Forever and a Day (15 page)

JJ opened the two massive old mission front doors into Halo’s home. The caterers rushed in with their trays of food for Halo’s stylists and Robert Montclaire’s retinue. Under JJ’s direction, the caterers began setting up in Halo’s kitchen and soon their mission was complete. JJ signed the invoice and tipped them well. JJ shut the massive old mission doors behind them and ran upstairs to Halo’s room.

Calling out to Halo as she walked in, she noticed black sheets on Halo’s bed, rather than the normal blue ones. Halo’s faint singing coming from the shower distracted her from the oddly colored sheets. JJ walked in and called out loudly to her friend, “Halo! It’s JJ!”

“I’m in the shower, almost done!”

Halo turned off the water and JJ handed Halo her pink fluffy bathrobe from the nearby hook and gently shook her head, “If Robbie only knew what he was missing!”

Halo snorted, “Ha! I bet the only boobs Robbie has ever liked was his mother’s when she breast fed him!”

JJ laughed, “No kidding. By the way, the food is all ready and looks delicious. Everyone has checked in and we are a go. Lewis will be here around one with the Fashionista crew and your dress. Hey what’s with the black sheets?”

“Awesome, JJ! Oh… those! Saw them online a while back… I kinda think they are sexy. Why?”

“Oh, no reason it’s just you always have blue ones… you expecting someone special?” JJ winked.

“No!” Halo laughed. “They’ve been on for a while… something different I guess. So which dress you going with?” Halo asked as she wrapped her golden blonde hair in a fresh dry towel.

JJ nodded, “Um, the black Elie Saab from last year.”

“JJ are you sure? You don’t have to be so demure at these things because of me.” Halo gave her a pouty lip look.

“Halo, this is your charity bash. As always I am just happy for you and even though it’s a bit of work, I enjoy it and I don’t have to be the center of attention either.”

Halo grabbed both of JJ hands in hers, and looked into JJ’s soft blue eyes, “JJ, I want you to know that you have always been my Bestie and I love you. As always, thank you for all that you do.” Halo stood on her tiptoes kissed JJ on her forehead and hugged her hard. When they let go of each other, both their eyes were glassy.

“Love you too, girlfriend.” JJ said and pressed a finger to the corner of her eye.

“Ok! No more sentimental stuff, we don’t need puffy eyes!” Halo giggled, “Go get your sweet ass ready!”

“I’m going!” JJ laughed and quickly left Halo alone in her expansive Tuscan styled bathroom.

Halo sat in her chair calmly as a swarm of people was working on her hair and makeup, while she was getting a Mani and Pedi at the same time. Lewis was the ever-skillful conductor orchestrating his stylists like a well-rehearsed symphony. Halo caught a glance in the mirror, and the scene reminded her of ants swarming a morsel of food.
 

The doorbell rang, and Halo heard, “Don’t move sweetie!” Come from Jared as he applied her eyeliner.

Motionless, Halo called out to JJ, “Who is it?”

“It’s the Harry Winston man!”

“Lewis, will you and JJ let him in and escort him up here please?” Halo asked.

“But of course, you just keep your sweet little cheeks planted.” Lewis demanded and followed JJ downstairs.

Shortly, Lewis, JJ and a tall elegant man, who was wearing an impeccably tailored black suit, entered Halo’s bathroom together. Lewis called over to Halo, “My dear, Alistair from Winston’s is here with your jewels.”

The Fashionista crew backed away from Halo as if on cue. Lewis brought the elegant Alistair over to her.

“Hello Alistair.” Halo greeted the man, “As you see I am being worked over, I apologize that I don’t stand up and greet you.”

“Good afternoon, Miss Raines. Thank you for the sentiment, I understand.” Alistair held out a large glossy black box with a gold embossed “H and W” on the top. He opened it for her so she could view it, “Your pieces for this evening.”

Halo gasped as did everyone else that saw the exquisite necklace as he lifted the top. There on black velvet rested a gorgeous ruby and diamond teardrop necklace. The teardrop shaped deep red ruby was flawless and half the size of Halo’s thumb.

Next to the necklace was a pair of matching drop earrings, each a smaller version of the necklace, “Wow, these are so beautiful. Alistair you have my deepest appreciation and thanks.”

“Ah, Miss Raines there is more.” The tall man removed the black velvet top that held the necklace and earrings, below it rested more black velvet. In addition, a four inch polished gold hair comb was displayed on more black velvet. The comb was curved and it was adorned with alternating round rubies and diamonds.

Lewis clapped, “That will do nicely!”

“Does Miss Raines approve?” Alistair asked with a gentle smile.

“Oh my gosh, of course!” Gushed Halo, “Thank you, thank you so much!” Halo glanced in the mirror to see JJ nodding emphatically with a smile.

“Miss Raines, you are very welcome. If I may say, these pieces pale in comparison to your own beauty.” Alistair put everything back and secured the black box shut by its gold clasp.

“Thank you.” Halo blushed.

“Now Miss Raines, if you would please sign, accepting the pieces. Please note all four pieces are identified on the form. We have arrangements to pick them up tomorrow at noon, here. Is this still acceptable?”

“Yes, that is perfect.” Halo read the contract, signed it then handed it to Alistair.

