Page 128 of The Sisters
‘Hi, it’s me,’ she said in a quiet voice into the phone. ‘Where are you? Call me, I’m freaking out.’
She hung up. She thought for a brief moment she would love a line of coke to get her through but ignored the want and focused on what she was there for.
She looked at herself in the mirror, so elegant in her black Alexander Wang silk gown and smiled at the woman who came out of the stall behind her.
‘Violetta, what a lovely night,’ said the woman in silver sequins and black taffeta.
‘Thank you,’ said Violetta, smiling politely.
‘Jennifer Derhle,Daily News, Page Six,’ she said, presenting her credentials for the gossip column she wrote.
‘Of course,’ said Violetta, remembering the woman. Once she had worked hard to get onto those pages and now she could barely remember the woman’s name.
‘Now who were you calling, Violetta,’ asked the woman coyly. ‘I heard you.’
Violetta panicked. ‘Oh, it was some entertainment I was hoping would come,’ she said as she checked her lipstick.
‘If you say so,’ said Jennifer as she walked out of the bathroom.
Violetta took a deep breath and looked in the mirror. What was she doing? Something for the hospital or was she trying to prove something to Jeff?
She gathered herself, squared her shoulders and went out to her guests. The opera singers that she had booked from the Met were singing the aria fromThe Pearl Fishersand the guests sat entranced. She walked back into the room and took her seat next to Birdie.
‘It’s a lovely evening, darling,’ her mother said.
‘Thanks, Mom,’ said Violetta, almost defeated.
‘No word?’ asked Birdie.
Violetta shook her head, afraid the tears would come.
‘He has an important job,’ said Birdie sensibly. ‘If you plan to be a doctor’s wife then you have to get used to this.’
Violetta nodded. Her mother was right. It didn’t quell the disappointment though.
‘I know, I get that. I just wanted him to be here, to share it. I finish filming tonight and tomorrow I wanted us to announce our relationship.’
‘You don’t need to announce it,’ said Birdie quietly. ‘The only people who need to know are you and him and those who love you.’
Violetta listened to her mother, who was right of course.
‘OK.’ She smiled across at the hospital administrator who was opposite her in animated conversation with Spencer. ‘Tell me, what plans do you have for the funds raised tonight?’ she asked.
And she actually listened when he gave his long and involved answer. She asked questions and found herself forgetting about Jeff and remembering why she was here.
The night went on, the silent auction items were bid on, the envelopes on the tables filled and the five thousand a table guests were dancing to the samba ensemble band that got the party going. Violetta was tired. She danced with Spencer, Frank, Chris, the hospital administrator and a few eligible gentlemen who she kept at arm’s length. At the end of the evening she gave a small speech after the hospital administrator spoke.
‘As everyone knows, my mother recently was a patient of the Bethlehem Hospital.’ She cleared her throat nervously. ‘It was a terrible journey for everyone, but particularly my mother, who has made a remarkable recovery, thanks to the doctors and the nurses who tended to her and us every day.’
Violetta looked at the nurses whose table she had bought who sat smiling at her. Leticia clapped and everyone joined in.
‘People forget that it is the family and loved ones who share the illness or injury with the person in the bed. The love and care we were shown was something I will never forget.’
Violetta felt her throat catch.
‘It is a small gesture I have made tonight and although money cannot cure it can help, and I know that what you give tonight will help in enormous ways.’
Violetta paused and then spoke.
