Page 32 of Room 1017

“Baby, look at me.” Casey tipped my chin up. “I’m going to start by saying that what other people think of you doesn’t matter. You are amazing, and you can bet none of them have ever saved someone’s life. But secondly… I bought you something. It was supposed to be a surprise on our way out the door, but I can tell you need it more now. Hang on.” He hurried out the door, and when he came back, he was holding something behind his back.

“It’s not another dog, is it?” I joked, trying to keep the mood light. Hurley huffed in his sleep, no doubt expressing his immediate need for a puppy.

He smirked, all mischief. “No, but you can certainly take it for a walk.” From behind his back, he brought out a glorious cane, with a bright red bow tied around the handle. The handle was a smooth dark wood that looked molded for my hand, polished to a high gloss. The length of the cane was black and had an intricate inlaid pattern of silver.

“Oh, angel. It’s beautiful.” I was breathless with awe as I took the few tender steps to meet him. The stress of the evening had my muscles bunched up tight, and I would no doubt need a warm soak and some anti-inflammatories later to make myself even remotely close to comfortable. For now, though, I would push through for the love of my life. This was important to him, which meant it was important for me too.

And this beautiful cane certainly helped to rebuild a little of my lost confidence.

We entered The Scarlet Hotel half an hour later, only ten minutes fashionably late, though there still seemed a steady stream of well-dressed guests heading toward the ballroom. If there was any doubt that we were in the wrong place, there was a brightly colored sign hanging just beside the door that looked like it had been painted by children. It probably had, seeing as the omegas’ shelter welcomed their kids as well.

We all deserve A NEW DAY, the sign read, and the words made me surprisingly emotional. Geez, if I was already getting choked up before we’d even set foot in the room, I didn’t have a chance to make it through without a few tears.

Even though I’d learned to prepare myself for the self-consciousness of people staring as I used my mobility aids, this cane had swagger. Was it too much? Would it draw even more attention? I wasn’t above hiding behind my sexy boyfriend to avoid stares, but I needn’t have worried. The place was packed with people of all types, dressed in a bright array of colors and fabrics, shimmery satins and sequins, not to mention the jewelry. No one spared me anything beyond the casual passing glance, already engaged in conversation with their tablemates.

I felt myself relaxing my hold on Casey’s hand, and he patted my shoulder. “See? I told you not to worry so much.”

My eye caught Casey’s mom waving at us from our table. I’d met her a couple times already, and she was such an inspiration. She was sunshine and light just like her son, showing no lingering resentment for her disability, and as we approached the table, I saw she’d even decorated her wheelchair with some bling, strings of opalescent pearls along the sides.

“Tori, you look stunning, as always,” I told her as I let go of Casey’s hand to take hers. She was dressed in a dove-gray gown that flowed like water over her legs, the bodice overlaid with delicate lace. It was strapless, which showed off her muscular shoulders and upper back. Her hair was drawn up into an elaborate updo, and I could see sparkly pins throughout.

“What have I told you,” she chided. “Call me Mom.”

I nodded because forming words was out of the question. My eyes stung with the threat of tears, and I squeezed her fingers, swallowing hard. Yep, I was a goner tonight for sure.

The emcee called everyone to their seats, and Casey and I settled in at the table. There were a few people we didn’t know sharing the table with us, but we made a quick introduction, and hands were shaken. Tori—I meant,Mom—had already made sure we had drinks waiting for us, both non-alcoholic. Thankfully, the chair was cushioned enough to support my back, and I had just settled my cane out of the way when they announced the charity’s founder, Reese Davies.

A man with copper-colored hair stood up on the stage that had been erected at one end of the room, and as the room’s lighting was dimmed, a bright spotlight was centered on him. His smile was so bright, I could see his dimples from here.

