When Olivia's dance with Max ended, Kurt stood by and asked to cut in. Olivia smiled as Max rushed off as if he couldn't get enough distance from her.

Kurt took her hand, and she asked if he was enjoying his party. He gave her hand a little squeeze. "You did a wonderful job, Livvy. You and Max seem to be getting along. Sometimes you bicker more than you and Ian ever did." Beside them, her brother was dancing with their mother. When she smiled at him, he winked at her.

"Did you and mom plan these dance partners?"

He laughed. "It was more impromptu. She wanted to dance with Ian, so I thought it would be nice to dance with my daughter."

Olivia rubbed his shoulder. She liked when he dropped the step from daughter. "Max asked me to be his plus one for a wedding."

"Maxwell is a good boy."

She laughed. "He's not a boy. He's a surgeon." A man.

"I know, but I still see you as..."

"Don't say it. I was nine."

"And very sweet. You needed a father, and I needed a daughter."

"A match made in heaven. The guy with the plane, Jimmy, knows my grandmother."

"Interesting."

Olivia listened to the music. Dancing was not as much fun without sexual excitement coursing through her body. When the song ended, Kurt kissed her cheek. "I have some people to say goodbye to."

Ian walked up to her. "Do you want to dance?"

She smiled. "I'd rather just get a drink with you."

"Great idea. You did a wonderful job on the party, but you don't seem like you are having fun."

She shook her head. "I am. I'm missing my wingman."

Ian laughed. "You have to let Zach go."

"I have. Believe me, but being single at a party is not fun. You should know."

He sighed. "I've forgotten already. You need to find someone. According to the Dees you don't give any of your dates a chance."

"The Dees should learn to keep their opinions to themselves."

He smiled. "Ainsley likes them." His entire face brightened. "Here she is." He reached out his hand and Ainsley went to her side.

"You two are too cute."

Ainsley laughed. "Show me the Armani."

"OMG! Did they tell you? I hope Graham wasn't around."

"You mean the cracker?" Ian laughed.

"Zach is up to no good."

Ainsley laughed. "It's Max who keeps asking Mandy if she's tasted marshmallows."

Olivia gritted her teeth. "I'm gonna kill him." She scanned the room looking for the dark hair. Zach stood taller with Lilli next to him. She eyed Max leaving the function room. Determined, she closed the gap to the door. Looking both ways she turned toward the men's room.

Planting her feet across from the door, she put her hands on her hips and waited. After what felt like forever she was ready to storm in. Luke Mitchell, the younger son stepped out.

"Hi Olivia. Lovely party."

"Did you fly in from London for Kurt's birthday?"

He smiled. "Yes, and no. It's my grandmother's ninetieth birthday. My mother summoned us."

She nodded. "How are things in the London office?"

"Fine. Imogen is getting excited about the Clark movie."

"I hear Leo cut the deal, but Lillian Caron-Steele brokered the partnership."

"Steele, huh?"

Olivia nodded. "She's inside. Tall and beautiful, you can't miss her."

"I've heard good things about Zachary. I remember him as a kid, but same goes for you."

"Surprise. I've grown up."

"Very nicely." He looked at his watch and yawned. "It's two am in London."

Olivia wasn't paying attention because Max stood behind Luke frowning. When the older man walked away, she glared at Max.

He lifted his chin. "Do men talk to you that way?"

"What way?" She spat.

"You've grown up nice." He mimicked.

"Get over yourself. That was Luke Mitchell. He probably remembers how I looked at the wedding."

"Ruffles and ribbons."

"Don't remind me. Besides, what's it to you?" She poked his chest and had to hide the fact the hard surface hurt her finger. "I came to find you to tell you to stop the marshmallow bull. It's gotten old."

She turned on her heels without waiting for his reply. Unfortunately, his long legs were no match for her on three-inch heels.

"Would it kill you to have fun?"

"I have fun. Excuse me, I see a guest I haven't greeted."

She disappeared behind the last large group of her parents and the Sumners, Roches, Steeles, and Mitchells. Max went towards the Dees who were at a table with Zach, Lilli, Ainsley and Ian. In the corner was a quiet group. She approached and Emma pointed to a chair.

"The parents outlasted us."

Josh said, "They don't have a kid who wakes at six on weekends."

She smiled. "Violet, you look tired."

