Free All My Tomorrows by Colette L. Saucier Page A

you’d
like to leave your things in the cloakroom, I’ll take you out to the others.”
    “Ah, well, aren’t you the perfect host. Don’t you
have a butler or something?”
    She dropped off her purse – Really? A cloakroom? – and he walked with her through a maze until they arrived at a large room
filled with guests spilling out to the pool area. Peter grabbed two crystal
flutes from the tray of a passing waiter and handed her one of them.
    He touched his glass to hers with a ting.
“Congratulations.”
    She sipped then asked, “Why are you congratulating
me? You have achieved what you came here to do, or rather what the network sent
you to do.”
    “No, the novelty of having me on the show might
have brought in a few viewers, but it’s your storylines that kept them hooked.
I still think they are ludicrous,” he said with a smile, “but clearly you know
your audience. So here’s to a team effort.”
    He touched his glass to hers again, and as she
drank, the music caught her attention. At first she had thought a DJ must be
out there, but now she could see the stage on the far side of the extensive
patio. He had done it – an eighties cover band.
    “The band,” she managed to sputter out. “How?”
    “You said that was what you wanted.”
    She lifted her eyes to his, and something about
them disturbed her. She suddenly felt nervous, as if she had lost something, or
there was something she had forgotten to do.
    Then she remembered Rich. As late as she had
arrived, he must already be there. She glanced around the room but didn’t see
him.
    “Are you looking for someone?” Peter’s tone had
taken an edge since his toasts.
    “Yes, is…is Eileen here yet?”
    Peter drank the rest of his champagne in one
swallow. “Yes, she’s by the pool. I’ll show you.”
    “No, thanks. I’ll find her.”
    She rushed in among the other guests, often being
forced to stop to greet her co-workers and their dates or mates. The pool had
lilies with candles floating on its surface. A few people were dancing on the
patio out by the band, with tiny white lights strung over the makeshift dance
floor.  He had done it all at a moment’s notice; and with the beauty and
perfection he had arranged here on Earth, she would not have been surprised if
he had ordered the stars twinkling in the black sky as well. Must be nice to
have that kind of money.
    One thing she did not find, however, was any sign
of Rich. Eileen waved to her from beside the bar.
    “I’ve been wondering when you’d get here.”
    “I just walked in the door. Have you seen Rich?”
Alice asked, still searching through the guests. “Could he be dancing?”
    “No, I don’t think he’s here yet. I was just out
by the band and didn’t see him.”
    Alice finished her champagne and took a full glass
from the bar. “I thought he’d be here by now.”
    “Maybe he didn’t want to come since he and Peter
are not exactly friends.”
    “No, he said that was Peter’s problem, not his.”
    “Alice, listen. I need to talk to you about
something. Well, this probably isn’t the right time or place.”
    Alice turned her full attention back to Eileen.
“That doesn’t sound good. Let me finish this glass, and then I’ll be ready to
hear it.” She drank most of it down and then studied her friend.
    “I got a part – in a film.”
    “Eileen, that’s great!” She smiled broadly and
pulled Eileen into a hug. “That calls for more champagne!” She got a glass for
each of them. “So tell me about it.”
    “It’s a small part, but I do have lines and lots
of screen time.”
    “What’s the role?”
    Eileen glanced down at her glass then back to
Alice. “It’s as an old hag.”
    Alice burst out laughing. “I know you said you
aren’t as beautiful as Giselle, but you’re certainly no old hag!”
    “They’ll use make-up, silly, and this could be a
great opportunity for me.”
    “I know. It really is wonderful. So when do you
need to be on set?”
    “I