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entrance. She had positioned herself strategically so she could keep an eagle-eye on Steve's name badge and begin to captivate him with her beauty and charm from the moment he arrived. Unfortunately, the charm was dissipating as annoyance and impatience took over. Gina's happy excitement gave way to frustration and disappointment.
     
    Nita wrapped her flower loosely in a paper napkin; as she laid it in her purse, she heard a voice. It was Wes, "Hi, you're Nita, aren't you?"
    "Yes, hello! Wes!"
    "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!"
    "It's OK, really."
     "So, what brings you here?" Wes said with a smirk.
    "Oh, I guess, the same thing that brought you here..."
    "A CAR!" the two of them shouted in unison, then erupted with laughter.
    "I'll be here through Sunday. Get your tickets now! but, seriously folks..." He sounded as though he was a stand-up comedian performing his best material, but, he wasn't very good, even though he, apparently, rehearsed a lot before coming out.
     
    Nita wasn't much for comedy, but she tried to keep up. When her efforts failed, she attempted have a serious conversation with him. Wes admitted to being so nervous at these events, he knew he resorted to making jokes a bit too much. Concluding that the conversation was never going to progress beyond the superficial, Nita bravely told him that she didn't feel like she had met the "real Wes". She confessed that she was not interested in e-mailing him in the future. He seemed to understand. They said their good-byes. She walked away, leaving him standing next to the bar.
     
    By this time, Gina was talking to one of the organizers from KISS-LOVE 91 and she did not look happy. Nita walked closer. All she could hear her say was, "He R.S.V.P.'d, didn't he?" Just then, a hand reached out and touched her arm. Turning around, she was confronted by one of the servers, "Ma'am, I think you dropped something." He handed her an envelope.
    "I didn't drop anything." she thought. Looking more closely, Nita read the words written, on the front, in handwriting she had seen before: "From your Secret Admirer".
     
    Nita slipped out onto the terrace and found a secluded spot in a far corner beyond the fountain. She looked around to make sure no one would interrupt her. Her hands shook and her face became flushed as she opened this new envelope.
     
    "Hello again, Beautiful!
     
    Thanks for your e-mail. I am sorry I am not there to see you tonight, in person. Please accept this note, instead. You already know I like you. I hope you like me, too.
    As much as I want to be looking into your eyes and maybe holding your hand right now, I believe we will meet one day soon. Until then, you may call me your "Secret Admirer".

I will be dreaming of you. Maybe, you will dream of me, too. Write back to me soon."
     
    Nita was overwhelmed! She sat on the terrace staring at the note, touched by its direct but tender sentiment. Caleb had not yet appeared at the mixer. Could this be from him? After all, it is possible for one person to have more than one e-mail address. While the note didn't provide a lot of information, it was clear that whoever wrote it was not going to see her that night.
     
    As her racing thoughts, and heartbeat, began to calm down, she decided she would stay a little longer just in case Caleb was able to come. She stopped at the buffet table and filled a small plate. She walked around the room, found a seat and munched on the sliced raw vegetables. For the first time since she arrived, she began to notice the other couples who were interacting around her.
     
    In the corner of her eye, she noticed neon blue emergency lights flashing near the front door. A crowd gathered as the police escorted a handful of people out of the front entrance. Nita thought she would find Gina to make sure she was safe. She had been standing near the reception desk a few minutes earlier. When she moved closer, she could see that Gina was talking to one of the officers. Finding a