Forever and a Day (16 page)

“Thank you Robert, you are easily the most handsome man in this hemisphere.” Robert winked as she took his proffered hand. Looking down at her guests she giggled, “It feels like prom night!’ Halo called down and her guests chuckled.

Paul came up to them as they descended to the last step of the curving stairway, he gave her a small lean in hug, “Gorgeous, gorgeous indeed! Halo, thank you for having Robert escort you this evening.”

Robert looked at Halo still smiling, “Yes, thank you.”

“Of course!” Halo responded, “It’s my pleasure, really.” Paul handed her some 3x5-note cards, and she glanced through them.

“I jotted down some notes for your speech, I know you usually wing it for spontaneity but there are some good points regarding both of your projects.”

“Thanks, Paul.” Halo leaned in and gave him a little peck on his cheek, she looked around at her guests, “Only you three? I expected more of a retinue…”

Lewis stepped close with his lint brush in hand and rolled it in the air, “Halo my love, you forget who I am!”

Halo giggled, looked to Lewis and touched her hand to her head, “What could I have been thinking! Of course!” Halo motioned JJ over to her and handed JJ her phone, “Would you please take some shots of Robert and I? I’d like to send my mom and dad some.”

JJ stood back as Paul backed out of the way. JJ snapped several shots and handed the phone back to Halo, “You and your pictures…” JJ joked.

“Thanks, JJ. Ok, everyone! We have plenty of food in the kitchen please go on in and eat up!”

Halo, Robert and Paul small talked with each other in the kitchen for some time. Eventually the doorbell rang and JJ quickly left the kitchen to get the door. She called out, “Limo is here!”

“Showtime.” Halo said and put her hand on Paul’s arm, “Would you please lock up for me and set the alarm, the paparazzi are everywhere again…”

“Will do.” Paul replied and patted Halo’s hand.

Halo walked over to her stylists, “Thank you all for your help today, please feel free to take all this food home to your families. There is no way I could even begin to make a dent in it!”

Lewis came up to Halo as she went and stood by Robert, “Halo, Jared and I will accompany you to the Hotel, as usual we will wait in the wings to be at your beck and call.”

“Thanks Lewis.” Halo said as Robert held out his arm for her and escorted her to the huge black stretch limousine that awaited them in her driveway.

The driver in his black suit, cap and tie awaited them at the limo’s door, “Good evening Miss Raines!” The driver said tapping his fingers to his cap.

“Larry!” Halo exclaimed, “So good to see you again!” As she began to get in, she paused and leaned close to Larry and whispered, “Thanks for taking care of my guest last week…”

“Yes ma’am, a very nice gentleman. It was my pleasure.” Larry replied discreetly.

Halo gave Larry a clandestine smile as she got in the limo, it was then she noticed JJ’s curious look at her. Halo calmly ignored it and settled onto the supple black leather seat with Robert settling in across from her. Soon, JJ, Lewis and Jared were all in the back of the limo with plenty of room to spare.

JJ looked at her with curiosity. Halo glanced back at her and gave her half a smile; JJ returned a barely perceptible headshake back at her. The limo began to maneuver its way around the fountain in the middle of Halo’s driveway and then they were off and headed to the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The sun sat low on the horizon as they entered into the line of limousines on West Sunset Boulevard, waiting to disembark their VIPs at the event. It took fifteen minutes until Halo’s limo came to a stop in front of the famous pink hotel.

The door attendants, who traditionally wore pink polo shirts and khakis, were all wearing white tuxedo shirts, black tuxedo pants with pink bow ties and matching cummerbunds. The red carpet was rolled out and it would be a narrow walk into the hotel as the throngs of media were pressing against the pink velvet ropes.

Lewis pulled out his ever present lint brush and began rolling it over Robert’s black tuxedo. When he was done, Lewis adjusted Robert’s deep red bow tie. Jared kneeled in front of Halo and checked her makeup and hair, finding everything fine he went to JJ and did a few touchups on hers.

Lewis clapped his hands excitedly, “Are we ready?”

Halo looked at JJ then to Robert who flashed her a winning smile, “I believe we are!”

Robert moved to the door, crouching along the way due to his height, “Halo, in case I neglect to tell you, thank you for a fabulous evening.” Robert smiled and unlocked the door then knocked on the window. Halo nodded and returned his smile with a wink.

The door opened and Robert Montclaire stepped out and the camera flashes lit up the inside of the limo like a small lighting storm. Once outside, Robert held out his hand to Halo, she accepted it, exited the limo with the grace of a ballerina and stood upright with her million-watt smile directed at the cameras.

The noise from the onlookers and media came to an instant hush as she stepped into view. Even the flashes from the cameras ceased, followed by a hush of awe that befell all who gazed upon Halo. Only when Robert offered her his arm and they began their slow walk towards the grand foyer of the hotel did the flashes erupt like a Midwestern lightning storm.

The crowd began to yell and cheer for them. Reporters and media types called out her name to get her attention, but she and Robert kept the happy smiles plastered on their faces as they waved to both sides of the crowd.

