“Yeah, I'm afraid I ripped my drawers on that one.” She tried not to look in Jing's direction but, still, she had felt his fleeting glances throughout the wedding and the reception. So far, she had managed to avoid him. The reason was more a feeling of discomfort, or perhaps some personal shame after not being able to put those old intrusive feelings and doubts aside. Perhaps if he had not waited so long to tell her about Stephen's death until after she had found Stephen's ring. Or, perhaps if he had been more upfront about it from the beginning there would not be those lingering suspicions that maybe he’d intentionally killed Stephen to get his competition out of the way. Perhaps was such an annoying word, even perhaps, a bit maddening.

“My grandmother used to say, you know, girl…like when I was a teenager and got my heart broken. She'd say, you know girl, everyone gets burned in this life, and relationships are apt to cause you some pain from time to time. You just gotta decide which ones are worth the trouble. Like you, for instance, I just had to decide which ones are worth the trouble, my friend.”

“What? Me? What do you mean?”

“Yeah, I decided a long time ago that even though you were a serious pain in the butt at times, I decided to keep you anyway,” Cynthia said then giggled.

“Ah! Well thanks for that life lesson my friend,” said Racy as she poured on the drama, pretending to be offended.

Sophia came with her little-skipping step across the room to greet them. “Hey, are you girls ready to call it a wrap?” asked Sophia in her ever-sparkling voice. Her curly Hispanic locks of hair bounced as she turned her head looking back and forth between the two. “The wedding was fantastic! It was so beautiful, and you two ladies look lovely, everything was awesome, I enjoyed it so much, you know I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Now If you like, I'll take care of things like getting your gifts, all of the cards together and if there's anything left of the cake.” She giggled. “I'll keep it safe for you until you return from your honeymoon. But if you don't come back, I'm keeping it for myself,” she teasingly laughed. “Is there anything else, anything in particular, I need to do? Do I need to hold on to the dress for you?”

“Oh, that would be wonderful, Sophia you are unbelievable, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this.”

“Hey, Sophia, let me help her change, and I'll be right back to help you pack up all of the gifts and things,” said Racy.

“Thanks, I'm sure I'll need all the help I can get.” She giggled as she gave Cynthia a kiss on the cheek and a hug. “Be safe and have fun…oh! And bring me back a small bottle of perfume from France,” she smiled. “Now I've got to get busy, or I'll be here all night.”

“Well, I’m going to say goodbye to Dr. Lang even if you don’t speak to him. After all, I owe him my life. Come on, like it or not, you’re coming with me,” said Cynthia as she grabbed Racy’s hand dragging her in the direction of Jing while exchanging pleasantries with family and friends along the way.

Once she reached the area by the bar near where he stood, Cynthia warmly embraced him with a heartfelt hug and a double kiss on each cheek.

“Lang, have you been avoiding me? It's so good to see you. I've seen you several times tonight, but you were always across the room. I had to come and say goodbye before we left. How have you been?”

“Very well, thank you.” Lang shuffled his stance awkwardly, he smiled and nodded toward Racy who was acting like a preteen afraid that a boy was getting ready to kiss her. He sat his martini glass down on the bar. “It was a lovely wedding. Holmes is a fortunate man indeed.”

“Oh well, yes we all know that.” Cynthia smiled as she batted her eyes while tilting her head to the side. “Be sure and remind him if you get the chance.” She laughed facetiously. “Thanks so much for everything and thank you for coming tonight, it meant a lot to me, and I know Holmes feels the same way.” Cynthia squeezed his hand. “Racy, I've got to go to the restroom, and I don't need any help with that.” She winked at Racy. “I'll see you in the dressing room in a few minutes.” Cynthia intentionally left the two alone.

“So…how's my boy,” Racy gently asked after a few silent, awkward moments.

“I'm doing well, thank you. It's good to know that…I didn't realize I was still your boy,” stammered Jing.

“You'll always be my boy.” Racy reached out to tap Jing's shoulder. “I'm really sorry. I know I've mistrusted you, treated you poorly, and haven’t—I've been a terrible girlfriend. I thought I’d buried the past, but I guess I just wasn't as ready, well…as I thought I was.”

Jing smiled in an empathetic manner.

“Would you give me another chance and just a little more time, please…can I call you?”

“Sure,” said Jing, his stiff body language and expression conveying his emotional distress. “You still have my number, right? Call whenever you’re ready, I’ll wait.”

Racy leaned forward to embrace him for a moment as she laid her head on his shoulder. His hand slowly slipped around her waist as he squeezed her closer to his body. She missed the feeling of intimacy of her flesh pressing next to his. As a teary emotional moment emerged, she released her grasp and walked away, not looking back as her eyes began to water up.