Chapter Twenty
From the outside, the Heart Beach convention center looked like a standard building, nothing too out of the ordinary.
But inside, the Smiths and the events team they’d hired for the gala had pulled off something special.
An ice sculpture in the shape of giving hands welcomed guests as they entered the lobby.
Floral arrangements featuring various white flowers cascaded down the walls.
Based on what Noelle had learned from the brides she’d worked with, she’d guess that these arrangements hadn’t come cheap.
There was a custom-made black-and-white checkerboard dance floor, and smaller flower arrangements decorated the tables.
Guests had arrived in their black-tie best. Noelle smoothed her hands down the front of her gown.
Daniela had personally delivered it earlier that afternoon.
Thanks to Daniela’s alterations, the dress now looked and felt like Noelle had been born to wear it.
She paired the gown with the black open-toed heels that Tati had encouraged her to buy earlier this week.
She still felt weird using Jeremiah’s credit card carte blanche.
He was already paying her a lot. But he hadn’t so much as blinked when she’d told him how much she’d spent on the shoes.
He’d smiled and said, Okay, like she’d told him that the forecast didn’t call for rain this weekend.
It was another reminder that they were from different worlds.
But despite that reality, as she and Jeremiah had texted back and forth this week, Noelle had smiled at her phone, feeling ooey gooey at her center, like a warmed-up Smith’s Sweets cookie.
If only he wasn’t so generous. And so nice to look at.
And didn’t make her laugh. Or didn’t listen to her while she talked.
Then she wouldn’t feel so completely drawn to him.
She wouldn’t spend time daydreaming about what it might be like if they were really together.
Even though in reality, she couldn’t let anything distract her from her studies once she started college again, and he was moving.
And he was currently paying her to be his fake girlfriend, of course.
What kind of real relationship started on those grounds?
She knew she was being delusional, but she kept daydreaming regardless.
She glanced around the room, trying to locate Jeremiah. He’d been standing with his mom and siblings by the door, greeting the arriving guests, but now Noelle couldn’t find him.
She felt a light tap at her elbow. She glanced to her left and found Jeremiah holding a glass of champagne toward her. He was always handsome, but tonight he looked downright mouthwatering in his tux. Like a sleek, sexy, Black James Bond. His beauty made her feel breathless.
“Looking for someone?” he asked with a smirk.
She glanced at his lips and immediately thought of the kiss they’d shared on his bed weeks ago. Did he think about that moment as much as she did?
“Thank you,” she said, taking the champagne flute from him. From the way Noelle’s pulse jumped when their fingers grazed, he may as well have caressed her in front of everyone.
“You’re welcome,” he said, his voice a low rumble in her ear, and she fought off the urge to shiver. “I was looking for you too. You look so beautiful tonight. Have I told you that already?”
“Thank you, and yes, more than once.” She laughed softly. The moment she’d put the dress on earlier, it was as though she’d mesmerized him. His inviting smile did nothing to calm the harsh pounding of her heart.
“The flowers are so pretty,” she blurted, needing to divert her thoughts elsewhere. She pointed at the flowers cascading down the walls. “What kind are they?”
“I think we settled on hydrangeas,” he said. “But I can ask to be sure.” He looked at her again. “Do you like flowers?”
“Of course. Who doesn’t?”
“Do you have a favorite?”
“I like them all,” she said. “Sometimes I keep my bridesmaid bouquets and repurpose them as arrangements for our kitchen table.”
He smiled. “Would you put these flowers on your kitchen table?”
“Absolutely.”
Jeremiah started to ask a follow-up question, but he was cut off by the MC, who asked everyone to take their seats.
“That’s my cue,” Jeremiah said, winking. “See you in a few minutes.”
As Jeremiah joined Celeste, Percy, and Amara at the front of the room, Noelle made her way to their table at the edge of the dance floor. She sat beside Robin, who was glowing tonight, wearing a black gown with an empire waist and tulle skirt.
“My feet are killing me,” Robin leaned over and whispered. “Welcome to your first Smith Foundation gala.”
“Thanks,” Noelle whispered back, and she felt a little prickle in her chest, realizing that this would be her first and last time attending the gala.
At the front of the room, Celeste held the mic, and Jeremiah, Amara, and Percy stood behind her.