“Miss Raines, may you have the most wonderful of evenings tonight. I bid you a good day.” He handed Halo the black box and turned to JJ who escorted him downstairs to the front door.

Halo looked up at Lewis as the stylists resumed their assault on her, “Did you order the comb?”

“Darling Halo, of course I did! This is Lewis Langston that is attending to you, not some poseur!” He bowed and gave Halo a huge grin showing off his perfect white teeth against his ebony skin, “Girlfriends! Let’s finish up and get our gorgeous starlet in her dress!”

JJ walked into the bathroom and saw Halo standing in her dress smiling at her. She came to an immediate stop and gawked, “Red really is your color!”

Lewis clapped his hands rapidly, “Halo, you are Aphrodite reborn, a Goddess in your own right! That Robbie Montclaire is sure going to question on what side he’s on tonight!” Lewis took Halo’s hands in his and kissed them both, “Every man, straight or gay, is going to be having their eyes on you tonight, and all the girls are going to be green with envy!”

“Halo, you are absolutely stunning!” JJ beamed at her friend.

Halo felt her cheeks flush, “I owe it all to you Lewis and your Fashionistas, thank you for all your effort today.” She looked at each of the five assistant stylists and thanked them. When she looked at Lewis she saw that his eyes were glassy from emotion, she tiptoed up and kissed his cheek, “Thank you so much Lewis.”

Lewis quickly produced an ornate black Oriental fan and began fanning his face trying to keep his emotion in check, “Well now, when you have perfection to begin with? It is that much easier.”

Halo blushed with a big smile then addressed her styling crew, “There is plenty of food and drink downstairs in the kitchen! Please help yourselves and enjoy. I’ll wait up here until Robbie arrives. Now all of you go eat!” 

Lewis held up a hand to Halo as she began to urge him to the door. He reached into one of his many cases and pulled out a clear plastic raincoat. He quickly got it around her and zipped it up, he looked to JJ, “JJ my dear, please get Halo some finger foods and some water. We don’t need her fainting due to being famished!”

JJ nodded and headed downstairs to do Lewis’s bidding, “Halo, you eat something and sip at your water, I’ll see you downstairs when your date arrives!” Lewis kissed Halo’s hand once again and left her alone in her bathroom.

Halo smiled and watched Lewis leave, when he was out of sight she gently eased herself down on her makeup chair. Once again a porcelain doll on a shelf she mused. Anymore, her part of the charity event was to show up, mingle and say a short speech. She wished that these events were not so big and really a fashion show in disguise, but it did earn the hospital a generous amount of money and it received plenty of media coverage.

She made a mental note to make more time and visit the kids at the hospital when filming was completed, she so missed visiting the kids there. JJ interrupted her thoughts as she came up to her with a plate full of easy to eat foods.

JJ handed Halo a bottle of water with a straw stuck in it, “Lewis orders you to use the straw.” JJ flared her hand in the air, mimicking Lewis. She set the plate down on the bathroom counter in front of Halo, “Wow! Look at all of those crystals on your dress they are gorgeous! Is it uncomfortable?”

“Actually it’s fairly comfortable, I can actually breathe in it.”

“Breathing is a good thing!” JJ giggled, “Here, eat something before Robbie gets here.” She picked up the plate and held it to Halo.

Halo ate and before she was done the doorbell rang, they heard Lewis call up to them that he would get the door, “JJ, I’m going to brush real quick. Text me when I should come down, ok?” Halo said with a bit of excitement.

“Will do!” JJ said and hurried out to meet Paul and Robbie.

Several minutes later Halo felt her phone vibrate and looked down and read it: We are ready for your close up!

Halo snorted at JJ’s text. She removed her protective raincoat and set it aside. She checked her dress in the mirror before leaving her bathroom and prepared herself for her entrance.

She exited her bedroom, walked down the hallway, and heard the voices of her guests downstairs. At the top of her long curving stairway, she paused and put a smile on her face. Placing her hand on the black wrought iron handrail, she took her first step in her red, five-inch Louboutin red satin pumps. Taking another step she came into view of her guests down below, a camera flash went off and she saw Robert Montclaire and Paul Nader standing wide-eyed and open-mouthed looking up at her.

The photographer even paused in his picture taking and looked up from his camera’s screen at her slow descent. The rest of the guests all looked up in utter silence as she looked resplendent in her Elie Saab Haute Couture, deep red, A-line, above the knee dress.

Halo heard the clapping from below as she paused midway down her staircase; she smiled at Robbie as the photographer snapped away. Robert Montclaire was looking up at her with his winningest smile then gave her a gallant bow. Halo decided that he would have made a great “Superman” the best-looking one ever, not that Henry Cavil was not good looking. Robert was just that gorgeous and masculine looking. The women of the world who fancied Robert Montclaire were going to have their hearts dashed when he decided to come out.

Halo gave Robert a slow single nod at his bow and she beckoned him up to her, “Robert, please come on up and escort me down for our photographer friend, please?” She looked to Paul, their manager, and winked.

Robert made his way up to her with fluid grace and held out his hand to her and smiled, “Good afternoon Halo, you look fabulous… an angel in a red dress.” Robert smiled bigger showing his perfect teeth.