Halo watched as Chuck’s mother grabbed her husband’s arm, tearing up they both nodded emphatically.
“Uh, Halo?” Caroline quietly interrupted, “We aren’t really prepared for this?”
Halo stood up and gave Caroline a firm smile, “Of course we are Caroline. It’s early still and I will have my dance with all the kids here.”
“Of course Halo, thank you!” Caroline replied happily.
Halo turned back to the parents, “Is this ok with you? It’s a bit busy out there, but I am sure the dance floor is empty.” She got back nods from all the parents including Carlos’s mother who had been busy listening to Carlos interpreting.
Halo leaned down to Chuck, “Would you be ok with letting Kylie and Carlos go first? This way I can save the last dance with you?”
Chuck nodded slowly, “I—I can’t walk…”
“Well then? It will be you, me and your cool wheels, ok?” Halo asked excitedly.
Chuck’s face finally showed a flicker of enthusiasm, “Ok.”
Halo turned to JJ who was standing by off to the side, “Please go tell the band that I would like some music to dance to in a few, ok?”
JJ nodded with a smile plastered on her face and quickly left.
“Then let’s go!”
Halo gestured towards Chuck’s wheelchair handle and his parents nodded. She grasped the wheelchair’s handles and began pushing Chuck to the door as Caroline held it open for them.
Once inside the ballroom she parked Chuck next to the dance floor and patted his good arm lightly, “I’ll be back for you soon.” He nodded to her then she gestured for Kylie and Carlos to follow, “This is the Crystal ballroom.” She heard the kids utter their ‘oohs and ahs’ as she brought them to the middle of the dance floor.
She saw Robert wave and smile to her, Halo smiled back and took Kylie’s and Carlo’s hands then nodded to JJ who was standing by the band. Soon Fergie’s song, ‘Glamorous’ rang out filling the Crystal Ball room.
Halo’s smile was joyously full as she danced with the two children spinning them around the dance floor. She let go of their hands and Carlos began a hip shaking dance as Kylie began jumping up and down to the beat. When the song ended, she thanked the kids and gestured them towards to their waiting parents. She made eye contact with Chuck and gestured for him to wait a moment, he gave her a quick nod then she went to talk to the band.
Halo looked at a confused JJ then to the lead singer of the band, “Thank you so much for doing that, may I ask for another favor?”
The lead singer nodded emphatically with a big smile, “For you Halo, anything.”
“Thank you, uh… I want to sing Chuck a song...”
“What?” JJ asked in amazement. “You are going to sing in front of everyone, here? Now?” JJ exclaimed.
Without a pause, the lead singer handed Halo her microphone. Halo shrugged her shoulders at JJ, “Why not? I want to see little Chuck smile.” She looked to the singer, “Do you know Goldfrap’s “Fly me away? It’s pretty basic…”
The singer smiled, “No problem Halo, we know it! Cue us when you are ready! This is gonna be awesome!” She said as she turned to the band.
JJ laughed nervously and patted Halo’s arm, “I hope you know what you are doing…”
Halo smiled, “No, not really, but that’s the song I sang ‘under the lights’.” She left JJ standing there as she headed off towards little Chuck.
Halo approached Chuck with a big smile plastered across her face, “Are you ready?”
Chuck looked out to the watchful crowd seated at all the white linen covered tables and gave Halo a nervous little nod.
Chuck’s parent’s smiles were plastered on their faces from ear to ear. Chuck’s mother moved away and gestured to the handles of Chuck’s wheelchair. Halo wheeled him out to the dance floor, turned him away from the curious crowd and faced him towards his parents.
She stood next to little Chuck and tapped her mic, “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us at our annual fall charity ball. I’d like to introduce you to my special guest, this here is Chuck. Earlier I asked Chuck if he would dance with me, and he graciously accepted.” Halo smiled and kneeled down to Chuck, “Chuck you mentioned you liked a scene in a movie I was in, do you remember the song I sang?”
