Free 1 3 7 – ZOË by C. De Melo

has, indeed.”
    Michael placed a n arm around me.  “Well, our little Zoë insisted on you coming and I’m glad you did.  Come on in and have a drink.  I don’t think you need any introductions since you already know just about everyone here.”
    I smiled gratefully at Michael.  Lance caught the exchange and frowned slightly before following us into the living room.  Everyone seemed surprised (but not displeased) to see him.  I watched with a smile on my face as Lance mingled effortlessly in the group, spreading his charm and good humor.  When I glanced up at Michael, I noticed he was not smiling.  In fact, he watched his brother with an intensity that bordered on hostile. 
    When he caught my eye, he smiled and kissed the top of my head.   “When do we eat?  I’m famished,” he said.
    “ Soon,” I replied, suddenly wishing he would remove his arm from around my shoulders.
    “Din ner is served,” Juana announced.
    “That’s my cue to get the bird,” Michael said as he stepped away from me.
    Juana and Maria set the food out on the table.  The twenty-three pound turkey was carried to the head of the table by Michael himself.  The bird was cooked to a perfect golden brown.
    “What do you think?  Twenty pounds?” Lance asked of Maddy, who was sitting beside him.
    Since I was seated directly across from Lance, I whispered, “Twenty-three.”
    They both looked at me and smiled.   Michael picked up a wickedly sharp knife and began carving the giant bird.  Before long, plates were being piled high with delicious food.  Juana and Maria had outdone themselves.  The guests were eating heartily, drinking and chatting.  I looked around and felt the deep sense of satisfaction that comes from being a successful hostess. 
    At one point during the meal I caught Lance staring at me with a strange expression on his face.  I saw something in his eyes that I remembered seeing many years ago: fascination .  Lance was only twenty years old when I was first introduced to him by Michael.  He was ten years my junior and no doubt less experienced than me.  Regardless of our age difference, I took the time to speak with him and really listen to what he had to say.  I was surprised by Lance’s keen intelligence and maturity.  We hit it off instantly, and within minutes he had me laughing.  Since Michael was usually pulled away to discuss politics or business whenever we went to social events, Lance would often tag along at his older brother’s invitation in order for me not to be alone.  We would spend the time enjoying one another’s company.  In time, it eventually became obvious to me (and Michael) that Lance had a crush on me.  We thought it was cute and harmless; a boy’s crush on an older woman. But Lance was no longer an inexperienced boy.
    Instead, he was very much a man.   And now he was almost ten years my senior.  The roles had reversed; did he still have a crush on me?
    We stared at each other for only a few seconds, but the intensity of the exchange made it seem like longer.  Lance was the first to break eye contact.  He looked down at his plate.  I turned my head and saw Michael glare at his brother before meeting my gaze.  When I smiled at my husband, he did not return the smile.  Instead, he picked up his wine glass and began to speak with the female colleague seated beside him.
    Michael avoided me for the remainder of the night.  Not even when his favorite dessert was brought to the table did he look to me or say thank you.  The men congregated to discuss business and sports after dinner, leaving Lance with the women.  None of them minded his charming company; in fact they welcomed it with obvious approval.  After several minutes, however, Michael invited Lance to join the men. 
    “ Come on, little brother.  Let me rescue you from these hens,” Michael teased.
    The women feigned outrage at the macho comment, but they took it as an opportunity to gossip.  Since Maddy, my