“Good evening, everyone. I am so glad you could all be here this evening for a celebration of my passion project, A New Day. When I first started the shelter, I’d had a vision of what it could be—a safe place for those who needed it, the most vulnerable among us, our omegas and more importantly, our children—and with a little help from all of you, I achieved exactly that. But what truly surprised me was how it has become so much more than what I’d first planned. A New Day is more than just a building. And it’s not just a community, either, but afamily.”

Reese paused as he looked out over the crowd, and it was almost as if he made eye contact with each and every person here. I felt like he truly saw me.

“When you think of what we need as humans, you think food, water, shelter, and yes, we provide all of that… but what about love? What about hope? Because it is just as much a need to fill our hearts as it is our bellies.” Reese’s eyes looked glassy with emotion as he held a hand to his heart. “I had never imagined the love and support that would grow within our walls. We are not just offering a handout but a hand up. We teach life skills and provide job placement. We offer a future to those who might’ve given up on having one.”

I discreetly brought a napkin up to the corner of my eye, and I saw I wasn’t the only one who was moved to tears.

“Not everyone is born to privilege,” Reese continued. “Some of us might worry about where our next meal will come from, or where we’ll sleep tonight, and some of us might worry about who will be there to catch us if we fall. So please, take a moment to appreciate all that you have. Don’t take life and love for granted.” Reese took a deep breath. “I hope you enjoy your meal this evening. The Scarlet Hotel staff really went all out. Thank you again for joining us in celebrating A New Day… and thank you in advance for opening your wallets, nice and wide, to make someone’s future a little brighter.” He grinned as the crowd laughed, then stepped away from the podium as everyone gave him a round of applause.

“Dammit,” I mumbled, sniffling into my napkin when the lights came back up, exposing me as the big softie I was.

Casey didn’t tease me about it, just set a hand on my thigh and squeezed, smiling softly. He wasn’t unaffected, but we both knew how I continued to fight for gratitude. Perhaps A New Day had reached me in a way that had so far proven elusive.

Thefoodwasdelicious,no surprise, and the company was wonderful. We’d been seated with several couples, including: Chance, a local club owner, whose date had a fascinating number of visible piercings (and I could only imagine what was tucked out of sight); an outgoing omega named Kelly, whose husband spent the entire night on his phone; and an older couple, Zack and Jonathan, who’d recently come back from a trip across Europe. Casey was drawn into a whole slideshow of pictures on Zack’s phone, and I watched my boyfriend’s face the whole time. I vowed to take him on a trip one day soon just to see his eyes light up like that for me.

The entire evening was a huge success for the charity, and I had to admit, I had a great time. Eventually, though, as expected, sitting for so long began to take its toll on my body. I took Casey out onto the dance floor for one dance, but at long last, we had to call it a night. We said our farewells, and Casey exchanged contact info with several of his new friends, then we headed out. Casey’s mom stayed behind, saying she would find her own way home. She was a “party animal,” she said and wanted to stay out past her bedtime.

We were quiet on the way home, but it was a comfortable silence. I leaned back in the seat and cracked the window open, letting in the cool, fall air, scented with an incoming storm. I thought a lot about what Reese had said, about not taking what we had for granted. He hadn’t necessarily meant my situation, but I decided it applied.

I almost died that night, but… I didn’t. I lived, but after all the surgeries and treatment, I let myself be dragged down until I was merely existing. Eating, breathing, but beyond that, I’d all but given up. But that wasn’t what I wanted, not anymore. I wanted so desperately to not just survive, but tothrive. I wanted to be grateful for each morning I woke up next to Casey, for the child he carried, grateful for the opportunity to watch them grow into their future selves.

After we got home that night, I had this sense of hopefulness inside me that shook me down to my roots. I resented past-me for all the time I’d wasted grieving for losses that, in retrospect, maybe didn’t matter as much as I thought they did.

“Come to bed, angel,” I said, taking Casey by the hand and leading him toward our bedroom, but it wasn’t to sleep. First, I had to show him how grateful I was for his love.

21

Casey

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