Page 58 of Love and Cherish

“True,” Haylee agreed. “So she was just embarrassed?”

Cringing, Cherish shook her head. “No. She couldn’t keep herself together when she was talking to the other donors. The gala is a fundraiser, and it’s the biggest fundraiser for the foundation. This was only the second year—she skipped the first one, thankfully—but they were expecting her to be present. She was anything but.”

“Surely they could recognize a woman in grief.”

“They could probably chalk it up to that, if Ms. Aarts hadn’t insisted on calling everyone to apologize personally. Which only made a mess of things.” Cherish ran her fingers up and down Haylee’s arm. What would it feel like to be wrapped around Haylee tonight? Would Cherish even allow herself to do that?

“You’re clearly not telling me a big part of this story.”

“It’s mostly all of these little things that turned into big things. Febe hit a breaking point that night. She couldn’t keep track of anything, and so any apologies she tried failed. She missed lunches and meetings. She couldn’t keep focused long enough, so when she went to apologize it ended in a way where she needed to apologize again. In essence, she alienated every donor they had. She broke, Haylee. She completely broke.”

“I can’t imagine.”

“No one can.” Cherish rested her head on Haylee’s shoulder. They were almost to the hotel where the gala was being held, and they would have to put some space between them soon. “She took some time off work, finally. She did some intensive therapy, but she’s still not the woman I knew growing up. You can’t tell me that love was worth that.”

The car stopped. Cherish straightened herself and smoothed her dress down. She shared a quick look with Haylee before stepping out of the car with the iPad in her fingertips. This year had to go better than last. It just had to.

They stepped into the lavishly decorated ballroom. Round tables with ten seats at each filled the half of the room closest to the stage. Banners of white and teal announced the foundation, and delicate decorations wove around the entire room bearing the same colors. Cherish and Haylee, a professional distance apart, walked in, and Cherish enjoyed the confidence in Haylee’s stride from the periphery of her vision.

It was show time, and Cherish couldn’t think about anything but this event. She had to focus on Febe, ensuring she never reached a point of breaking, not again. Not ever again.

Haylee followed Cherish around as Cherish followed Febe. All from a distance. She made sure that every interaction of Febe’s was done well and that there were no hiccups. To honor Bernie the right way, this had to work.

As they sat down for dinner, Febe at a table with Allegra and some of the big financial donors, Cherish kept sneaking looks at her.

But of course, Febe being who she was knew Cherish was watching. At one point, Febe looked directly back and nodded smartly. Her look was sharp, her eyes present and alive.

This wasn’t the woman Cherish had seen last year. This year Febe was someone new entirely. Cherish’s shoulders dropped away from her ears. She could relax. Enough that she even smiled at Haylee over her wine glass. Maybe tonight really would be a success. Not like last year’s doomed event.

The speeches started as dessert was served. Febe was second in line to talk. Cherish held her breath as Febe stood in front of the clear podium. She looked perfect. Her normally straight dark hair had been curled tonight and pulled back in a beautiful twist. Her bright blue eyes were clear as day, her high cheeks rosy. Cherish could fall in love with her any day and never regret it.

Where had that thought come from?

Swallowing, Cherish snagged Haylee’s hand under the table and laced their fingers together. The odd feeling, pulling her from Febe to Haylee, sat heavily in the top of her chest. She had to sort that through, and soon, because if she didn’t it was going to overwhelm her. Something didn’t feel right within her anymore, and she couldn’t put her finger on what. But all the comfort she’d had with herself, her position, and where she was in life seemed to shift.

But why?

Febe ended her speech, and Cherish hadn’t even noticed she’d begun. Damn, she was so distracted by her own plight. Cherish tightened her jaw and narrowed her eyes at the stage. She had to focus already. She had to be a better assistant than she’d managed so far tonight.

Haylee tugged her slightly to get her attention. “I’m going to run to the bathroom.”

“Okay,” Cherish whispered back, getting a strong whiff of Haylee’s cologne. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered, and she closed her eyes against them as they moved into her heart. Haylee tugged her hand, and Cherish realized belatedly that she still had a tight grasp on it.

“I kind of need my hand to go.”

“Sorry.” Cherish’s cheeks burned. She clasped her hands in her lap, preventing herself from trailing off after Haylee when that was all she really wanted to do. But just what would they do if she did follow?

Haylee walked away, and Cherish kept her gaze on Haylee’s ass, the sway of her hips from side to side in the dark pants. They made her look slimmer, but nothing could get rid of the wide hips that Cherish had willingly grabbed hold of earlier that night.

Damn.

“Cherish.” Febe’s voice was sharp in her ear. “Come with me.”

“Yes, Ms. Aarts.” Cherish swallowed the arousal.

When the hell had Febe shown up?

Standing up, Cherish followed Febe to the open bar. Once they stood in front, drinks ordered, Febe canted her head to the side and looked Cherish over with certainty. “I told you tonight would go well.”

---