He turned, addressing the gathering throng at the top of the stairs who were now peering down with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Nathan announced, his voice carrying the authority of someone accustomed to commanding attention, “I believe some introductions are in order.”
He beckoned for me to join him, and I obliged, wiping my hands on a dish towel before ascending the staircase to stand beside him. Murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire as realization dawned on their faces. The woman they had dismissed, ignored, and ordered around was the very person whose generosity had brought them all together that evening.
“This is my wife, Isabella,” Nathan said with a proud smile. “The true heart behind our philanthropy and the reason we are all here tonight.”
