The Boy Who Ran Across the Ballroom
Chapter 01 - The Boy Who Ran Across the Ballroom
Oliver Hart ran before anyone understood why.
The seven-year-old boy burst from between two banquet tables in a black tuxedo, his bow tie crooked and tears shining on his face. “Grace!”
The young waitress near the champagne display looked up.
Her tray tilted.
Oliver collided with her just as she caught him around the shoulders. The edge of her tray struck the table. The champagne tower trembled, then collapsed in a glittering wave.
Crystal glasses shattered across the linen.
Champagne streamed down the white cloth and splashed onto the floor.
Grace dropped to her knees and wrapped both arms around Oliver, shielding him from the falling glass. Her white service shirt became soaked. One sleeve tore against the table edge.
Oliver buried his face against her.
“Do not let her take me.”
Grace’s expression changed from shock to fear.
Across the ballroom, Celeste Monroe rose from the head table in a silver evening gown. Diamonds blazed at her throat. She pointed toward Grace as though the waitress had committed the crime of the century.
“Get that woman away from him!”
Then Adrian Hart stepped into the open space between them.
“Grace?” he said.
May you like
Oliver lifted his tear-streaked face.
“She did not leave us, Dad.”
