"We were," Michael replied.
"But we – resolved our differences," Sage added.
Michael chuckled and put his arm around her.
"Thank you, Sage," Anthony said. "Thank you for the party. Thank you for bringing Alison."
"Yes, thank you for insisting I come, Sage," Alison agreed.
Millie joined them. "I've been looking all over for you, Michael." Then she noticed Michael's arm around Sage. "So, you finally?...ah, stupid question, no?"
"Just a question with an obvious answer," Michael said, "as you pointed out, or
tried
to point out long ago, my dear friend."
Millie grinned from ear to ear. "Okay. I can finally cross Michael off my 'potential men' list Thank you Sage, that's a load off."
"You're welcome," Sage said, smiling. "And thank you, Millie. You've done so much for me, in so many ways. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."
"Would you like to dance?" Anthony asked Alison.
"I thought you'd never ask." The two whirled onto the dance floor, moving as one.
The dowager princess came up to Michael, Sage and Millie on the arm of a dark, attractive young man. "Sage, I'd like you to meet my grandson, Earnest."
Sage shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, Earnest."
"Nice to meet you, too," he said, but he had his eyes on Millie. "Would you like to dance?"
Millie's eyebrows went up in surprise. "Me?"
"Yes, you." He took her hand and swept her onto the dance floor. The dowager princess shrugged and returned to her music.
Michael and Sage moved slowly to the music that swirled around them, as if their feet might never again touch earth, but more grounded than ever.
Filled with love.
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