Annabelle

27

The day of the gala roared up on us with the speed of a breakaway locomotive. The days prior were spent in a frenzy of last-minute details. Because Lexi was hip deep, working onsite with Jackson still acting as her driver/bodyguard, Sophie took it upon herself to pry Lexi away from the development to get cleaned up for the big event.

The afternoon found us at Benz Hair Design, being blown out and styled by Barb and Ben Fimbrez, the owners of the salon, of which Soph was a longtime customer. Barb, a pretty woman with a thick mane of beautiful black hair and a contagious smile, took one look at Lexi and hustled her into a chair, clearly realizing she had her work cut out for her. I waited while Ben sat Sophie down in his chair and began to work on styling her hair in the updo she wanted for the gala.

I thumbed through a magazine and listened to them talk. Soph was telling Ben the latest happenings at our office. He was a good listener and knew exactly when to crack a joke when Soph started to get too uptight about the business. The fact that he could do that while wielding five different hair implements at once made him a wizard in my book.

When Soph was finished, it was my turn in the chair. Barb was still working on Lexi as they’d decided to give her hair a little boost since it had been sorely neglected for the past few months. Ben asked me what I wanted to do with my hair. I had no idea. Honestly, the thought of going to the gala without Nick being there depressed me to no end.

I hadn’t seen him since the night he left my house. The curtains remained drawn, and there was no sign of life coming from his home. I hadn’t even seen Lupita, Juan, or Jackson. I almost wondered if everyone had moved out and I was there on the property by myself.

I shrugged and Ben, in his dress shirt and jeans and perfectly cut silver hair, studied me from behind his glasses for a moment. “Are you willing to trust me, Annabelle?” he asked.

“Sure,” I said. I figured I had nothing to lose; besides, Soph’s hair had come out perfect. The man clearly had skills.

“All right then,” he said. The wizard set to work, and I tried not to think about the coming evening and how I was going to have amazing hair, an amazing dress, and no boyfriend to share it with. It made me mad all over again. Damn it.

---

We dropped Sophie off at her house to get ready as she was driving to the gala with Miguel. Then Lexi came with me to my house, where she and I would get dressed. Given that neither of us had dates, we’d decided to go together.

We were just getting dressed when there was a knock on the door. It was a big thumper of a knock, and my heart leapt into my chest with the crazy hope that it was Nick, that he’d changed his mind, that he’d be there for Lexi’s big night regardless of his stupid pride. I yanked the door open. It wasn’t Nick.

Jackson stood there, looking amazing in a tuxedo with his beard trimmed and the smell of bergamot pouring off him in waves like he was a walking air freshener called scent of man.

“Hey,” I said. I’m a dazzling conversationalist, I know.

“Hi, Annabelle. I’m here to drive you and Lexi to the gala.”

“You are?” I asked. I did not know about this. I turned toward the bedroom, where Lexi was getting ready. Did she know about this? “Lexi, your driver is here!”

She came out of the bedroom with her newly highlighted and curled hair, carrying a flirty pink lipstick that she had applied only on her upper lip so far, and wearing her body-hugging sky blue trumpet gown, which plunged in the front and had a slit up to mid-thigh on the side. It showed off all of her curvy assets to their best advantage. Soph had picked it out, natch.

“My what?” she asked.

“Driver,” I said. I gestured to Jackson, who was standing there in his tuxedo, a stunned expression on his face as if I’d just smacked him upside the head with a rolling pin. It wasn’t a great look.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Lexi asked.

“I’m your escort,” he said.

“Says who?”

“Says Nick.”

“The same Nick who’s not going tonight?” she asked. She held up her hand. “Forget it. I changed my mind.”

“What?” Jackson and I asked at the same time.

She looked at us, and her pretty hazel eyes were anguished. “I can’t do this. The New Dawn development was never supposed to be about me. It was supposed to be about me and Nick, about the two of us doing something together, but he just keeps pushing me away. This whole thing has been for nothing and I . . . I just can’t! I’m sorry!”

She whirled around, her skirt flaring, showing off her long lithe legs, as she dashed back into my bedroom and slammed the door.

Panic began to thrum through me. Everyone who was anyone was going to the gala tonight. The freaking mayor would be there! If Lexi didn’t show, we were so screwed. Damn you, Nick Daire! As if I wasn’t mad enough at him on my own behalf; now I was devastated for Lexi and everything we had worked so hard for over the past few months.