He nodded at her, and in a quiet voice her replied, “Fly me away, my favorite...”
“Yes! Chuck, would it be ok if I sang that song to you right now?”
Chuck looked up at Halo with his big brown eyes for the first time, gave her a shy smile, and nodded.
“Awesome!” Halo stood up and looked at the all the faces watching her, intrigued by what was happening, “Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please indulge me, I’d like to sing Chuck a song?” A surprisingly raucous round of applause rolled over them. Halo smiled nervously, “It’s been awhile so please bear with me…” She laughed and cued the band.
A snare drum began its beat and the keyboard started in. Halo reached down and gently grasped Chuck’s little hand, looked into his big brown eyes, and began his favorite song in her beautiful melodic voice.
Chuck’s face slowly began to light up as Halo held his hand, swinging it gently back and forth as she sang. His smile soon grew, she felt her tears began to threaten to fall but she kept on. Soon Chuck was grinning from ear to ear, showing his two missing front teeth in a joyous smile.
The song ended and Halo leaned over to Chuck and kissed his little cheek, he reached up with his good hand and squeezed her as best he could, “I love you Halo.” He whispered to her in his little voice.
Halo’s tears broke loose and flowed like rain down her face, “I love you back little man.” She kissed his cheek again and became aware of the crowd’s furious applause. Halo dabbed at her tears, waved to the crowd then pushed Chuck back to his happily crying parents.
JJ quickly walked over and pulled out her cell phone and quickly texted Lewis: Makeup! Back hallway to the ballroom. STAT!
Halo shook hands tearfully with Chuck’s parents as they gushed in gratitude. Chuck’s mother leaned close and whispered with a choked voice, “He falls asleep to your soundtrack almost every night, you made his dream come true, Halo. Thank you so, so much.”
All Halo could do was give her a hug and nod. She dabbed at her tears as she let go of Chuck’s mother whose face was as wet as her own. Several guests from the audience made their way up and spoke with a teary-eyed Caroline who introduced them to the families. Halo took in a deep breath and bent over to speak with a smiling Chuck, “When I get back from filming my next movie, I’d like to come visit you. Would you like that?”
“Sure!” Chuck beamed at her, “Where are you going?”
“I’m flying out to Australia tomorrow, I will be around there for the next two months, after that I’ll come see you, ok?” Halo patted his frail shoulder gently.
Chuck smiled up to her, “Ok Halo. I will miss you.”
Halo laughed, “Me too Chuck, me too! Hey, can I sign your cast?”
Chuck nodded, “Cool!” Halo watched as Chuck’s mother whispered something in his ear, “I mean, yes please Halo.”
Halo saw JJ’s hand holding a pen at her with a teary smile, “Lewis is on his way. He’ll be in the hall soon.”
“That bad, huh?” Halo smiled at JJ.
“Yeah, you’ve got some serious racing lines down your cheeks.”
Halo nodded and grimaced at JJ, then leaned over to Chuck, “Show me where to sign!” She asked excitedly.
Chuck pointed to his cast, “Here, please.” Halo saw only a few signatures, then wrote in her flowing script: To my best little friend, get better soon! With tons of love, Halo Raines. XXOO.
Chuck read it as did his parents, “Thank you!” They said in near unison.
JJ leaned over and whispered into Halo’s ear, “Lewis is in the hall.”
Halo handed JJ the microphone, “Please take this back to the band with my thanks.” Halo beckoned Caroline over and poin
ted to the door to the hallway, “I have to go get freshened up, would you please ask the kids if they would like some pictures taken together?”
“Oh!” Caroline exclaimed, “That would be wonderful Halo, thank you for what you did. You have no idea how little Chuck fought to be here tonight. We all didn’t think he had it in him, you sure made a difference. This is the first time I have ever seen him smile.”
With tears threatening to burst forth once again, Halo held her breath and could only give Caroline a silent nod. She quickly headed to the hallway leaving Caroline to speak with the families. Halo opened the door as was quickly met by open mouth shock from both, Lewis and Jared.
