"Violent this morning, are we?" she teased.
"Never. Are you ready to do this? The rentals guy is gonna be here in about thirty minutes, so once the linens are on the tables we can start putting together the centerpieces. The restaurants will start piling in around 3:30, but the florist won't be here until 5," pointing his head towards Neil and yelling, he finished, "And Dopehead Lighting and Sound is still fucking off after a long night of Bong Olympics!"
"Dude," Neil said, disappearing behind the stage, "I got this."
"So, Jake, what can I do? Have I told you how much I love you for taking this on?"
"Yes, but tell me again, I need a hug," he said reaching for her, "Mark and I had a big fight, I'm not sure he's going to come tonight."
"That sucks, a fight about what?"
"It was stupid. He said he's not ready to introduce me to his parents, I told him he was a coward, he called me a bully, I called him a pussy," he shook his head, "I feel bad, but you know, it's been six months. They know he's gay, it's not like it's news. I think he's embarrassed I'm not some engineer or doctor, you know?"
"No way, Jake. Mark is proud of what you do, whatever the problem is, that's on him. You're fabulous."
"My feelings are still hurt."
"I know, mine would be, too. I'm sorry."
"I'll live. What's up with you, you feeling better after last week?"
"Kinda," she smiled, "but I'll live."
"Come on," he said, tugging her towards the loading dock, "We'll drown our sorrows later, let's get this party started."
Lana brought Megan to help and a handful of other volunteers showed up soon after. They spent five hours organizing purple crystal cocktail glasses, fine china and dressing each of the one hundred and seventy five round tables with eight place settings. Perfectly starched black table linens accented with silver metallic table runners, satin lavender placemats and deep eggplant napkins folded elegantly on top of white china. Chairs were draped in satin lavender sashes, and they’d ordered gorgeous glass candle holders, delicately painted with purple filigree, to illuminate the floral centerpieces that would arrive later.
The perimeter of the room was lined in long tables covered with fitted black linens, twelve of Houston's nicest restaurants would showcase their tastiest delicacies and fill plates with hors d'oeuvre, happy to seduce wealthy patrons into visiting their establishments. He'd made use of every penny.
Purple, the color of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. A purple and black extravaganza, sure to impress Houston's finest, all eager to show one another how much they care about victims of domestic violence.
"Excellent job, Jake," Rachel said, clapping silently, "It looks like a giant bruise. Quite appropriate for the occasion."
"You bitch," he laughed, and then he stormed off yelling, "Neil! You fucking scumbag, are the microphones hooked up yet or what? Where are you, you junkie bastard?"
***
"Mommy, do I have to wear that crown?" Lauren asked, standing between Rachel's legs as she sat and combed through her wet curls.
"Of course not, sweet pea, you don't like it?"
"I just think I don't want to wear it, what if I lose it?"
"I don't think you'll lose it, we can make sure it stays super tight in your hair and won't fall out. But you don't have to wear it if you don't want to."
"Will everyone think I'm a princess if I wear it?"
"Everyone will think you're a princess even if you don't wear it."
"But what if the magic wears off?" she asked, deadly serious. Rachel had to stifle a laugh.
"Sweet pea, your magic will never wear off, but to be on the safe side, Grandma and Grandpa promised to have you home well before midnight."
They took their time getting ready, dancing around her bedroom, eating tiny cookies and ginger ale out of champagne glasses. Rachel took pictures and they played with make-up, she wanted to give Lauren as many good memories as she could, to enjoy her as much as she could, Dylan's missing Michael was always in the back of her mind.
Lauren was still so little, she'd never remember it, but Rachel would spend the rest of Lauren's childhood making sure she knew she was the most important thing in the world to her, and that she'd do anything to show her how to live her life for herself, to empower her to be the strong and independent woman Rachel had never been able to be for herself, that Savannah had never allowed her to be.
When they floated down the stairs to meet with Kenneth and Hunter, the boys played their adoring fans, whistling and clapping. Lauren was thrilled, her little curls bouncing around her shoulders, an enormous smile on her face. Kenneth and Hunter wore classic tuxedos they'd managed to keep clean, they were ready to go.
