Broken Wings (17 page)

Pamela sat back in her chair as she observed his solemn face. “I understand, Daniel. I know how it feels to be cast aside.”

The waiter returned with two cups of coffee on a silver tray, along with the check.

Pamela eagerly grabbed for the coffee cup placed before her. She inwardly scolded herself for saying too much and blamed it on the excess alcohol. But she knew the alcohol was not completely to blame for her ramblings. She had wanted to get to know the handsome man across from her, and despite her growing apprehension about the evening ahead, she still hoped that maybe this time, she had finally found someone who wanted to get to know her, as well.

The limousine made the six-block drive from Arnaud’s Restaurant to the Roosevelt Hotel. The Roosevelt Hotel occupied the building previously owned by the Fairmont Hotel on Baronne Street. Destroyed by the floodwaters of Katrina, the space had been taken over and renovated to look like the original Roosevelt Hotel that had operated in New Orleans in the early 1930s.

As Pamela stepped from the car and looked up at the hotel’s gray stone facade, she wondered what awaited her inside. She would have preferred an afternoon of general dentistry to an evening of rubbing elbows with the rich and obnoxious.

“We could have just walked from the restaurant,” she said to Daniel as they made their way up the front steps to the hotel entrance.

He placed his hand over hers. “It’s how you look getting there that matters, Pamela. And we have to look like we mean business.”

The benefit for the Gulf Oil Spill Relief Program was being held in one of the grand ballrooms of the hotel. Tickets were collected at the door, where Pamela stopped and checked her wrap and the small overnight bag Daniel had carried in from the limousine. Pamela gave her name to a young brown-eyed girl who was seated behind a table with a clipboard. She collected the two tickets waiting for her and then took Daniel’s arm as they made their way into the main ballroom.

Decorated in shades of gold with Greek Doric columns set against the walls, the ballroom had several multi-tiered crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, shining their light on the bright gold and cream-colored carpet below. Along the walls large portraits of wildlife and industries native to the Gulf Coast, and threatened by the oil spill, were hung. Shrimp trawlers and crab fishermen were intermingled among the brown pelican, raccoon, white tailed deer, oyster, and redfish prints. To the left of the entrance, a large buffet service was already in full swing with a long line of people waiting to be served. To the right, a bar built to look like a giant pirogue, complete with crab traps and nets, had another long line of people before it. Dozens of white linen-covered tables were positioned in the middle of the room for the guests to sit and dine. In the back of the room, a ten-piece band played softly in front of a small white dance floor that was cordoned off with gold rope.

Daniel leaned over to her. “See why I wanted to eat before we came,” he said as he nodded to the long buffet line.

Pamela scanned the room and tried to find a friendly face, or at least someone she had known from her days with Bob, but no one among the black tie crowd appeared familiar.

Daniel examined the throng of people surrounding them. “What should we do first, casually mingle or go after the first rich looking person we see?” He turned to her. “You brought your business cards, right?” he asked.

She nodded and grabbed at her small black beaded purse. “As many as I could shove into this thing.”

“Good,” he peered eagerly into the crowd. “Now just follow my lead.”

Daniel pulled her along until he stopped beside an older couple. They looked reserved, uptight, and, based on the amount of diamonds the woman displayed on her hands and neck, very wealthy.

“Excuse me, but are you Peter and Esther Robillard?” Daniel asked the couple as he stood before them.

“Why, yes,” the older man with a gray beard and dark blue eyes replied. “Have we met?” he asked, extending his hand to Daniel.

“I’m Daniel Phillips of the Arceneaux family from Audubon Trace. My family was in the sugar cane business
—
”

Esther Robillard’s gasp interrupted him. She placed her hand on Daniel’s arm. “I went to school with your mother! The last time I saw her was before she married that importer, Edward Phillips, and moved to Connecticut.” She clapped a diamond-clad hand to her chest. “My God, you’re Elizabeth’s boy. I can’t believe it.”

