Staci offers a distant look at the party guests

"I knew I always wanted a big splashy affair." Staci was being half tour guide, half life story narrator as she slowly led Abbie and Jake through the ballroom. "I knew I wanted a fancy party, lots of people, great food and drink. But then I met Phil. And Phil is more, I don't know, practical about everything. He thinks about what he needs, not what he wants. You know what I mean, Abbie?"

Abbie nodded. "I know exactly what you mean." She glanced at Jake and winked at him as if to say, I don't mean you, I'm just playing along.

"So I wanted big and fancy and Phil wanted small and simple. So we compromised, and went with big and fancy." Staci laughed at her own joke. "He doesn't mind, of course. And I love it!"

A waiter with a tray of small pastries came around. "Mushroom, gruyere, and caramelized onion tarts," he said, extending the tray. Jake snagged two, and Abbie and Staci each took one.

"These are so good!" Staci confided. "I've probably had about twenty of them."

Abbie and Jake ate theirs, and acknowledged that Staci wasn't wrong -- they were quite delicious.

"So over there," Staci pointed at a group of men around a table. "That's some of Phil's party." Just then, they saw Phil cross the room and join his friends. "Danny is the Italian looking guy, he's Phil's best man. And then that's Arthur and Rick. And I think the one with his back to us is Aguri."

"Oh we met them as they arrived," said Abbie, recognizing the names.

Staci looked around the room. "Honestly, I don't know where my people are. My sisters Ashley and Alicia are late to everything. But over at the bar there, that's Melanie, the strawberry blonde, and then that's Emily next to her." Emily was Japanese with long hair that was mostly dark, but dyed pink at the roots. Melanie had long, curly hair. Both were in their mid-20s, about Staci's age.

"I know I'm just a far away distant third cousin," said Jake. "Did any other almost-not-even-related people come?"

"A few," said Staci. "More tomorrow for the ceremony. And truth be told, I can't always remember who's a second cousin or a great-nephew or what."

"I saved that family tree printout we got a few years ago. Kind of cool to see just how widespread the ancestry is."

Staci nodded. "Then you'll know better than I will." Another waiter passed by with some kind of sweet puff pastry. They all took a sample. "Let's wash these down with a beverage." As they cozied up to the bar, the bartender quickly put out three full champagne glasses for them.

"Cheers," said Jake.

"To Staci!" said Abbie. They clinked glasses. Abbie looked around. This was far more posh than anything she'd been a guest at before. Through work, she'd done lavish public relations events, but she was always working them. Here, she could relax and enjoy the scenery and the company.

"Abbie, we should go say hello to Mel and Em. Jake, do you want to join us?"

Jake looked over at the two women at the far end of the bar. "You know, I think I'm going to go be a guy and hang out with the guys and talk about ... guy stuff. But thanks."

Abbie stood up on her tiptoes and gave Jake a quick kiss. "Good luck making new friends!" she said cutely. As Jake stepped away, she lightly patted him on the ass. He glanced back, blushing a bit. Abbie winked, and turned away from him to walk with Staci.