Accidentally Perfect (29 page)

I know I’m probably hurting Laney because I can’t bring myself to loosen my grip on her.  I’m afraid if I do, then she’ll disappear.  “Oh Nathan, I didn’t see you there.”  Diane stares at me completely ignoring my wife and girls. 

“I find that hard to believe Diane.  You’re internally built to seek out
money, and since I’m the wealthiest man in the room, I’m sure your gold digging senses were in overdrive.”

“Your lack of personality completely makes something that is so amazing to look at, totally rotten, do you know that?” 

“Ah, well since I rather you didn’t look at me, I’ll just keep up my winning personality when it pertains to you.  Come on love, let’s find
you
better company.” 

I go to pick up Addie so we can make better time when I feel a hand
on my shoulder.  “Love, did you say?  So you call her love as well.  I should be hurt, Nathan.  I thought that was my pet name you gave me.  Better to give her a pet name rather than try to remember her actual given name.  That’s understandable though seeing as you have only known each other for like two seconds.”

“Please don’t cause a scene and make yourself look more pitiful than you already have.  There was never a time that I called you
love or any other
pet
name.  Our relationship was far from the point in which pet names were used.  Maybe you were thinking of my father.”

Ignoring my words she turns to Laney.  “So you’re the one who took what was
mine
then. 
Nice to meet you in person.
  Laney is it?  You know what they say, the camera adds ten pounds. Unfortunately this time it seems the camera’s caught you right on point. 
Sad really, to let yourself go.
  I mean being a mother doesn’t mean you have to completely stop trying.”

“Aw, and you must be Diane.  I can tell by my husband’s description.  What was it that you said Nathan
? Desperate, pancaked makeup, on too-Botox skin;
oh yes, and who insists on using dollar store bleach for her hair.  It seems
he
was spot on.   Now I’m more than convinced the horror stories he also told me were accurate. I was kinda giving you the benefit of the doubt.  I don’t think I have ever met anyone so desperate.”

“Coming from someone who forgets I had him first.”

“You along with every other woman in New York.
  You see Diane, I know of my husband’s less than stellar years.  But really, it must have been unfortunate for you when you got the news that this gorgeous man and all of his money was out of your reach for good.  It was probably even more unfortunate knowing that you were only left with an older,
saggier version of Nathan while I get to keep the real deal.”

“You forget Laney,”

“Oh no sweetheart, my friends,
and family call me Laney.  Hell, I even allow my patients to call me Laney.  You may address me as Mrs. Whitmore.  Come on, Diane
,
love
, try it.  Say, Mrs. Whitmore.  Mrs. Nathan Whitmore.  Because that’s me, and it will never be you.”  

Just when I think the night can’t get any worse I see Vivian walking towards us. 
“Grandma.”
  The girls seem excited to see her.

“Hello babies, have you missed grandma?  And why has mommy brought you to a charity event?”  She lifts her eyebrow in disapproval.

“The charity is for the children, mother.  Natalie wanted the girls here to see it all.  She wanted them to know how important tonight is for the kids of the city.”

“No Laney, they are only four, do you really think they understand or even care for that matter?  Stop treating them like they are older than what they are.”

“We want them to know and understand Vivian;
it’s never too young to learn what you have and what other kids may not have.  It’s called humility.  The girls need to know they are fortunate and what they have is an honor and not because they are entitled to it.”

“Yes Vivian,” Natalie walks up, “
I wanted the girls here.  It’s my house, my
event, and my right to invite anyone who I want. You know it never fails though,” She looks over at Diane, who has her arms wrapped around my father, “
there are always people who show up knowing they would never be invited.  How did you get in Diane?  Did you scurry in under the gates with the other rodents?  I don’t believe you were invited.”

“I’ll have you know Natalie, your father invited me.  It shouldn’t come as a shock to you.  I’ve always attended these functions.  I’m just usually on the arm of Nathan and not Joseph.”

“Aw yes, my
father has a knack for searching out fellow leeches.  Remember will you Diane, this is a fundraiser.  The purpose of you being here is to donate money
to
the good cause.  If you don’t have the money, which I’m assuming you don’t since you no longer have my brother, I suggest you leave.  Preferably before dinner is served, I don't feel like wasting my money on you.”   

“How do you expect to raise any money tonight with an attitude like that?  You are rude and
abrasive.”

“Oh honey, I just save this attitude for those I don’t like.  You’re the on the top of that list, so I reserve my best snarky attitude for you.  Now if you will excuse us, I would like to introduce my brother, sister-in-law, and nieces to some very important people.”

Christ, I didn’t think I would have to deal with all the evil people in my life in one location. 
The first night out as a family and I have to deal with that shit.
  I’m surprised Brad isn’t here claiming his rightful spot as the girls’ father.  That would have just been the icing on the cake.  Natalie leads us back into the house to the library.  She opens the
door,
and the room is filled with several kids.  Some are being held by what I’m assuming are their foster parents.  There are kids running around while others are sitting and watching television.  “These are our guests of honor tonight.”

