by Sandra Kitt
“You said you only needed sixty-five bags, but I put together five extra, just in case. I know from experience that there’s always someone you forget to include.”
“That’s so nice of you.” Chloe smiled graciously at the older gentleman, retired and emeritus in economics. “Have they been sent over to the restaurant?”
“This afternoon. I grabbed a couple of these able-bodied young men, and everything was delivered a few hours ago. It’s all waiting for you when you get there.”
She looked at the time again. “I’ve got to go. Thanks for everything,” she shouted as she made a run for Kyra’s office in the building behind the fair setup. There, she was going to change for the president’s reception she’d arranged to acknowledge and honor notable alumni who were also big donors to the college.
When Chloe drove into the parking lot of CORK the first person she saw was Kevin, watching and waiting for her. She knew that ever since that dramatic meltdown in his office that he’d kept an eye on her, still worried after all the stress she’d been under the whole summer. Chloe knew herself well enough to know that his worry was no longer warranted, but she wasn’t ready to tell Kevin—yet. She was so enjoying his treating her like Dresden china.
He waved as she drove past and found a nearby spot for her car. They had discussed earlier the need for decorum and maintaining a proper image and proper distance between them. That meant no holding hands or blowing kisses, or kisses or anything else that was far too personal at such an open and public event. But Chloe also loved the little game they played to see how often they could break their own rules.
“Good evening, Kevin,” she said cheerfully, as she approached him.
He looked handsome and cool in a dark summer suit and an eye-catching but tasteful tie. And she hoped she looked equally as fetching in her navy blue Donna Karan sheath dress with its off-the-shoulder neckline and short neckline slit just above her breasts. She was wearing a single strand of Mikimoto pearls, one of the few pieces of good jewelry that Billie Burns had not taken probably because she didn’t recognize the value. Simple pearl studs adorned her ears and faux pearls made up the headband she wore that held her loosened hair back from her face.
“Good to see you, Chloe. Everything going to plan?”
“So far, so good.” She smiled as they turned to enter the modern all-glass entrance of CORK, Kevin’s wine bar.
Chloe separated from Kevin long enough to check on the arrival of the goodie bags for the attendees. Chloe also thanked the CORK employee Kevin assigned to help out with the President’s Reception.
“You can begin setting up the table with the goodie bags as soon as the last person on the guest list has arrived. I’ll help you make sure that each guest gets one on their way out. Thanks.”
And then Kevin, with an urgent look on his face, pointed her toward the maître d’s podium, now moved out of sight for the night. Chloe followed him behind the column only to have Kevin turn so he could take her in his arms.
“Kevin,” Chloe protested. Not that it did any good.
He kissed her. It was brief but pretty deep and was filled with promise. But he took his time ending it. At which point Chloe nervously looked around in dread that they might have been spotted.
He cleared his throat and straightened the knot of his tie. “Okay. Now I’m ready.”
She giggled as they moved away from the entrance. Kevin led the way to one of the private VIP lounges of the wine bar. The room was subtly lit, with an aura of a contemporary, well-appointed private club. There were fresh lavender cuttings arranged in giant glass vases around the room.
Inside Chloe smoothly moved away from Kevin and proceeded to say hello to President Walter Morrow. He gave her a paternal hug and kiss on both cheeks and told her how lovely she looked. Chloe quickly scanned the group to see who and how many guests had arrived. One hundred invitations had gone out. Eighty-two alumni had responded that they would be attending, but she knew from registration that only sixty were likely to show up. Kyra was one of the first to arrive.
Chloe just stood and listened to the exuberant PR director exclaim over the setting for the reception. More people arrived, most of whom she didn’t know but who were from a number of different graduating classes, spanning some twenty-five years.
Terrence Franklin came in quietly, but if he hoped to go unnoticed he underestimated his own notoriety. Terrence was quickly surrounded by the men in the room, who could quote stats and plays from Terrence’s career. It was obvious to Chloe that he was reveling in the attention. Every now and then her and Kevin’s gazes would meet and hold for a nanosecond. Just long enough for her to be assured of his feelings, and hopefully he could see she felt the same way.
Tamara Hodges arrived when the room was already beginning to get a bit noisy and full. She smiled wanly at Chloe but made no attempt to come over and say hello, preferring, it would seem, to stay near the door. Several times during the evening Chloe watched her go in search of the ladies’ room. Chloe was concerned that perhaps Tamara wasn’t feeling well, but there was never an opportunity to seek her out and find out for sure.
Through the crowds Chloe caught a glimpse of Beverly, towering above even many of the men in attendance, and was pleased to see Lucius Gray. They greeted one another as if it was the first time, and Chloe was grateful that he was gracious and friendly toward her. But he couldn’t stay. A divorced father, he was having his young daughter with him for the weekend. But he promised he would be at the dance party the following night, if only for a few hours early.
Chloe heard her name called and, literally across a crowded room, saw Micah Ross. He saluted her and blew a kiss. But someone was tapping a spoon against the side of a glass for attention, and she knew there was no time to say hello to the one person she’d truly hoped would be attending.
