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hand that gently supported me while I stepped out onto the pavement. While smoothing out my dress, I looked up to see Casey stepping out the limo. Daniel followed, then Thomas. Thomas and Daniel both stood in the opening as Charlotte’s long leg stepped out onto the pavement. Thomas ever so gently held her hand, supporting her weight while Daniel remained on the right side ready to assist. Charlotte emerged from the limo and stood. The long black elegant dress suited her perfectly, reflecting the soft lighting against her slim figure. She was the vision of beauty. She adjusted the sheer black shawl that draped around her back to cover her shoulders. My attention turned to Daniel. How gingerly he handled his mother as if she were a china doll. He looked great in his black tuxedo. His black hair smoothed back straight. He walked toward Casey and me placing a hand on the small of our backs.
    “Ladies,” he gestured, indicating that he would escort us inside. I felt a little silly, but took his arm anyway and we walked into the Plaza. Toward the left, voices chattered over the soft classical music that played in the background. We walked toward the room and stepped inside. Glancing around the large room I noticed so many people. Located to the left corner, a table held an assortment of finger foods. Waiters and waitresses carried drinks on their trays through the crowded room. My eyes widened when I saw a few of the people turn their attention to us. Daniel loosened his arms for Casey and me.
    Instinctively, I held tighter to his arm. He leaned down to me, pressing his lips against my ear. “ It is okay, I will not leave you.” The words were not as bad as the hot breath that tingled my senses. A sudden chill ran through me and I shivered. His arm slid around my waist and pulled me closer to him. Warm heat emanated from his body to mine, giving me the security I needed to make it through the night. He took a step forward and paused briefly for me to follow. We walked through the crowd. A waitress walked up to Daniel from his left.
    “Could I get you something from the bar?” Her voice was soft and pleasant.
    “Yes, a Scotch and soda please.”
    “Lime and soda please,” I managed to return to her. With Daniel securely by my side, we walked toward the tables covered in white linen. Slowly we made our way to the table that carried a little card saying “RESERVED MAXWELL”. Daniel pulled out the chair for me and I sat down. I heard the chair next to me slide out from underneath the table and then his body was next to mine again. Glancing around the room, I had lost Thomas and Charlotte. I couldn’t see Casey. Where did they go? “Are you okay?” his soft voice asked. I nodded while my eyes darted around the room in search of my best friend.
    “Julie? Julie? Oh my darling little Julie!” I recognized the voice immediately. The grey haired older woman walked toward me. She still looked good for her age. I estimated she must be around sixty. The short balding man trailing behind her was as round as ever.
    “Hello Aunt Doris.” I forced out a smile as she trailed over to hug me. I could tell within inches that she had maybe too much to drink already. Stepping back to balance herself on the man’s arms, she gently leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Hello, Uncle Dave. How are you both?”
    “Oh Darling,” she began in her overly dramatic tone. “How are you? I heard the news and got a flight immediately. It’s just dreadful, dreadful I tell you.”
    Aunt Doris, the adopted sister to my father. Married money and still looking for money. I suppose her motivation was probably not respect, but to see if her dear brother left her anything in his will. She was a few years older than my father was. Even still, I thought back to how my father made his own way in life. Even though he was a self-made millionaire, his family was very poor. Not compared to Thomas, whose family always had money. I suppose living a