Chapter 21
CALLUM
“Let’s move to the parlor,” Mimi said after the dessert dishes were cleared.
We all stood. My hand immediately went to Victoria’s back.
She turned and smiled at me, and we filed out of the dining room.
She got along with my family. I didn’t want to think too hard about what that could mean.
I definitely wasn’t thinking about Thanksgiving and birthday parties with her on my arm.
With her holding my cousins’ babies and hanging out with the wives.
Nope. Wasn’t thinking about that at all.
We stepped into the room that was all dark wood shelves lined with books.
A fireplace along the wall with pictures of her children along the mantel.
Leather chairs and two sofas that kind of looked like a hotel lobby setup but far cozier and more intimate.
The baby had been put down upstairs. We were all full after an amazing dinner.
Sebastian took over as bartender, mixing several virgin drinks for the pregnant ladies and vodka sodas for the rest of us. Because we weren’t technically a thing and I didn’t want to make Victoria uncomfortable, I sat in one of the chairs and she sat on the sofa next to Cleo.
I really wanted to pull her into my lap, but I knew better.
“Now it’s time to talk a little business,” I said. “And I promise I’ll keep it brief because I know we didn’t fly out here for a board meeting.”
“Sounds dangerous,” Dash said. “I like danger.”
Krista gave him a dry look. “Used to. You’re going to be a father. You have to be alive in one piece to help me wrangle this child.”
Soft laughter moved around the room.
I looked at Mimi first. She was seated near the fire with a glass of red wine looking very content. Happy even. She’d lost weight after her husband’s death, but she seemed to be doing a lot better. Adrian told me it was the charity work. It gave her purpose.
“So, as you all know, we’ve been talking about ways to create buzz for the opening, and we’re planning on doing a runway show.” I paused.
Mimi nodded happily. “I’ve been following every update. I’m so proud of all of you.”
“Thank you.” I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. “But as some of us have been discussing, the traditional launch event isn’t enough. We want to make it stand out. To grab people’s attention.”
Adrian was watching me from the sofa with his arms crossed and the usual broody scowl on his face. Sebastian had his hand resting on Bernadette’s knee. Briggs was leaning against the wall, sipping his drink. They were all listening.
“I want to make the runway show into a charity event,” I said. “At the end, we auction the clothes off. Everything that comes down the runway goes on the block that night. All the proceeds go directly to charity.”
Briggs raised an eyebrow. “That’s a lot of money.”
Adrian rubbed his jaw. I could see him doing the math. I wasn’t going to call him out for being a cheapskate yet. I’d let him think through it. Weigh the cost versus the benefits.
I turned toward Mimi. “We wouldn’t be donating to just any charity.
I want to partner with your foundation, Aunt Mimi.
The work you’re doing with food insecurity in school-age children is exactly the kind of cause that deserves more reach than it currently has.
An event like this, attached to a Blackwell opening in Beverly Hills, is going to put your foundation in front of people who have the means to sustain it long after one auction night. ”
Mimi set her wine glass down on the side table and looked at me. That was my cue to get into the nuts and bolts of my proposal.
“What I’m proposing is we use the launch event to announce the expansion of your program into the LA area. An LA chapter. We give people a reason to care about that and a way to do something about it on the same night they’re buying a pretty dress.”
Nobody spoke for a beat. I knew it was nothing like we had talked about. And it would be a huge charity contribution, but it was worth it and everyone in the room had the money to spare.
“Victoria knows all about this stuff,” I continued. “If you’re on board, she will be coordinating the charity side of the event. I’ve walked through the logistics with her. All we need is to hear what you guys think.”
Mimi looked at Victoria. “So you would be running this?”
Victoria nodded. “The auction structure, the donor outreach, the charitable framework. Not the actual runway stuff. I know nothing about fashion and models or any of that. I’ll handle the part that makes people feel all warm and fuzzy because they bought an amazing dress and didn’t make you guys richer. ”
Everyone laughed.
Mimi was quiet. I watched her eyes move around the room. She was thinking it over. She looked at Adrian, her eldest and the one I knew she depended on for business decisions.
Adrian gave a solemn nod. “I like it.”
“Same here.” Sebastian grinned and looked at Bernadette, who smiled and dabbed at her eyes.
Briggs pushed off the wall. “I’ll have to get some paperwork going to cover our asses, but it won’t be a problem if you all want to do it.”
Dash shrugged. “They had me at logistics.”
His wife, Krista, scowled at him playfully.
