweet," she said, kissing him on the lips. "I assured him that I would be fine, but he insists on fussing over me."

Raising her drink, she said, "Cheers." They all clinked their glasses.

Aidan put his arm around her shoulder and accepted her kiss on his cheek. He felt like the luckiest man tonight. He was proud to be her escort and was floored when he picked her up and saw how beautiful she looked in the beaded, black jumpsuit. He was so happy that he had met her, even if it wasn't in the best circumstances. Sometimes fate had its way of bringing people together.

Honor looked at Lucy, smiling. "You look amazing in that jumpsuit. Is it a Dior?" she asked her.

"Yes, it is. My stepmother found it in a vintage store in the city for me. I called her to let them know I was going to this wedding and we discussed what I should wear. Lucy was able to pick it up for me, saving my parents a trip to Connecticut."