I hugged her tight. My bag slid down my shoulder and rested at my elbow. “I’m actually here.”
She pulled back, looked at me, and then hugged me tight all over again. As she kissed my cheeks, I felt the dampness on hers.
She took my rolling carry-on from me. “Mom told me to take you straight to the house,” she said as she shoved it up onto the backseat.
“No, I’m staying at the Brown Palace.” I stepped into the car and shut the door.
I watched her run around the front. She scowled at me as she stepped in and buckled her seat. “That is going to piss her off.”
That comment put my hackles up. I had promised myself I would smile and be happy. I didn’t want my schedule mandated as well. If I was at the house, I would have no place to hide. I took a calming breathe. “She’ll get over it.”
She merged aggressively into traffic. “I could just kidnap you, ya know?”
I held on to the overhead handle. “But you won’t. Can you slow down? I haven’t had as much coffee as you yet and you’re stressing me out.”
She laughed. “Sorry about that.”
My heart squeezed from missing her. Amy had graduated from high school with a two-year college degree. She graduated from college after another year and a half, and then medical school at the same time as me. Much to the disappointment of my father, she now ran a public service, not-for-profit medical clinic. She made pennies but she loved the work. And her boyfriend worked for Green Peace, so they were both going to somehow change the world.
“You get to meet Mark while you’re here.” Her face lit up like sunshine.
“I’m looking forward to that.”
“He’ll be at the party tonight.”
“I’m looking forward to that as well.”
She chuckled. “No, you’re not.”
I shrugged and watched the Denver skyline get closer.
When we pulled up in front of the hotel, a valet came to help me. To Amy, I said, “Don’t get out. I’m going to try and take a nap and I’ll see you tonight.”
“Did you bring something sexy to wear?”
“It’s going to drop below freezing tonight.”
She scowled at me as she rested her arm on the steering wheel.
I added, with a sigh, “I brought something appropriate.”
“Now that’s frightening. Is it a scythe?” She tried not to smile.
I tried to remain serious. “No, they took that from me at security.”
At that, she laughed. She wiped a tear from her eye. “Oh my, I have missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. I’ll see you tonight.” I shut the car door and waved at her as she drove away.
I managed to get a few more hours of sleep and spent the rest of the day in the salon getting my hair and makeup done. My hair was brushed back in a simple chignon. My makeup, too, was elegant and simple. I had been tempted to wear a black dress, but that would have been disrespectful to my parents.
Shortly before six, I ordered an Uber and dressed while I waited. I’d brought a copper velvet wrap dress. It had long sleeves and a high low effect, just showing my ankles. I’d brought a white cashmere wrap and a silver clutch to match my heeled sandals.
The Uber driver arrived and I spent the next ten minutes blowing air on my clammy palms.
The iron gates were open at my parents’ house, allowing guests to easily drive through to the circular end of the driveway. When we reached the front door, a valet opened the door of the Uber for me and I stepped out of the car. “Miss,” he said.
I thanked the Uber driver and then stepped to the side of the driveway, into the shadows, to take a few calming breaths.