“Do you mind if I . . . ?” Jackson gestured to the closed door.

I waved him on. “Go for it.”

Moving with a grace that always surprised me for such a large man, he disappeared into the bedroom, closing the door softly behind him.

I didn’t want to eavesdrop so I went to the kitchen and poured myself a medicinal glass of white wine, which I sipped while I waited. I checked my reflection in the mirror. My hair was holding its long stylized curls, thanks to Ben, and my makeup was finished. My gown was a vintage number from 1962 that I had picked up in a thrift store in the Melrose district. It was off-the-shoulder and dipped low in the back, made of a form-fitting crimson lace over cream-colored satin that boasted a matching deep red satin bow, which perched above the slit at the back of my knees, making it flirty and fun and, more practically, possible to walk.

I could hear murmurs coming from behind the closed door. The low one was Jackson’s, punctuated every now and then by a higher tone, which was obviously Lexi. I wondered if the two of them had formed a friendship or more during the time he’d been driving her to and from the jobsite. I wondered if Nick knew. I wondered if he cared. The thought depressed me, and I tried to wash it away with a gulp of wine.

I glanced at the clock. If Jackson didn’t work his magic quickly, we were going to be late. Yes, even I, the chronically late one, knew that when you hosted the party, it was best not to be the last to arrive. I began to pace.

The murmurs stopped. I wondered if that was a good sign or a bad one. I drank some more. I could feel the wine buzzing through my veins. I pushed the glass away. I was about to go knock on the door when it opened and Jackson stepped out.

He met my gaze from across the room, and a faint pink blush appeared just over his neatly trimmed beard. He cleared his throat and said, “She’ll be right out.”

I nodded. Then I grinned. “You have some lipstick in your beard.”

He looked horrified and swiped at his face. I laughed and held out a paper napkin to him.

“So,” I said. “Driver or boyfriend?”

His blush deepened. “Boyfriend.”

I laughed, delighted. “Good for you. She’s a keeper.”

He grinned in return as he dabbed at the section of beard I indicated. “I think so, too.”

“Do you think she’s going to be okay to do this tonight?” I asked.

He cast a dark look toward the big house. “I hope so.”

That was not as reassuring as I’d hoped, but I appreciated the honesty.

When Lexi reappeared, she looked calmer and her lipstick was fully applied. She glanced at us and said, “All right, let’s do this.”

It took us only fifteen minutes to arrive at the country club. Situated downtown on Seventh Street and Thomas Road, the club had been founded in 1900 by twelve of Arizona’s most prominent citizens. It had a very mid-century modern vibe with stylized permanent overhangs and exposed stonework.

Jackson handed his car keys to the parking valet, and Lexi and I stepped out of the vehicle as soon as our doors were opened for us. A glance at Lexi’s face, and I noticed she was looking pale and, frankly, petrified. I looped my arm through hers and said, “Come on, let’s find Sophie. She’ll know exactly what’s what.”

Jackson stepped up to Lexi’s other side, and I saw her visibly relax. I wondered if Nick had any idea that his friend and his sister were clearly a thing. Probably not. As far as I knew, he hadn’t seen Lexi since the night I’d called her to check on him. I felt like this was a fail on my part. Had I not been so consumed with him, with us, maybe he would have gotten closer to his sister on his own.

I shook my head. No, probably not. The demons Nick was fighting were keeping him from letting anyone get too close, and that included me, Jackson, and Lexi. Someday I would probably look back at our relationship and feel sorry for him, but at the moment, I was just too damn angry.

There was a huge sign, which I’d had made, and it featured Luz’s mid-century modern bright yellow sun rising behind two stylized purple mountains with an aqua and orange sky. The sign welcomed us and indicated the room where the New Dawn gala was being held. I took a second, just a second, to appreciate our work. It was a nod to the Arizona state flag, but also celebrated Phoenix’s heyday, the fifties. I was proud of it and knew it was going to become a premier piece in the studio’s portfolio.

“There you are!” Sophie came darting out of the room at the end of the hall. She was wearing a silver sheath dress with cap sleeves and matching silver platform sandals. On anyone else the dress would have overwhelmed, but Soph had such a vibrant personality, she and the dress were a perfect fit.

She stopped in front of us and pressed her hands to her cheeks. “You two are beautiful.” She looked at Lexi. “No one is going to hear a word of your speech; they’re just going to bask in your beauty.”