Rachel had been worried Kenneth wouldn't manage to get the job done, that he would rent the wrong kind of tux or that he'd let Hunter fashion himself a mohawk. But his hair was the handsome little blonde crown she knew it could be, and he looked exactly like his father at the moment, making Rachel excessively sentimental.
Rachel watched Kenneth with a touch of melancholy as he helped Lauren into the car, making sure her dress didn't get dirty, and as he ruffled Hunter's hair when he got into the backseat. She wondered how long it would take for Kenneth to forgive her, for them to move on and learn to be friends, so they could enjoy their children together in this same way as they grew and experienced championship games and first dances, and weddings and children of their own.
She thought of Chrissy and Dylan, and the pain they were feeling as they struggled over having finally let Michael go. The service would be Monday, Dylan had been throwing himself into work, eager to put it and the gala behind them.
They made the thirty minute trip into Houston and laughed and listened to the radio and sang, Hunter told jokes and Lauren yelled that he was touching her. Rachel hadn't had a Valium in two weeks, and despite all of the stress over Michael, and her mother, and knowing they were days away from telling Hunter and Lauren about the divorce, she felt better than she'd felt in her entire adult life.
She was sad, but she wasn't afraid, and that was an amazing feeling.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Walking into the Summit was like walking into a wonderland, and after a brief glance around, Rachel looked to Lauren's face to take in her reaction. Her little green eyes sparkled at the tiny lights shimmering overhead and the candles lighting up the gorgeously set tables. She hadn't asked about the flower arrangements, a detail she'd overlooked entirely after Jake had taken over organizing the event. He'd taken a page out of Dylan's book, the entire arena floor was covered in enormous arrangements of purple iris, dozens of species, some tall and thin, others short and round. The hues varied from almost white, to lavender, plum and eggplant, some looked blue.
They were everywhere, huge arrangements on every table, enormous hanging arrangements on either side of the stage, and lining the entrance and silent auction tables. Regina stood with some other board members, huddling around the silent auction items, and Rachel made her way over to say hello. Ordinarily she'd feel nervous, even though she'd know most of them for years, but the recent peace she'd begun to feel left her comfortable as she approached them.
"Hello, Georgeann, Regina. How are y'all? Fighting over the lapis earrings?" she asked smiling.
"Rachel, this place is just amazing this evening. I don't know how you did it, but really, it looks beautiful," Georgeann gushed, "And so do you this evening, sugar, wow, you look mighty pretty."
She left her newly colored chocolate hair hanging over her shoulders, the strapless green dress had been tailored perfectly, Rachel felt elegant, composed, and even pretty.
"Thank you, it's nice to get dressed up every now and then, but I can't take credit for the rest of it. Jake handled every last detail, he'll be thrilled to hear you're happy with it."
"Well, yes, of course he did,” Regina laughed, “That silly boy, where is he? I want to tell him myself."
"I'm not sure," Rachel said, looking around for h
im, "We just got here. I'll send him your way as soon as I see him."
The guests hadn't started arriving, it gave her time to chat with the catering directors from the restaurants, shmooze with the event coordinator from the Summit, and walk to the stage and test the microphones for her speech later. The microphones seemed to be working and the lighting was all set up, but of course Neil was nowhere to be found. And either was Jake. Kenneth kept the children busy with their little tablets at an empty table near the entrance.
Lana and Megan walked in, Lana wore a hideous red gown, but a gorgeous smile.
"Where's Lauren?" she asked, "I wanna give her this birthday present."
"That was sweet of you, Lana," Rachel said, and pointing towards Kenneth, "She's right over there with her daddy and her brother. When you're done, can I ask you to work the registration table?"
She waited patiently while Lana gave Lauren her little gift, a hardcover copy of Little Women, something that Rachel appreciated, but Lauren looked at with disgust.
