She smoothed her skirt once more, though there wasn’t a wrinkle in it.

She looked at Ethan a final time, waiting for him to change his mind.

He wouldn’t even turn his head toward her.

At last Vanessa turned and walked across the grass to the driveway.

The catering staff started packing up the silver trays and crystal glasses in a hurry.

Ethan came over and joined me by the patio doors.

His gray suit was ruined with mud, and his face looked ten years older.

“Look, I’m going back to the city tonight,” Ethan said.