"My daughter wears her out." JJ bragged. Violet rubbed her belly.

"Proud papa." She laughed.

Ken called over. "Come on, party animals. The cars are here."

They stood. Emma hugged Olivia. "Don't give up."

Olivia shook her head, but the prospect felt like a cloud over her head. The Mitchells followed the group from Boston, leaving the room almost empty. Even Kurt went and joined the Dees with his nephews.

Lois put her arm around her. "The party was wonderful, but did you have fun?"

"Of course." But as she spoke Ronny approached her with the bill. Anita said, "That's mine."

Olivia wondered who would throw her a party when she turned a round number. She wouldn't have any nephews or nieces. Maybe the Dees.

Kurt announced the party should continue at the house. Lindy and Mandy walked over to her. "We're going. Have fun."

She smiled. "You're the ones with dates. You have fun."

They had three cars, and she ended up with her parents. Somehow they arrived home first. She went straight to her room and changed. She could hear people moving around above her, but she shut out her light and climbed in bed.

When the tears fell, she couldn't even identify why she was crying. One word came to mind - loneliness. Even in the crowded party she felt alone. Everyone, but one other was paired up. Why did he want to go through life alone? She didn't, but she didn't want to settle.

A knock on the door made her heart beat faster. She ignored it and held her breath when she heard her door open. Her lashes were wet but she couldn't move.

"I'm sorry about teasing Graham. I know you are angry with me." She was afraid to breathe. He stood by her bed. "Sleeping people breathe. You could always hold your breath a long time."

They would have contests in the pool. She practiced at camp so she would be ready.

She squeezed her eyes shut as he scrunched down by her bed. "Liv, what's wrong? I was just teasing."

"I'm just tired. I'm tired of being alone."

He sighed. "You're the one who dumped Graham."

"Right. I should have dated him and married him, so you could make fun of him on every holiday. At least, you wouldn't have to worry about how I felt about you."

"Liv."

"We've been here before. Maybe you should get the little package from the cafeteria to be your plus-one."

"I asked you and you agreed. I don't want to go with anyone else."

"Fine. Whatever. It's one night."

"Liv." She froze as his hand rested on her arm.

"You should go. Someone will wonder where you are. You wouldn't want to give them the wrong idea. You're not Zach."

He rubbed her arm and sighed. "Okay. Get some sleep." As he stood, he kissed her head.

Once the door shut, she got up and locked it. One visitor was enough. A sob escaped and then another. She woke early and quietly left the house. Maybe she would feel better after a swim.

There was only one other swimmer so early, but she never paid attention to who was in the other lanes. Instead, she pushed herself lap after lap. She lost count and kept swimming - turn, glide, race across and turn again. When her body screamed, she cooled down with a hundred meters of the breaststroke.

As she pulled herself out of the pool, the other swimmer asked, "Do you compete?"

She shook her head. "Not since high school."

"You swam like you were doing a time trial."

"Nope. It's just a workout."

He was a good-looking guy at least five years younger than her, probably more. Lindy would have flirted. She might have even slept with him, but Olivia wasn't like her friend.

When she entered the house, everyone was in the kitchen eating breakfast.

"You were gone a long time," Anita said.

Zach looked up at her. "Did you swim the whole time?"

She shook her head. "No, there was a hot, young guy, so we had sex in the shower."

Her mother stared at her, but when everyone else started laughing, Anita joined in. Only one other wasn't laughing and he stood up. "I have to go to the station." He disappeared as the laughing died down.

Lilli said, "Good for you putting nosey Zach in his place."

Ian said, "Sorry for laughing, but I know you would never."

"No, that's Max's style." Lois frowned.

Kurt cleared his throat. "The donations were very generous. I'm bringing them to Junior later, do you want to come?"

She looked at her vibrating phone. "No, my grandmother has requested I visit."

Ian and her mother looked at her. "It's fine. She has to be nice, I'm the only family she has left."

She went upstairs to shower. By the time she finished dressing to visit Abigail Browning, Max had left. The others were packing up to go to the airport.

Ian held her extra long. "Come up for another weekend."

"Maybe. We'll see."

Lilli teased. "Come torture the assistants."

Everyone laughed. She left when they did. She didn't want to be late. Her grandmother never invited her beyond their monthly dinner. No use worrying she would find out soon enough.

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