She Sent Me Nudes of My Husband novel · Chapter 22 of 24
Chapter 22: The Gala
Leah's POV
We went to the gala because she had invited me by hand.
I wasn't going to give Adele the satisfaction of an empty chair.
The ballroom at the Marlow Hotel had gold chandeliers and two hundred seats.
I wore the black dress I had bought for my father's funeral.
Sam wore the suit he'd worn to the bank, with a split lip and a bruise on his cheekbone.
I touched the bruise in the car.
"Lukas," he said.
"You let him."
"Once."
"I'm very proud of you."
"Say it again when I'm not driving."
Bev came in on my arm, and Delaney followed in her navy dress.
My mother stayed at the farm with a nurse from the county agency.
Bev had paid her for the night.
I had told her I'd pay her back, and she had told me where to put it.
Adele was already at the head table.
She wore white, which no one had expected.
She wore all her pearls, and she held a glass of club soda.
The treasurer sat three tables away and did not look at her.
The room was full.
I saw faces from page nine, and faces from the county, and a few I had never seen before.
They were here for the same reason people slow down at an accident.
"Don't let her see you nervous," said Bev, low.
"I'm not nervous."
"Your hand is on my arm and it's a clamp."
I let go of her arm.
Delaney slid into the chair on my other side.
We took our seats at the back, near the doors.
The emcee called for quiet, and the lights lowered.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "our evening's first speaker has asked to say a few words.
"Mrs. Adele Halvorsen."
There was a rattle of applause, uncertain and thin.
Adele walked to the podium.
She did not hurry.
She put one hand on each side of the lectern and looked over the room.
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