"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One!" The imposing grandfather clock chimed twelve times as the crowd in the ballroom shouted "Happy New Year!" and began singing Auld Lang Syne. "Should auld acquaintance be forgot—" Delilah Davenport began, but was interrupted by an older gentleman spinning her around and kissing her full on the lips. "Why, Mr. Davenport!" she exclaimed in mock surprise. "How very f...

"This roast is excellent," Harvey Davenport remarked, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Delilah looked across the dining room table at her husband. "It certainly is. Margaret has outdone herself tonight." "Nothing but the best for our anniversary, darling." Harvey chuckled. "Twenty years, can you believe it? Here's to twenty more," he toasted, raising his glass of red wine. "Yes, here's to twenty more," Delilah agreed, rais...

“Jules, are those your cousins?” Daphne asked, looking over Julia’s shoulder at the entrance to the grand ballroom. Julia turned and looked behind her. “Yes, those red-headed weasels are the Culligan boys,” she said with a sigh. “Aw, I think they’re cute!” Daphne laughed. “Sure, if you haven’t had to deal with them at every family gathering for all nineteen years of your life.” Julia paused. “But I’ll introduce you to the...