What hung from the trees a few nights later she could only describe as 'Christmas tree lights'.
The night sky that hung over that looked like black velvet, sequins of stardust scattered about it.
Across the freshly-cleaned terracotta path came a man and woman. The man was a slight bit younger than Bob, a fresh new suit highlighting the fact that he once had good-looking features. The young girl wrapped across his right arm was swamped in furs, expensive jewellery, and a hairdo that was just asking to be ruined by the nights end.
Still, they walked up the steps to the door, where they were let in by the doormen, before being greeted by their host himself.
'Don Constantine, Juliet, how good it is to see you!' Bob welcomed them, kissing them both on the cheek.
'Don Corleone; how long it's been...' Constantine replied.
Tonight was a night of spoils, of luxurious food, dancing, and too much drink to count. Every year, Bob Corleone would host an extravagant party as a sort of thank-you for his boys and their families, and a review of the year for many of the other Dons that he knew. And their families.
Still, he looked the part, Regine thought to herself. Not that she didn't either; she herself wore yet another red satin floor-length dress, the type you would expect to see on some big-name female jazz singer.
Pulling back into reality, she realised that the new guests were making their way towards her. She straightened up and smiled, before being pulled into a cheek-kiss herself by Constantine. This was much like most of the evening so far had been. Then came Juliet, who Regine had to look twice at. As she kissed her cheek, Regine quietly greeted her herself;
'Hiya Candy' she snickered.
'Please don't say anything' 'Juliet' whispered back.
When they pulled back, Regine winked at her, sealing the deal. She thought she looked familiar.
And so commenced the rest of the evening...
Not before too long, she found herself at the massive dining table that seemed only to be reserved for guests. Since this wasn't her father's side of the family, she found herself seated between Uncle Bob and her great-aunt, and directly opposite her mother.
She had never really gotten along with her mother; Lisa was more straight-laced, as opposed to mothers 'happy-go-lucky' attitude. Although she was quite a respectable, Lisa had always been more concerned about getting and keeping a successful business, having a family and keeping it, and... well, not really much else; she just didn't have the time. Mother, on the other hand, was still involved rather closely with mafia life, and so, living was a by-the-day thing for her; she knew that any day, any time, she could be shot, stabbed, poisoned, whatever; it was a dangerous life to lead, and she just hadn't been able to escape it, especially keeping into account of who she was and what kind of a status she had.
Amongst the crowd of what seemed like hundreds, time moved slowly; she really didn't give a fuck what great-three-removed-second-cousin had been doing the past year, nor was she the least bit interested about her mother; she'd stayed in Miami for a good reason.
But that was nothing a good few drinks couldn't fix.
Regine woke maybe three hours later, a tiny pool of saliva sticking her to her tablecloth bed.
And the party was still in full swing. Jeez, for a bunch of people consisting mostly of those that should have been in a retirement home years ago, they sure knew how to keep going...
And she was still bored; surely something could liven things up a bit?
...
She looked about, noticing that most people had someone either on their arm, or collecting some punch for them.
So where was Regine's date?
Let's see; Nikki would be passed out at some bar, Vince would with some girl in the restrooms, no doubt, Mick would be trying to sort out the mess, and Tommy... Tommy would either be passed out with Nikki, or going at it with the same girl as Vince was... And she wouldn't be surprised if it was at the same time...
...
Well, there's was always Steven, right? After all, she never did get that ride back home...
Besides, no one would notice if she was only gone for an hour, right?