aren’t
interested in the rest of us! We’re not important enough,” he laughed.
“Of course they want a picture of you,” Janie smiled.
“You’re looking mighty fine this evening Mr. Lathem.”
Matt pulled his wife into his arms and kissed her soundly.
Tim watched the embrace with a tinge of envy.
If the past few months had taught him anything about
himself, it was that he was lonely. His existence was meaningless unless he had
someone to share it with. He wanted to come home from work and have a smiling
face greet him. He wanted to wake up with a warm body next to him every
morning. He wanted someone to take vacations with. He wanted to run his fingers
through long silky blonde hair. He wanted what had been denied him. It had
taken him months to figure it out, but now he had, he couldn’t deny it any
longer. The problem, however, was that the woman he dreamed about, was not
available to him. Of that, she’d made herself clear.
The lights dimmed and everyone took their seats. The Lathem
family had two of the tables at the front of the ballroom. At his table were
his parents, Matt and Janie, Mark and Katy, and Ben. At the table next to them
was Andrew and Rory, David and Lindsey, Paul and Nic, and Tyler and Derek,
Katy’s son. The only one missing was Adam, Janie’s son, and he was working in
the ER and couldn’t get away.
“It’s wonderful to see so many people here,” Maureen
whispered. She had long supported the organization and had badgered Matt into
donating years ago. Since then, the entire family had leant their support in
time, money, or whatever else was needed. She was proud to see her youngest son
now invested in the family tradition.
*****
Beth stood in the bathroom in front of the vanity finishing
up her makeup. The door flew open and she almost poked her eye out with the
mascara wand.
“I need your help with these buttons,” whined Emma.
Emma had arrived for a quick visit the week before. She had
basically used Beth’s place as a hotel, spending most of the time out with some
friends she knew who were also visiting the city. Beth didn’t mind. She
continued with her work and got to visit with Emma when she had gaps in her
social calendar.
It was Emma’s last night in Manhattan, she flew home the
next afternoon. They had been invited to attend a benefit with Gerald. He was
also in town. Emma had had lunch with him a couple of times but Beth had managed
to avoid him up until now.
They’d emailed a few times over the past couple of months.
Well, Gerald had emailed Beth and on a couple of occasions she had replied. She
really didn’t want to encourage him…her mother was doing enough of that, but
she also didn’t want to appear rude. She did have some manners, after all.
Gerald had called a couple of days before and said their
firm had a table at a benefit and seeing as though she had promised to have
dinner with him, and seeing as though it was his last night in New York, she
couldn’t say no. So she didn’t. She agreed to go and then he’d invited Emma to
join them which eased her nerves as they wouldn’t have an opportunity to be
alone.
It was actually kind of fun to get all dressed up and unwrap
the diamond earrings that she had inherited after her great aunt’s death. Every
girl liked to dress up once in a while, right?
Emma had purchased an exquisite gown earlier that day and looked
like the belle of the ball. Beth helped her with the tiny pearl buttons and
stepped back to admire her baby sister.
“You look lovely,” she smiled.
“Thank you,” grinned Emma. “You look good too.”
Beth had worn a dress that had hung in the back of her
closet for several years. The last time she’d worn it had been at her
engagement party to Edward. Her parents and siblings had flown in from London
and they’d rented out a large suite at the Ritz. She’d been happy that day.
Well, happy was a relative term. She thought she’d been happy. Although
she’d been happier the day
interested in the rest of us! We’re not important enough,” he laughed.
“Of course they want a picture of you,” Janie smiled.
“You’re looking mighty fine this evening Mr. Lathem.”
Matt pulled his wife into his arms and kissed her soundly.
Tim watched the embrace with a tinge of envy.
If the past few months had taught him anything about
himself, it was that he was lonely. His existence was meaningless unless he had
someone to share it with. He wanted to come home from work and have a smiling
face greet him. He wanted to wake up with a warm body next to him every
morning. He wanted someone to take vacations with. He wanted to run his fingers
through long silky blonde hair. He wanted what had been denied him. It had
taken him months to figure it out, but now he had, he couldn’t deny it any
longer. The problem, however, was that the woman he dreamed about, was not
available to him. Of that, she’d made herself clear.
The lights dimmed and everyone took their seats. The Lathem
family had two of the tables at the front of the ballroom. At his table were
his parents, Matt and Janie, Mark and Katy, and Ben. At the table next to them
was Andrew and Rory, David and Lindsey, Paul and Nic, and Tyler and Derek,
Katy’s son. The only one missing was Adam, Janie’s son, and he was working in
the ER and couldn’t get away.
“It’s wonderful to see so many people here,” Maureen
whispered. She had long supported the organization and had badgered Matt into
donating years ago. Since then, the entire family had leant their support in
time, money, or whatever else was needed. She was proud to see her youngest son
now invested in the family tradition.
*****
Beth stood in the bathroom in front of the vanity finishing
up her makeup. The door flew open and she almost poked her eye out with the
mascara wand.
“I need your help with these buttons,” whined Emma.
Emma had arrived for a quick visit the week before. She had
basically used Beth’s place as a hotel, spending most of the time out with some
friends she knew who were also visiting the city. Beth didn’t mind. She
continued with her work and got to visit with Emma when she had gaps in her
social calendar.
It was Emma’s last night in Manhattan, she flew home the
next afternoon. They had been invited to attend a benefit with Gerald. He was
also in town. Emma had had lunch with him a couple of times but Beth had managed
to avoid him up until now.
They’d emailed a few times over the past couple of months.
Well, Gerald had emailed Beth and on a couple of occasions she had replied. She
really didn’t want to encourage him…her mother was doing enough of that, but
she also didn’t want to appear rude. She did have some manners, after all.
Gerald had called a couple of days before and said their
firm had a table at a benefit and seeing as though she had promised to have
dinner with him, and seeing as though it was his last night in New York, she
couldn’t say no. So she didn’t. She agreed to go and then he’d invited Emma to
join them which eased her nerves as they wouldn’t have an opportunity to be
alone.
It was actually kind of fun to get all dressed up and unwrap
the diamond earrings that she had inherited after her great aunt’s death. Every
girl liked to dress up once in a while, right?
Emma had purchased an exquisite gown earlier that day and looked
like the belle of the ball. Beth helped her with the tiny pearl buttons and
stepped back to admire her baby sister.
“You look lovely,” she smiled.
“Thank you,” grinned Emma. “You look good too.”
Beth had worn a dress that had hung in the back of her
closet for several years. The last time she’d worn it had been at her
engagement party to Edward. Her parents and siblings had flown in from London
and they’d rented out a large suite at the Ritz. She’d been happy that day.
Well, happy was a relative term. She thought she’d been happy. Although
she’d been happier the day
Similar Books
