Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Abby

Ten Months Later

There’s a lot to do and I’m pretending to be excited about it as I sit down at my desk to dive into the final preparations for the foundation’s annual fundraiser. The big one, the one I met Alec at this time last year.

I take a deep breath, trying to push aside the thoughts of Alec that linger in my mind.

“Okay, we need to go over the final details for An Enchanted Evening,” Maggie says, giving me a sideways glance as if she can read my mind.

As much as I love sharing an office with my sister, sometimes it has its drawbacks. Like when I can’t stop thinking about a guy but don’t want to talk about it.

“Right.” I nod, trying to get my mind back on track. “We can start with the caterer. Have you finalized the menu?”

Maggie grins. “Yes, I did. And in case anyone asks, I made sure there are plenty of vegan and gluten-free options for our guests this year. It can’t be said that we aren’t responsive to feedback.”

“That’s great,” I say, checking that off my long to-do list. “We’re asking these people to dig deep and write us some big checks. The last thing we need is for someone to feel left out because of dietary restrictions.”

“Absolutely,” Maggie agrees. “And have you decided on the dress you’re going to wear?”

I lean back in my chair, contemplating. “I’ve narrowed it down to two options. One is a blue gown with subtle fairytale motifs, and the other is a shimmering silver dress that gives off an enchanting vibe. What do you think?”

Maggie taps her chin with a perfectly manicured nail. “Hm, both sound really pretty. Maybe try them on, and I can give you my honest opinion?”

“I just hope I don’t have to get either one of them altered too much. I picked them out when I was still pregnant and told the girl at the boutique to just sort of guess what my size might be after I gave birth.”

Her eyes grow wide. “That’s risky. After quadruplets? To just guess? You’re a braver woman than I am. I gave my guy my current measurements, my sizing from before I gave birth to the twins and told him to err on the size of caution and go a little bigger. We’re doing final fitting tonight, actually.”

I laugh and lean away from my desk. “Shit, I should have done all that too… It won’t be too late for alterations if I need them, right?”

Maggie smirks. “Depends on how busy your girl is. Go in sooner rather than later, you don’t have that much time left.”

“Okay, I promise I will!”

As we continue discussing the event, I can feel my stomach start to tighten as the nerves set in. The fundraiser isn’t just about raising money for ARPKD research. It’s also a chance for me to reconnect with the man who holds a special place in my heart. If he makes another appearance.

“By the way,” I say, trying to sound casual, “have you heard anything about the anonymous donors? Do we have any new names this year?”

Maggie shakes her head. “Not yet, but you know how it goes. Some donors prefer to keep their identities private. It’s part of the magic of the night, I suppose.”

“Yeah, I guess.” I can’t hide the disappointment in my voice. “It’s just…” I pause and swallow hard. “You know the guy I told you about? The one I met at the fundraiser last year? It’s probably dumb, but I’m hoping he might show up again.”

There. I said it. Even if it is dumb to hope for a second chance at a random encounter, at least I’ve put it out there into the universe.

Maggie raises an eyebrow, curiosity evident in her expression. “You’re talking about your kids’ father?”

“Alec,” I say with a nod. “It would be the first time I’ve seen him since then. The first time I’ve had any contact at all with him.”

Maggie’s eyes widen in surprise. “Oh wow. I’d be a nervous wreck.” She winces when she realizes what she’s just said. “Sorry, that probably doesn’t help, does it?”

“No, but you’re right. It’s all I’ve been able to think about for weeks.”

“I don’t remember seeing anyone named Alec in the donor records when I—oh, that’s why you were asking about the anonymous donors.”

“Yeah,” I confess. “The name he gave me doesn’t match any of our donor records. It’s all so complicated. I’d be questioning my own sanity or whether any of it even happened if it wasn’t for those four little babies waiting for me to get off work.”

Maggie places a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, sis. Maybe he’ll surprise you and show up this year. The theme is An Enchanted Evening, after all. It might just be the perfect setting for a fairytale ending.”

“Maybe.” I force a smile, trying to believe in the possibility. “I’m gonna go with that thought for now. It certainly won’t hurt to stay positive and try to enjoy the event, regardless.”

“Exactly.” Maggie nods, mirroring my smile. “And if he does show up, you’ll have the chance to talk and explain everything that’s happened over the past year. Just make sure there’s somewhere he can sit down. And maybe have a drink ready for him. That’s a lot to explain.”

“Ugh, tell me about it.” Even though nothing has really been resolved, I’m still feeling grateful for my sister’s support. “Thanks for listening, Mags. I couldn’t get through any of this without you.”

