they arrive at the country club

Jake hit the blinker and made a slow left, around another expanse of farmland. As they climbed over a hill and descended the other side, Abbie was immediately taken aback by the view out the passenger window.

"Oh my god, Jake -- look at that!"

From the top of the hill, looking down, they could see the massive sprawl of the club. Large buildings, several of them, flanked by various parking areas. A series of tennis courts, several swimming pools, and a golf course surrounded the entire property. Trees and other foliage filled the spaces between, and as Jake slowly steered the car back down the hill, he simply said, "Wow."

Abbie couldn't help but smile. "I've never been to a country club. I've never been to a golf course, except like a putt-putt place at an amusement park."

"This is seriously fancy," said Jake, still in shock.

"No kidding."

"I had no idea," he continued. "I mean, I knew Staci's family was pretty well off, so I imagined that this weekend would be kind of lavish, but this is other-worldly."

Abbie looked back at Jake, took his hand again, and squeezed it. "I'm super excited. Look, we're going to have to be on very good behavior. We have to look like we fit in."

"Are we dressed okay, do you think?"

Abbie glanced over their outfits. "Yes, I think so. I mean, I've never been to a place like this, but I do enough PR stuff through work, I've been to parties with rich people. No one's going to be wearing gowns or anything. Plus it's a gorgeous sunny day. We're dressed for an indoor/outdoor kind of thing, which this probably is."

Jake nodded. He trusted her. He had to, he had no other choice.

"We're going to be great. I promise."

Jake smiled. "Just don't leave me making small talk with distant relatives I don't care about."

"Are you kidding? We have to make small talk. I don't know anyone else except you!"

Jake rolled his eyes. They reached the bottom of the hill, and the entrance to the club. The large sign at the entrance simply read Tyche. "I Googled it the other day. Tyche is the Greek goddess of fortune. Great name for a richie-rich club like this, don't you think?"

Abbie bit her lip, then smiled broadly. "Jake!" she said with a falling cadence.

"What?"

"That's so darn adorable, you looking up what the name of this place meant." She was truly taken with this. It tied in with their conversation about who they are in the rest of their lives. The picture of Jake Googling something he didn't know gave Abbie a little flutter. She wasn't totally sure why -- or maybe she knew and didn't want to address it. Either way, she found it very endearing.

"That's me, adorable as a kitten." Jake turned to her. "Purr, purr."

"Stop it, Jake. If you toy with me too much, I'll have to ... I don't know, do things in the car here and we'll never get to the party."

"Don't tempt me," Jake said as he parked the car. Just the idea of ignoring the party and messing around with Abbie all afternoon gave him a little tingle. Nevertheless, he turned off the car, stepped out, and opened Abbie's door on the other side.

"Mmm, what a gentleman." Abbie stepped out. As the light breeze caught her dress, and with the sun shining behind her body and through her lightly fluttering hair, she looked like a goddess herself.

Jake gestured toward the main building with his head. "Let's make our grand entrance." He took Abbie's hand, and the two of them walked side by side toward the door.