Page 33 of Seasoned
Renee crossed her legs and leaned toward him. “I’ve been to other author events and they’re not usually this crowded, but Angela has name recognition. She also hardly ever does events, so a lot of people are attending tonight because they don’t know when they’ll see her again.”
As the lights lowered, a hush fell over the crowd. A young man with a low Afro in a navy suit stepped onto the stage holding a sheet of paper.
“Good evening,” he said.
The audience murmured their response.
“I said, good evening,” he repeated, voice louder.
“Good evening!” the audience greeted him back.
He went into the reason why they were there, to hear a reading by Angela Washington from her latest work,Fire in My Heart, a fiction novel that explored the tense relationship between a woman, her mother, and the Black man they both fell in love with during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. He provided information about her background, previous works, and accolades before stating, “Please hold your questions until after the reading. Now, without further ado, I present to you the reason we’re all here tonight—Angela Washington!”
Angela walked out—a slight-looking woman, dark-skinned, with shoulder-length black hair and thick glasses. Clive sensed her nervousness as she waited for the thunderous applause to end. Finally the audience became silent, and a bright smile stretched across her face, as if she suddenly realized she was worthy of the praise.
“Look at all of you here tonight. Don’t you have anything better to do?” she asked.
The crowd laughed.
“Thank you all for coming. I was blown away by all the wonderful things Thomas said about me. Is he really talking about me, I wondered?” More laughter trickled through the crowd. “As you can tell, my life as an author is still surreal, and I couldn’t be here without each and every single one of you. Before I begin reading the passages I’ve picked out, I want to give a special thank-you to someone in the audience—someone who encouraged me when I doubted myself. Someone who not only pushed me to dig deeper in my writing, but who helped me improve my writing. She didn’t know I was going to do this tonight, so she’ll probably kill me, but is Renee Joseph here?”
Angela looked a little anxious as she searched the crowd, and Clive could well imagine her as a shy but brilliant writer who, thanks to the nurturing and encouragement from Renee, became the bestselling author that she was today.
Renee raised her hand, and Angela’s face lit up.
“Miss Joseph, please stand.”
Slowly, hesitantly, Renee stood and all eyes turned to her.
Angela continued. “I don’t mean to put you on the spot, but I had to let everyone know that the reason my books exist is because of you. Miss Joseph was my tenth-grade English teacher. She refused to let me doubt myself. With tough love, encouragement, and well-needed critique, she elevated my writing and brought me out of my shell so much that I decided to become an author, and I know I wouldn’t be here without her because I’ve never submitted a work without letting her review it first. I’ve thanked you profusely in private, and now I want to thank you publicly. Thank you, Miss Joseph. For everything.”
Angela clapped her hands, and the audience joined in the applause. Renee blew a kiss to her former student, and as the clapping died down, she took her seat.
Clive slipped an arm across her chair back and squeezed her shoulder. She smiled at him, blinking back tears as Angela took a seat on the stage and joined Thomas in a conversation that began by giving background information about the book.
Clive half-listened as Angela read the first passage. He couldn’t stop thinking about how many lives Renee had impacted—lives she didn’t even know she had because not everyone was vocal about their appreciation. Not everyone recognized how much she influenced their writing and their life.
Renee was an amazing woman. One who deserved to be with an amazing man.
So what in the world was she doing with a man like him?
15
Where in the world is he?
Antsy, Renee stepped away from the group and took another look down the hallway. The reading had finished and most of the crowd dispersed. Only a few stragglers remained behind. Angela, her assistant, Thomas, and three of Angela’s personal guests hovered together chatting.
Renee and Clive had been in that group talking about the book, the themes, and writing in general until he stepped away to use the bathroom.
Angela touched Renee’s arm. “We’re going to the restaurant upstairs. They’re open until midnight and have the best appetizers and a great wine list. Would you and Clive like to join us—my treat?”
“That would be lovely. As soon as he gets back, I’ll let him know.”
“Perfect.”
Angela rejoined the group, and Renee cast another look in the direction of the restrooms.
Finally, Clive appeared and she hurried toward him.
