“Gerald,” Margaret whispered, her voice tight.

“Everyone in this room is watching.”

Gerald did not answer her.

He picked up his glass of Pinot Noir and swallowed the rest in two fast gulps.

I stood up from table twenty-two and walked toward the quiet foyer to get away from the crowd.

Margaret was waiting by the oak coat rack, her beaded clutch purse pressed flat against her waist.

“You should have stayed on your air base,” Margaret said.