“I remember my mother mentioning you.” Daniel pulled Pamela alongside of him. “I’d like to introduce you to a very good friend, Pamela Wells. She runs a wildlife rehabilitation center outside of the city and has worked extensively in rescuing wildlife affected by the oil disaster.”

Esther and Peter Robillard shook their heads in unison.

“Such a tragedy,” Esther commented. “It’s good to know that there are people like you in the world helping the animals. It is a pleasure to meet you, my dear.”

“People like Pamela work tirelessly to help rescue all of these wonderful creatures.” Daniel’s hand waved to the pictures on the wall. “And they get no financial assistance from the state or federal government. Can you believe that?”

Esther placed a caring hand on Pamela’s arm. “How do you manage?”

Pamela put on her best smile. “Well, I’m dependent on the donations of private citizens to help keep my facility going. I take in over three hundred animals a year. Orphaned and injured wildlife require food, formula, housing, and medical care. I have a non-profit organization that holds fundraisers every year, but I’m a one-woman operation and it is so difficult in these economic times to get donations.”

“Do you have a card?” Peter Robillard asked.

“Yes, I do,” Pamela quickly reached into her handbag, pulled out her card, and handed it to him.

Peter Robillard inspected her card. “I have a few animal-related organizations that I make a part of my annual giving program.” He looked up at her with his steely blue eyes. “I prefer to help local, small organizations get on their feet, instead of pumping money into big non-profits that spend half of their donations on salaries for CEOs.” He nodded to her. “My accountant is named Steve Mueller with Erickson and Walters. I’m going to give him your information on Monday and have him set you up on our annual donations list.”

Pamela felt her heart do a few happy somersaults. “Thank you. That would be…I can’t tell you how much this would mean to me and to the animals I help to rehabilitate.”

“Thank your young man here,” Esther said, patting Daniel’s arm. “I heard about Elizabeth’s passing a few years back. I’m so sorry. She was a good friend. When we were growing up together, she was always the life of the party.”

Daniel nodded. “Yes, that was Mom.”

“You keep up the good work, young lady,” Esther said to Pamela with a warm smile. “We need more people like you in the world.”

Pamela and Daniel said good-bye to the Robillards and headed back out into the crowd.

“I can’t believe it,” Pamela said, sounding almost giddy. “How did you know those people? And how did you know the woman went to school with your mother?”

Daniel smiled at her excitement. “I told you I have done bartending at a few social parties in the past. Well, I’ve learned to keep my eyes and ears open and I try to remember everything I hear. Mrs. Esther Robillard is known for wearing her expensive diamond jewelry to every social affair. I have seen them once or twice at events like this. Her husband loves gin and tonics with a twist. I took a shot and it paid off.” He shrugged.

“But they knew your mother’s family?” Pamela asked surprised.

“My mother’s family was very wealthy and very well connected. An older couple like that was bound to have known or at least heard of them. That she went to school with my mother was just blind luck. But then again, this is New Orleans, and a very small town. Everybody knows everybody down here. But I don’t have to tell you that.” He searched the room once more. “Ah,” he said to her. “I think I found another person you need to meet.”

Pamela eagerly surveyed the ballroom. “Who?”

“Val Easterling,” Daniel announced. “And this ball of fire, I do know.”

Daniel took Pamela’s hand and pulled her across the room to the side of a round woman dressed in a burgundy gown with short, silver hair, and light blue eyes. She had delicate features and as soon as she spotted Daniel coming her way, she roared with delight.

“Daniel, is that you? Who in the hell let you in here?” she called out and threw her arms about his neck.

Daniel kissed the woman’s smooth, pale cheek and stood back from her. “Val Easterling, I want you to meet someone.” He gently pulled Pamela to his side. “Pamela Wells is a very dear friend.”

Val’s blue eyes seemed to take in every inch of Pamela’s figure. “Darlin’, I hope you know what you’re getting into with this boy. He’s a handful.”

Pamela grinned. “So I’m beginning to notice.”

Daniel put a loving arm about Val’s waist. “Whenever Val has parties, she always gets me to set up the bar and hire the staff. And she throws the best parties in town.”

