The One He Never Held novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: The Auction

The Deverill Sorensen charity auction filled the grand ballroom of the Drake every November.

This year three hundred guests came, and a row of photographers waited behind a velvet rope.

I wore the green dress again and walked in alone.

I had thought about not going. Then I thought about Lionel standing on a stage with nobody to look at him.

Damian was waiting by the check-in table in a black dinner jacket.

He did not offer me his arm. He only looked at me, and his throat moved.

"You came," he said.

"I wanted to see what he does."

"So do I."

We went in separately and stood at opposite ends of the room.

At nine, Lionel took the stage with Hailey on one side and Lucille on the other.

Hailey wore a white dress and a smile.

She did not look at the crowd. She looked at the floor.

Lionel tapped the microphone.

"My friends." His voice rolled warm and slow across the ballroom.

"Every year, you open your hearts for the children of this city. Tonight I have a personal joy to share."

A hush fell.

Phones rose in the audience.

"My daughter Hailey is expecting her first child." He put an arm around her shoulders.

"And I am proud to say the father is my dear friend and partner, Damian Deverill. Two great families, one grandchild."

The room gasped, and then applauded.

I saw Hailey flinch under his arm. She mouthed the words at me across three hundred heads:

"I'm sorry."

Damian was already walking.

He crossed the floor with people stepping out of his way.

He climbed the three steps to the stage.

Lionel's smile did not move.

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