Chapter 21: Kate Malloy

Kate's POV

Pete parked the tow truck in the loading zone on Michigan Avenue and said, "I'm just going to be the guy in the back with a plate of shrimp."

"You're my brother," I said. "You're walking me in."

"Then I'm the guy in the back, walking you in, with a plate of shrimp."

The revolving door turned.

The lobby was bright and full and it smelled of lilies and perfume.

I walked across the marble in Sylvia's green silk, and heads turned one at a time.

Harrison stood at the coat check in a tuxedo that did not fit, with his hands at his sides.

He saw me, and he did not look at anyone else.

I stopped in front of him.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi."

He took a pale green ribbon from his pocket and pinned it to my dress, just above my heart, and his fingers were steady.

"Guests wear a ribbon, sweetheart," I said.

"I know. I asked for the right color."

He turned to the lobby.

The woman in gold was ten feet away, with her fur coat on her arm and her mouth open.

The man in the velvet jacket had his phone half raised.

"Everyone," Harrison said, loud enough to carry up the staircase. "This is Kate Malloy."

Phones came up all over the lobby.

"She's my girlfriend. She has been for twelve years. She's the best person I know, and I'm sorry I kept her out of the light."

Nobody moved.

The man in velvet slowly lowered his phone.

"Come on," I said to Harrison, "you're embarrassing Pete."

"I am not," Pete said, from behind a potted fern. "I'm moved."

At eight, Sylvia Ashdown walked to the podium on her cane.

The ballroom went quiet in rows.

I sat at table one, on her right, in the best chair.

Harrison sat on my left, and the man in velvet sat on my right, with the woman in gold beside him.

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