“Have you seen Jared or Roarke yet?” Thad asked Angelo.
“No, we just got here,” Angelo replied. “How is everything? I really should go check on the kitchen staff…” he glanced at Kara. “Could you stay with Veronica and Thad for a few minutes?”
She nodded. Angelo leaned down, feathering his lips over hers, and that spot in her guarded heart throbbed painfully with a longing for a deeper kiss. The moment Angelo left, she scanned the crowd. Asher stayed a dozen feet away, wearing a tuxedo and blending in with the crowd. But Kara was grateful for his presence as Angelo disappeared into the hotel kitchens.
“So, how does this work?” Kara asked Veronica because Thad was suddenly surrounded by half a dozen guests.
Veronica snatched two glasses of champagne from a passing server’s tray and handed one to Kara.
“So we’ll have a brief cocktail hour, then we’ll head into the ballroom, eat an amazing dinner followed by some speeches about the literary efforts before we break for dancing.”
“Dancing?” she glanced down at her golden sandals. Thank goodness she hadn’t chosen high heels.
“Aren’t you glad we knew what to help you wear?” Veronica giggled. “Because none of us were going to be wearing heels for dancing either.”
“People really dance at these things?” Kara couldn’t quite believe that. Most of the people around her were too nicely dressed, at least in her opinion.
“Not everyone does, but trust me, we will. Angelo loves dancing.”
“He does?” A nervous lump settled in Kara’s belly. She didn’t really dance. Sure she bounced around her apartment when she listened to music but actual dancing? Never.
“It will be fun,” Veronica promised. “You look terrified Kara. Trust me. It’s fun.”
Shana and Roarke were the next pair to find them a few minutes later. Roarke and Thad exchanged nods, but Shana immediately gathered into a cluster with Veronica and Kara, oohing and ahhing over everyone’s dresses as though they hadn’t all seen each other trying things on during the shopping expedition.
“See? I knew you’d look like a mermaid,” Shana smiled in pride at Kara.
Kara actually laughed. “I barely remember trying on all those dresses. I was so overwhelmed I forgot which one we actually chose until I opened the garment bag tonight.”
“Youreallydo look gorgeous, Kara,” Shana said honestly. “Where’s Angelo? I thought he’d be attached to your hip right now.”
“He’s checking on the kitchen staff. I think he’s a bit nervous,” Kara admitted.
Angelo found her a few minutes later as he walked to the cluster of friends with Felicity and Jared. None of the nervousness she’d sensed in him remained, and she allowed him to lead her after their friends towards the ballroom.
Angelo tucked Kara’s arm in his as they passed through the ballroom doorways. Kara’s eyes widened as she took in the immensity of the room and the absolutely beautiful art deco style of the room. Blue and gold silk hung in elegant drapings across the ceiling between glittering diamond chandeliers. It was something out of a dream.
The tables that covered a third of the room were decorated in blue and gold tablecloths. Servers had artfully folded napkins and tucked them into the water goblets. Programs for the night’s events were placed on every seat. Thad led their party to the front where everyone sat down at one of the primary donor tables.
“Did you have something to drink?” Angelo leaned in to ask so Kara could hear him over the orchestra that played in the back corner of the room.
“I had a glass of champagne,” she said.
Angelo nodded and then he waved the server over to pour water in their glasses.
“Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated at these events is important. And don’t forget to eat,” he said.
Kara could tell that he was a little nervous about the event. There was a tightness to his mouth that tugged at heart. She had learned on the way to the hotel that he had never catered something so big before. By the way he was watching the servers bringing out the salad course she sensed he was afraid something might go wrong.
“I wouldn’t miss your food for anything,” she promised and placed a hand on his thigh. His muscles tightened beneath her palm, and the air between them was suddenly charged with something bright and sparkling that she dared not name, but it that made her blood hum in excitement. Her touch seemed to ground him and his distracted gaze returned to her face. The tension in his shoulders seemed to ease.
“Good.” He smiled and relaxed a little as he grasped her hand on his thigh, lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of her knuckles.
The salad course was delivered to the entire ballroom and Kara was excited to see it was a Mediterranean blend of greens with chickpeas and lightly covered with a lemony vinaigrette. Thad ate a few bites of his salad before he left the table to join another man on stage that Kara guessed by the similarity of looks had to be Thad’s father. They started speaking to the crowd, and a presentation played on two massive screens on either side of the ballroom. Kara watched the video which discussed the impact of literacy on communities.
Then Thad added some closing remarks.
“Everyone deserves the right to learn to read, to have language and communication at their fingertips. The more literate our society is, the better we all are. As father said the best thing we the fortunate people in this room can do is to be the rising tide that lifts all boats, not just our own. Tonight, the contributions you make will have a ripple effect that will span decades as you pave the way others to find their voice by learning to read.”
