Nathan Melrath, the host of the party, welcomed her warmly. And as he and Joshua exchanged greetings, Cassie took a moment to scan the room. The house had an open, airy feel. She could see the formal living and dining rooms from where she stood. The patio door on the far wall had been left open and several people were out on a redwood deck. A slow, sensuous jazz tune softly filled in the background of several simultaneous and boisterous conversations of a dozen or so smartly dressed men and women. Ice tinkling against crystal glasses, spurts of laughter, and the intriguing smell of hors d'oeuvres were clear evidence that a successful social gathering was well under way. The first hairline fissure in Cassie's euphoric facade came with the introductions. Don, Carol, Susan, Henry, Janice, Vincent, another Susan, William. Heaven above, she'd never remember all these names, and the thought brought a moment of sheer panic that tensed every muscle in her body. As though sensing her apprehension, Joshua smiled down at her and squeezed her hand reassuringly.
