Reluctant Deception - Cambria Smyth Page 0,48
like water through a sieve. Idly twirling a lock of curly hair, she reflected on how the Orphanage and Sister Mary Clare had become near and dear to her.
About a year ago, Sister Mary Clare had called asking for Libby's help again. The Orphanage, located in center city Philadelphia, was applying for a state-funded grant to undertake a major restoration and make much-needed repairs to their building. While living in Philadelphia, Libby had gotten it listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A Richardsonian Romanesque building, it was one of the first designed by a famous New York architect who later gained international acclaim for his public commissions that included prisons, city halls, and churches. It was the only orphanage he designed, yet it was lauded in its day for bright, airy corridors, generously-sized dormitory quarters, and innovative play areas, even one on a rooftop.
Sister Mary Clare, unaware that Libby had moved, finally located her in Borden's Landing. The good Sister explained they needed help completing the lengthy and complex grant application and that one of the Orphanage's benefactors had agreed to underwrite the cost of its preparation. Would Libby be interested?
Because of the building's significance and her desire to help anyone wanting to restore a historic one, Libby leapt at the opportunity to assist the group of Catholic nuns overseeing the Orphanage.
The Sisters had been a delight to work with. They clearly cherished their historic building but felt frustrated in their attempts to maintain it by the diminished coffers of a diocese overburdened by the ownership of many old structures. Working among the children who lived there cemented Libby's growing desire to have children of her own. Rick's stubborn refusal to have any had been another major point of disagreement between them and was, ultimately, a contributing factor in their divorce.
Libby completed the grant application with the active support of Sister Mary Clare and the other nuns who volunteered to help research the building's history. Thankfully, the application was successful and the Sisters received a million dollar grant for their project. A condition of the grant, however, required the Orphanage to raise a dollar for every dollar granted. Sister Mary Clare was overjoyed and felt as though her prayers were answered when the grant was matched, dollar for dollar, by the same benefactor who paid for Libby's services.
Tucking the invitation into her purse, Libby decided the dinner would be a welcome respite from the intensity of writing the report. And she would get to see, first hand, how restoration of the Orphanage was proceeding. Yes, it would be nice to get dressed up and spend Saturday night in the big city. She needed a break, and didn't want to spend another night at home, alone, as she had been doing.
Chapter Eighteen
Late Saturday afternoon, Libby stood in her bedroom looking with dismay at the clothes strewn over the antique, carved oak bed. She couldn't decide what to wear to the dinner that night. Nothing looked right. The pink dress was too short, the navy too long. Pants were out of the question. It was a somewhat formal affair and she felt like wearing a dress with high heels and fancy jewelry.
She walked over to the closet and again rummaged through its contents. Tucked in the back, hidden behind an old bathrobe, was a luscious red silk dress she'd completely forgotten about. She'd only worn it once, to a friend's wedding two summers ago, but she'd received dozens of compliments on it.
Quickly snatching it out of the closet, Libby gathered up the red shoes she'd bought to match, a lace-trimmed slip, bra, and stockings. Ten minutes later, she stood in front of the full length mirror, assessing her appearance and finding herself pleased with the image reflected there. Her golden hair fell in gentle curls past her shoulders. For drama, she'd pulled a small section of hair from each side to the back, catching it in a red satin bow behind her head.
The dress draped her petite frame in silky perfection, subtly emphasizing her luscious curves without being gaudy or too revealing. Her mother's pearl necklace and earrings added just the right touch of elegance and sophistication. Dabbing her favorite perfume on her wrist and behind her ears, Libby gave herself one last look in the mirror and smiled.
Maybe she'd meet the man of her dreams tonight, she mused. No, she'd already met him in Christopher Darnell. But he was off limits because of the charade she was forced to