A Perfect Fit

Sam blinked and stared. It couldn’t be.

He craned his neck to see over the dancing wedding guests. Yes, it could be.

Sam whirled around, praying no one had seen his interest or heard the curse which exploded from his lips. He grabbed a glass of water from the closest table. It was the head table, but there was only one bridesmaid left there and she was watching the dancers. Sam gulped the water and replaced the glass with a trembling hand.

She was here. Eve was here. The woman who had crushed his dream of a life in the suburbs with three children and a pool in the backyard. The woman who had literally left him at the altar. She was here. Now. On the other side of the room. Sam rubbed a fist over the ragged line of his mouth. They were bound to run into each other at some point – they had enough friends in common. But now? He hadn’t had time to prepare. What would he say? It had been two years and he hadn’t even asked another girl out yet. Sam shook his head. He wasn’t about to show that woman how hurt he had been or how vulnerable he still was, though. No way.

Sam glanced around for an exit. He saw one across the room and made his decision.

“Sam! There you are!”

Sam turned and saw Sarah, the lovely bride, bearing down on him. He pasted on a grin. “Sarah! You look beautiful.” He kissed her on the cheek and she beamed at him.

“I’m so glad you made it for the reception. Have you seen Tony?” Tony was the groom, but it was for Sarah’s sake that Sam had come at all. Sam and Sarah were cousins, the only ones in their age bracket, so from an early age, they had hung out together at all of the family reunions and built up a friendship from that.

“I thought it was your job to keep track of him,” Sam teased. “I’m sorry I missed the ceremony. How was it?”

“Beautiful, of course. How was work?” Sarah did her best to look interested in his answer.

“C’mon, Mrs. Colucci, you’re not the least bit interested in my work, especially today.” His work as a low-level attorney at a small firm in the city was not particularly interesting even to him. Sam glanced around and spotted Eve again, chatting with Sarah’s mother by the cake table. “By the way, cousin dear, why did you not warn me that Eve would be here?”

Sarah shrugged. “Eve? Oh, yeah. Didn’t I tell you?”

Sam raised an eyebrow. “No, you did not and you know it.”

Sarah took Sam’s hand. “Sam, honey, it’s been two years. You can’t avoid her forever.”

“Really?” Sam looked skeptical. He had done it for two years, he could go on doing it forever if need be.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you if you look like you need it."

“Sarah!” That voice. Her voice. Close by. How did she sneak up on him like that? It was all that pure evil in her black little heart. Sam could feel his throat constrict. He must have conveyed his panic to Sarah because she gave his arm a sharp pinch before turning to greet Eve with a hug.

The two women exchanged the usual wedding reception pleasantries and Sam tried to step back and make his escape, but his legs refused to move. In a moment she would turn. And speak to him. And then…

“Sam, how are you? I haven’t seen you in so long.” And there it was. She was talking to him like he was just another old acquaintance. They might have gone to tennis camp together for all the difference she showed.

She was still beautiful. Long blonde hair, curling over white shoulders. Wide blue eyes fringed with dark lashes. Flawless skin. Lush red kissable mouth. Full breasts overflowing the top of her strapless dress. So beautiful. So desirable. And evil. Sam’s mouth was dry.

When he didn’t answer, Eve’s smile didn’t falter. She turned and pulled forward a tall, handsome man in an impeccably cut Armani suit. He could have been a model with his carefully tousled hair, intense blue eyes, and chiseled jaw.

“This is my husband, Jim.” Sarah shook hands with Jim and nudged Sam. He automatically put out his hand and shook Jim’s. So, she was married. Must have been a whirlwind romance after she left him standing alone in front of two-hundred of their nearest and dearest.

Eve linked her hands around Jim’s arm, making the chunk of diamond on her left hand wink and sparkle. “Jim’s a lawyer,” she said. “He just made partner in his firm. Sam, do you still work for…oh, what was his name?”