“You’re strong enough that you could. But you don’t have to.” She winks at me. “That’s what sisters are for, right? Now, let’s get back to work. We still have way too much to do.”

As we dive into the planning again, I’m finally starting to feel a tiny tinge of excitement. Maybe even a little hope that he might show up. The enchanting night ahead might be the chance I need to reconnect with Alec. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find my way to a happily ever after.

***

I step into the lavishly decorated ballroom, my heart pounding with excitement and nerves. The shimmering silver dress I chose for the evening fits like a dream, possibly because of its loose and forgiving style. It’s cut in a low V at the front with beautiful vine-patterned lace, showcasing my currently enlarged breasts nicely, while flowing in soft ruffles over my stomach and trailing long behind me. I’m still insecure about my tummy area, even though I’ve dropped a surprising amount of weight quickly. Maggie says breastfeeding is supposed to help with that, which I feel like I’ve been doing non-stop since the moment I gave birth. Plus, with the event and the possibility of seeing Alec again, I’ve been hitting the gym every day to try and make myself look as back to normal as possible. I know it’s shallow of me, but I just wanted to look and feel my best, and I’m proud of my progress.

I feel a last-minute surge of confidence as I take in the fairytale ambiance around me. The Enchanted Evening theme has truly come to life, with twinkling lights, sparkling decorations, and a sort of fun, magical anticipation in the air.

As I start going over the last-minute details and decorations, ensuring everything is perfect for the event, I’m approached by Lucas, our IT guy. He looks serious, and I have to stop myself from groaning as a million possible complications to the evening run through my mind.

Did we get hacked? Did some of the e-invitations not get sent out? Is the server room on fire?

“Hey, Lucas, is everything alright?” I ask, trying to maintain my composure despite the growing feeling that something is definitely wrong.

He grimaces, then glances around to make sure we have some privacy before speaking. “Abby, I need to talk to you. It’s about something important.”

My heart skips a beat, fearing the worst. “What is it?”

His voice lowers as he leans in closer. “It’s about Booker Carlson. Your instincts were right. He’s a scammer.”

“Okay, we can fix…wait, what?” Of all the things I’d mentally prepared for, hearing the news about Booker wasn’t one of them. It should’ve been, though. I’ve had a bad feeling about that guy for a while, and now I don’t feel guilty at all about having Lucas dig a little deeper into Booker’s dealings.

It takes a few seconds for my brain to catch up, but now the initial shock is giving way to something else. Pure anger.

It’s as if everything around me dims, and all that remains is the weight of disappointment and betrayal. How could someone exploit our foundation, taking advantage of our goodwill? Of my dead brother’s good name? That bastard.

“Are you sure?” I ask, already knowing the answer but still hoping this is all some sort of terrible misunderstanding. “You have proof?”

Lucas nods solemnly. “We’ve been investigating him, and we finally have enough evidence to confirm it. He never had a legitimate illness, and he was using the foundation’s resources to deceive us and others.”

My hands ball into fists at my sides as I struggle to contain my emotions. We believed him, believed in him. We helped him so much, and now he turns out to be nothing more than a thief, stealing from those in genuine need.

“I can’t believe anyone would do something like that,” I say, my voice shaking as I struggle to maintain my composure and hold back all the emotions I’m feeling. The last thing I need is to ruin my makeup with even a hint of the angry, frustrated tears that I can feel welling up.

I take several deep breaths and look up at the ceiling, fanning my face.

Lucas’s gaze is sympathetic. “We couldn’t believe it either at first. But we have concrete proof now. I’ve compiled all the evidence we need.”

“Have you taken it to the police yet?”

He shakes his head. “Not yet. I wanted to tell you and Maggie first so you could both decide how you want to handle the situation.”

“Thank you for that.” I take one last deep breath, trying to steady myself, and drop my hands to my side. “I don’t want to go to the cops without talking to Maggie, but I do think it’s time to confront this asshole. He needs to know that we’re onto him. I want him to lose sleep worrying about what we’re going to do.”

Lucas hands me his phone, showing me just a few of the screenshots he’s gathered as evidence. “You can send him a message from my phone. Let him know we’ve uncovered his scam?”

“I’ll demand he return all the money, or else we’ll go to the police. We’ll give him until tomorrow to do the right thing and if he doesn’t comply, we’ll take legal action and make sure everyone knows what he’s done.”

“Oof,” Lucas says with an evil little grin. “Look who’s got their claws extended.”

“He deserves it!”

I take the phone, my fingers trembling with a mix of emotions. Anger, betrayal, but also a fierce determination to protect our foundation and those we aim to help.