“Can we go play?”  The girls ask.

“Of course, you can.  Make sure you’re nice to anyone you meet.  Be polite and please be gentle
with
the kids that are younger than you.” 

“Amanda,
”  I say, “Make sure you wait for your sister.  She can’t go as fast as you on those crutches.”  She nods her head and walks next to Addie as they introduce themselves to some girls that are their age.   

I have to admit there are a lot more kids here at the charity event than I thought there would be.  After they
had eaten
their dinner of pizza and carrot sticks in the library, they entered the tents with all the guests.  We are finishing up dinner while the kids all s
it up on a stage waiting for
their portion of the evening to begin.  As the staff takes our plates, Natalie leaves our table to take the stage.  Luckily we didn’t have to sit with Nathan’s father or my mother.  It seems Nathan purchased an entire table for just us, Natalie and the girls.  They seem to have made a lot of new friends throughout the night.  I made sure to get the numbers of their foster parents so the girls could have play dates with them.  

“Excuse me,” Natalie
begins.  “I wanted to first tell you that I am honored you took the time out of your busy night to help with a foundation that is close to my heart.  Many years ago, my mother’s mother, my grandmother opened her home to a foster child.  This was a time when children weren’t always taken care of.  Many of them ended up on the street without parents to watch over them.  My mother was around four years old when they brought a little boy by the name of Nathan into their home.”  I looked over at Nathan and took his hand.  “Nathan was eight at the time.  My mother was in awe of this boy from the very beginning.  He showed her how much fun it was to make mud pies and how worms weren’t gross but
nature’s
toys.  Nathan was my mother’s companion, and for all sense and purposes, her brother.  He was her protector from the mean kids at
school, and he was the chaser of the monsters that lurked under her bed. For three years,
Nathan was my mother’s hero. 

Nathan’s time with my mother was cut short; too short.  He was killed in a
horseback riding
accident, here on the property.”  Tears instantly sprang to my eyes.  “He was out riding with his instructor when the horse became spooked and took off.  By the time the instructor found Nathan, it was too late.  The horse had bucked him off and trampled Nathan, crushing his body.”  She takes a moment to gather her thoughts.  “Sorry, that story never gets any easy. The loss
to
my mother was great.  At the age of seven she had lost her best friend, her brother.  My grandmother took it upon herself to adopt Nathan after his death and gave him the Whitmore name. Unfortunately, my grandmother never took in another foster child into her home.  The loss of Nathan was too much for her to
bear
, and the fear that it may happen again was too great. She did continue to donate and do what she could monetarily.  Once my mother took over Whitmore
Enterprises,
she started the foundation which we celebrate tonight.  The Nathan Douglas Whitmore Foundation was built
on
the love of a child, for the love of the children who weren’t as fortunate as Nathan was.  There are many families out there in New
York, who have the love in their hearts to help these
kids, but they may not have the money in their pockets.  It’s up to us to help those who are not able to help themselves.  To show the act of humility and hopefully teach these kids that they can make a difference as well once they are adults.  I am not asking you to open your homes, but I am asking you to open your wallets.  Winter is coming and the holiday season is right around the corner.  Please allow these kids to have a little something of what you so easily give to your own. Please continue to bid at the silent auction located in the other tent.  Now, sit back enjoy your dessert and listen to some testimonials from the kids
who
benefit from your generosity.” 

Natalie takes a step back and a girl probably around the age of eleven takes the microphone.  “Wow, Nathan.  I had no idea, what a tragic story.  I’m so sorry your mother had to go through that at such a young age.”

“Nathan was special to her.  She would never get tired of telling the stories of their adventures.”

“He must have meant a lot to her, seeing you were named after him.”

“Well,
unfortunately, my mother felt it was necessary to include my father’s name also.  I am honored my mother felt I could live up to the hero that was her brother.  It’s funny because there were many times when I did something as a child that reminded her of Nathan.  My mannerisms, even some of the sayings I would come up with as a child.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Momma, can wes go plays with the girls?”

I look up and see the kids still sitting on the stage waiting while the older kids speak.  “Hold
on a minute ladies
.  I want you to listen to what these kids have to say.  It’s important.”  

The girls sit back in their seats, drinking their water, listening to the kids.  It seems as though each child had a unique story to tell as to how they ended up in ‘the system’, as they to put it.  There were tragic accidents that left them
orphaned; some were abandoned by unwilling parents
while other parents chose a life of drugs and partying over the responsibilities of becoming a parent.  It was the stories of child abuse and
molestation, which
hit home the most.  Knowing that there were parents out there who physically hurt their children?  I thought it was awful suffering from the nasty end of my mother’s tongue, I couldn’t imagine feeling the pain of a slap or a punch.  “I don’t think I‘ve heard such tragic and awful stories.”

“It’s unnerving to know that not every child goes to sleep every night with their parents tucking them in, huh?  You would be devastated if you saw how other kids around the world
lived
.  You think those commercials about helping
children in the third world countries is
tough.  You should try seeing it in real life.”