“Hi, everyone,” Celeste said, beaming. Her bob looked chic as always and she was wearing a formfitting black gown with a sweetheart bodice. “It’s so wonderful to see your faces. Thank you for being here tonight for our sixteenth annual Smith Foundation gala!”
Applause rang throughout the room. Celeste smiled and waited for the applause to die down before she spoke again.
“The Smith Foundation awards grants to Black entrepreneurs and business owners every year, and it was founded by my parents, two Black entrepreneurs and business owners, who sacrificed so much in order for me to have a better life. My parents instilled in me the importance of supporting community and giving back, and that’s something I’ve passed on to my children.
” She glanced back at Jeremiah, Percy, and Amara, who smiled proudly at her. Jeremiah winked, and Celeste laughed.
“This is the first year that we’re hosting the gala without my father,” Celeste said.
“Those of you who knew him know that he was a caring, giving, funny, and singular man. Tonight is a continuation of his legacy. Thank you for being a part of that. Thank you for purchasing your tickets, and for bidding on our many auction items tonight, including season tickets for the Sixers and the Nets and a custom painting of the Heart Beach shoreline, painted by my talented daughter, Amara. Your generous gifts will directly help many others achieve their dreams. I’d like to call out a few of our special guests who were recipients of grants in recent years.
Racquel Miller opened a soul food restaurant in Oaklyn, using her grandmother’s recipes.
Fred Thomas, who opened a martial arts studio last year, has created a wonderful space for the young people in Paterson.
Brianna and Eden Jones are sisters who opened a bakery in Mays Landing that specializes in delicious vegan and nondairy offerings.
But they are just a few of our special guests.
There are many, many more honored guests here tonight. Will all of you please stand?”
Throughout the room, several people stood to exuberant applause. As Noelle clapped, she wondered if Harold knew about the Smiths’ foundation. Hidden Gems Books could definitely use the help.
“From the bottom of our hearts, on behalf of my family and myself, thank you all for being here tonight,” Celeste said. “Now, let’s eat!”
The crowd clapped again as the Smiths walked to their table.
Jeremiah kissed Celeste on the cheek, and she accepted a sideways hug from Amara, followed by another kiss on the cheek from Percy.
Jeremiah sat in the open seat beside Noelle and she gently rubbed his back.
She’d done it naturally, without even thinking about performing her fake-girlfriend role.
She understood how significant it was for him and his family to be here tonight without his grandfather.
She wanted Jeremiah to know that she was there for him.
He smiled at her gratefully and kissed the back of her hand.
They stared at each other, caught in their own little moment, spellbound.
“That was a really wonderful speech, Celeste,” Robin said.
Celeste took a sip of her champagne. “Thank you. I don’t know why I feel so nervous tonight.” She cast an anxious smile around the table. “Thinking about Dad, I guess.”
Amara rested her head on Celeste’s shoulder.
“I’m sure he’s looking down at us and wondering when dinner will end so that people can start dancing,” Jeremiah said with a smile.
Celeste burst into laughter. “That’s probably true.”
On cue, dinner was served. At most of the weddings Noelle had attended, food was sometimes the weakest link. It was hard to produce well-seasoned entrées en masse for large events. But the grilled chicken, steak, mashed potatoes, and asparagus that they were served tonight tasted delicious.
Not that the Smiths had much of a chance to enjoy their meals.
Throughout dinner, guests visited their table in a constant cycle.
Jeremiah introduced Noelle to multiple people, and she smiled and nodded, and held her hand out for a shake and tried her best to remember everyone’s names.
It was more difficult than it should have been thanks to how Jeremiah casually rested his hand against her thigh in the affectionate gesture of a besotted boyfriend.
Her brain was zeroed in on that point of contact, making it hard for her to focus.
Eventually, the dinner plates were cleared away, and the DJ started to play an upbeat song as he welcomed people onto the dance floor. Noelle glanced around the room and waited to see who would be the first to get up and dance. Then she realized that everyone was looking at their table.
Celeste stood. A quick glance was exchanged between Jeremiah and Percy. Percy nodded, and Jeremiah stood from his chair. He walked around the table toward Celeste.
“Ma,” he said, holding out his arm for her. “Let’s boogie.”