If At First

Part 19 - Chapter 18

The picturesque foursome was then released from their duties for the moment, and Haven paused only to shake hands with someone before striding toward Nana and me. I had to fight an impulse to run to him by reminding myself that I was due an explanation about his actions toward my brother.

The majority of photographers followed him so he stopped just a few feet away, offering one arm to my grandmother, and after she accepted it, offered the other to me. I noticed, among the small-ish group of media present, that the man from the park who stole a picture of the two of us was one of them.

"What's he doing here?" I asked out of the corner of my mouth and holding on to the nervous smile I was trying to hide behind. The photographer, aware of my uncomfortable stare, lowered his camera and nodded at me before departing for the other end of the room.

"Who? Rob? Yeah, I hired him. I told you I was going to find him, didn't I? What did you think I'd do, have him stuffed in my trunk?" He smiled his effortless smile, and winked at a blonde in a skin-tight white dress passing by. "I thought about it, but my trunk is way too small." He chuckled.

Haven was undoubtedly in his element, absolutely undisturbed by the surroundings or the people. "Mrs. Theodore," he said, "my mother is dying to see you, would you forgive me for taking you to her before offering refreshment?"

"By all means, dear." Nana said, "I know she'll be busy tonight so I'm sure she'd like to get all the necessary civilities out of the way so she can enjoy herself."

"Not at all, she's been looking forward to seeing you. I had you come a little later so you wouldn't have to wrestle the first mob to arrive, but she would have preferred it, I'm sure, if you had been here early so she could consult with your flawless advice." He smiled, plainly pleased with the way she looked so dotingly at him, her Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality putting on its Sunday best.

Darling, having removed herself from another conversation, floated over to us then, her hands held out to my grandmother. "Rose, I'm so happy to see you! How have you been? You look fabulous." She exchanged kisses on each cheek with Nana, and continued without waiting for her reply. "We kept our little party in town this year in the hopes that you would be able to make it! We just had to have you and Tabitha come, and I know how you dislike travel. How do you like the place? We flew in more than forty thousand roses from Vienna, don't you love them? The fountains have all been repaired and restored too, and we hope the owners are able to make this room more useful after tonight. My Harlan went to great pains to make sure it was presentable and functional. This space and the main house were designed by John Russell Pope, you know. And how are you, Tabitha, you grow prettier each time I see you. Just look at that dress! Did you see Michelle today? She said she was on her way to you when she left me, and I can see her talents are just never exhausted. I'm determined to make her famous, you know, she has more of a knack for design in her little finger than most of the hacks I've ever met. And where are these shoes she's been talking about? She was like a proud mother over those shoes." I revealed my foot from beneath my dress and she gasped indulgently "Oh, she was right! Those are just beautiful, I can't wait to see what they bring. Did I ever thank you for helping us tonight? I'm forever in your debt. Oh, there's Harlan. I don't think you've met him yet, have you Tabitha?" She waved in the direction of an attractive man in his late fifties, who looked like a time-warp of Haven. He approached, smiling Haven's same smile, and kissed my grandmother's cheek.

"Rose, I haven't seen you in ages. How are you?"

Nana patted his arm affectionately and returned his smile. "I'm fine dear, just fine. You're handsome as ever."

"Well I don't know about that." He glanced at me, and then to Darling.

"This is Tabitha, Harlan. Tabitha Bridian, Charlie's daughter. You remember Charlie, don't you?"