“Girlfriend!” Lewis clapped both his hands on his face and shrilly shrieked out, “Who did this to you? I will bitch slap him like his momma never could!” Lewis grabbed Jared’s arm, they both rushed to Halo, who could only try to hold back more tears in silence as she tried to motion with her hands that all was fine.
Eventually she was able to choke out a reply, “I’m fine they are good…”
Lewis leaned close, “What man could upset my Goddess like this? You point him out to me!” Lewis demanded as he helped repair the makeup on Halo’s tear smeared face.
Halo cracked a smile, “He will be in just a moment…” the door opened and the families began filing raucously through.
Lewis looked up with a furious frown that quickly faded, “I see…” Muttered Lewis, “I see.”
Kylie came up to Halo then looked at Lewis who began straightening Halo’s dress with his hands, “Mister, did you make Halo’s pretty dress?”
Lewis smiled a big toothy grin at Kylie, “No child, it’s my job to help Halo pick out her dresses for special occasions and help her get ready. I do say your dress is gorgeous, little one! Did you pick it out?”
Kylie shook her head and pointed to her mother and giggled, “No, my mommy picked it out!”
“Well tell your mother she did a wonderful job! You look fabulous tonight!” Lewis laughed heartily.
“Hey, can I get a picture with Halo now?” Kylie asked.
Halo was listening and watching Kylie from the corner of her eye and spoke up, “Kylie, how about you go get the boys ready to take some pictures. Do you think you can get them to line up against the wall back there?”
“Ok Halo! I will!” Kylie said and headed off.
At Lewis’s all clear, Halo went over to the families and spent several minutes taking pictures with them all. John still wore his wide-eyed shock on his face but managed to smile for the picture. His wife joked with Halo that she doubted he would ever wash his hand again. John grinned and could only nod emphatically in return.
The goodbye with Chuck was heart wrenching, but Halo managed to not shed a tear through sheer willpower and with help from Chuck’s ear to ear smile. She promised him again she would see him and with a wave, she left them and headed back into the ballroom with JJ in tow. Halo stopped as she got to the door, “JJ! Could you get all their information please?”
“On it boss!” JJ replied and headed back in the hallway.
Halo gracefully glided to a smiling and waiting Robert and their table. He met her standing up and pulled out her chair for her. Sitting down she smiled up to him and breathed a sigh of relief.
Robert took his seat next to her and smiled, “My dear Halo. My compliments, you are one in a billion. I raise a toast to you and your caring heart. My God, where did that sweet beautiful voice come from? I thought it was your sister who sang?”
Halo felt a little blush coming on and fanned herself with her hand, “Thank you Robert.” She leaned a little towards him and gave him a wry smile, “With charm like that, you better watch yourself… I may and try and take you home with me.”
Robert chuckled and placed his hand on Halo’s, “If any woman could? It could only be you.” He winked and took a sip of his wine.
Halo smiled and leaned closer and gave him a soft peck on his cheek and whispered to him, “That should get them talking.”
Robert stifled a guffaw, “Ah, by the way Halo. You better check YouTube tonight when you get home…”
“Oh no… really?” Halo replied and looked around at the tables full of richly clothed people, some watching her and Robert.
“More than one or two phones caught your performance. Little Chuck will surely have his moment with you saved forever on the internet.”
Halo smiled, “Well at least for that.”
The ball ended up being a great success with Halo receiving a standing ovation when she went up for her speech. They guests opened their pockets in an amount that exceeded any other event they had held. Halo was ecstatic on hearing the news. The end of the extravagant evening brought them to Robert Montclaire’s home at his gated Condo community in Santa Monica.
Sitting together in the back of the limo, Robert took Halo’s diminutive hand in his and placed a gentle kiss upon it then looked into her big blue eyes and smiled, “Halo, you are beauty beyond compare and to top it all off you have a warm and generous heart. In this Hollywoodland, it is so rare.”