“He won’t get away with this,” I say firmly, my jaw clenched in determination.

Lucas nods in agreement. “We’ll make sure of that. And regardless of what happens, the foundation’s mission won’t be tarnished. We’ll continue to fight for ARPKD research and support those who need it.”

I nod, feeling a sense of resolve wash over me. “Thank you, Lucas. We’ll face this together.”

As I type out the angry message to Booker, a mix of emotions swirl within me, but one thing is clear. No one will exploit the Owen Foxworthy Foundation, and tonight’s Enchanted Evening will be a triumph for those who truly deserve our support.

***

The fairytale-themed fundraiser is in full swing, and it’s almost easy to forget about all the drama from earlier as I look around and admire all the hard work that went into making this evening a success.

Twinkling lights and elegant decorations are everywhere, immersing guests in a magical world. I feel like an actual fairytale princess in my shimmering silver gown and the faux-diamond jewels in my loose hair, as I mingle with the attendees, expressing my heartfelt thanks for their unwavering support of the Owen Foxworthy Foundation.

I’m mid-conversation with some donors when a handsome man catches my eye. He’s dressed in a simple but perfectly tailored black tuxedo and my heart starts beating faster as he approaches me with a sexy grin on his face.

God, I’ve missed that smile.

“Abby, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” Alec says in his Russian accent, taking my hand and kissing it gently. I’ve missed that voice, too. “You look stunning tonight.”

“Thank you, Alec. You look quite handsome yourself.”

“I was hoping I’d get the chance to see you again,” he says, his green eyes locked onto mine. “Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

I nod eagerly, falling for him all over again. Maybe I should feel differently about the fact that he dropped me so easily, only to waltz over a year later as if nothing has changed, but I just can’t bring myself to be bitter. I’ve thought about it a lot since that day, and he hasn’t done anything wrong. We owed each other nothing, and he never once implied our time would be anything but what it was. I knew that at the time, and I’d made my choice. What happened afterward was nobody’s fault.

We step onto the dance floor, and I’m immediately drawn into his strong arms. As we move together, conversation flows effortlessly between us. We talk about the foundation, the progress we’ve made, and our shared passion for helping those affected by ARPKD.

“I know I’ve said it before,” he leans in a little closer, making me melt into his arms, “but your dedication to this cause is truly inspiring.”

I smile, feeling a rush of pride when I see the genuine admiration in his eyes and hear it in his voice. “Thank you. It’s been challenging at times, but it’s all worth it to make a difference in people’s lives. Of course, you know that, though.”

His gaze softens as he looks at me. “You’ve done more than just make a difference, Abby. Your work has brought a lot of hope to so many families.”

My heart aches to tell him about the babies, but I hesitate, not wanting to overshadow the magical evening with such big, heavy news. Not yet, anyway. Instead, I let him twirl me around the dance floor as if I don’t have a care in the world.

But my little slice of heaven is interrupted when I overhear a couple talking about Booker Carlson’s absence at the event. A fresh wave of anger surges through me as the memory of his deception comes rushing back.

I grimace at the thought and, of course, Alec notices immediately. “What is it, beautiful?” His concerned tone and the way he called me beautiful are almost enough to make me forget what I’m so upset about in the first place.

“It’s nothing,” I lie, trying to bury those thoughts. He isn’t giving up that easily, though. No doubt sensing there’s more to the story than I’m offering up.

Reluctantly, I tell him all about Booker’s fraudulent activities while leaving out the part about my pregnancy. No reason to reveal such personal information just yet. As I turn over all the details of the elaborate scheme, I see anger flash across Alec’s face, but I don’t understand why.

“I’ve asked him to return the money,” I say, determined. “If he doesn’t, I won’t hesitate to go to the police. It’s a matter of doing the right thing.”

Before I can ask about Alec’s strong reaction, he abruptly excuses himself and leaves me standing on the dance floor. I’m confused and worried as I watch him disappear into the crowd. I want to chase after him, but I’m torn between my need to find him and my hesitation not to cause a scene during our foundation’s important event.

I wait and mingle a little more, pretending like everything is fine as I keep scanning the room for him, but he seems to have disappeared into thin air. My heart sinks, and I’m trying not to panic. Did my story about Booker make him want to leave? But why? And why did he get so angry?

As the music continues to play, my emotions whirl inside me. I don’t know where Alec went, and I’m afraid I might have missed my chance to tell him about the babies. My mind races with thoughts of what to do next, but I’m at a total, complete loss. This is supposed to be an enchanted evening, but it’s quickly turning into my own personal nightmare.