“I was thinking the same. I wondered if it was just me,” Malcolm says. “But obviously, you would know.”
“It’s fine. This is about raising money, so I’m gonna try not to think about it anymore.”
Malcolm threads my arm under his.
“Was the last one like this?” I ask.
“Good job not thinking about it anymore.” He chuckles. “I don’t know. They only happen every few years and I wasn’t invited to the last one. Most of these people are donors. Each department has a representative, or two depending on what the money is being raised for. This event is raising funds to add a small children’s wing to the hospital, so there are two pediatricians here. Oddly enough, they are both fairly easy to spot.”
I take a look around the space, and I immediately notice a woman wearing a sky-blue gown covered in white clouds. “Her?”
“Aye. And …?”
I continue searching the room and find a man wearing a gorgeous navy tux and a clown nose. I point to the man, and Malcolm nods.
“They’re really great people.” We approach a table and each pick up a drink. “If you’re feeling generous tonight you can donate. I can see it now. The Makenna Fore Hospital for Children.”
I almost spit out my drink. When I recover, I say, “Oh, yes. That does sound perfect. Are all the big donors unemployed?”
“Probably more than you would think.”
I think he’s joking for a moment, and then I realize, “Oh, they’ve inherited.”
“Aye.” He grins and continues leading us around the room.
We are approached by a woman in a black lace dress with an absurdly plunging neckline. She’s the kind of woman who even a week ago would have intimidated me. Who am I kidding? She still does, a bit.
But I’ve been working hard on believing Malcolm. On believing what Mai, my mom and others have told me over the years. And it’s made me question what made me feel so badly about myself to begin with. I don’t think it was entirely because of Ross. Though, I can definitely throw a large share of the blame in his direction. I wondered if there was some deep seeded insecurity I’d gained, not having a dad, but I don’t believe that to be the case. I often wished for a father, but I knew his absence had nothing to do with me.
I decided, for me, it was more the tiny day-to-day comparisons I make that have compounded into an adulthood of insecurity. It’s what made it so easy to believe Ross when he began belittling me. And what has made it so hard to free myself from his judgments.
As I stand by this woman, I remind myself that it’s not about measuring up. And that the man beside me likes me the way I am.
“Makenna, this is Robin Fraser. Robin, this is my girlfriend, Makenna Fore.”
“Pleasure meeting you, Makenna.”
“Likewise.”
“Robin’s a cardiologist, so we see each other every now and again at the hospital,” Malcolm tells me.
“I’d heard our favourite hospital bachelor was off the market,” Robin says. “Glad to see it’s true.”
I’m wondering what to think about her comment when we are joined by a handsome dark-haired man.
“This is my husband, John,” Robin says, as her husband wraps an arm around her shoulders.
I’m annoyed with myself at how relieved I feel that this beautiful woman Malcolm works with seems happily married. Then I remind myself … he’s here with me because he likes me and wanted to bring me here.
We talk with them for a few minutes, then spend the rest of the time before dinner perusing the silent auction items. Despite not necessarily being invited to the event to contribute funds, Malcolm bids on a stay in someone’s vacation home on the Isle of Man.
“If I win, you’ll come back and go with me?”
I look more closely at his bid. “Of course. And I’m sure you’ll win with that two-hundred-pound bid.”
He chuckles and takes my hand, leading us to the next item.
Dinner was delicious. Malcolm and I both had steak frites, with some sort of green drizzle, whipped sweet potatoes, and broccolini. Honestly, I didn’t know a vegetable could taste so good.
