In A Time And Place

Chapter 13

               I stood in front of the night time Hilton Hotel with my heart in my throat and my stomach disappearing. I was a mess!

               Sure, I thought I was put together nicely but, as I saw a few other women walking in, they looked way better than me.

               One woman had a v-neck sleeveless top on a dress with a white skirt and thin black material over it and a fur black coat. Her hair was short and blonde. She also had some big black pearl looking oval shaped earrings with small diamonds around it.

               If I was going to fit in as a woman here, I’d have to find more clothes.

               I found my way in and saw the place just as I remembered it. I pulled out the piece of paper and went to the front desk. I looked around in case I spotted Richard. He was nowhere to be seen. Only other people scattered around the place were making eye contact.

               “May I help you?”

               The man at the desk looked at me with a smile. He wasn’t the same one as before. Maybe I could manage not to weird this one out.

               “Yes. I’m looking for the party room.” I handed the man the slip of paper, then put my hands in the coats pockets.

               The man looked at the paper and smiled. “Oh. Yes. Right this way ma’am.” He walked to the edge of the long counter and out, and then started to lead me towards the elevators. There were some stairs next to them against the wall.

               He went down them and I followed.

               There was no other option but to take a left, and soon before us were some classy brown doors with gold handles. The man opened it for me and I nodded my thanks and peeked inside.

               First off, there was a magnificent chandelier that lit up the entire room. The walls were a light metallic type pink and had circular tables scattered in one area. Almost right in front of us was a place for sitting down and talking. Then as I peeked in further, there was the expected bar with the many drinks on a stand against the wall and stools at the counter.

               The place was a very good size. A little past the sitting area was a fireplace against the wall, and to the wall immediately next to the doors on my left was a telephone. The eating room was stressed off by a wall extension.

               The wall that touched the alcohol shelf soon made a 90 degree angle going towards the other side of the room just a few yards. And of course there was the obvious plant pots around here and there.

               But the one thing I could not leave out were the many people in the room.

               I can’t say they were all that colorful, but they looked so classy and divine. The women were more dressy than the men. They were in usual every day party suits. Not black tie or anything. I could see a punch bowl on the other side of the room from where I stood.

               I think refreshments would be good at about this time. But, I didn’t see Richard anywhere. And it was obvious he was the host.

               “Will you be needing anything else ma’am?”

               I looked at the kind clerk. “No. Thank you.” I smiled and he walked away happily.

               Sure. I knew not everybody, could be nice. A nice person… but. Everyone was just so happy! I peeked in again and decided to just go on inside. I’d feel better if I wasn’t coming in alone though.