I've been a reader of Lit for many years and this is my first submission. I welcome any constructive criticism, editing tips or any advice anyone cares to share. I hope you enjoy my offering. Thanks in advance for taking your time to read.
I walked into the reception room and began scanning the tables for the one that had my seat assignment. Still unsure as to why I'd accepted the invitation to this wedding, I planned to stay a polite amount of time and then head back home to my high-rise condo and hopefully get a decent night's rest.
I was relieved to see I was seated toward the back of the hall and near an exit. That would make for an easy and discreet departure when I figured the time was right. My seat was positioned with my back to the main part of the room, again I figured another path to an easy escape.
I began to introduce to my fellow dinner guests, trying my best to seem enthused to be there and knowing I would forget their names as soon as I heard them. I had no room in my head for names of people I'd never see again, I was still trying to figure out why I'd been invited. The bride had been a casual friend of my daughters from middle school through high school, I barely knew her parents and had no idea who the groom was. As I was finishing up my introductions, I heard a voice say "Mr. Hamby? Is that you?"
I turned toward the voice. "Oh my God, it is!" she cried and before I knew it, Paige Griffin had her arms around my neck and was hugging me.
I hadn't seen Paige in almost a year. Another acquaintance of my daughters, Paige had always been a closer friend and we had spent more time together as she grew up. Paige was smart, witty and I had developed a fondness for her over the years. She was always willing to help when visiting and we had many conversations since she first started her friendship with my daughter. Not only had they known each other for as many years, they had also gone to college together and she always stopped by over summer break and holidays.
Paige had always been a cute girl who seemed somewhat older than her years. I'd always felt her self-confidence was lacking a little but attributed that to the awkwardness all teenagers struggle with as they attempt to figure out what type of adult they would mature into.
As she disengaged from the embrace, she took a half step back, still holding my hands in hers and I was able to get a good look at her. Her appearance had certainly gone past the cute stage. Her face was framed by her deep auburn hair, which set off her cobalt blue eyes. Just a few of her childhood freckles remained, sprinkled across her nose and a few more framing her full lips.
Paige was wearing a turquoise cocktail dress with a single strand of pearls. She had grown a taller as she got older and was about 5'6" inches tall in her matching heels. Her shoulders were bare, and the front of her dress had a slight scoop to the design, which showed off her cleavage in an elegant manner that was not overtly flashy. Her dress stopped a few inches above the knees, gently flowing over her perfectly proportioned hips.
"Paige! What a delight to see you" I said. "You look amazing. Where are you sitting? I would love to have the chance to spend a little time with you tonight so that we can catch up. I often wonder how you are doing"
"I'm sitting right here, table 15. Where did they seat you?"
"15. And if we can arrange it, I'm sitting right next to you. You can fill me in on what your life is like since you graduated and what you're doing these days."
"I'd love to. You know, I always enjoyed our conversations. You always listened to me and treated me with respect. I felt like you helped me by talking to me and I've always valued your guidance".
I guess at some point we ate, judging by the dirty dishes on the table, but I had no memory of much once Paige and I started talking. The old familiarity and closeness returned as we laughed at old memories and brought each other up to date on our lives. It wasn't until the DJ played a slow song and we danced that our world began to shift. We began our dance as friends, but as she nestled into my arms, and laid her head on my shoulder, I felt a stirring that startled me. I wanted to embrace her more tightly but restrained myself, not wanting to do anything that would alarm her. But when she lifted her face and exhaled her warm breath over my neck, I was compelled to lift her chin and press my lips against hers.
How would she respond to this, I wondered? Had I misjudged what we were sharing? Would this drive a wedge between what had always been a platonic and wonderful relationship?