‘Thank you so much.’ Naomi beamed. ‘I can’t believe you managed to sort out my clothes and get ready yourself all in a day.’
‘A day?’ Felicia frowned. ‘I’ve—’
But whatever she was about to say would have to wait because the speeches started at that moment.
And there were many, but they were all very thoughtful and emotional, pointing out Jobe’s absence tonight and the equipment the funds from the ball had provided for the children’s wing of the hospital where Jobe was a patient.
There was a small montage of footage from the ball over the years, and as she looked at the footage Naomi saw a much younger Jobe, dancing with Elizabeth, his late wife.
And as Naomi looked around some of the women were reaching for handkerchieves and there were murmurs of ‘how beautiful’ she had been.
And she had been, Naomi thought.
On the outside.
Naomi found her gaze falling on Abe. He stood there, his expression unreadable as he looked at the screen, and she wondered about the thoughts behind his impassive facade.
Yet she knew them a little.
That he had told her some of his past felt like a great privilege. That in this room packed with his acquaintances, colleagues and friends there was a shard of him he had shared with her that so few knew.
Oh, their time together was so precious to her that even if it was fleeting, she treasured each second and would never forget this night when she felt so special and a part of this world.
And then came the final speech, and Naomi found she held her breath as Abe took the microphone.
She wanted to capture in her mind his beauty and the way he held the room, she wanted to embed his features so deeply in her brain that when she closed her eyes in the nights and years to come she would remember even the tiny details.
The darkness of his eyes and his exquisite cheekbones.
And the deepness of his voice.
How he barely smiled as he thanked the room, yet there was no surly note to his tone.
It was just that he rarely smiled.
How he did not waste words as he thanked those present, and he did not repeat all that had been said.
Instead, he shared something new with them all.
‘The roses were Jobe’s idea. He wanted each woman to have a flower from him tonight. He was aware that some of you will have received roses from him personally over the years...’ It was a slight allusion to Jobe’s philandering tendencies, but it was said in the kindest way. ‘He would like you to accept one more, with his love and thanks.’ There was a pause and, Naomi guessed, there might be some women in this room who would be pressing the bloom they held in their hands between pages tonight. She would be, for his was a life to remember, as was this night.
Abe spoke on, and to conclude he said how his father wished he could be there but, though not present, he had insisted that every detail of the night had been run by him.
‘I hope,’ he said, ‘to make him proud.’
And then he looked over at Naomi, and he met her eyes and he smiled.
It was unexpected, and she felt eyes on her as she returned his rare smile, but then forgot about everyone else. Abe had the skill of making you forget there were even others in the room.
So much so that she almost forgot to clap at the end of the speeches.
And when he came over to her and the music started, it was without embarrassment or thought that she took his hand.
Naomi had never been kissed until Abe.
And she had never danced with anyone until tonight.
As he led her onto the dance floor, she didn’t care if it was a duty dance if for one dance in her life she was held by him.