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The charity gala night arrived and Sabrina kept fussing with her wrap. The black dress was getting plenty of compliments but she didn’t want to take focus away from Tabitha. Few really knew that it was going to be a big night for Tab.
The dinner conversation was chilly. Meredith did her best to keep Veronica quiet while Dad asked Jason about his work. Chris seethed and glared.
“I’m going to powder my nose before they open the dancing,” Tab said.
“I’ll join you.” Sabrina followed her twin quickly.
Jason’s return was being whispered about. Sabrina wished he hadn’t shown up for this because it could either give away the surprise or take away from it. Rude and bad form. Then again, she’d be sad if she wasn’t there to see it. Jason was a good friend to Sean and it wasn’t right to begrudge him his share in the happy night.
“Are you okay?” Tabitha asked as soon as they were in the marble ladies’ room.
“Sure. Jason has every right to visit his friend. It’ll be weird for a few days but then everyone will be over it. He can visit Sean when he wants or vacation here without drama. Everything will be back to normal,” Sabrina said.
Tab touched up her lipstick. “I’m not worried about how people handle it. It’s only you I’m concerned with. I do love that dress. Show Jason exactly what he’s missing out on.”
“It’s not about that. I bought this gown and never wore it. Really, I’m fine. He stopped by and apologized. I told him we could be friends.” Sabrina remained calm.
“That’s better than enemies. Veronica and Chris might tag team him. You’re really just over him?” Tab asked.
“I may have thought we had a future together at one point last year. It was silly. His work is going to take him all over. Honestly, I didn’t think any of that through. The demands on his time...he gets paid to kiss other women. I don’t know if I could ever get used to it. That was a summer romance but not a realistic one, like you and Sean.” Sab tried to change the subject.
Tab smiled. “It was an odd romance.”
“Please. You two have always had a lot in common. You just had to stop competing with one another,” Sabrina teased.
“True. Do you think things can be too good to be true?” Tab asked.
“Oh please, he’s not perfect. He gets on your nerves every now and then. He works hard but left that office with zero personalization. We had to make executive decisions and make it happen. But he’s a great guy.” Sab rolled her eyes. This was not the night for Tabitha to be having second thoughts.
“He is great but not perfect. He always wants to swoop in and fix things. Then again, it’s nice to have someone there to help.” Tab checked her updo. “We should get back.”
Sab nodded. “He’s perfect for you and can handle the family. That’s what matters.”
“Are you trying to steal my boyfriend?” Tab joked.
Sab laughed. “No, he’s too stuffy for me.”
“Stuffy?” Tab shook her head.
“I didn’t mean it like that. You two just naturally fit. You are so good at these events and he has business events and entertaining. I just want to hide in my studio and paint between travel and summer fun. I don’t really need a man for that.” Sabrina needed everyone to think she was just fine on her own. She was. She’d thought she’d found the right guy but she was wrong. Mr. Right would come along at the right time.
“You want some free-spirited artist?” Tab asked.
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll know the right guy when I find him.” Sabrina knew free spirit was code for lazy gold digger in her family. Tab loved the art scene and gave generously to programs but the family would be very different if a guy wanted to marry Sabrina and he lacked a job or resources.
Family was complicated—her family was beyond the normal.
“Let’s get back.” Sab adjusted her wrap one last time.
They left the bathroom and found people mingling. The dancing had begun.
Sabrina watched as Sean played it cool. He waited for Tab to return to the table before he asked her to dance.
Sabrina joined her family and watched the dancing from the table. Mer was refilling Veronica’s water and blocking all attempts to get at the bottle of wine on the table . Mom and Mrs. Drake were chatting while Dad and Chris checked their smartphones.
A younger man squatted near Jason and whispered in his ear. Jason clearly wanted to get rid of the kid but it seemed serious. She looked back to the dance floor. The sweet slow song was nothing special but halfway through the music paused and there was a drumroll.
Tabitha looked around, completely confused. Sean took her head and led her to the front. Someone handed him a microphone and the room fell silent.
“Sorry to interrupt the dancing so soon but this won’t wait. A year ago, I met this lovely woman here. It wasn’t love at first sight but I’d never met anyone like you. I wish I had some brilliant words but sometimes it’s best to get to the point. You are the one...the only one in the world I could spend my life with.” He knelt down and opened a ring box. “Marry me.”
The shock on Tab’s face was priceless and Sabrina caught it all on her cell phone. Tab looked around the room for a second and then back to Sean.
“Here? Now?” she asked, still in shock.
“We can get married later. Please answer my question,” he teased with only a slight crack in his voice.
“Yes. I can’t believe you did this here.” She hugged him.
He put the ring on her finger and Sabrina couldn’t stop smiling. Glancing around the table, she locked eyes with Jason for a moment and her stomach sank.
“At least she got a good one.” Veronica nodded.
“Those two,” Mrs. Drake laughed.
“Thank God,” Mom agreed.
The dancing resumed.
“Come on, Chris, let’s dance,” Sabrina said.
“Why? We’re going to be fielding questions about this.” Chris checked his phone.
“What sort of questions?” Mom asked.
“Business. Are the companies connected?” Dad answered.
“Is there a merger planned?” Chris added.
“You’re not happy?” Sab asked.
Chris looked at his little sister. “I’m thrilled for her. He’s a good guy, I can hang out with him, and he’s not broke. But those questions have to be handled as soon as possible.”
The men in her family weren’t exactly romantics, though Sabrina had seen her parents gazing into each other’s eyes on several occasions. The Buxton men were more reserved. No wonder they liked Sean.
Mom and Mrs. Drake got up and circulated to receive the congratulations and chat about wedding ideas with the other society ladies.
“We should go congratulate them.” Sab grabbed her sister and cousin’s hands and led the way.