At the top of the steps, they both turned together and faced the crowd. Robert looked down and smiled his best smile to Halo and she returned hers to him. At the same time they both looked out to the raucous crowd, Halo blew kisses while Robert waved jovially. On cue, they both turned to the foyer with Halo grabbing Robert’s hand they both soon disappeared from the throng outside.

Halo looked up to Robert as he led them to the Children’s Charity Reception area and more photographers, “That wasn’t so bad!” Halo whispered.

The event staff directed them to the Children’s Charity platform with the banner displayed prominently behind them then more pictures ensued. When the photographers were done, JJ came up to them and beckoned them to follow her. They made their way to the opulent ballroom where there was enough seating for nearly a thousand guests, though tonight would seat half that many. JJ negotiated the way through the tables to Halo’s table at the head of the room, across from the band and next to the dance floor.

JJ gestured to the table, “Here we go Robert. Halo, Caroline from the board would like to speak with you and introduce you to some special guests?”

Halo acknowledged her with nod and turned to Robert who was holding a chair out for her, “Robert, duty calls. Will you be ok here?” Halo inquired politely.

“Yes Halo, I will be fine.”

Halo felt JJ grasp her hand as she began leading the way out a side door of the ballroom to a hallway. Going through the door, Halo noticed Caroline was speaking to a several people with young children and was now pointing in her direction. Halo saw one of the kids was in a wheelchair as Caroline gestured for them to wait there then quickly made her way to Halo and JJ.

Caroline had a big smile on her narrow face; she seemed all teeth with thin lips, “Miss Raines! You look absolutely radiant! Thank you for coming back here. We have some children from the hospital with their parents who would love to meet you.”

“Thank you Caroline, of course I would love to meet your guests! And please, it’s just Halo, ok?”

Caroline nodded with her huge smile and directed them to the waiting guests. Caroline stopped and addressed her small crowd, “Children and parents, I would like to introduce you to one of our founders and our biggest supporter, Miss Halo Raines.” Caroline turned and with an open hand gestured to Halo.

Halo wore her smile from her heart. She addressed the first family in line against the wall. She held out her hand to a little girl who looked like she was around six years old with nearly shorn, cropped blonde hair and big round green eyes, “Hello sweetie, my name is Halo, what’s yours?”

The little girl shook Halo’s hand, not taking her eyes off Halo’s face. She then looked up and down Halo’s dress, her mother gave her a tiny nudge, “Uh, I’m Kylie—you are so beautiful! And, and your dress too!” Kylie blurted out.

“Kylie, thank you so much. You are quite the beautiful little girl yourself! I really love your pretty dress,” Halo pointed down to her dress, “look, our colors almost match too!”

Kylie clutched her hands together and began moving her shoulders back and forth with a shy smile on her cherub like face.

Halo looked up at Kylie’s mother as the young mother spoke up, “Miss Raines, Kylie is doing very well thanks to you and the hospital.”

“That is such wonderful news! I am so happy to hear that!” Halo replied to Kylie’s mother and to the man standing next to her.

Halo reached out and shook the mother’s hand warmly. Then she offered her hand to Kylie’s father. Halo watched as the tall thin man’s eyes fell to her hand outstretched at him. She watched with curiosity as his eyes got wider and wider as he continued to stare at her hand, when his mouth began to fall open his wife gave him a hard nudge.

“John!” Kylie’s mother whispered into her husband ear while Kylie looked up and giggled at her father.

John’s mouth closed with an audible click and his pale face turned several shades of pink. He reached out, took Halo’s outstretched hand, and shook it delicately in his. Halo held back her giggle, “John, it is a pleasure to meet you and your family.”

John looked up from their clasped hands to Halo’s smiling face, his face turned from a dark pink to red and quickly looked down at their joined hands. His wife nudged him again and he let go and looked up from his hand to Halo, “N-nice to m-me-meet you Hal, um Miss Raines.” He managed to sputter out. He looked down at his hand in wonder as his wife chuckled and shook her head.

“Oh John, whatever am I going to do with you! Miss Raines, I’m so sorry for John’s star truck state!”

Halo giggled and patted Kylie’s mother’s arm and smiled, “It’s perfectly fine.”

Halo moved over to the excited little boy who quickly stuck his hand out to her, “Hi! I’m Carlos! I saw you in the movie you sang in!” He gave Halo his biggest smile, “You are more beautifuller in real life Halo!” Carlos gushed excitedly.

Halo giggled, “It is certainly a pleasure to meet you Carlos! Thank you for the compliment and from such a handsome young man too!”

Carlos’s excitement increased twofold and began bouncing on his toes, “Hey, I got better at your hospital too! I had a checkup the other day and the doctor said I’m good!”

Carlos mother tapped her son’s shoulder and then held out her hand to Halo. Halo graciously held Carlo’s mothers hand in hers, in return Carlos’s mother held Halo’s petite hand in both of her own calloused and overworked hands , “Gracias Senorita Raines, muchas gracias!”

Halo saw the grateful tears in her eyes, “Um… Con mucho gusto, Senora!” Halo replied smiling.