Chapter 21: Having a Ball

A week later, Tyler and Marsha returned from a brief visit to France. Danny and Ashley were invited to dine with them. It had been a few months since it had been just the four, but Irina had a bad cold and Lynn was cramming for an exam. The dinner was nothing special, just a chance to fill each other in on their lives, but Danny used the opportunity to talk about his plans.

“Dad, I’ve been meaning to tell you that for a while, but I’m leaning towards applying to business schools for next year. I know you expect me to become the great mathematician, but I want to do something a little more in the real world.”

Tyler looked at Marsha before he replied. “This comes a bit as a surprise, Daniel. Any reason in particular?”

Danny shrugged. “I just can’t see myself as one more geek with leather patches on his coat sleeves answering questions that nobody’s asking. To be honest, I also don’t think I’m that good, I mean good enough to make a difference, to see something new, find something new. Plus, I’m living off the work of you and of the people working for you. I want to contribute.”

“So you want to become an MBA and tell us what to do?” Tyler asked pointedly.

“Get real, Dad!” Danny snorted. “I’d have to go through the same trainee program as anybody else and prove myself. I know you well enough to see that. I may also start to work somewhere else. Get some perspective, you know?”

Tyler looked at his wife. “I did not talk to him about this.”

Marsha smiled and nodded. “I didn’t see this coming either. Is this what you want, Danny?”

He nodded. “It’s not just that. Helen and I have been talking about staying here in Philly to raise Larissa together. If I choose an academic career, I’ll have to take jobs all over the country.”

“And Helen?”

“She’ll apply for law schools here. We ... we plan to spend more time together and with Larissa, also to see if we can make more of it.”

Marsha nodded to that. “Frankly, that one I have seen this coming for a while. She’s come a long way since her asshole parents kicked her out, but then, so have you.”

“Yeah, we both grew up.”

Tyler looked at his daughter then. “Any surprise announcements from you?”

Ashley shrugged. “Not really. I figure to let Lynn work and be the wifey. She’d love that.” She saw her parents’ faces and laughed. “Gotcha! I’m still exploring. It may be something in the creative sector. You now I’m a visual person...”

“And we all know your favorite vision,” Danny quipped.

“Jerk!” Ashley countered good-naturedly. “Anyway, I’m thinking of studying design, but nothing is really set.”

“Well, if that’s what you want, do it,” Tyler nodded. “We’ll support you any way we can, right, Marsha?”

“Of course. By the way, we’ll need you two to keep the 2nd of February free. Tyler and I are the hosts of this year’s MAD fundraiser gala. We would really appreciate it if you two could come along.”

“MAD” was short for Make A Difference, a local charity that was funding education and health care projects in the inner city. Danny could remember getting a bookstore voucher from them when he was twelve.

“This is some shindig with debutantes and waltzing?” Ashley asked with a frown.

Tyler laughed. “Not for some time. I hear they hired two local bands who play contemporary music.”

“So Danny and I do a Hansel and Gretel act and hold hands at your table?” Ashley probed. “You know I hate that. Every eligible son in the room will be sent over by his mommy to dazzle me with his prospects. Danny’s not going to fare any better.”

“So you don’t want to come along?” Tyler asked, showing a bit of disappointment.

“Tell you what, Dad. I’ll come along if I can bring Lynn as my partner. Tell me what it costs, and I’ll pay it from my pocket. Danny, you bring along Helen!”

Danny thought quickly. “I guess I can ask her, but I don’t know if she’d be willing to go. She’d need a dress for that and...”

“Danny, you’re obtuse! I mean, I love you, but you are the most clueless guy on the face of the earth. Think of it as a reason to buy a beautiful dress; how can she not jump at that chance?”

Marsha chuckled. “I have to side with Ashley here. More importantly however, do you want her to be your partner? This’ll be very public, so it’s sort of an outing. The press and all the gossipers will be out in force. Ashley, darling, are you and Lynn ready for that? Danny, I realize that you and Helen have become closer, but she’ll see it as a sort of commitment.”

Ashley nodded. “I’m ready for it, but I’ll ask Lynn. Just not before her test tomorrow.”

Danny nodded. “I’ll talk to Helen and let you know. She’ll need some help with picking a dress. I mean, Trudy is great, but she’s not really interested in fashion. And what she learned from Margaret Gunderson might not be helpful.”

Marsha smiled. “Good point, Danny. Let’s get the okays from Lynn and Helen, and then I’ll take them under my wings. Tyler, dear, neither Lynn nor Helen have the wherewithal for what they’ll need, and it’s basically PR for Westbrook to make a good impression.”

