The female soprano makes me turn my head.
Nathan’s mother straightens from a sofa with beautiful silk upholstery and hurries forward to meet us. A tall, thin man who must be Nathan’s step-father follows her example and soon both of them are standing in front of me.
“I’m Holly.” Nathan’s mother extends her hand to me but then she waves. “Ah, what am I doing?” She moves closer and pulls me into a hug.
I’m so taken aback by her friendliness that it takes me a good second before I find my voice. “It’s very nice to meet you, Holly. I’m Eva, but I guess you already knew that.”
“Indeed, I did.” Holly smiles.
Her face has wrinkles, but the kind that make one look mature without being old. She’s dressed in an all-black design cut from a luxe blend of lace and tulle that enhance the ethereal beauty of her noble features. Her petite figure is accentuated by the bodice sculpted from floral motifs with long sleeves and a scalloped V-neckline. To tell the truth, Holly’s warmth doesn’t quite fit the image of her I created in my head, based on the fact that she sent Nathan to boarding school at such a young age.
Nathan stirs beside me as if he’s just as surprised, maybe even uncomfortable, by his mother’s reaction to me.
Holly steps over and pulls Nathan into an embrace, too. I notice Nathan’s stiff posture, but also Holly’s happy smile as she hauls him to her. Okay, so maybe Nathan’s vision about his past isn’t entirely objective. His mother does seem to care for him very much.
Nathan’s step-father introduces himself to me as Malcom. His half-moon glasses are slightly too low on his nose, which emphasizes his protruding brow bones as he scans my face. “It’s your first Montgregor fundraiser, I reckon,” he chuckles.
“Yes, it is, so what?” Nathan snaps, like a bulldog ready to bite.
His step-father swallows and I feel sorry for him.
I know Nathan only wanted to defend me with his hostile tone, and I’m so grateful that he’s ready to protect me, even against his own family. But the truth is, I don’t think I need to be saved just yet.
I feared that coming into this room I’d face an inquisition, but instead Nathan’s mother and step-dad greeted me like I’m someone special to them. “Nathan…” I put a soothing hand at his elbow. “I doubt your step-father meant it as an offense of any sort.”
“You’re perfectly right, I did not.“ Malcom grins. “I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been in your place. I know how unsettling it feels. When Holly first introduced me to the life of a socialite, I had a hard time adapting. I couldn’t wrap my head around why rich people need to always juxtapose calls to feed the hungry, house the homeless, and cure cancer with champagne toasts and caviar hors d‘oeuvres…”
My lips curl up as Malcolm pours into words the thoughts that have been lurking the back of my mind since I studied the tables and decorations downstairs. “That question did occur to me too.”
Malcom throws a meaningful glance toward Holly, and she nods approvingly, as if the fact that I’m cynical about her fundraiser isn’t bothering but, rather, judicious of me.
Nathan also seems confused, not so much by his mother’s gesture, but by the words of his step-father. “Did you feel like a fish out of water when you married Mother?” he asks Malcom.
Malcom’s face becomes more somber as he meets Nathan’s gaze. “Of course I did, Nate. It was never my plan to marry rich and give up my career. But life happened. Holly happened.”
“Oh, Malcom.” Nathan’s mothers leans toward her husband, raises herself to her tiptoes, and plants a kiss on his cheek.
As I watch their tender interaction, I can feel how much these two love each other. That might have been why Holly made the hard choice of sending Nathan away when he didn’t get along with Malcom. I can’t say I approve of her choice—not after I saw what it did to Nathan—but seeing how much she is in adoration of her husband, I can certainly understand her motivation a bit better.
“Anyway, with time I learned I mustn’t underestimate how posh entertainment can coax giving in ways that other fundraising events can’t,” Malcom adds.
“I see, like splurging on food and booze to make gamblers spend more on betting.”
Before I have the time to regret my unsuitable metaphor, Holly winks at me. “Pretty much, Eva. Based on how quickly you see things through, you won’t have any trouble fitting in with us.” Her voice is warm and she sounds like she means every word.
“I agree with you, Mother.” Murphy chimes in. “Also, given that I’ve been assisting with these gatherings since birth, I can testify to how the right lighting—aka soft shimmer of the crystal chandeliers—plus the psychological fuzziness of appearing generous, while dressed in a frothy dress topped with a well-stocked open bar, can perform miracles when goosing generous offers from wealthy donors on whatever cause.”
“And what cause is it for tonight?” I ask.
Holly adjusts her pearl earring. “Tonight we’re collecting for Power Kids. It’s a small, community-driven program with great potential to decrease juvenile crime in San Sebastian.”
My jaw goes slack.
What? Juvenile crime reduction? Is Nathan involved in this?
My eyes dart to Nathan, but he’s gawking at his mother. His Adam’s apple twitches. “I thought you wouldn’t have time to change from the deforestation program. That’s what Marjorie told me when I proposed this idea.”
My heart flutters. So it was Nathan. He must have come up with the idea after he learned about Alejandro. My chest fills up with fizzy bubbles, or at least, so it seems. I have a hard time stopping myself from bouncing around with the joy that spreads through my limbs.
Holly shrugs. “Well, your aunt was lucky and the Brightons decided to support our original goal during their summer gala fundraiser. So no charity