Rachel led Lana and Megan to the registration table and explained how to find the reservations and where to put the money for those who hadn't yet purchased their tickets. She combed the reservation list to see how many people they expected and how many had already paid, her eyes widened.
Over eight hundred paid reservations. They'd already made back the money they spent on the event. Anything that came in from the silent auction or private donations would be profit. She felt giddy. She needed to find Jake and give him a hard time for not telling her sooner.
She walked through the arena looking for him, her gown making it difficult to walk as fast as she'd have liked. She thought how selfish she'd been lately, how she hadn't even asked how things were looking with the money coming in. Even as they'd worked on the table decorations, Rachel was preoccupied with Dylan and Kenneth, Hunter and Lauren, Michael. She'd made small talk with the volunteers that morning, and talked with Megan about her new car she loved, but she’d been totally oblivious to the circus tent around her.
A group of musicians were setting up on stage, a contemporary string group she recognized from the internet. Their black tie and ball gowns barely detracted from the tattoos or the pink hair. Rachel smiled at the thought of her mother's reaction when she walked in and saw a dozen musicians with classical instruments wearing tuxedos and facial piercings.
They hadn't spoken since she'd confronted her, Rachel wasn't sure if Savannah and Jameson would make an appearance this evening, although she suspected her mother wouldn't miss an opportunity to test the waters. Or hold court for the socialites who came out to support her poor community servant daughter.
She circled around behind the stage and found Neil, still in his jeans, he was playing on his cell phone.
"Neil, where's Jake?"
"He left to get dressed, I haven't seen him since."
"You need to go get dressed, is your tux here?"
He'd have to stick around for any potential maintenance issues and needed to blend in. The cut up jeans and holey t shirt wouldn't do.
"Yeah man, it's out in my truck. I'm headed out there now."
She turned and walked out, eying a few clusters of guests that trickled in. The musicians struck up, playing some current pop hit on their guitars, violins, cellos and basses. Rachel put a smile on her face and prepared to spend the rest of her evening talking with the guests, sharing stories of women they'd supported, children they'd saved, volunteers they'd recruited.
She grabbed a champagne flute and went to work.
When the musicians took their first break, Neil stood ready to turn on the music he and Jake had waiting in queue on his little DJ laptop, and just as she'd started to worry, Jake finally made his appearance.
He waltzed in wearing his Brioni tux, flashing his charm this way and that, a bald James Bond. As he made his way towards her he stopped suddenly, surprise registered on his face, he froze and then spun around in the kind of perfectly executed dance move kids across the world practiced for years and never got right.
Rachel laughed hard and walked into his hug, overwhelmed by how dear he was to her.
"Jake, my dearest love, you have created a masterpiece here this evening, expect it to make the front page of Texas Social magazine next month."
"They better put my picture on the cover with it," he said, "Get a load of this tux!"
"Regina is looking for you, she wants to give you her stamp of approval, so you can sleep well tonight."
"That old heffer will have to wait, I've got a fancy green dream first in line on my dance card," he said.
Norah Jones sang through the speakers about coming away with her, and Jake swung Rachel onto the empty dance floor. Several guests applauded as he pushed her delicately around the floor, holding her tight.
"You, Rachel, look beautiful. You look, dare I say, put together?"
"I feel good, and I have you to thank. You are an outrageously generous, sensitive, compassionate and surprisingly graceful best friend."
"Psssst," he whispered, leaning into her ear to impart an important secret, "Have you been drinking?"
She laughed and he spun her around smiling.
"Rachel, I always want you to look this happy."
"But then you wouldn't have anybody to counsel or lecture to about mineral supplements."
"Don't turn and look, but your poetry writing trollop just walked in wearing a very dangerous tuxedo on his dynamite bod and a very stormy look on his perfectly chiseled face."
They continued their dance in silence, Jake humming the tune while Rachel considered where to head when the song was over. She wanted to race for Dylan, but felt compelled to find Kenneth and the children instead. She made her way towards where she'd seen them last, but stopped first for another champagne flute.
