Chapter 11 - The Gala That Became a BattlefieldVanessa had planned the Lantern Fund's winter gala for nearly a year.
It was supposed to be the most successful fundraising event in the organization's history.
Three hundred guests.
A string quartet.
A famous television personality delivering the opening remarks.
And Ruby, wearing a white dress, standing beside her mother beneath a banner celebrating the courage of children undergoing cancer treatment.
The event had once made Daniel proud.
Now its promotional photographs made him uncomfortable.
He realized that almost every image showed Ruby smiling bravely beside Vanessa.
The other children supported by the foundation were barely visible.
That Thursday, Ruth Calder called Vanessa to explain that she was being placed on administrative leave while an independent review proceeded.
The gala would be postponed.
Vanessa reacted with fury.
"You can't do this!"
Ruth remained professional.
"The board has a duty to protect the foundation and its donors."
"You're destroying everything I've built."
"The investigation is not a conclusion of wrongdoing."
"Then why am I being punished?"
"Because we need to preserve records and prevent further disputed transactions."
Vanessa hung up.
Twenty minutes later, she called Daniel.
He answered from June's porch.
"Did you know?"
"Know what?"
"That Ruth was going to humiliate me?"
"I knew the board was considering protective measures. I wasn't part of the decision."
"Don't pretend you're innocent."
"Vanessa, the board has questions about more than a million dollars."
"The board has questions because you let a disgruntled employee poison everyone against me."
"Ginny raised documented concerns."
"She was incompetent."
"Then the records will establish that."
Vanessa grew quiet.
"You're enjoying this."
Daniel stared at the bare branches beyond June's garden.
"No."
"Because you never forgave me for not being Alice."
The accusation caught him off guard.
"That isn't true."
"Her charity. Her photographs. Her child. Every room in that house has something reminding me that I came second."
Daniel felt a complicated sadness.
He had never asked Vanessa to become Alice.
But perhaps he had never made enough room for Vanessa to be herself either.
Still, the conversation had shifted dangerously away from what mattered.
"Feeling unwelcome doesn't justify frightening Oliver."
Vanessa's voice hardened.
"You always choose him."
"He's seven."
"And Ruby is ten. She's been fighting for her life."
"That isn't a competition."
"Everything is a competition when one child gets all the sympathy."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Please don't talk about the children that way."
Vanessa ended the call.
That evening, despite the postponed gala, she hosted a private reception at Graystone.
Several major donors had already traveled into town.
Vanessa persuaded herself that canceling everything would create more suspicion.
She ordered the caterers to proceed.
She wore a silver dress.
She arranged fresh white roses.
And she placed a framed photograph of Ruby on the entrance table.
When Daniel learned about the gathering, he contacted Ruth rather than appearing to confront Vanessa in front of donors.
Ruth called him back.
"Vanessa is not authorized to solicit or accept donations on the foundation's behalf while she's on leave."
"Can you notify the guests?"
"We're doing so. We can't prevent a private social gathering at her residence, but we can clarify that it isn't a Lantern Fund event."
Daniel thanked her.
Then he called Matthew.
"Is Ruby with you?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Matthew hesitated.
"Why?"
Daniel explained.
Matthew sighed.
"Vanessa asked Ruby to record a message for the guests."
"Did she do it?"
"No."
"How did she react?"
Matthew looked toward the adjoining room.
"She cried afterward."
That night, Ruby sat on Matthew's living-room sofa with a tablet on her knees.
Her mother had sent six messages.
Everyone is asking about you.
Just one short video, sweetheart.
People donated because they care about your story.
Please don't let me down.
Ruby stared at the screen.
Matthew sat beside her.
"You don't have to answer tonight."
Ruby whispered, "But what if people stop helping sick kids because I don't make the video?"
Matthew turned toward her.
"That isn't your responsibility."
"Mom says the foundation needs me."
"The foundation needs honest people and good programs. It doesn't need you to perform happiness."
Ruby looked at him.
"Can I still help people when I'm older?"
"Of course."
"Even if I don't tell strangers about my cancer?"
"Especially then, if that's what you want."
Ruby leaned against him.
For the first time in months, she fell asleep without worrying about whether she had disappointed her mother.
At Graystone, the reception lasted less than an hour.
Donors arrived expecting a charity event and discovered that the foundation had formally postponed it.
Some left immediately.
Others politely expressed concern.
Vanessa maintained her composure until the final guest departed.
Then she walked into Daniel's study and slammed the door.
Grant Cole was waiting inside.
He had arrived through the side entrance.
"That was a disaster," Vanessa said.
Grant stood near the bookshelves.
"Forget the party."
"You told me the foundation couldn't suspend me."
"I said they probably wouldn't."
"They're reviewing the payments."
"I know."
Vanessa stared at him.
"What have you done with the records?"
"Something safer than leaving them where Daniel can find them."
She approached.
"Grant, I want this stopped."
He laughed without amusement.
"You should've wanted that eighteen months ago."
Vanessa looked toward the door.
"I never agreed to all of this."
"No," Grant said. "You agreed to the first transfer. Then you wanted the money replaced before anyone noticed."
Her face tightened.
"Keep your voice down."
Grant stepped closer.
"Do you know what happens if you tell Daniel the truth?"
Vanessa said nothing.
"His foundation collapses. His marriage collapses. And you're the woman who stole from sick children while her own daughter was in treatment."
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"Ruby wasn't even sick when this started."
Grant nodded.
"Exactly."
May you like
He moved toward the door.
"And that's the part you should be most afraid of."
Related Stories
