My mother looks pleased. "Well, enjoy yourselves. The silent auction closes at nine, in case you're interested. Some lovely items this year."
After she leaves, I slowly let out a deep breath. "Sorry about... all of that."
"Your mom seems… nice," James offers.
"She's the best of the bunch. Which isn't saying much."
We spend the next hour moving carefully through the crowd. I introduce James to the few genuinely decent people in myparents' circle: Judge Rivera, who quietly advocates for LGBTQ+ rights in the family court system; Dr. Klein, who runs a clinic providing healthcare to underserved communities; and Ms. Patel, a retired teacher who now funds scholarships for first-generation university students.
During a quick break at a high-top table, James looks at me, his face serious.
"Have you ever thought about using these connections for things you actually care about?" he asks.
"What do you mean?"
"These people have money and influence. If they respect you, which they seem to, you could direct some of that toward organizations that matter to you."
The thought sits for a moment. "I've never really thought about it. These events always felt like something to endure, not utilize."
"Well," James hesitates, then continues, "I've been meaning to tell you. I volunteer with Rainbow Haven House. They provide emergency and transitional housing for LGBTQ+ youth who've been kicked out of their homes."
"That's amazing." And he's been doing this the whole time. Quietly. Without needing credit or applause or a banner with his name on it. While I've been... what? Complaining about having to show up to fundraisers?
"How long have you been involved?"
James looks down at his glass. "Since I was seventeen. I was... a resident for a while."
The simple admission hits me like a punch to the gut. All this time, I've been complaining about my family, while James...
"I'm sorry," I say, suddenly feeling small. "I had no idea."
He shrugs. "It was a long time ago. But I still help them out. I've been redesigning their website, setting up a betterdonation system, that kind of thing. But what they really need is sustainable funding."
Looking around the room with new eyes, I wave to a few groups standing and talking. "Well, we happen to be in a room full of people with more money than they know what to do with."
"Exactly my thought." James smiles, and it transforms his face in a way that makes my heart stutter. "Want to help me pitch?"
"Absolutely."
We work as a team, approaching potential donors I've identified as sympathetic to the challenges many LGBTQ+ youth face. James talks with so much heart about Rainbow Haven House, while I use my family connections to introduce him around and make the requests seem more official.
Gavin joins in too; his natural charisma and football status open a few wallets that we might not have had access to otherwise.
By the time the buffet opens, we've secured promises for donations totaling nearly thirty thousand dollars, plus an offer from a real estate developer to look at properties for a potential expansion.
Thirty thousand dollars. The number is unbelievable.We did good.The smugness is probably inappropriate, hijacking my father's donor list for an LGBTQ+ youth charity, but fuck it, it feels good anyway.
Why didn't I think of doing this before? All these years of suffering through fundraisers when I could've been using them.
"That was incredible." Loading my plate at the buffet, watching James do the same. "You should see your face when you talk about this. You just... light up."
He looks embarrassed but pleased. "It's important. A safe place can change everything for these kids."
"I'm about to respond when my older brothers, Thomas and Robert, corner us at the buffet table.
"Little bro," Thomas says, clapping me on the shoulder hard enough to make me wince. "Heard you've been working the room. Dad's almost impressed."
"I aim to please, you know that."