Somehow Sam spat out, “Frank Nagle.”

“Oh, right.” Eve smiled and Sam felt the condescension oozing from her. Jim looked at Sam but didn’t say anything.

There was an awkward pause and Sam was eying that emergency exit on the other side of the room when Sarah said, “Sam’s dating someone. Practically engaged, aren’t you?” She looked at Sam and her smile turned into a grimace.

Sam stared at Sarah. This was helping? Probably Sarah thought she was defending him - she was like that - but if this was help, he would rather she abandon him. He had little choice at this point, though. Ignoring the dire consequences which were sure to ensue, Sam agreed. “Yes…yes.” He smiled at Eve, feeling more confident suddenly. “She’s a lovely girl. So…” He faltered suddenly and looked at Sarah for help.

“Vivacious,” she supplied. “And pretty and really talented. She’s a…” Sarah glanced at Sam.

“Musician,” Sam said.

"A singer!" Sam looked curiously at Sarah's burst of enthusiasm.

Turning back to Eve, Sam said, “I love that music,” and immediately regretted it. He was getting carried away and pretty soon would look even more foolish than before Sarah had started this lie.

Sam and Sarah had the satisfaction of seeing Eve’s smile falter briefly. “Oh, how nice for you,” she said. “You wouldn’t let such a treasure get very far away, would you? Is she here?”

Sam said, “No!” at the same moment Sarah said, “Yes!” They looked at each other and laughed, both a little breathless.

“What do you mean, no?” Sarah said. She glanced around quickly and found what she wanted. “She’s right here.” She turned to the lone bridesmaid at the table behind them. "Kate, come over here and meet some of our friends." The girl, a pretty brunette with light brown eyes, smiled and rose.

Sam knew he had to make some effort to avert the disaster which Sarah had just invited. "Oh, uh, she said she needed to rest for a little bit. Too much dancing, you know..."

"Nonsense." Sarah beamed.

Sam stared hard at Sarah, wondering what she was expecting would happen next. Of course the girl would shake hands with him and say, "Nice to meet you," and then Eve would know the truth. And then it wouldn't take long for her to know that the pieces of his heart still lay in a dusty heap even after two years. Sarah ignored his pointed stare and waited for Kate to round the table. Well, Sam figured, he was too far into this now to balk at whatever was next.

Kate stood between Sam and Sarah and smiled expectantly at Sarah. Sam sized up his fake girlfriend. She was tall, the top of her head would brush his chin and he was well over six feet tall. She was passably pretty with a nice figure, a bit more curvy than he usually liked, but not bad. She might not dazzle Eve but she would do.

Sarah introduced Kate to Eve and Jim and then said, "And, of course, you know Sam."

Kate held out her hand. "Nice to meet you."

Sam took her hand, willing himself to wake from this nightmare.

Sarah laughed. "Oh, you are so funny, shaking hands." She rushed on, all the while pinching Kate's thigh behind the concealment of her voluminous white skirts. "I mean, you two have been dating for, what, eighteen months now? And so happy." She turned to the others. "Kate was my roommate in London - she's a singer – came all the way to New Jersey to be a bridesmaid - and I set them up on the internet." She looked back at Sam and Kate with a gleam in her eye. "Just call me the matchmaker!"

Sam and Kate laughed weakly. Kate stole a glance at Sam.

"Yes, it was love at first e-mail." Sam's lame attempt at humor was met with polite smiles from the other three, but Kate laughed aloud and took his hand.

"Well, by then I had heard so much about Sarah's wonderful cousin that I was half in love with him before I had even heard from him."

Sam inwardly sighed in relief. She was playing along.