Mimi looked back at me. “I love this idea.” She picked up her wine glass again. “Yes. I absolutely want to do this. I’m so proud of all of you for growing into fine young men. Generous and kind. I’d love to spread some love to LA too.”
I nodded. “I promise we won’t let you down.”
Drew let out a whistle from his armchair and fanned his face. “Man, that was tense. Who needs a refill?”
Adrian started asking practical questions about timelines, which I answered as best I could.
Sebastian wanted to know about the couple selection process for the runway, which I deferred to Victoria.
Mimi asked a few questions as well. For about fifteen minutes it was genuinely productive.
Questions I hadn’t considered but Victoria had.
“Okay,” Mimi said. “No more shop talk. We’re here to spend time together. Everyone can email each other later. We’re on family time now.”
Glasses were refilled. Mimi was talking quietly with Elizabeth near the bookshelf, both of them laughing about something.
Dash had pulled Krista into the corner and was whispering something in her ear that made her swat his arm.
Honeymoon phase. Sebastian had his arm around Bernadette, who had fallen asleep against his shoulder.
Seeing Sebastian, the consummate playboy pretty boy all domesticated was still something I was getting used to seeing.
“Walk with me,” Cleo said.
It wasn’t a request. I glanced over to see Victoria in conversation with Briggs. Probably talking about the legalities of our idea. I couldn’t see anything that would be a problem, but if anyone could, it would be Briggs.
I followed her and Mandy fell into step behind me. Was this an ambush? I thought they were on board with the charity thing, but maybe not.
“What?” I said.
“Nothing,” Cleo said. “We just wanted to check in.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
Mandy and Cleo glanced at each other. The three of us had spent a lot of time together. They’d been best friends long enough that they could have an entire conversation with a two-second look. I had never been able to crack the code and I’d stopped trying years ago.
“The store opening,” Mandy said finally.
“What about it?”
“It’s a lot to put on your shoulders,” she said. “And now you’re adding a charity launch event on top of an opening that’s like two weeks out. Not to mention everything else you’ve got going on.” She paused. “That’s a lot for one person to carry.”
“I’m not one person. I have a team. Victoria is handling the bulk of the charity part.”
“You have contractors and a project manager who reports to you,” Cleo said. “You’re still managing everything.”
I looked between them. “I’ve been managing this for months. What have I missed?”
“Nothing,” Mandy said gently. “We just want you to know you can ask for help. We’re all here for you.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got it handled,” I said.
“Callum, we’re trying to help,” Cleo said. “You handle so much. It’s not fair.”
“It doesn’t feel unfair to me,” I shot back. “And I don’t need a babysitter. I’ll get everything ready.”
Cleo looked at me with what looked like pity. “Nobody is questioning whether you can handle. We’re just saying you have a whole family willing to jump in. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, if you need it.”
“Thank you for thinking of me,” I said. “And I promise I’ll ask you all if I need anything.”
Mandy smiled. “That’s progress.”
I went back into the parlor before they could say anything else.
Victoria was on the sofa where I’d left her, but now she was talking to Adrian. She was listening with her full attention. She laughed at something he said. I assumed Adrian would be talking business, but apparently not.
I dropped back into my chair and watched her for a moment before she noticed me.
I didn’t know what they were talking about and it didn’t matter.
What mattered was how happy and comfortable she looked.
Adrian could be an intimidating guy. He’d softened since the baby had been born, but he was still kind of a tough guy to warm up to.
That night, I walked her to her room. We were staying at Mimi’s tonight. Victoria looked tired but happy.
“Thank you,” she said. “For bringing me.”
“Thank you for being here,” I said. “Did you have a good time?”
“I did. I loved spending time with your family. Everyone just fits. Like puzzle pieces that were cut for each other. You’re very fortunate.”
“They drive me insane,” I said.
She laughed. “But you love every second of it.”
“That might be stretching it.” I grinned. “But I suppose they’re pretty great.”
“My family had dinner parties,” she said. “Lots of them. Beautiful tables, beautiful food, beautiful people.” She paused. “But it always felt like a rehearsal for something. All actors on a stage. The second the curtain dropped, it was over.”
I thought about my family. I couldn’t picture any version of my childhood that was quiet in the hollow way she was describing.
“Do you miss them?” I asked. “Your family.”
“I miss the idea of them,” she said. “But I never had it to miss it.”
“I get it. Goodnight, Victoria. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She closed the door and I went to my room debating going right back to her door and taking the kiss I wanted.