The man turned his back on me and hurried off toward the patio.

A sharp, commanding voice sliced across the lawn.

“Excuse me!”

Vanessa stormed across the grass.

She had on a flawless white silk dress that caught the glow of the crystal bulbs overhead.

She stopped exactly three feet from me.

She smoothed her skirt with both hands, pressing her palms hard against fabric that was already perfectly flat.

“You can’t be here, right?” Vanessa said.