III
814 Words
Hayley turned the blow dryer off, finishing straightening her hair. She found a black sleeveless dress at Michael Kors and a pair of shoes with the right amount of heel. Tonight's dinner was for her father's fundraiser gala. Her dress was both fun and business-suited. After applying eye shadow, mascara, and lip gloss, she was ready to go.
She put her iPad in her briefcase and her jacket. Its length matched the dress perfectly without effort. Parking downtown turned out to be a challenge on a busy Friday night. After circling the Threaded Cork three times, she spotted a couple leaving, providing a parking spot. She parallel parked the car and, with lower heels, prepared for a few streets of walking.
As she grabbed her briefcase, someone whistled. "Wow. That's quite the ride." It was Lorenzo. She smiled, locked the car, and turned around. "Rental place gave it to me. I honestly didn't ask."
"Let me get that for you." Lorenzo took her briefcase, slinging it over his shoulder. "You must have made quite the impression on the car clerk."
Laughing, they walked together. "You have to troll around for a parking spot as well?" she asked.
"I actually took the subway. Surgery went a bit longer than I thought, so I showered and changed at the hospital."
Glancing at his outfit, she asked, "How did the surgery go?"
"Quite well, thank you for asking. The patient is a young woman in her early forties. We had a small hiccup, but we fixed it, and her heart, in the end."
"You could have stayed at the hospital if you preferred."
"And miss seeing you dressed to the nines?" He pretended to clutch his heart. "I'll have to get mine checked out when I get back to the hospital."
"You are really, really cheesy." She laughed.
"A bit too much?" He grinned, small lines crinkling near his eyes.
"It suits you," she replied honestly. They headed to the Threaded Cork.
"What does your father want to hire you to do for the hospital?" she asked Lorenzo. "To be honest, I'm a bit surprised he called me. He doesn't quite agree with my career choice. I mean, he's turning sixty, and since he is Doctor Fred Covey, he knows he has to do something big with the milestone number. He'd rather make the emphasis on the hospital than him."
"It's a great idea," Lorenzo said.
At the Threaded Cork's entrance, Lorenzo handed her the briefcase and held the door open. Inside, the old heritage appeal blended with modern colors and flare.
At the table, Lorenzo pulled out her chair. "Did you two drive together?" her father asked.
"I drove. I took the subway. We met just outside," they both said simultaneously.
The waitress brought wine glasses and two bottles of wine. "I took the liberty to order a bottle of each," her father said. "What's your special tonight?"
After ordering and filling their glasses, Hayley pulled out a folder. "I scouted a few places. We have options." She showed them hall setups on her iPad. "I thought about doing the party at the hospital. You have the large gymnasium you could turn into a high school prom setting."
She suppressed a giggle at their raised eyebrows. "Hey, it may sound cheesy, but it would be a huge hit. The entire idea behind prom, what happens after prom. You know, the whole package. Laugh all you want; it will get donors giving."
"The look on Lorenzo's face told her he liked the idea; the forced smile on her father's told her otherwise. She showed them another floor diagram. "This is the old downtown concert building. It's heritage but has been completely revamped inside. It's like a Phantom of the Opera kind of building. They have this amazing chandelier that was restored. It sparkles even when the lights are dimmed. We could make the evening about diamonds. Make it a platinum, gold, and white evening."
"Well, you gave me next to nothing to work with, so I'm using every angle to make your evening something you want." Embarrassed, she took a long sip of her wine. "Sorry. It's been a long, busy day, and—"
"You always get a tad snappy when you're hungry," her father said. "Lorenzo, what do you think?"
As the waitress brought their dinners, Lorenzo folded his hands on the table. "As much as I would love to experience an American prom, I believe the Diamond place is more suitable for your birthday."
"Agreed. What about you, Dad? I also have some other ideas."
"In lieu of your snap turning into a roar, I settle for the Diamond thing as well." He set his napkin on his lap.
Hayley felt giddy, possibly from the wine, hunger, or getting her dad to agree. Elbowing him lightly, she said, "Wonder where I get that from?"
- Writer
