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‘Take no notice of them, dear,’ Amelia said as she patted my thigh. ‘They’ve had far too much to drink already.’
I smiled at her and then listened as she gave me a rundown of everyone at the table. It seemed that I was fortunate enough to be in the company of the L.A elite. These women were the wives of the wealthiest men in LA If you wanted into a party, onto a list, or to be someone of any note at all, then this was the crowd you needed to win over. At least that was the way Amelia sold them to me.
I wasn’t so sure she was right. I listened to their conversation and didn’t think I had anything in common with any of them. When there was a gap in the chatter, I decided to ask about their charity work. At least that would be something I felt like we could talk about.
‘Oh, we’ve already chosen our charity for this year. We’ll be hosting a fundraising event in the fall, so we’ll start planning in the next few weeks. There’s no rush,’ Amelia replied.
‘What’s the charity?’
‘The school needs a new wing. Their sports hall isn’t fit for purpose now that they have so many new pupils.’
‘Oh, okay. Which school is that?’ I asked.
‘Mountlake Academy,’ Amelia replied dismissively, as though my questions were starting to bother her.
‘Oh,’ I said as I leaned back in my chair. Mountlake Academy was the private school nearby. I bet that most of their children went to that same school. Their school fees were astronomical. That was the charity project they’d chosen?
I looked around the room and realized that I didn’t belong here at all. Suddenly, I felt that sense of aching loneliness again. Was there any place in L.A where I might fit in?
I checked my watch and stood up. ‘I’m sorry, ladies, but I have another appointment to get to. It was lovely to meet you all,’ I said, forcing a smile.
‘Oh, no. Really?’ Amelia said. ‘You’ll come back, next week though, won’t you? It’s quite the coup having the new Mrs. Montoya in our midst. The donors will love it,’ she giggled.
‘I’d love to, if my schedule allows,’ I lied. ‘Bye ladies.’
I walked towards the door and Hugo stepped out of the shadows and was at my side before I reached it. He held it open for me.
‘Everything okay?’ he asked.
I waited until we were outside before I answered. ‘Yes. That just wasn’t what I was expecting, that’s all. I was hoping to do something meaningful, but I don’t think I’m going to find it in here.’
Hugo nodded absent-mindedly as he checked up and down the street before leading me to the car and opening the door.
I climbed inside, leaning my head against the headrest with a sigh.
I didn’t realize Hugo was already in the car when he spoke. ‘Where to now?’ he asked.
I opened my eyes and suddenly remembered the article I’d read about the women’s shelter downtown that was about to lose its funding. That seemed like a place where I might be needed and somewhere my fundraising skills might be useful.
‘Do you know the shelter downtown on the corner of Maple and Fifth?’
‘Yes, but I’m not sure Mr. Montoya would want you going there.’
‘But you work for me now, yes? And that’s where I’d like to go. And what Mr. Montoya doesn’t know, won’t hurt him.’
‘You want me to lie to the boss?’ he asked with a flash of his eyebrows.
‘No. If he asks you, tell him the truth. But he probably won’t ask. That’s all I’m saying.’
‘Hmm,’ Hugo said with a laugh as he pulled the car away from the sidewalk. ‘We’ll see.’
It was almost six pm by the time I got home. The women’s and children’s shelter had been exactly what I was looking for and they were in desperate need of a new fundraising coordinator.
I’d spent most of the afternoon with a lady by the name of Kristen O’Malley, who had set up the shelter eighteen years earlier after she had fled her own abusive marriage and found support from a similar organization. Once she’d been back on her feet, she had wanted to give something back and the Maggie O’Malley Center had been born. Kristen had named it after her mother, who had passed while the center was being established.
It seemed that Kristen worked tirelessly to help all of the women and children who came through their doors, but it was also apparent that she was desperately short staffed and that the center’s already limited funds were dwindling. Not to mention, the lease on their building was up for renewal and the landlord didn’t seem to be a very charitable person at all.
When I’d offered to help fundraise, she had accepted gratefully, but it was only when I told her my name that she really paid attention.