Tyler waved his hand. “Yeah, I get it. I’ll foot the bill for Operation Cinderella and you can be the Good Fairy.”

Ashley grinned smugly. “See, no problems and everybody gets what they want.”

Ashley brought the issue up with Lynn on the next evening. To Danny’s surprise, Lynn was hesitant to agree, claiming that she’d feel out of place.

“Guys, I’m a rube from West Virginia. What business have I at a gala dinner?”

Reluctantly, Danny came to his sister’s aid. “Well, what business do I have?”

“You’re Tyler’s son, for crying out! I’m just...”

“Arm candy? Tell me you’re not still seeing yourself like that,” Danny interrupted her. “You always say you want to leave that place behind. So do it. You’re a senior at Penn, about to enter the work force. You’re also a college athlete. You’re a success. Now act like it.”

Lynn looked at him. “Why are you getting on my case?”

Danny had to grin. “Practice for when I’ll try to convince Helen.”

“That’s another thing. Helen’s gorgeous, and I’m not. I’ll be sitting with Ashley and Marsha and Helen, and I’ll look like a fucking gnome at their sides.”

“You’re fucking kidding me, right? Do you really think I would’ve picked you up back then if you were anything else but gorgeous? Well, maybe not gorgeous, but you are the cutest...”

“Gah! I hate the word. Oh, isn’t she cute? Ah’m gonna stick her in ma pocket an’ never let her go! I hate the word!”

“Okay, how about you have a body to die for? How about you are easily the most honest and straightforward person I know. How about you radiate vitality? How about you are one hell of an attractive and impressive woman?”

Lynn scrunched up her nose and looked, well ... cute. “You think that?”

“I know that. Why do you think Ashley was able to resist Earl Gunderson?” Danny could not help but add, causing both girls to attack him. They tickled him from both sides, but Danny gave back as good as he got, and a few minutes later, they were out of breath but in a fierce three-way hug.

Lynn then looked into Ashley’s eyes. “You really want me to come along with you, do you?”

“It’s either with you or not at all. I’m through with hiding. I’m with you for the long haul. I hope you know that,” Ashley answered calmly.

“Ash, love, I feel the same about you, but one of these days I’ll want to be a mother.”

Ashley shrugged. “You know as well as I do that there are ways for that. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.” Then she cuffed Danny. “When all else fails, I’ll put Danny out to stud. He’s shown that he’s as fertile as a turtle.”

“Now here’s a thought,” Lynn said, looking Danny over. “Danny, you’re game?”

At this point, Danny thought it best to retreat in good order.

“You two deserve each other. You’re both crazy.”

Their laughter followed him as he went to his room.

Two days later was a Saturday, and Danny picked up Helen and Larissa for a trip to the shopping mall. Larissa needed shoes, but Helen wanted to check out some stores too, so it was convenient to go together. They took the stroller along, not just for Larissa but also for the planned purchases. For two hours, Danny played the dual roles of nanny and pack mule, before they found the food court. While Helen fed their daughter from a glass she had brought along, Danny went to the counter for a few slices of pizza and some Coke.

While both of them were eating companionable, Danny decided to bring up the gala dinner.

“Umh, Helen, there’s something I want to ask you. You know, there is this big charity dinner on February 2, for Make A Difference. Dad and Marsha are the hosts or something this year and they commandeered Ashley and me to attend. I’d hate to go alone, and I thought, you know, if you would like... ?”

Helen’s eyes were wide open. “You’re asking me to attend the MAD gala with you?”

“Yeah, I guess, but if you don’t...”

“Of course I’ll do it, Dummy! Sorry, but are you out of your mind? Why wouldn’t I?”

“I ... look, there’ll be the press and everything, and going there together is making us an item. I didn’t know if you’d be comfortable being put in the spotlight with me like that.”

Helen smiled and put her hand on his arm. “Danny, it’s just dinner and a few dances. I’ll be happy to accompany you. I don’t know any other guy I’d rather be with.”

Danny could not hide the happy smile that split his face.

“Relieved?” Helen asked him, and he exhaled and nodded. “February 2, huh? I’m gonna need some fancy dress, right? Shoes too, and a matching purse. Will Ashley bring Lynn to the ball?”

“Yeah. She said, with Lynn or not at all. That’ll make a splash, but it’s what she wants.”

“Think they’ll let me tag along when they shop for dresses?”

“Better. Marsha will take all three of you on a shopping spree, with Dad eating the costs as PR expenses.”

Helen’s eyes got wide again. “With Marsha involved, that’ll be a fortune!”

Danny shrugged. “What’s a little money compared with getting Marsha pissed off at him?”

