Wildest Dreams (Thunder Point #9)(91)

“Blake?” Lin Su asked, feeling her spirits plummet. “Oh, Winnie...”

“But there’s no hard feelings between you,” Winnie said, challenging Lin Su’s story. “And of course he’s a friend of ours. And Charlie’s.”

Lin Su wasn’t fooled. Winnie was matchmaking again. She thought that if Lin Su dressed up and Blake came off well, everything would be fine and go back to the way things were.

She was trapped. But she knew she could be passive and polite and get this event behind her.

* * *

The night of the fund-raiser, Lin Su and Charlie put on their fancy clothes at Winnie’s house, and right before they were to leave, Troy helped Grace slowly up the stairs from their apartment.

“I’m sorry, Mama, but we’re not going to be able to go. I might still be here when you get home later but I’m having contractions. I’m definitely in labor but we’ve called the midwife and she said to wait until they’re a little longer and closer together. It’s just that the place for me is definitely not a gala.”

“Oh, Grace!” Winnie said. “I should stay here with you!”

“No, you should go. We’ll keep you posted on our progress. We might still be waiting for some action at midnight. On the other hand, if we’re lucky we’ll head for the hospital and let you know.”

“Makes sense,” Mikhail said. “They don’t take attendance at fancy parties. If we leave, we leave.” He gave Grace a little kiss on the cheek. “Good luck, pupsik. I hope she comes marching out quickly.”

* * *

The Neighborhood Club gala was held in the ballroom of a large hotel. There was a silent auction of items donated by individuals and businesses. Large round tables were hung with white tablecloths and festive Christmas arrangements. There was a stage and podium with a microphone and some of the Neighborhood Club board members, the director of the club and chair of the event and their spouses were to be seated at the two tables in front of that podium.

Blake was the special guest. His job was to present two awards for special achievements to teens who had been regulars at one of the clubs for a long time and had managed to perform athletically, in community service and academically even though they came from disadvantaged households. The awards would also come with partial scholarships. Then Blake would give a brief keynote before the evening’s end.

He had arrived a little early, as he always did. He liked to visit with the gala planners, volunteers, board members or dignitaries who came in support of the nonprofit. He always enjoyed a first look at auction items and would bid on at least a couple. He’d smile, shake a lot of hands, congratulate many and, if there was a God, greet treasured friends.

There would be five hundred guests tonight, a worthy crowd for a town and county this size. He’d spoken at and attended many such events that were far larger in bigger cities. There was one in Phoenix that offered a racehorse and diamond ring as part of their auction items; in New York City the grand item was a Mercedes coupe. His job tonight was to entertain, inspire and motivate.

He chatted with a great many people before he saw who he was looking for. She was not easy to spot because she was so small. Tonight she wore heels, making her almost as tall as Mikhail. Her elegant black dress with a silver wrap clung to that woman’s body he had been missing so much. He longed to reach for her and enfold her in his arms. Beside her stood Charlie, as tall as his mother and still growing, wearing a new suit. No one else would realize it but in just a couple of months he’d buffed out a little bit, his shoulders a little broader. And it looked as if someone had not only outfitted him for tonight’s event but managed to get him a haircut. He hoped that Lin Su had been the one to make sure Charlie put his best foot forward tonight.

He pushed his way through the crowd of beautifully dressed guests until he reached them. He bent to kiss Winnie’s cheek. “Thanks for supporting this fund-raiser, Winnie,” he said. He shook Mikhail’s hand. Then he reached for Lin Su to give her what could best be described as a social hug. He kissed her on the cheek because she turned her face. “I’m glad you’re here. Thanks for coming.” He shook Charlie’s hand and complimented him on the haircut, making the kid grin. “I saw your place cards on a table up front.” He looked around. “I don’t see Grace and Troy.”

“Well, they are indisposed by early labor,” Winnie said. “We had to leave them home. I wanted to stay with Grace but she said she might still be home through the night. They’re waiting for the contractions to get stronger and closer.”

“So you will understand if we take our leave during your speech,” Mikhail said.

“Absolutely!” Blake said. “That’s wonderful news! You’ll be a grandmother before Christmas!”

“If I’m not, Grace will be very cranky,” Winnie said. “I believe you’re in demand, Mr. Smiley.”

He looked over his shoulder to see that cocktail-toting admirers were lining up behind him, waiting for his conversation to be over so they could meet him.

“Find your table, Winnie. Relax. I think the program will be starting in just fifteen minutes or so.”

Then he turned to say hello to other attendees.

As was typical of such evenings, all the salutations and presentations seemed to go on for a very long time. Blake sat at a table right next to Winnie’s but all he could really see of Lin Su was her profile. Charlie was one of very few guests under the age of twenty-one and the majority were over forty. Blake couldn’t help but notice that a lot of the charity’s movers and shakers approached Winnie at her table, introduced themselves and shook her hand. He should have known—Winnie was undoubtedly a well-known donor.