“Right. So, I know you’re busy, but I’m wondering if you’d be able to come with me to a charity event on Friday night.”
“As your plus one?”
“Right-o. I haven’t been out on a date in six months, and I’m not planning to change that anytime soon. There is this one gal, she’s a golfer, mind you. She lives on my street and likes to invite me over for lunch sometimes. Would you consider that a date? Maybe I am dating again and I don’t even know it. Sneaky woman.”
“Why don’t you take her to the charity event?”
“Oh, no.” Henry sputtered. “I’ve just come around to the idea that she might be dating me. Can you imagine what ideas I’d give her if I brought her somewhere fancy? No, I’d rather take my goddaughter and enjoy dinner and dessert. You won’t believe how well they feed you at these things. We can even skip out after that if the speaker is boring. I wouldn’t go, but the organizer is the most ruthless woman. She conned me into buying tickets and said the event wouldn’t be the same if I’m not there to talk to people. It’s not all bad. Dean will be there with a date, from what I hear. When you’re tired of me, you can go talk to the young people.”
Dean would be there with a date. I shouldn’t hate that idea, but I certainly didn’t love it. I put my stylus down andreminded myself this was not unexpected. Dean had always dated a lot. And it wasn’t like I’d sent him any signals that he should take me out anywhere. I guess I’d just figured with the dating app, that he was taking a break or trying something new.
“Henry, I’m going to be really honest, because I know you’ll be honest with me. Something like that is not my scene. There has to be someone else you can take. You know everyone. I will not be disappointed to not go, although I love that you thought of me.”
“Is it because of Piper?”
“No, she’ll be with my dad and Jill. They want to take her to see the Castle Monster movie that’s coming out.” I probably shouldn’t have admitted that, but I would not use Piper as an excuse not to do things. She didn’t deserve that, and I was extremely blessed to have family and friends who loved her as much as I did. I still didn’t want to go, though. “What about your sister?”
“She’s in Hawaii on vacation with her book club friends.”
Lucky woman. “What about your executive secretary?”
“She’ll be there with her husband.”
I rubbed my head. I’d just asked the man to make his married executive secretary his plus one. What was I doing? “Okay, I’ll come.”
“Really? Oh, I’m so pleased. I promise you’ll have a great time. There’s dancing, and their silent auction tries to out-do itself every year. I’ll buy you something fun. Also, I don’t want you to worry about what to wear. You’ll be getting a call from a wardrobe company in the next few days. They assured me they’ll come to you and let you try on anything you’d like.”
“Henry, are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. I’ve had one of those so I know what I’m talking about.”
“I thought it was indigestion.”
“Well, it felt like a heart attack. Don’t say no. The tickets are ten thousand a pop, and I want you to be every bit as admired as anyone there.”
“Ten thousand dollars?” I squeaked.
“Outrageous, right? But it’s for orphans in Calcutta. Every cent. The woman who puts this on pays for the venue and the food and the flowers, the band, the valet parking. Everything. Our donations go straight to the orphanages. Don’t get me started on why we have to throw a party to make people donate money, but I can’t say it doesn’t work. Last year they raised nearly two million dollars.”
I was speechless. He really should have led with that part. “And you want me there?”
“Of course. Last year was my first year going, and I took a date. Have I not told you this story? She told several people at our table that she was my fiancé. And then when I explained to her that I never planned to remarry, she stole my dessert. I’m just glad she ate it rather than making me wear it.”
“How many dates had you been on?”
“Just the one. About a month before that, we were both sitting alone at Durant’s one day, and she waved hello, and I waved back, and the next thing I knew we were sitting together at my table for lunch. After that, we made it a regular thing.”
Henry really did not understand what made something a date. Just for fun, I Googled Durant’s. Over $100 a plate. “Best filet-mignon,” one of the reviewers claimed. “Henry, I hate to say this, but I think she pounced on you at Durant’s.”
“That’s what Dean said. He called her an opportunist.”
I smiled. That was a much nicer word than a gold digger. Leave it to Dean to phrase it so nicely.
Sometimes I forgot how rich they were. Henry and Dean were both down-to-earth with a strong work ethic. It made me want to turn down Henry’s offer to help me get a dress, but I didn’t want to embarrass him either. If he said I needed a designer gown for this, then I did. I’d just sell it when I was done and donate the proceeds to the orphanages in Calcutta. I told him as much and made him laugh. He said he’d gladly match it.
Chapter 18 – Dean
A retreat from our friendship did not surprise me, but it still stung. Grace didn’t initiate any calls or texts that week. She answered me when I checked in with her, but she always seemed busy. She probably was busy, what with illustrating and the shop, and what to do with both those things. I didn’t ask her about her decision on whether to sell. When she knew, she’d tell me.