"Rachel," Kenneth called, he was sitting with his dad, Hunter and Lauren stood a few feet away raiding a pastry buffet, Kenneth's mother supervising as she spoke with the catering attendant.
"I was just coming to find you," she smiled, and leaning down to hug her father-in-law, "Hello, David. I'm so glad y'all could come this year."
"Of course, Rachel," David said kindly, "Anything to support all the wonderful work you do, we're sorry we missed it last year. This food is excellent."
He took another bite of the fancy quiches stockpiled on his plate. Rachel slammed the rest of her champagne and looked over to the children.
"How are the kids? Is everything okay?"
"Sure," Kenneth said, "We're good. You do whatever you need to do, I know you need to mingle and talk to people."
"Thanks. If Lauren gets too tired, I'll ask the arena coordinator if she can lie down in her office, there's a couch in there."
Silence.
"Have you eaten anything?" she asked him, searching for something kind to say.
"No."
It would take time before they weren’t awkward, she still had hopes of salvaging a friendship. But she’d grown tired of digging conversation out of him.
"Try the salmon from Javier's, it looks delicious. I'm going to say hi to the kids and see how the silent auction is coming," she said, excusing herself without waiting for the response that may or may not have come.
"Hello, my sweet beautiful loves," she said crossing over to the kids, "Hello Barb, how are y'all?"
Lauren stood on her toes to reach a pastry at one of the buffets, her fingers already coated in chocolate, and Hunter shoved chocolate covered something into his pockets. Her mother-in-law hugged her and went straight for the kill.
"I'm so sorry you and Kenneth are having a difficult time, Rachel," she whispered, "All married couples hit the skids every now and then, it happens to the best of us."
It hadn't surprised her that Kenneth would confide in his parents, but she wasn't having this conversation with them this evening.
"Thank you, Barb. Did y'all get settled into your hotel alright?"
"Oh yes, it's a very nice suite, the kids are going to have
so much fun tonight!"
"They're very excited," Rachel smiled politely, then leaned in to kiss Hunter on the cheek, "Hey bud, are you having fun?"
"Mom! There's a lot of people here," Hunter said.
"Yeah, there sure are."
"Do you know all of these people?"
"No, only some of them, but they're all here to raise money so I can help other people."
"Oh Mommy! Did you see mémère?" Lauren asked, "She’s a princess today, too!"
"Is she? I'm sure she's not nearly as beautiful as you are, my angel," Rachel said, her stomach tightening with anxiety.
"Your mother does look stunning, Rachel," Barb added, "How she keeps herself looking so young is just beyond me."
"It's an enigma," Rachel said under her breath, "I've got to check on the silent auction, I'll come find y'all in a bit, okay?"
Savannah had rallied herself for a performance, called Rachel's bluff. She reached for another glass of champagne, slammed the Brut and prepared for the silent battle that would surely follow. The crowd was thick by then, Rachel stopped to talk to guests, constantly on alert for her mother.
And Dylan.
She hadn't seen him yet, he'd disappeared into the crowd before she and Jake finished their dance. She made her way to the silent auction tables when she saw Jameson talking at some thirty-something in a light pink Vera Wang. Savannah chatted with another man nearby, laughing and touching his sleeve as they looked at the silent auction pieces. Her blond hair was piled high on her head, a shiny tiara tucked neatly into the waves. She wore her fitted gold lame' gown, the lights overhead making her glow like the sun. She was hard to look at.
Rachel lost her nerve.
She made her way back towards the stage instead, thinking she'd mingle until the time came to give her speech and to recognize their sponsors. The crowd continued to grow, and Rachel did her best to charm the increasingly drunk socialites. She laughed at bad jokes and smiled when she felt like scowling, she drank champagne. She never ate.
Jake nodded his agreement that it was time to make their speeches, and they found Lana waiting patiently near the stage, nursing her own nerves and preparing to share her story with the crowd. Megan sat with her, wearing the little black dress Rachel had given her, she looked nothing like the tiny timid woman Rachel had seen sitting with her husband the night of that game two months before.
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