From there, Sarah and Kate drew Eve into a discussion of wedding cakes or flowers or some such, and Sam lost track of the conversations. He found himself distracted. By Kate. She was charming and funny and every once in a while she turned and smiled up at him as though they shared some secret that the rest of the world could never guess. He found that his fake girlfriend was prettier up close. She had a dimple which showed in one cheek when she smiled at him that way. He liked her laugh; it wasn’t harsh or obnoxious, but a sound that he’d like to hear more of and her accent made everything she said more charming. He found himself relaxing, not exactly enjoying himself, but feeling as though some old tension was easing within him.

Sam glanced speculatively at Sarah and met her amused gaze. She raised one eyebrow and then winked.

“There you are!” The groom approached the group with a congenial grin. He gave his wife a kiss. “I’ve missed you.”

Sarah smiled in the besotted way of brides and kissed her new husband again. “I’m sorry. Am I neglecting you already?”

Kate smiled and wrinkled her nose. “I can’t wait until you two have a fight. You won’t be nearly so disgusting.” Everyone laughed and the bridal couple kissed again.

Tony tightened his arm around Sarah’s waist. “C’mon, I’ve got some people I want you to meet. Sorry, guys,” he said to the other four, “I have to steal my wife away.”

“It’s okay,” Sarah said. “I’ve done all the damage I can do here.” She raised her eyebrows at Sam and Kate and followed her husband across the room.

Sarah’s departure left a conspicuous silence behind her. Eve glanced at Sam and Kate’s hands entwined between them and tightened her grip on Jim’s arm.

Kate turned to Sam. “Oh, honey, do you hear that? It’s our song?”

Sam pretended to listen for a moment. “It is. Jim, Eve, will you excuse us? Really great to see you again, Eve.” He shook her hand warmly. “And nice to meet you, Jim.” Sam shook Jim’s hand and wondered if the man ever spoke.

Sam put his hand on the small of Kate’s back and ushered her to the dance floor. Only when he got there did he realize that “their dance” was The Chicken Dance. He looked at Kate and they burst out laughing. The circle was already forming in the middle of the floor and Sam bowed formally. “May I have this dance, Miss?”

Kate gave a little curtsy. “Why certainly, kind sir.” She placed her hand in his and they joined the circle, flapping and wiggling and laughing.

When the music returned to the DJ’s usual fare, Sam found that he didn’t want to escape anymore. In fact, he had forgotten about wanting to escape. He wanted to stay with Kate. And she didn’t seem in a hurry to go anywhere, either.

When they were breathless with dancing and laughter, the music suddenly slowed. The disco ball revolved slowly, casting tiny circles of light onto the swaying, twining couples.

Sam’s grin faded and he looked uncertainly at Kate. They stood, facing each other but not touching, while couples shuffled past them. “I wanted to thank you for helping me. You didn't have to do that.”

"I know." Kate's lips curved slightly. "Part of what I said was true, though. Sarah has told me a lot about you."

"I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's a good thing. I feel like I know you already." What else had she said earlier? She had said that she was half in love with him before they even met. Was that part also true?

Kate licked her lips and the mischievous light came into her eyes. “What if Eve’s watching?”

Sam had forgotten about Eve. “Oh, yeah, well, maybe we should dance…if you don’t mind.” And then the only thing he wanted in the world was to hold Kate. Eve could watch if she wanted, but he no longer cared. Eve was far away and, with a jolt, Sam realized that the hurt was gone. That hurt had dissolved sometime during the last hour. And Kate had done that. How a pain so deep and precious to him had disappeared so suddenly he did not know. The only thing he did know was that Kate was the most beautiful woman in the room and he wanted to spend a long, long time learning all the ways there were to make her laugh. He wanted her to smile that secret-filled smile at him and really have secrets behind it. He wanted to hear her sing and know how she had gotten the scar above her eyebrow and why she sometimes threw her head back when she laughed and whether she liked large dogs of indeterminate parentage and, maybe, just maybe, whether she wanted children some day.

“I don’t mind,” Kate said softly. “Do you?”

“Not at all,” Sam said. He took her hand, put his arm around her and their bodies fit together. A perfect fit.