Chloe waved back, mimed a telephone call and moved to take up her position off to the side of President Morrow. The plan called for him to welcome everyone to another homecoming weekend, especially the class of 1999 for whom it was their tenth anniversary. He then mentioned how important alumni were to the life of the college and its continuing growth and development. Much of what the school accomplished could not be done without their generosity. Chloe checked her notes to make sure that President Morrow would then finish his opening and encourage everyone to enjoy themselves. She was not prepared for Kevin to quietly take the hand mike after whispering some quiet words to the president.
“Good evening, everyone. Welcome to Hollington’s annual homecoming weekend, and the tenth Anniversary of the class of ninety-nine.”
Chloe frowned at Kevin, because he was usurping what the president was to have closed with. He winked covertly at her and went on.
“I’m Kevin Stayton…”
That was as far as he got before the room erupted into shouts and applause. Even Kevin seemed caught off guard by the response. He quickly put up his hand to quiet the group down and regain control.
“Thanks for that, but the reason why I muscled the mike from President Morrow is to make sure that everyone is made aware of who is responsible for the important and complex job of organizing this weekend.”
Chloe’s stomach roiled as her eyes pleaded with Kevin not to do this to her. He ignored her and continued with his introduction.
“As it turned out the best person possible was selected. And she’s one of our class of ninety-nine, y’all!”
There was enthusiastic applause until Kevin again signaled for quiet.
“Typical of her, and some of you will remember this from our undergraduate years, she doesn’t like drawing attention to herself. She works quietly behind the scenes but she gets the job done, as all of you will experience during the course of this weekend. Ladies and gentlemen, Chloe Jackson!”
Chloe didn’t move. She stared down at her feet hoping the whistling and applause would quickly die down. And then someone took her hand and pulled her forward to be recognized. It was Kyra, using her s
mall hands to encourage the audience to keep up the applause.
Chloe half raised her hand in a shy salute and quickly stepped back behind the president.
Kevin gave the mike over to the president who followed the program as she intended.
There was no time for Chloe to really enjoy the socializing with her fellow classmates, all of whom greeted her like a long-lost friend, and who all seemed inclined to engage her in lengthy conversation. But she couldn’t, promising to try and catch up with everyone at some point over the next two days.
The reception was set to end by eight. Chloe took up a position at the private room entrance, to thank everyone for coming, collect a mess of business cards and make sure everyone got a goodie bag. Each contained a Hollington scarf and one of the two bottles of specialty wines. Everyone seemed surprised, touched and impressed. They all left with happy smiles.
The president thanked her for a sophisticated and happening setting for the reception.
“Now, I got to tell you my nose was bent out of joint when you said you didn’t think the president’s house on campus was quite the place for tonight’s reception. Chloe, I have to admit you were absolutely right. I shudder to think where I would have put Terrence Franklin, let alone sixty-five of your classmates. So I thank you for saving me from myself.”
With that President Morrow kissed her cheek and left to go home.
Chloe had to be the last one to leave. She wanted to make sure that CORK was being left in good condition, and that the private room had been checked for any lost or forgotten items. She knew Kevin was going to reopen the room for the late evening customers, but she stayed focused on finishing the job she’d started.
The lights were being dimmed. The room was now empty of Hollington alumni and stripped of their voices and laughter and camaraderie. It was only as she finished one last look around that Chloe realized that she was tired. It had been a long day already, and the weekend was just getting started. She walked back to the front of the wine bar where the general public was now arriving for the evening. She left, heading toward the parking lot. Kevin was waiting. They were alone, and he didn’t hesitate to put his arm around her and hug her to his side.
“An impressive turnout, don’t you think?”
“You put me on the spot, Kevin Stayton.”
“Sorry. You deserved the attention. They needed to know who was responsible, Chloe. Know what? You’re definitely in the right business. I don’t think anyone else could have pulled off an event on the scale of this weekend.”
“Right. I bet you say that to all the girls.”
He kissed her cheek. “Only the one I’m in love with.”
They finally remembered where they were. Her car was in one place, and his was in another. They faced each other.
“We’re okay,” Chloe said to him.
“You bet your sweet bippy we’re okay.”
She laughed. “No, I’m serious. I’m talking about that little meeting we had in your office two weeks ago. You know. And we used the floor…”
He put his arms around her and brought their hips together. “Hmm. It’s engraved on my mind. It was every bit of a risk worth taking.”
She smiled at him. “My place or yours?”
“Yours. It’s closer.”
Chapter 10
Kevin hadn’t realized how difficult it was going to be.
He had to oversee the details of having what seemed like a thousand and one of his former classmates and friends at his club Bollito and have a good time himself. Although it looked like the club was packed to the rafters he’d kept very tight control over the number of people allowed in, ever mindful of the city’s fire codes. He wanted everyone to have a good time, but he also needed to make sure they were safe.
Early on Kevin realized that he had to give up on the idea of just being a guest. At least twice an hour he was reached on his walkie-talkie to confer, often at length, over one issue or another.
He found himself moving back and forth between floors, trying to sneak in a few minutes with old friends and classmates who just wanted some of his time. It had turned out to be a daylong effort, starting at noon with the pre-game tailgate party, which had been strategically set up around the new stadium just north of the Hollington campus.
