AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Girls, you look lovely. Your dance card will be full tonight, Chloe.” Victoria ushered us all out to the waiting limo. “Tonight, we all arrive together.”
The ride to the ball was a short one, but it felt like hours with Trey’s warm body next to mine. Thankfully, Sophie distracted me.
“It’s so pretty Mummy, look at the lights.” Sophie stood looking out the window over my shoulder. “Is Easter Bilby going to be in there?”
“Not right now, but he might be there later on tonight,” Trey answered before me with a wink. “That’s okay, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s okay, he’s my cobber now,” Sophie answered in deep thought. “But his big eyes are kinda scary.”
Everyone in the limo nodded in agreement and laughed.
The dance music was loud and the lights were low, but it was breathtakingly beautiful. The scent of garlic and seafood lingered, but the tables were mostly empty since the catering crew was still setting up. The DJ had lit up the dance floor with flashing lights in pinks and yellows, with bunnies floating on the ceiling and walls, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Families with children lingered at the far end of the ballroom where the Easter Bunny was busy taking pictures.
“I guess I was wrong, Easter Bilby is here,” Trey shrugged. “I think It might be the Easter Bunny’s helper, though.”
“Sophie, are you ready to go help me give out treats to the kids?” Mia asked. “Trey, why don’t you and Chloe go relax and eat some food before the big auction starts. I’ve got Sophie. She’s fine. Now go.”
I felt myself hesitate.
Trey noticed my concern and hesitation right away.
“Come on,” he said, “it’s going to be okay. You’re in a room full of doctors, not to mention the world famous Dr. Parker Hawthorne. It’s literally better than a hospital.”
We settled into oversized mahogany chairs that were surprisingly comfortable, clustered together off to the side. Our conversation was more idle chit-chat than anything meaningful, until out of nowhere a reporter shoved a microphone in front of Trey.
“According to sources, you and your brothers are entered in tonight’s auction. Care to elaborate on this, Trey?” one reporter asked.
“I’m just helping out. There’s nothing for the tabloids tonight.” Trey put his hand up to block the camera. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to finish my conversation with this young lady. How about we talk after the auction?”
“Would you care to tell us if this young lady is one of the buyers in the auction tonight?” After a few beats of silence, the reporter continued. “Or is this the latest girlfriend?”
Trey seemed annoyed, which I thought odd since I’d heard he was used to the public eye. I watched him rake his hand through his hair.
“Um, no, I’m not bidding tonight,” I answered, then looked away for help from Trey. “I’m just a family friend.”
“I’ll give you a great finale if you’ll just leave us alone for now. What do you say? Why don’t you go bother the twins for once?” Trey said.
The music and flashing lights came to an abrupt halt. Victoria stood on the stage, microphone in hand.
“Good evening everyone. I’d like to take a few minutes to thank you all for coming out to support our charity while we have been catching up with old friends and sharing a dance or two. The Hawthorne eggs have been set up for bidding. Please be sure to take a stroll into the next room and get your bid in.
“She’s very good at public speaking,” I said to Mia, who’d just walked up with Sophie. “I would be stuttering by now.”
“Victoria is amazing. I wanna be her someday when I grow up.” Mia put her arm around my waist. “I miss you, sis. I wish you didn’t have to go back.”
“I know, but if I can get us a green card we can visit more often.” I made light of it. “You can just send your fancy jet to get us.”
“Look at you, getting used to the private plane already.” Mia squeezed my waist. “Come on, let’s go look at the eggs in all their glory.”
“Trey, you coming with us to check out the bidding war?” I turned to him to ask. “You know something? We never settled which one of us won this morning.”
As if Victoria had heard me say it, I heard her ask the room to help settle an inner home dispute.
“No!” I asked surprised, “Is she talking about our egg decorating contest?”
“I won’t say which family members are competing against each other, but I will say you would save me from being the one to have to break up a family feud if you could vote before the auction. The wait staff is walking around right now, passing out jellybeans. Please place your jellybean in the vase of the egg you think is decorated best.
“Victoria, will these two eggs be up for auction tonight too?” a woman in the crowd asked.
