I couldn’t explain it but the vibe I was picking up from Annie made me think she was going to be a problem, somehow.

My thoughts turned to various things I’d picked up about her, including the malevolent looks she’d given Harley when Philip and Daisy had been praising Harley during the dinner. She’d also shot daggers Harley’s way when Thad had wandered over to Harley’s side of the table, as my angel stood up and walked to one end of the table to sit amongst the quieter couples. Thad had massaged Harley’s neck when, at one point, Harley had started to roll her head from side to side. Thad and Harley had exchanged a quick intimate smile after that — Annie continued to look Harley’s way long after the moment between her and Thad passed, and Thad had moved on to sit with another group of people.

Then there were the looks she’d given me and Harley as we shared what I’d thought was a relatively private exchange across the table during the sing-along at the restaurant. But Annie continued to monitor us, and Harley, in particular, all throughout the night.

My spidey sense was tingling, and brought back memories. Of something that had happened with Chris, and which I’d not done anything about at the time it was happening.

A week into our relationship, Chris had thrown a dinner for major clients and the senior management of the firm she worked for to celebrate the successful opening of their Hong Kong office, which Chris had been responsible for planning and executing . I’d insisted she hold it in my place, so that she could invite as many people as she wanted to. My apartment could easily accommodate as many as 60 people for a dinner party if she wanted, I pointed out to her.

Chris and I had presented ourselves to the guests as close friends and neighbors – my idea mainly because I knew that Chris hadn’t managed to tell those she’d worked with about us, yet. She told me that there were probably going to be whispers about the age gap between us, on top of other things, particularly once people realized who my parents and grandparents and family lineage were. Earlier that week, after various tests confirmed what we feared, she’d dropped the bomb about her illness already, and, although they’d been extremely supportive about that, I sensed that she was timing her revelation about us for an appropriate time later.