Chapter 11 Oops!
Every year the Chamber of Commerce holds an awards banquet in mid-November. While I wasn't an active member, I was a member and knew that my presence would be missed if I weren't there. Previously, Andrea and I attended, so I felt comfortable inviting Kim to accompany me. The banquet would be held at the Skyline Hotel and, after the dinner and the awards presentations, there would be dancing.
We were seated at tables of eight people, usually four couples. I looked up my name on the seating diagram and noticed we were located at the front left-center of the room, not far from the head table. I wasn't sure that would be a great place, especially if we wanted to slip out early. I made sure that Kim had been listed separately as Ms. Penny and not Mrs. Tyler. I didn't want her embarrassed.
I knew two of the three other couples and introduced Kim to them as my friend. The fourth couple was new in town and over the dinner the rest of us told them about our municipality and a bit of its history. As the dessert was being served I felt Kim's foot tapping against mine. I looked at her and I could see her looking over to my left. We were seated with our backs to the front corner of the room and as I followed her gaze I saw what had attracted her attention.
On the far side of the next table sat Kurt Howell. His partner was hidden by the back of a very large man between us but as I leaned back to look around him I saw Andrea. I was a bit surprised but not overly so. I assumed Everlast Construction was a member and he was the designated attendee. I had a memory flash of my disguised silly phone call to confirm it was he who was screwing Andrea and I must have snorted aloud.
"What's so funny," Kim whispered.
"I'll tell you later if I can remember the name."
She had a quizzical look but didn't dwell on my cryptic remark.
"You saw her, then?" she asked, again in a whisper.
I nodded, turning to look over again. "And him."
At that moment Kurt looked up and our eyes met. I held my gaze longer than I might normally have and then gave him the faintest of nods. That produced what I could only describe as a smirk from Mr. Howell. I turned back to our table and tried to ignore his expression but it was too late. I saw it and he knew I saw it.
I'm not very good at hiding my emotions and I guess Kim picked up on my anger. The son-of-a-bitch was gloating that he took my woman.
"What's got you upset?" she whispered, tightening her hand over mine.
"I'll tell you later."
"A minute ago you were laughing."
"Things change," I said, turning to her.
Just looking at her face was enough to bring me out of my brief bout of anger. She was so damn beautiful that it washed away any feeling of insecurity and resentment that I might have had. I hadn't lost a wife, I had gained an extraordinary woman who fulfilled every male fantasy I'd ever had. Kurt hadn't won anything that still had value to me. Andrea would always be the mother of our children and I couldn't forget the good years we shared. But she was now in my past and I liked the look of my future.
I had prepared Kim for the boring speeches and presentations that were to come. They would take about a half-hour to forty-five minutes and then the tables would be moved and the dancing would begin. The Master of Ceremonies was the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce, Mario Tanucci, a prominent restaurateur. After the usual welcome and thank-you to the support groups that sponsored the dinner, he got down to business.
I wasn't really paying attention. I was thinking about Kurt Howell and, of course, Andrea. He seemed pretty smug, almost arrogant about having stolen my wife. I wonder if he knew that it wasn't the first time she had cheated. Would that unsettle his confidence? Then again, he went after a married woman, so he wasn't so noble either.
I was snapped out of my reverie when I heard my name and Kim was grabbing my hand again.
"What?" I said, looking around.
Our entire table had risen and was applauding and it looked like they were applauding me. What the hell? And then it twigged. I had won an award.
I stood and acknowledged the applause, finally realizing I had to go up to the podium to accept the award. I had no expectation of this and immediately began to think of what to say. I knew I was expected to say something. It had better be short and it had better be coherent.
When I arrived at the podium, I was handed the etched glass mounted tablet as I shook Mario Tanucci's hand. A quick glance told me that I had won "Business of the Year" for our store, the highest award given by the chamber. Mario stepped back and left the microphone to me.
"Thank you, Mario ... uh ... and members of the Chamber. I'm honored by this award. I hadn't even thought about winning it, but I'm delighted that we have. I may be the owner, but every person working at Highland has a part of this award. My mentor, Walter Cromwell, taught me the basics of the business and the business principles that I've stuck with all along. If anyone deserves this award it would be Walter. Thank you, one and all."
I made a small wave to the audience, shook Mario's hand once more and returned to my seat in a bit of a daze. I placed the transparent plaque in front of me and stared at it as people began to gather around to congratulate me. The plaque was mounted on a walnut base and it was elegant in its simplicity. I felt really good for our employees and I would let them know how proud I was of them on Monday morning.
As Kim and I stood and accepted the congratulations and praise of my fellow members I was struck by just how many people were sincere in their praise. Walter really had taught me how a retail business should be run and by sticking with his guidance, I had never had a moment of doubt about my progress. Tonight might have been a surprise, but it was an endorsement of my keeping the faith - and Walter's faith in me.
In a matter of minutes, the staff had moved the tables, replaced the table covers with new ones, and the band had begun to set up. The tables had been moved to the perimeter of what would be a fairly large dance floor and luckily the room was large enough to allow reasonable distance between the tables and chairs.
Kim had chosen a black dress, slightly longer than knee length and elegant in its simplicity. Two slender straps held it up although her display of cleavage was modest. She was showing a conservative look that evening. Nothing, however, could hide her golden, swept-back hair and sparkling blue eyes. I was getting envious looks from the men. My dark blue suit, white shirt and dark tie were equally reserved, but that was fine as I didn't want anything to detract from Kim's beauty.