Lexi blushed bright red and glanced at Jackson. He winked at her and said, “It’s true.”

“Come on.” Soph grabbed Lexi and me by the hands and pulled us toward the room. “I have a million people for you to meet. You should see the architectural rendering in the middle of the room. It’s lit perfectly and people are agog! Lexi, you are going to come out of this as one of the most innovative architects in the country. My god, it’s thrilling.”

I glanced at Lexi. She was looking a sickly shade of green. I leaned close to Soph and said, “Dial it back a little. We’ve been battling a case of nerves for the past hour.”

Soph glanced at Lexi, noted her pallor, and immediately threw an arm around her. “Don’t you fret. You’ve got this. Just speak from your heart.”

Lexi swallowed. I thought she might lose the vomit battle, and I wondered if there was a place I could stash all the items in my clutch in case we needed it as an emergency barf bag. I needn’t have worried. Soph hit the room, dragging us in her wake, like a cyclone of meet and greet.

Drinks were pressed into our hands, small talk was made, as we worked the room from one end to the other. My crew, Nyah, Trent, Booker, and the others, were there, and it was a relief to see their friendly faces. The crowd became a blur, I had no idea if I was just repeating myself, and from the looks of it, neither did Lexi.

When we’d been going hard for an hour, she leaned close and whispered, “Make it stop.”

I glanced around the room, looking for Jackson, who had been discreetly shadowing us the entire time. I waved him in and said, “I think Lexi could use some air.”

He nodded and took her elbow, leading her through the open doors and out onto the patio that overlooked the golf course. I envied her even as I turned back to the banker who was regaling me with his triumphs on the course that day. Not knowing a thing, and caring even less, about golf, I smiled and nodded until I was sure I resembled a well-heeled bobblehead doll. The man did not seem to care.

When Soph appeared at my elbow, I could have kissed her in gratitude. The perturbed V in between her eyebrows checked that impulse.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“It’s time for Lexi’s speech,” she said. “But I can’t find her.”

I turned back to my golfing banker, who was still talking, and excused myself. He gave a quick nod and turned to the person on his left and continued his monologue. Okay, then.

“She was stepping outside for some air,” I said. “I’ll go grab her.”

“Meet me at the stage,” Soph said.

I nodded and hurried outside. I searched the patio and almost retreated until I heard a suspicious moan coming from behind a potted orange tree.

“Lexi? Jackson?” I called. There was no response. I did not have time for this. I circled the tree and found them in a clinch. “Really? You’re doing this now?”

They broke apart. Jackson was rumpled and Lexi looked dazed. Jackson said, “I was trying to take her mind off her nerves.”

“Mission accomplished,” I said. The sarcasm in my voice could have sliced through steel. “Come on, let’s get you ready.”

I took Lexi’s hand and hauled her to the ladies’ room. The attendant and I helped fix her mussed hair and she reapplied her lipstick. She looked lovely and fragile and completely petrified.

“I take it you’re afraid of public speaking,” I said.

“Afraid?” she asked. “Try I’d rather jump out of a plane, swim with sharks, or be forever lonely, like live alone in a tower with no Internet lonely.”

“You might have mentioned this before,” I said.

She raised her hands in the air. “I thought Nick would be here. I thought he’d come around. Whenever I’ve needed him, he’s always been there. Always.” She was shaking all over, and she looked like she was going to cry. “Until now.”

Fury bubbled up inside me. I was mad at Nick, I was mad at Lexi, I was mad at Soph for convincing me to come to Phoenix, and mostly, I was mad at myself because, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shut off the feelings I had for that man.

“Listen,” I said. “It doesn’t have to be a long speech. All you really need to do is go up there and say thank you to everyone for coming out and supporting New Dawn. I’ll have Jackson stand front and center and you just talk to him. And I’ll be right there with him. You can do that, can’t you?”

Lexi stared at me. She took a deep breath. “Yeah.” She nodded. “I think so.”

“Okay, let’s get it over with,” I said. I figured we’d better move while she was in the right frame of mind. The old “rip off the bandage quickly” strategy.

As we stepped out of the ladies’ room, Jackson was waiting for us. His face was scrunched in concern and he stepped toward Lexi. I shot up a hand and held him off. “Later, Romeo. Right now she has a speech to give and you’re going to help her.”