“So true,” Helen giggled. “She’s good for him, though, and for you. Okay, should I call her?”

Danny nodded. “That’s the easiest, and please don’t tell her how I stammered and bungled up the invitation.”

Helen simply leaned over and kissed Danny on the mouth.

“I believe discretion will be in order. I’ll tell her how suave you were.”

“Then she’ll know you’re lying and that I was a complete klutz.”

Helen kissed him again with feeling. “How about I say you were sweet?”

“Only if you can do that without blushing.”

In the following weeks, Danny, and for that matter Tyler too, were kept in the dark about the preparations of the four women. That suited both of them just fine. Of course, Tyler could read his credit card statement, but all he could contribute was that he had been charged for four Amtrak tickets to New York and that things must have mushroomed after that. Since Tyler took it with humor, Danny assumed that he had no problems with the spending spree.

In the week before the charity event, things became a bit crazy. The girls were mostly over at the Westbrooks’ penthouse. Fortunately, both Irina and Trudy chipped in their time to watch over Larissa, giving Danny at least a little bit of time for himself.

His own needs were easily taken care of with just a single, rather brief visit to his father’s tailor. His tux, bought three years ago needed only a few corrections. He was also fitted with shirts, a formal bowtie, the right type of underwear, and two fine pairs of black wool socks. His shiny black shoes had seen only minimal use over the last three years and were deemed appropriate.

Finally, Saturday came. Danny made it a point to take Larissa on a trip to the zoo, then drop her off at Irina’s. He made use of the opportunity to spend a few hours with his mother and to get updated on her life. Irina was steadily collecting credits at the community college and even attended a few evening classes at Drexel. She had also acquired a few friends at work and at college with whom she often had dinner or visited the movies. She seemed happy.

When Danny invited her to join Helen, Larissa and him on one of their weekend excursions, she smiled and agreed. She admitted how much she liked Helen, giving him a speculative look. Danny laughed then and assured her that he liked Helen quite a lot himself.

From Irina, he drove to the penthouse apartment. They had agreed to assemble there for the evening, but Danny did not see hide or hair of the women until it was time to leave. He and Tyler were talking easily in the living room, both dressed to the nines in their tuxedos, until Tyler looked at his watch.

“We should really leave now if we don’t want to be late,” he sighed.

As if on cue, Marsha showed in the door. “We’re ready to roll, Darling,” she announced cheerfully, looking her gorgeous self.

Danny and Tyler rose from their chairs, both looking expectantly at the door. Ashley entered first dragging along a shell-shocked Lynn. Both looked spectacular in their respective ways. Ashley’s tall and slender body was displayed to perfection in a tight fitting creme-colored silk dress with a long slit on the left side that showed off a long, toned leg. Lynn was wearing a tux that accentuated her perfect, miniature female body, with a lacy top underneath. She wore her dark blonde hair in a severe bun, enhancing the effect of the tux and showing off a two-tiered pearl necklace and matching pearl earrings that Danny had not seen before on her.

Danny nodded appreciatively at them, but then they stepped aside and he stared. There stood Helen, her straw blonde hair open and brushed to a shine, wearing a burgundy-red dream of a dress. The front covered her all the way to her slender neck, but when she pirouetted for him, Danny’s mouth fell open, for the neckline plunged all the way to her waist in the back, showing a toned back worthy of a Greek statue.

“You like?” she asked shyly.

Danny had to swallow while he whipped his brain for an adequate answer.

“You look stunning. I mean, I knew that you are beautiful, but this? Wow!”

Tyler had to clear his throat too as he tapped his wristwatch. “If I may ask the beautiful ladies to put on their coats? Much as I would like to spend the evening just looking at you all, we have a dinner to attend.”

Danny helped Helen into her coat before he put on a trench coat over his tux. She stepped close to him. “Stay close to me, Danny. I’m nervous as hell.”

“You bet I will,” Danny smiled.

The company-owned limo was waiting out in front of the building. Danny and Helen climbed in first, sitting with their backs to the driver and Lynn joined them. Marsha, Tyler and Ashley took the rear seat and their security man for the evening closed the door and then sat in the passengers seat. The limo left the curb and merged neatly into the traffic.

Arriving at the venue twenty minutes later, they only had to wait for two other limos to disgorge their passengers, before a hotel doorman opened their door. Tyler and Marsha alighted first and some flashlights went off from behind the security cordon on either side of a red carpet. Lynn exited next, helping Ashley to alight in her tight dress. Then it was Danny’s turn to help Helen, trying to see beyond the flashing lights. Jeez! This was crazy!

