The Man Who Can't Let Go novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Mrs. VanAlstyne

The VanAlstyne Hospital Gala was held in the ballroom of the VanAlstyne Meridian, under three chandeliers and four hundred pairs of eyes.

Virginia stood at the top of the marble staircase in the green silk, with her hand through Tobias's arm.

The room turned to look.

She felt every look land on her, and she kept her chin up.

"Mrs. VanAlstyne," the doorman murmured, and she almost laughed.

At the foot of the stairs Sisi waited in her pale gold dress with the emeralds at her throat.

Her smile was brave and her eyes were not.

Greta stood by the stage in navy, receiving guests, and she watched the staircase the whole way down.

"Darling, you came," she said, kissing the air beside Virginia's cheek. "I'm so pleased. Do sit at our table."

"We'd love to," Virginia said.

Dinner took ninety minutes.

Tobias said almost nothing, and under the tablecloth his hand rested over hers the whole time.

She didn't pull away, and he didn't look down.

At nine the band stopped, and Greta rose with a champagne flute and tapped it twice.

"My friends," she said, and four hundred people turned toward her. "Before the auction, I have a little news."

Tobias stood up.

"Mother," he said. "No."

Greta kept smiling.

"It's all right, darling, they'll understand. My son, Tobias, and my goddaughter, Saskia, have asked me to share that they are engaged."

Tobias took the microphone out of her hand.

It was not rough, and it was not polite.

The ballroom went quiet in a long, shocked wave.

"I'm sorry," Tobias said to the room. "My mother is mistaken."

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