Part Six

They string Christmas lights across his back porch as Beyonce blares in the background. Cat can’t help but dance around. Mark mixes batches of his famous rum punch, which she’ll have to stay away from if she doesn’t want to ruin her shorts. Mark and Cat take a seat at his patio table, sip their cocktails, and admire a job well done. Friends begin to stream through the door and she can’t believe how good everyone looks. She’s pleased by the dress code’s loose interpretation—there are pretty Cape Cod boaters, cranky old fishermen, and even a few pirates. Cat thinks Hallie’s outfit takes the cake and even though she’d seen it that morning she was amazed at how it had all come together. Mark whistles as she walks into the back yard. He lifts her arm and forces her to spin.

“Let me guess,” he says as he looks over her gold sequin tee-shirt dress, high heels, and her eye-patch. Her make-up sparkles.

“I give up,” he says after a minute.

“I’m the sunken treasure,” Hallie says laughing.

“Perfect,” Mark says and shoves a glass of punch into her hand.

Cat loves the party. She can’t remember when she last had such fun. The promise of summer looms above with the dark dusky sky. It fills her with hope. She steps into the kitchen to refill her beer and she sees Dave walk through the door. She smiles. He’s wearing a double breasted terry cloth blazer, seersucker swim trunks and topsiders. He looks around the room and she knows he’s hoping to find her. She waves.

“Hi,” she shouts over the music. She hands him a beer. “You look amazing. You’re outfit is hysterical!” Before he could respond Mark was behind him rubbing his shoulder.

“Is that a terry cloth blazer,” she can see the envy in Mark’s eye.

“Double breasted,” Dave says proudly as he turns around.

“Oh my God, Pepe,” Mark yelled for his friend, “Excuse me, honey, I need to borrow him.” Mark said as he led Dave away from her. When Cat makes her back outside an hour later Dave is surrounded by a small crowd.

“Do you know that guy?” Hallie asks, her eye-patch resting on her forehead.

“Yes, that’s my neighbor!”

“The snorer?” She crinkles her nose. She can’t believe it.

“Yes!”

“Oh my god, he’s hysterical. He’s totally become the life of the party. Holy shit I almost peed my pants listening to his stories before.” Cat looks in Dave’s direction. A wide circle of laughing people surrounds him and it takes a minute for her to catch his eye. He excuses himself and joins Hallie and Cat.

“Hey Dave, this is my friend Hallie, have you met?” Cat points to Hallie.

“No, hey, I don’t think so.” Cat knows Hallie can take it from here. She goes off to find Mark leaving Hallie and Dave to chat. After what felt like thirty minutes Cat glanced at her watch only to find hours had passed. She felt like Cinderella, she needed to get home before her outfit turned to dust, or just got dirty in her case. Her feet hurt and she was ready for bed. She took a lap around the party looking for Hallie and Dave, but neither was anywhere to be found. Cat kissed Mark and left the party.

In the cab on the way home she feels so proud of herself. She always knew she’d be a great matchmaker. She throws her party clothes in a pile on the floor; she won’t need them again until next summer. She pours a big glass of water, brushes her teeth, washes her face and climbs in to bed. The computer is hot but she doesn't mind.

You around?

Yeah, how are you? How was your night?

It was great. I think I set my friend up with a great guy! I always knew I’d make a great matchmaker.

Cool. How was the party?

And again she fell asleep with Nick.