Chapter Twenty
Tim steered clear of the ballroom, excusing himself to the restroom by way of the silent auction room. It was easy to find the Disney package, the black mouse ears and colorful pamphlets surrounding the signup clipboard. There were only four bids scribbled on the sheet, each one an increment of a thousand dollars. The trip included airfare, hotel, VIP tickets and a special dinner with a princess. Tim smiled, imagining the Kaufman girls dressed in matching red and white polka-dot dresses, wearing black ears, skipping happily through the park. The look on their faces would be priceless, and his heart surged with love, knowing he was going to win this package for his girls.
His girls.
He wrote twenty-thousand dollars in the bid section and put his assigned number next to it. Anonymity was a big part of this charity event, for which he was grateful. Pleased with himself and knowing the money was going to a good cause, he straightened his back and sighed. He was ready to reunite with his number one girl, Jessica, hoping the long conversation with her mother hadn’t ruined her night. As he exited the suite into the formal hallway, Mrs. McDonald spotted him.
“Tim! I thought that was you.” Her chipper voice made him smile.
“Hello, Mrs. McDonald. You look lovely this evening.” Bending over, he offered her a slight hug.
“Oh, this old thing? I have a closet full of dresses that only come out once a year. You certainly look dashing this evening. Your face is so handsome, I almost didn’t recognize you,” she teased.
Tim dragged his palm down his chin, almost forgetting what it felt like to have a full beard. “Yeah. Well, I wanted to look a little more presentable for tonight. You know, for my date.”
Mrs. McDonald nodded. “Jessica looks beautiful tonight. You two look good together.”
Tim was taken aback, shocked that she approved. “Really? Thanks so much. I appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome, Tim. I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening.”
“You too.” He watched the elderly woman go into the silent auction room. When he turned around, Jessica was approaching him.
“Hey! I was coming to find you…”
“We need to go,” she interrupted, the worried look on her face concerning.
“What? Now?”
“Yes. I may or may not have opened my big mouth and said some things I wasn’t supposed to. Can we please go?” Her eyes were stormy, and her expression paled.
“Sure, baby. Whatever you want. I’m ready when you are.”
They left without saying goodbye to her friends or family. Tim glanced over at her in the car on the ride back to the house, concerned at her pensive energy. When they pulled up the drive, he put the car in park and waited for her to say something. The wind had picked up, and there was a low rumble of thunder in the air.
“Do you want me to come in?” he finally asked, a certain doom settling into his core.
She turned toward him and he noticed her eyes glistening with tears. “Yes. Please,” she whispered.
Luanna greeted them in the foyer. “Back so soon? I hope it was a good time.”
“Yes, it was nice. How were the girls? Is everyone in bed?” Jessica busied herself pulling a checkbook out of a kitchen drawer and scribbling on it.
“Yes, ma’am. No trouble at all.”
Jessica ripped out a check and handed it to her.
“Thank you. Just so you know, I was watching a movie and it kept being interrupted by the weatherman. There’s a big storm coming in later tonight. They said there may be some power outages in the area.”
Tim approached the windows looking out over the pool. The tall Georgia pines were swaying back and forth, and yard debris had fallen in the water. “You okay to drive in this, Luanna? You want me to take you home?”
“No. I’ll be fine. I’m just down the road.” Luanna turned to Jessica. “Thanks again for tonight. Call me anytime.”
“Thanks, Luanna. I appreciate it.”
When Luanna was safely in her car with the headlights turned on, Jessica locked the front door and made her way back to the kitchen. Tim stood next to the island and pulled off the bow tie of his tux.
“You want to explain to me what happened back at the club?”