Everything that had happened since very early that morning was all starting to blur together. After he and Chloe had spent excellent quality time to unwind at her place the night before, and despite his expectations to the contrary, she had sent him home. He’d barely seen her since.
But Chloe had always been near for critical moments to his plans.
She’d confessed that she was not a football fan, and as much as she loved Hollington and was moved with school spirit in all other ways, she couldn’t sit for two or three hours to watch a ball being carried up and down a field. But he’d been successful in telling her she had to be available during halftime because the president was going to be there, as well as Terrence Franklin, Hollington’s closest thing to a national treasure.
As requested, Chloe had returned to the stadium. She’d been escorted down to the sidelines where mikes and cameras recording the game were set up. When he saw her Kevin had broken into a broad grin, not because she’d arrived—he knew she would—but because she looked so amazingly fresh and lovely. For the tailgate party and the game she’d worn navy blue chinos and a white turtleneck sweater. Unlike the traditional blue and white game windbreaker with the Hollington Lion on the back, she was wearing one in an orange-red color. It made her stand out and easily identified by her volunteers or college officials looking for her. As per their agreement, Kevin waved her forward but didn’t greet her with a kiss, even a chaste one, as he’d really wanted.
He stood behind President Morrow, with Chloe next to him, as Morrow welcomed the crowds, congratulating them on their school spirit. And he thanked the Lions for the halftime score of eighteen to seven against their opponents, the Greenville Rangers.
Then Chloe was urged forward, as always, against her will.
“Is everybody having fun yet?”
The stadium crowds erupted into yells and screams that they were.
“We’re just getting started, and there’s so much more to come. Just a reminder that there are several places where you can leave your order forms for official homecoming and class photographs. And there will be someone at the brunch on Sunday to collect them as you’re getting ready to leave the campus.
“Be safe, respect school property and don’t forget we need your contributions to the alumni association. Remember that Hollington is educating our kids for tomorrow.”
There was another outburst of response from the crowds, and even President Morrow seemed very pleased that she remembered to put in a plug for fundraising.
Then Kevin stepped forward to talk into the mike. This time he didn’t bother to introduce himself.
“One more thing before we get out of the way and let the performance begin, I think you all need to know who was the moving force behind this weekend.”
Kevin felt Chloe pulling on the tail of his coat, trying to stop him from mentioning her name.
“She doesn’t think she deserves any recognition but how about a Hollington shout-out for Chloe Jackson!”
It wasn’t Kevin but one of the grounds crew who actually got behind Chloe and gave her one gentle push forward. Her image was immediately enlarged and displayed on the screens erected at both ends of the field. She didn’t take the mike again but merely pivoted to wave at the crowds who applauded her, as the night before. She smiled and quickly stepped back.
She’d playfully punched him in the arm. “I’ll never forgive you if you do that again, Kevin…”
Kevin made the decision, at seventy-thirty, to open the doors to Bollito because of the number of alumni pressed together outside the club all the way back to the parking lot. By eight-thirty the place was jumping. But it was a testimony to the design of Bollito and the attention to detail that gav
e the impression of comfortable spaciousness. The setting of the sound systems insured that all guests could enjoy and dance to the music and hear themselves think.
Each of the five floors of the club had different kinds of music being performed. The interior of the club had been thoughtfully and meticulously considered and laid out for maximum use and impact. The color theme was black and white. Black leather sofas along with acrylic tables hugged the walls on the main dance floor. Similar sofas and tables, side chairs, ottomans and lush drapery for the VIP areas outfitted the upper floors near the balconies, allowing guests to overlook the action on all floors. The floors were made of frosted plate glass from beneath which monochromatic lights for accent flickered and flashed.
In every nook and cranny allowable there were thirty-something Hollington alumni. The place was buzzing with conversation, boisterous greetings, laughter and even sudden outbursts of old school songs! And everyone danced, waves of people on every floor swaying and rockin’ and rollin’ and grinding to the beat.
Kevin stood to the side of the first-floor entrance watching the activity and monitoring his security for any potential problems. But there were none. His former classmates had come to have fun, not to carry on as they might have ten years earlier when they thought they were invincible.
“Need me for anything?”
“Have you seen Chloe?” Kevin asked CB, even as he kept his gaze trained on the crowd in the lower level main performance and dance area, in hopes of spotting her.
“I last saw her on her cell phone maybe fifteen minutes ago.”
Guests were already in place, anticipating the arrival of up and coming R & B singer Justice Kane. Micah Ross had come through for him and Chloe, arranging for Justice to appear. It was one of the highlights of the night. Kevin had insisted on Micah making the introductions. His appearance was another surprise for the guests, most of whom were not on the guest list the night before for the President’s Reception. And Kevin had gone a step further. Knowing the condition for Micah’s cooperation in the evening’s program was that he guarantee Tamara Hodges’s attendance, Kevin glanced around and found that CB had seated Tamara near the performance stage. She was exquisitely dressed in a strapless dress with a chic drop waist and ostrich feather skirt in black. Her hair was loose and full of waves created by twists.