He led a trembling Helen along the carpet until they were safely inside the hotel. They dropped their coats at the hat check and an usher led them to a large door in the back of the foyer where he made them stop, looking at a printed piece of paper. The four young people had to wait while Tyler and Marsha stepped through the door.

“Mr. Tyler Westbrook! Mrs. Marsha Westbrook!” the usher intoned, his voice magnified by the sound system in the banquet hall.

Consulting his list, the usher then beckoned Danny and Helen to step through the door.

“Mr. Daniel Westbrook, Miss Helen Melville!”

Helen’s legal name change had been completed only a week before, and she giggled softly hearing the name. Together they walked along the aisle following a lesser usher to a table right at the stage. Helen was trembling again. “God! They’re all staring at us,” she whispered.

“Nah, they’re staring at you. You’re the gorgeous one,” Danny whispered back. He must have said something right, for Helen pressed his arm.

Arriving at the table, Danny held the chair for Helen for her to sit down, before he took the seat at her side.

“Miss Ashley Westbrook, Miss Caitlyn Keel!” came the booming voice of the chief usher over the speaker system, and Danny watched his sister walk proudly at the side of Lynn. His heart went out to them in this moment. Of course, Lynn held Ashley’s chair for her before she sat down, grinning impishly.

“Quite an entrance, my dears,” Tyler smiled. “I can see at least two press guys falling over themselves to get out the news first.”

Ashley beamed at Lynn. “This is it, Sweetie. We’re officially an item.”

Lynn smiled back at her. “There’s got to be quite a few long faces right now. By the way, Helen, some guys were literally tripping over their tongues when you guys walked down here. Better block her dance card, Danny-Boy!”

Danny made a face, but Helen shook her head. “I’m here with Danny. I’ll dance with him and his father. That’s it.”

Marsha laughed brightly. “Oh, dear, Tyler! There’s no way for you to get out of that now!”

Tyler grinned. “And just how’s that bad? The way I see it, I can dance with four beautiful women tonight and claim it’s an obligation.”

Ashley grinned. “I’ll bet that you dancing with Lynn will make it to the front pages.”

“I’ll take that chance,” Tyler smiled back at his daughter.

Just then the lights were dimmed and a local celebrity, a news anchor for Channel 7, came on the stage and welcomed the guests. He quickly introduced them to the evening’s program before he asked Tyler and Marsha up to the stage. In spite of his age, Tyler was in good shape and a commanding figure. He welcomed the guests and thanked them for their generosity before he stepped aside for Marsha. She took the microphone and then explained the mission and the aims of the charity and how important it was for those children who were not blessed with educated and prosperous parents. She then told them about her own grandparents, Polish immigrants, who had scraped and scratched to get her a good education, helped by state programs for gifted children. She also spoke of Tyler, not the retail magnate, but the young man who had started as a lowly shop helper and who got a break when his boss sent him to evening classes on his dime.

It was a good speech and to the point, and Marsha received a round of applause. They stepped down from the stage and sat down at the table again.

“Great speeches, both of you,” Danny told them, meaning it. “I got a book voucher from MAD, back in eighth grade. It was nice.”

“You should have told me that,” Tyler said, but then he shook his head. “Come to think of it, some tales are better left untold.”

The dinner that was served then was truly excellent. It was not for nothing that the restaurant was listed in the Guide Michelin. A total of five courses, each of them just a few morsels of divine delicacies, did not sate them physically, but left them dazzled and satisfied. The gala was $1,500 a plate, but they agreed that they did not feel cheated. Marsha, who had picked the venue and the menu, smiled smugly.

Since each course was accompanied by a matching wine, the young people relaxed noticeably and lost their self-consciousness. Lynn in particular entertained them all with droll comments about some of the other guests. Knowing that his own brand of sarcastic remarks did not meet with everybody’s approval, Danny held back and just bantered with Ashley and Helen.

The band that had assembled on the stage was indeed playing covers of contemporary hits, but in an unobtrusive way, allowing the conversations at the tables to flow. They would play dance pieces later, Marsha informed them, but the dinner music was strictly background.

When the waiters finally cleared the tables of the china and silverwares, Lynn was suddenly getting excited.

“Helen, look! There’s Grant Taylor!”

Danny was just taking a sip from his wineglass and had a hard time not to spill any of it. Looking at Helen, he saw her look curiously across the hall.

“Yeah, that’s him.” Then she said something infinitely comforting for Danny. “Let’s hope he hasn’t seen me. Oops, too late! Oh my God, look! He’s escorting that older lady.”

Marsha looked as well. “That’s Blanche Danning. She’s the heiress to the Danning fortune. Oh, my! She’s had her face done again. Helen, better not call her an ‘older lady’. You’ll never hear the end of it.”