“Whatever you need, babe,” he said. The smile Lexi sent him was a stunner, and if they weren’t so darn adorable, I’d have been consumed with jealousy. I glanced at my watch. Yeah, there was no time for that.

“Let’s go,” I said.

We swept into the reception and headed for the stage. Soph was at the podium, and she was addressing the crowd. Her inner cheerleader was turned up to full spunk as she charmed and disarmed the guests. I saw Miguel, standing off to the side, watching her with the same mix of awe and pride I’d seen on his face on their wedding day. Well, it looked like they were back on track, so that was something.

When Soph saw us, she beamed. “And now, ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce the incredible woman whose vision has brought us all here tonight, Alexandra Brewer.”

There was a commotion at the center of the room and suddenly over the applause a small but loud chant began. It took me a second to realize that this wasn’t an approving crowd noise but rather it was taunting.

“Ban New Dawn! Ban Gentrification!”

Jackson and I exchanged an alarmed look. In a flash, I knew this was the group responsible for the slashed tires and bomb threats that had stalled Lexi’s building site before Nick got involved.

“Take her,” Jackson said. He pushed Lexi at me and spun around, marching into the fray.

“Jackson, wait!” Lexi cried.

The murmurs and commotion continued. I looked at Lexi. “What do you want to do?”

Her hazel eyes were enormous and she glanced up at the stage where Sophie was waiting.

“I can’t let them ruin the gala,” she said.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Jackson, holding two of the male protesters by the scruffs of their necks. They were young, twenty-somethings with neckbeards and glasses. I thought Jackson would toss them out. He didn’t. Instead, he dragged them forward front and center beneath the stage.

The applause grew louder, and I wondered if it was for Lexi or Jackson. I glanced at the rest of the protesters. They looked to be college-aged as well. Two of the hotel’s security guards brought them, three women and a man, forward.

“Sit and listen,” Jackson barked at the students. They all sat. It was the wise choice.

As the applause grew in volume, Lexi navigated the steps to the stage. I moved to stand front and center beside Jackson just like I promised her.

The glare of the spotlight shone on her new highlights. She was so lovely, she looked like she’d walked out of a story about fairy princesses. Her smile was nervous as she waved to the crowd, and I could see that her hands were shaking. I saw Jackson stiffen out of the corner of my eye, and I knew he likely wanted to go and snatch her off the stage and smuggle her to safety. I didn’t blame him a bit as I felt the exact same way. Seeing her so petrified was absolutely excruciating.

“Hello,” she said into the mic. It boomed around the room, and she yelped. Her eyes went wide, and she put her hand over her heart as if to make sure it was still beating.

“Um, hi,” she said, trying again. Her voice was softer when she continued, so soft it was almost impossible to hear her, and we were right in front.

I glanced at Soph, who was standing off to the side with Miguel. They glanced from the students to Lexi and had matching looks of What the hell is happening? on their faces, and I quickly glanced away because there was no way I could answer them at the moment.

“I want to thank you all for coming,” Lexi continued. Her gaze was zeroed in on Jackson. Her voice was little more than a mouse squeak. Conversations started up around the room, the protesters started to get restless, and I was certain that what was being said was not flattering. I glanced at Soph again and our gazes met. She looked like she was about to storm the stage and take over. I shook my head. Lexi had to do it.

“This project, New Dawn, i . . . it . . . it’s more than just a . . . um . . . an . . .” Lexi looked at Jackson. Her face was a mask of horror. It was clear she had gone completely blank and had absolutely no idea what to say.

“Oh, shit,” Jackson muttered. I was right there with him.

“Ban—ouch!” One of the protesters started to chant but Jackson stepped on his hand. When the man shot him an accusatory look, Jackson flexed and the guy settled down.

A restlessness swept through the crowd, and the murmurs and whispers took on a fevered pitch. Lexi visibly paled, and I stared at Sophie. Okay, now we had to do something.

I was about to step forward when I saw the curtain behind Lexi twitch. A little boy in a suit appeared. He looked familiar, and I narrowed my eyes, trying to see against the blinding light on the stage. Elijah!

Now I thought I might faint. I leaned hard against Jackson, and we watched as Elijah yanked the curtain aside with all his might and a man in a wheelchair rolled forward through the opening. Looking impossibly handsome in his tuxedo, he propelled his chair forward until he was beside his sister. Nick had arrived just in time.