Page 355 of His Virgin Romance Series
MILES
She was spectacular. It was beyond me how she even managed to do it in so short a span of time and yet she had. She had charmed my mother, impressed my father, and I could tell every guest she was introduced to seemed enchanted by her.
Maybe it was the fact that she was so authentically herself that you couldn’t help but like her. Maybe it was the fact that she was obviously accomplished, talented, and intelligent, and yet incredibly humble at the same time. Maybe it was the fact that she made no apologies for who she was or where she came from.
“What do your parents do, Gabby?” Mrs. Swanston asked after we had finished dinner.
“I was raised by a single mother, Mrs. Swanston,” Gabby replied. “My father left when I was very young, and I haven’t heard from him since. But my mother works in a bank. She has since I was in middle school.”
“That’s interesting,” Mrs. Roberts said, turning to her with curiosity in her eyes. “And what made you decide to study music?”
“My mother,” Gabby replied. “We grew up poor, you see… and we didn’t have much of anything. We didn’t even have a television set till Seth and I were older. We had this tiny little radio instead, and it was always on. There was always music in the background and Mom used to tell us that there were some things that everyone could enjoy, no matter their circumstances. Music was one of them. She was right, no matter how bad my mood was, music always managed to cheer me right up.”
I saw the women around her exchange glances, and I knew they were a little surprised by how readily and unabashedly she admitted to her circumstances. I knew that in their circles to admit to a lack of anything was considered to be a massive embarrassment.
We had all left the dining room, and we were going to be served dessert in the living room where the grand piano was kept. I felt a shadow come up by my shoulder and I turned my head to the side to see my father standing next to me. He had a drink in hand, and his eyes were fixed on the gaggle of women who surrounded Gabby.
“She was not what I was expecting when your mother told me you were bringing your girlfriend,” Dad said.
I reminded myself to be polite and not to allow him to get a rise out of me. I had to follow Gabby’s example and be better than that.
“She’s too good for me.” I nodded. “I’m very aware of that.”
“She’s from humble circumstances,” Dad said, and I wondered if that was an accusation or not. His tone was hard to read.
“As am I,” I replied. “Now.”
“She showed me some of your work,” Dad said, taking me by surprise.
I hadn’t seen that. It must have been while I had been mingling with dad’s surgeon friends and fielding all their questions about what I’d been doing the last couple of years.
“And… what did you think?” I forced myself to ask the question.
“It was… not what I had expected,” Dad replied, and I wondered if that was the closest I was going to get to a compliment from my father.
“I guess I’ve taken you by surprise tonight then, Dad,” I said. “With my work and my girlfriend.”
“You have,” Dad replied. “When is this exhibition going to be?”
I frowned. “What exhibition?”
“Everyone seems to be under the impression that your work is going to be exhibited at the White Lines Gallery.”
“Oh,” I said. “Right, yes… um… there’s no set date for the exhibition yet.”
“Well, when there is… you should let your mother know,” Dad said stiffly.
He omitted himself purposely, but the implication was clear. He wanted me to let them know when the exhibition was going to be. I wondered if he felt compelled to ask because most of his friends wanted an invitation, but it didn’t matter because this was a bigger step than I had ever expected from him.
“I will,” I said softly.
“Gabby told me you have a new job?”
“I do.” I nodded. “Working in a local art magazine publication.”
Dad nodded, and I knew that was as close as I would come to his seal of approval. I felt my phone vibrate in the breast pocket of my blazer and I reached in and checked to see who was calling. When I saw Larry’s name, I knew I had to answer it.
“Would you excuse me for a second?”
