The candles.
The champagne.
The musicians.
The buffet.
Everything looked beautiful.
Daniel approached me near the entrance.
“Miss Doyle, is everything satisfactory?”
I smiled.
“It’s exactly what I hoped for.”
He looked at my red dress.
“That color suits you beautifully.”
I felt myself blush.
“Thank you.”
Guests began arriving around six.
Camille appeared shortly afterward in a long silver evening gown, with twelve-year-old Hannah following behind her.
Hannah was quiet, thoughtful, and almost always carrying a book.
She looked at me and smiled.
“Aunt Liv! You look so pretty!”
I hugged her.
“Thank you, sweetheart. You look beautiful too.”
Camille barely acknowledged me.
She hurried straight toward the main table to rearrange the place cards.
Mom and Dad arrived a little later.
When Mom entered the Hearthstone Room, she gasped.
Her eyes moved from the flowers to the candles, then toward the fireplace.
“Oh, my goodness. This is absolutely gorgeous!”
Camille immediately rushed toward her.
“Happy anniversary, Mom!”
Mom embraced her.
“Oh, Camille, you’ve done such a wonderful job!”
Camille laughed.
“Well, I had a little help.”
Then Mom noticed me near the entrance.
Her eyes moved over my red dress.
“Red, Olivia? That’s certainly a bold choice.”
Before I could answer, she turned back toward Camille.
They walked together to the head table.
Dad paused long enough to pat my shoulder.
“Looks nice, kid.”
Then he followed them.
That was all.