Halo smiled and gave Robert’s strong tanned hand a squeeze, “Thank you Robert…”
Robert cut her short and gave her a confused look in the dimly lit limo, “Halo? It is none of my business here to mention, but I must admit I am confused as to why you are and have been single. There has been talk…”
Halo cocked her head a little sideways at Robert’s look, “Oh?”
“My apologies, it is none of my business.” Robert quickly replied.
“No, no… please continue. What talk?” Halo urged.
“Ah… well? Rumblings in my community have you on ‘our side’ so to speak…” He glanced towards JJ who suddenly caught the drift of the conversation, which caused her mouth to fall open in shock.
Halo erupted out in a hearty laugh, pointed at JJ then herself and bounced her eyebrows at her longtime friend then turned to a smiling Robert, “Well Robbie? If I were on your side so to speak, yes I think JJ would make an excellent girlfriend, if we swung that way.”
Robert chuckled good naturedly, “Then why may I ask are you single? Or, do you have a secret lover locked away in that beautiful home of yours?”
“No…” She giggled, “But since you are off the market what is a girl supposed to do?” Halo joked. “In all seriousness, I haven’t met… well, I take that back,” She quickly caught JJ’s look, “I haven’t met a man who has struck my interest—that is available…”
Robbie frowned, “I am sorry to hear… Halo, may I give you a piece of advice?”
Halo smiled and patted Robbie’s hand, “I am all ears.”
“Life is so short… I sense we are both in our own self-imposed prisons of sorts. After this film is released, I do plan on making my partner known to the world and live our lives without having to keep living the lie.” Robbie sighed and took up Halo’s hand again and looked her in her eyes, “When you find love my beautiful friend, grab him or her with both hands and never let go… trust me.”
Halo stared into Robbie’s striking blue eyes for a long moment then nodded, “If I can, I will do that.” She gave his hand another squeeze, “Thank you Robbie and I wish you and your partner the all best.”
“Halo, I had a most wonderful evening, thank you for a marvelous time and I am sure Paul and Ari are grateful as well.” Robbie dryly chuckled then quickly kissed her hand and was out of the door. With a smile and a wave, he shut the door and the Larry the limo driver drove off and headed the huge limo towards Halo’s home.
“I know who you were thinking of, Halo.” JJ said breaking the silence.
“I know you did, maybe this Mystery man has a single brother…” Halo joked.
“Maybe…” JJ quipped back at her friend.
It was midnight when the large limo negotiated Halo’s circular driveway and came to a stop at her well lit home. Larry opened the door with a polite smile for Halo and JJ.
Halo discreetly hande
d Larry five one hundred dollar bills, she saw his eyes nearly pop out from his skull when he glanced down at the cash, “Miss Raines, thank you! Thank you!”
Halo patted his arm, “No Larry. Thank you for me being able to count on you.”
“Any time Miss Raines!” Larry tapped his fingers to his cap and escorted both JJ and Halo to their door before he bid them good night and returned to his limo and drove off into the warm California night.
At the old, double mission doors, “JJ put her hand on Halo’s shoulder stopping her, “Hey, are you going to fess up now or later?”
“What?” Halo giggled as she punched in a code to unlock the door.
“You canceled my town car request and had your Mystery man picked up in a limo. Didn’t you?”
Halo laughed as they both walked in. Halo casually walked over and disarmed the alarm on the nearby wall with a big grin. After doing so, she turned to JJ with a sheepish grin, “Of course I did, and why not? I really am going to need him, JJ. Trust me on this…”
“Whatever floats your boat, don’t forget that he’s—“
“Married! I know!” Halo rolled her eyes upward at JJ, “So, you going to help me out of this dress?”
JJ snickered, “Fine let’s go up to your bedroom so I can undress you…”
“Woo! You are such a tease!” Halo gasped jokingly.
Forever and a Day Page 14