Val waved a dismissive hand in the air. “I throw much better parties than this sorry affair. Lobster and cream cheese rolls for hors d’oeuvres.” She frowned. “It’s so eighties. You would think with all the money they sunk into this place after the storm they could have hired a better caterer.” She looked over Daniel’s face for a moment and then crinkled her brow. “What are you doing here, Daniel? I seem to remember you saying you hated these functions. Don’t tell me you have grown a sudden fondness for our local flora and fauna.”

“Yes, Val, I’m afraid I have found a soft spot for all the fuzzy little fur balls down here.” Daniel smiled at Pamela. “You see, Pamela is a wildlife rehabber and runs a facility outside of the city. She takes in hundreds of animals a year and she needs money to keep her place going.”

Pamela felt her jaw drop.

Val placed her hand on her wide hip. “How much are we talking about?”

Pamela felt her stomach knot up. “My budget varies from month to month, depending on the animals I take in, vet bills, and the amount of formula
—
”

“Just give me a bottom line lump sum, dearie,” Val said, cutting off Pamela’s marketing speech.

“Five hundred a month?” Pamela said, unsure of how the woman would take her offer.

Val laughed; a deep sounding laugh that matched her boisterous personality. “When asking for money always start out high and bargain your way down. Makes people in this room feel important, or at least that they’re in control of the negotiations.” She paused and smiled at Daniel. “All right,” she nodded and then turned back to Pamela. “Give me your card.”

Pamela almost dropped her purse she was shaking so much. She fished the card out and handed it to Val.

Val took the card. “If you’re a friend of this boy’s,” she winked at Daniel, “then you’re a good investment. I’ll have my accountant call you Monday to set up the details for a monthly deposit. If you ever need more, come to me.”

Pamela took Val’s hand. “I don’t know how to thank you, Mrs. Easterling.”

“Call me, Val…everyone does. I need to get you a few more donations for your facility. There’s a man here tonight who does nothing with his money but buy wives and gamble.” She looked Pamela up and down, “He has got to meet you. We’ll make him shell out some dough to help your animals.” She turned and explored the crowd. “There he is. Come with me.” Val took Pamela’s hand and started pulling her across the ballroom.

Pamela let Val Easterling lead her through the crowds with Daniel following right behind. They stopped before a tall man with dark, wavy hair and penetrating green eyes. He was dressed in a designer tuxedo, holding a tall glass filled with some pink concoction and topped with a pink umbrella. Pamela could not help but notice how the man’s eyes traveled over every inch of her petite figure.

“I thought you hated these events. And shouldn’t you be out on that fancy sailboat Dallas built you?” Val inquired.

“I’ve been waiting for you to come skinny dipping with me, Valie,” the man replied, giving the woman a friendly peck on the cheek.

“That’s like inviting a lion to a barbeque. Untold amounts of suffering would be sure to occur.” Val turned to Pamela. “We need to help this woman. She takes care of sick wildlife in a facility outside of the city. She needs your money to keep her facility going.”

“Does she need a husband, Valie?” he asked, leering at Pamela. “I’m available.”

“Did your Viagra just kick in or something? Behave or I’ll slip some saltpeter into your…whatever it is you’re drinking,” Val threatened as she waved at the man’s pink drink.

Pamela bit down on her lower lip to keep from laughing.

“I can always count on you to bring me down, Valie,” the tall man said with a mischievous grin.

Val smirked. “Pamela Wells, meet Lance Beauvoir, of Beauvoir Scrap Metal,” Val said as she turned to Daniel. “This is her boyfriend and my main bartender, Daniel Phillips.”

Lance and Daniel shook hands. “I remember you,” Lance remarked as he pointed at Daniel. “You do all of Val’s parties.”

Daniel nodded to Lance’s drink. “Yes. I remember you, and your brother as well, Mr. Beauvoir.” He turned to Pamela. “The Beauvoir brothers own and operate Beauvoir Scrap Metal,” Daniel explained.