Even though a ticket to the Lover’s Ball was difficult to come by, selling out each year, it was not an exclusive event for the city’s elite. It was a tradition for several tickets to be distributed among the various groups and organizations that represented all walks of life. The original organizers believed the Lover’s Ball didn’t need to be profitable, it just needed to break even. Enough tickets were sold to achieve this end, while the others were given away to those who would benefit from attending, or who simply deserved to be there. As steward of the hotel, Tony kept up the tradition. Respecting the tradition, Miranda did the same.
Miranda stood in the lobby of the Dominion Hotel. As the hotel’s resident manager, she took it upon herself to welcome the guests. She stood at the bottom of the grand staircase leading up to the ballroom, a perfect vantage point to see the partygoers as they entered through the gleaming glass doors of the hotel and walked across the ornate marble floor towards the event. As the guests rounded the enormous, ornate red and blue flower arrangement, they came into Miranda’s view.
Miranda didn’t know many of the guests. Before taking on the role of resident manager, she was not a highly social person. Now, by necessity, she was becoming one. Her new role drew her out of her reserved shell, forcing her into a territory she was still not completely comfortable in, talking to strangers. Some attendees she did recognize, hotel guests who came from out of town to attend the ball. These she greeted ever so slightly more cordially than those she did not know, a little more at ease for knowing them.
A young woman barely out of her teens entered the hotel, her arm looped through the arm of an equally young man. They looked like two high school students going to the prom. The two stood a few steps within the hotel entrance, looking around in awe and confusion. Unfortunately, where they stood, was somewhat in the way of others trying to gain access to the hotel. Other entering couples had to veer either to the left or right of the couple, some appearing a little more annoyed than they needed to be. The young couple appeared even more awkward as others streamed around them. They stepped to the left before falling in behind a few other couples, the group making their way towards the grand staircase.
As the young couple rounded the floral arrangement, Miranda spotted them for the first time. Miranda’s face lit up, the young couple being the first guests she was genuinely pleased to see. She waved to them as they approached. The young woman saw Miranda and waved back. She smiled; the young girl’s body appeared to relax.
“Patricia, you look gorgeous.”
The young girl beamed at the compliment paid to her by Miranda, letting go of her escort’s arm to rush into Miranda’s open arms. Patricia released Miranda, staying within arm’s length of her.
“Who’s this handsome man?”
Patricia stepped back and took the young man’s arm once again. “This is Mitch.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Mitch,” Miranda stepped forward, extending her hand. Mitch took it in one hand, bringing up his other to hold Miranda’s hand in both of his. Only now did Miranda realize how tall Mitch was, a good head taller than she was, and Miranda was tall herself.
“The pleasure is all mine, ma’am.”
“You’ve got quite the gentleman here, Patricia,” Miranda said, before turning back to Mitch, sliding her hand out from within his. “And none of this ma’am stuff. I’m not that old looking, am I? It’s Miranda.”
Mitch looked a little embarrassed. “No, ma’am, I mean Miranda. No.”
“Go you two, go have fun.” Miranda ushered the young couple up the grand staircase.
The hum of the ball could be heard above them and the young couple hesitated.
Miranda leaned in close to whisper in Patricia’s ear. “They’re just people, no better than you or I.” Miranda stepped back. “Mitch, escort your lovely date to the ball.”
Mitch looked at Patricia, offering her the crook of his arm. She smiled and took it as Mitch guided her up the stairs, Miranda turning to watch them ascend. Halfway up the staircase, just as it curved to the right, Patricia looked back and waved at Miranda, who waved back, continuing to watch them go.
“Who are your young friends?”
Miranda spun around at the sound of Alison’s voice. Alison and Warrington were standing right behind her. She’d been so preoccupied with Patricia; she did not hear them come up behind her.
Not fully understanding why at first, the sight of the two of the standing in front of her now caused Miranda to hold her breath. She regained herself, knowing if she did not answer the question, it would be weird. “Patricia,” she said, her voice a little hoarse, her throat dry. She swallowed. “Patricia Garcia. She’s someone I met through the youth group I sponsor. She’s quite brilliant, comes from a humble background, both parents died in a car crash when she was very young. Raised by her grandparents. She just needs a break.”
“She’s Miranda’s sponsored guest,” added Warrington. “With a mentor like you, she may just get the break she needs.”
“She’s very pretty,” said Alison.
“As are both of you,” said Miranda.
Though trying to take the spotlight off herself, she truly did believe what she said. Alison looked lovely this evening; Miranda felt she was seeing Alison in a different way, appreciating her beauty for the first time. She knew she was being a little superficial right now, but it fit her mood. She now understood why she’d
