The place had been decked out with balloons and streamers. Hors d’oeuvre trays were being passed around to a crowd of mostly single women, young and old. The volume of their collective chatter betrayed their level of excitement. Others had come just for the entertainment and, of course, to support the shelter. Paige tried to get into the spirit of things as she settled a glitch with the microphone stand. She should be ecstatic. It was a terrific turnout. Standing room only. The entry fee alone would raise a lot of money, and if the bachelors went for the amount she suspected they would, the shelter would have more than enough to tide them over until the new donors’ money came in. Lucy approached from behind the makeshift stage. “The fellas are ready. All set to go?” “I think so.” Paige tested the mike stand, finding it stable. “Do you have the order of events and the bios?” Lucy had agreed to emcee the event. She held up the sheet of paper. “Let’s get this show on the road.
