I'm uploading these a little quicker so I can get to the Daniel/Betty part. Thank you always for the appreciative and insightful reviews. I'm glad everyone is enjoying them as much as I'm writing them.
Chapter VII
"Daniel! Daniel Meade, over here!"
A horde of paparazzi and enthusiastic photographers looking to score the picture of the year within a split second's notice eagerly crowded their way around the Meade playboy. He easily made his way out of the limo escorting his beautiful date towards the brightly lit tent.
A hand nervously played with the sleeve of her elegant gown.
"Stop it. You're doing fine."
"I've never done this before, and I know I wasn't your first choice for a date," the young Latina from Queens babbled nervously. The fancy dress, the subdued makeup, and the heartthrob on her arm were definitely surreal.
"That's true, but you're here now, so you might as well make the most of it."
It wouldn't be too difficult to do that. This party was all she could talk about after Daniel asked her to be his date.
With a firm and guiding hand, he led their way into the outdoor tent which housed Mode's newest endeavor: thanking the hospital for the care of Bradford Meade. Immediately he was whisked into a photo op with the director of the hospital; unfortunately his nervous date was dragged along too, much to her bewilderment. She remembered to smile and look confident, shedding her wrong side of the tracks persona.
"Mr. Meade, we'd like to thank you for your family's kind donation and your generosity for organizing this event for our hospital."
The young man shook the hospital administrator's hand cordially. It was always eerie hearing someone addressing him with that title. He had to stop himself from looking around, thinking someone was speaking to his nearby father. Daniel could tell the man before him wasn't just some fame seeking paper pusher. Betty's research had stated that he had ridden his way up from the very bottom, where he started as a general practitioner. Even from the man's high office, he didn't forget his humble origins. Daniel thought it was quite reminiscent of his endearing assistant.
After several reputation enhancing pictures, the photographers dispersed to take pictures of New York's social elite, leaving Daniel with a quiet moment with the representative from the hospital.
"We're sorry we couldn't do more for your father."
Daniel smiled sadly, "He didn't lead the healthiest lifestyle, sir. It was a miracle he didn't have a heart attack earlier. I'm glad the hospital treated him well enough so at least we could get the chance to say goodbye."
A feminine hand with manicured nails squeezed Daniel's arm reassuringly. The son had always felt guilty for not being present in the room when his father died. It was strange that the last person anyone would ever think of was in attendance for Bradford Meade's last words.
"We try to treat all of our patients with the best of care, regardless of whether they can pay us or not." The representative gestured to the mingling guests sipping on imported champagne. None of the families of his patients had ever rewarded the hospital to this extent. Each model and celebrity had paid a substantial sum to be present, and every penny was being donated to the hospital.
Daniel smiled in response, sensing a kind soul; a refreshing change in a life filled with artificial people and just as artificial emotions. The administrator, in return, could tell why models and starlets flocked to the handsome man's side. It was the companion, though, who really surprised him.
The tall, stunning, and tan skinned girl smiled broadly hearing the administrator's last statement. The administrator originally assumed she was one of the models often paraded around as eye candy, but there was something different about her. The young fashion editor made the introductions.
"Allow me to introduce my lovely companion, Miss Hilda Suarez. Her sister Betty is my personal assistant, and whose idea it was to repay the hospital with a fundraiser. Both the sisters owe a personal debt to your institution."
"Oh?" One of the hospital administrator's many regrets was that he no longer had the one-on-one experience of meeting with the patients and their families. This was indeed a fortuitous encounter.
"Yes, the hospital treated my father when he had his heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery. We're..." Hilda paused as tears gathered in her eyes. "We're so grateful. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have my father in my life." She glanced over at Daniel who smiled softly. That they could even afford it was another miracle in itself.
Why one father survived and the other didn't was out of his hands. He didn't blame anyone however. In all honesty, Ignacio's natural instincts as a father were better than Bradford could ever dream to be. Daniel was grateful that Ignacio survived too, especially for the continued existence of his nightly reassuring phone conversations.
"Betty wasn't able to come. She's been fighting off a cold, but I thought that a Suarez could still thank the hospital, and witness the outcome of Betty's fine work," Daniel commented.
The administrator gratefully received Hilda's heartfelt thanks again, and the pair's farewells before the two were pulled away by the reporter for that gaudy fashion television channel, Pierre something. The subtle company of another's presence interrupted his observation.
"It's the wrong Suarez sister." The woman paused suddenly. "Not that she isn't a fine girl herself."
The man gave a curt nod to acknowledge his fashionably dressed acquaintance. He was quite familiar with this Meade. Her transformation had not gone unnoticed in the medical world. "It sounds like the right one is still on his mind."
Alexis Meade could only smile broadly as she pictured a different Suarez sister escorted on the arm of Daniel Meade.
Honestly I tend to have a lot of Claire and Alexis because they're interchangeable with one another.
There's more coming. Please review,
Grignard