“I’m sure you do.” She crossed her legs and the split in her skirt shifted, exposing her thigh in an almost indecent manner.
If she shifted a little bit more... he shut down that thought. This wasn’t the place to get aroused.
“Oh, two of my sisters are at the bar.” Zita sat up straight, watching them. “I need to check what they’re ordering. They like to push the limits sometimes.” She stood and smiled at him. “Hopefully I’ll see you later.” She walked off.
David watched her go, her hips swaying as she walked. He shifted in his seat. He definitely wanted to spend more time with her. He’d seen her fiery, and also empathetic— an unusual combination.
Across at the bar, Zita said something to her foster sisters, who must have been about sixteen. Their shoulders slumped and they were handed what looked like a cola drink.
He smiled.
Spotting Carly and Evan across the room, he set down his glass and wandered over.
“David!” Carly kissed both of his cheeks and gave him a hug. Evan shook his hand.
“Congratulations, Carly. I’m happy for you.” Carly had grown from a very shy, uncertain teen, into a powerful and successful businesswoman. She’d been his confidante at too many gala events to count, keeping him sane, letting him make outrageous comments about some of the other attendees, which he daren’t make to anyone else. “This is for you.” Suddenly nervous, he handed her the small gift. Would she even remember?
“David, the invitation said no presents.”
“Open it,” he prompted.
She opened the box and stared at what was inside for a moment, her mouth dropping open. Then she burst out laughing. “You didn’t!”
Relief flooded his body. She remembered.
“I’m guessing there’s a story behind this,” Evan said as he picked up the rose-colored glass bowl, which was supposed to be shaped like a flower, but looked disturbingly like a part of the female anatomy.
“I’d forgotten all about this,” Carly said and turned to Evan. “It was one of my first gala events and the woman who was organizing it was relentless about asking all the guests for more money. We were supposed to leave donations in these bowls, but when it came time to do it, ours was missing. The organizer was most upset.”
“Was the gala raising money for cervical cancer?”
David and Carly laughed.
“I believe it was literacy,” David said.
Evan shook his head.
“What are you all laughing about?”
David turned to the small Hispanic lady who had joined the group. She looked very much like Carly.
“Mama, David was reminding me of one of my first gala events.” Carly said, “David, this is my mother, Carmen.”
“I saw you at the symposium. You’re following Teresa’s case, aren’t you?” Carmen asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Are you learning much?”
He nodded. “A lot.”
“Good. Excuse me, I believe Alejandra needs my help.” She walked toward a teenager holding a baby.
Carly placed the lid back on the box. “Thank you. I’ll cherish this,” she said. “What’s this about you following Teresa’s case?”
“I met Zita at the symposium a few weeks back. I wanted to find out more about the refugee situation and she offered to help.”
Carly looked troubled. “Teresa has been through so much.”
