Page 83 of When You're Gone
“Now, I’ve known Tori a long time—since she was twelve years old, in fact. I’ve watched her transform from a grieving preteen to an empathetic teenager; from a counselor-in-training to our most reliable volunteer. She has always amazed me with her kindness and dedication. But it wasn’t until she came up with the idea for this event—and figured out how to pull it off with essentially no budget and no event-planning experience—that I saw her in a new light. That is, that I saw her for the dedicated powerhouse she is. Tonight, it is my honor to introduce Victoria Thompson and to invite her to share her experiences in her own words.”
Tori approached the microphone and dragged in a breath. She felt the intensity of the spotlight shining on her, but she didn’t squint or shy away.Chase the light, her mom had said. That light was a symbol of love. Ironic, really, that a spotlight was shining on her now as she prepared to put her entire heart on the line.
“Thank you so much for that introduction, Jill, and thank you to the board of directors and all the donors who have made this night possible.
“I lost my mom to cancer when I was eleven years old. Then, when I was sixteen, I found out I carried the genetic mutations that increased my chances of getting the same cancer she had. Living with these burdens could have been enough to pull me under. The reality of my life felt so bleak.
“I relied on others to lift me up. I had my dad. I had my friends. I had the love of a boy who never let me give up on the idea of a beautiful, full, happy life.” She glanced up in the direction of their table then, sending love out to the people who had helped her become the person she was today.
“But it was the New Hope Foundation that kept me going on my darkest days. I looked forward to camp the way most kids look forward to Christmas. The promise of two weeks away where I wasn’t the sad girl, the girl without a mom, the girl who would inevitably get cancer... those two weeks were enough to make me feel strong all year long. Camp New Hope isn’t just a bereavement camp where kids find respite from their grief; it’s a sanctuary where hope is renewed.
“Attending Camp New Hope saved my life. Volunteering with Camp New Hope has been one of my proudest achievements. And now, by accepting a full-time position with the New Hope Foundation and heading up their expansion in Norfolk, Virginia, I’m creating an opportunity for my future that I hadn’t dared to dream for myself until now.
“As the newly appointed Associate Director of Development for the New Hope Foundation, it’s my privilege to humbly ask that you open your hearts and your wallets to support our cause tonight. We have volunteers throughout the ballroom who are waiting to accept your tax-deductible donation. Thank you so much for your support.”
The room erupted into a round of applause. Jill wrapped her up in a hug. Tori smiled politely and accepted the praise. It wasn’t until she turned to walk off the stage that the gravity of what she’d just done hit her.
She did it.
She had given it her all.
Now it was time to see if her all was enough.
She didn’t have time to worry or wallow because he was right there. Her hot as hell, tuxedo-clad golden boy was standing at the edge of the stage, waiting to take her hand.
“You’re here.”
For the first time all night, she was grinning from ear to ear.
“I’m here, beautiful.” He returned her smile in spades.
“And you heard?” she asked hesitantly. If he was already standing at the stage, he had to have been in the room when she made the announcement…
“Every single word,” he confirmed. He reached out for her, but instead of pulling her into a hug, he swept her up and spun her in his arms. The dark purple tulle of her skirt fluttered around her as the table closest to them whooped and hollered.
“Ev,” she started once he placed her down on her heels. “I’m so sorry I made you doubt what I wanted. It’s always been you. But I had to accept that I was deserving of your love. That even after everything I put you through and made you do… that I was worth it.”
He raised one finger to her lips in an attempt to pause her speech, but she shook her head adamantly in objection.
“No. I’m not done. I have so much more to tell you…”
“I know, beautiful. But we have time. We have all night. We have forever now.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the meaning of his words.
“Dance with me, then you can tell me everything.”
“Kiss me first,” she practically begged. It had been so long—too long.
Rhett didn’t hesitate. He kissed her fiercely, possessively, demandingly. He kissed her for much longer than was appropriate with an audience, but in that moment, she didn’t care. It was a kiss to repair all the damage they had done. It was a kiss that promised never again. It was a kiss they both desperately needed and deserved.
They tried to make their way to the dance floor, but they kept getting stopped by people who wanted to congratulate her. No one had known about her new job until she announced it on stage. She had just been offered the position that morning. Originally, she had asked for the weekend to consider it—she figured she’d see Rhett tonight, and they could talk it over together. But as the afternoon went on, she knew there was nothing to discuss. She refused to make her husband watch her waver in indecision any longer.
Jill had originally wanted her based in Hampton, but Tori had made her case for Norfolk. The board had a vision of expanding in the region within the next three years, so when she offered to head up expansion along with the new development role, they unanimously approved her proposal.
Once they finally made it to the dance floor, Rhett pulled her close and held her tight. His hands smoothed over her bare back; his palms rubbed up and down her shoulders. He kept discreetly tracing the dip of the sweetheart neckline of her dress with his middle finger. It was like he couldn’t stop touching her, and she had no qualms about that.
“I have so much more to tell you,” she repeated as he cupped her neck lovingly against his chest. They were slow dancing now. He was holding her just like he had so many times before.
