Everything was different now. She was different. She knew she was different, because she finally had something big to celebrate that was all her own, but she didn’t have any loved ones to share it with.
And that was why her first instinct was to reach out to him.
Dalton had become her loved one.
Beyond the windows, the sun slowly gave way to the cloak of night. As the crowd within the ballroom increased, Hannah watched as Ezekiel Armistead mounted the steps of the small dais where a podium and a banquet table reserved for special guests were situated. She got to work with her camera, alternately taking photos and interviewing guests she recognized, from local celebrities to the internationally famous—all of them CATE graduates. Most of her brain worked on framing how the school should be characterized by each person’s personal point of view, but in the back of her head she was also figuring out interviewing angles that would be more appropriate for the podcast. She didn’t miss an opportunity to let everyone know about it, busily handing out cards and wanting to happy-dance every time someone showed an interest in being one of the podcast’s guests.
Again, she had to stop herself from reaching for her phone to tell Dalton all about it. The future was so incredibly bright, except for one uncertain thundercloud.
Dalton.
The increasing noise level inside the ballroom told Hannah that the fete was reaching critical mass by the time Charlotte Crutchfield made her way to the podium.
“Ladies and gentlemen, CATE’s loyal alumni, supporters, family and friends, may I say... welcome home.” This got a rousing ovation from the crowd, while Hannah busily snapped photos of happy partygoers. “When I look at you, I see not only the generosity of people offering a helping hand to the next generation, I also see a shining future for the best and brightest young minds that this beautiful city of ours has to offer. Thanks to your support of our scholarship program, children all across Chicago, regardless of their zip code, family situation, or even if they have a family at all, will one day be welcomed into these hallowed halls so that they can realize their fullest potential. None of this would be possible without each and every one of you, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting our biggest fundraiser of the year, the CATE Fete.”
Taking a few more photos of the headmistress and the dignitaries up on the dais, Hannah edged toward the side tables Charlotte had indicated. Letting the speech wash over her, she put her work bag down and tucked her camera back inside, readying to take out her digital recorder, a notepad and a pen.
Without warning, strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her behind the colorful tapestry.