Page 45 of Spears and Shadows (Defenders of the Light)
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The next day at work,Nora found the case for the display of the sword and the spear had arrived, along with a memo on her desk. She didn’t even have time to set her bag down before Mandy pranced over with a delighted squeal.
“Oh, did you see? This is going to be so much fun!”
Nora slid into the chair at her desk and picked up the official-looking envelope while responding. “I haven’t had a chance to see yet, considering that you ambushed me the moment I walked in the door.”
As she skimmed over the memo in her hand, the reason for Mandy’s delight became clear. To celebrate the reveal of the new weapons in the arms and armor display, the museum was holding a black-tie celebration, and the entire department was invited.
“After all this time in the basement covered in plaster dust, we get to show off! And you know, an event like this would be a perfect time to announce something like, oh I don’t know, a big promotion,” Mandy nudged her elbow into Nora’s side knowingly.
“Yup, they are letting the nerds out and letting us play dress up for a night, no doubt so we can suck up to some of the major donors,” Nora brushed Mandy off, although she bristled with excitement at Mandy’s suggestion. A public celebration of her work did seem like the perfect backdrop for a promotion announcement.
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot that you hate having fun.”
“I don’t hate having fun,” Nora countered. “I just don’t have anything to wear for an event like this. And it’s next week! How am I supposed to get an outfit on such short notice?”
It was true. Nora was spending all her time when she wasn’t at work either training with Ezra or studying in the library at the Sanctuary. Any other free time she may have had, she spent asleep, her body exhausted from all the sudden additions to her routine.
“Why don’t you ask your sister?” Mandy offered. “I’m sure she’d be happy to get an outfit together for you. She’s got better taste than both of us put together.”
Nora’s gut twisted at the mention of Odelle. They hadn’t spoken since the night on the street in front of her apartment. Nora had managed to distract herself from the pain of their disagreement by throwing herself into life at the Sanctuary. Mandy’s casual mention of Odelle reminded her of their strained relationship and reopened the wound it had caused.
Mandy prattled on, unaware of Nora’s inner turmoil.
“We each get a plus one too! Maybe Odelle can set you up with somebody, or do you already have somebody in mind?”
Nora wrenched her thoughts back to the conversation.
“Oh, I’ll probably just go alone. Make sure I have plenty of time to make a good impression on the donors,” she hedged.
Mandy pursed her lips.
“Just when I thought you were getting the hang of work-life balance by leaving work at a reasonable hour, you refuse to have fun and show off at a party being thrown in honor of your work. There has to be somebody you want to impress!”
Nora envisioned a lanky figure and intelligent eyes framed by glasses.
“Well,” Nora debated before continuing, “there is this one guy, but…”
“But what? You’re smart, beautiful, young…”
“That’s the thing,” Nora struggled to explain. “He’s quite a bit older.”
It was an overly simple way to explain her struggles when it came to her attraction to Adam, because she had found there was no denying she found him charming.
Mandy’s eyebrows shot up and she whistled low.
“Girl, you go get it. Nothing like a more mature guy who can actually keep up with an intelligent woman like yourself. Ask him!”
“I’ll focus on the outfit first, then worry about the date,” Nora responded noncommittally.
Mandy had been right. Having Odelle help her get dressed up for a gala might be a peace offering of sorts. She would just have to do something about the bruises on her skin first, and she thought she knew somebody who might be able to help.
* * *
That eveningafter training with Ezra, she found herself wandering through the halls of the Sanctuary in search of Thad. Ezra had told her he thought he might be in the music room.
Nora turned down the hallway the music room should’ve been in according to Ezra’s instructions. As she made her way across the marble floors, the slight tinkling of a piano assured her that she was headed in the right direction. As she got closer, though, laughter drifted down the hallway, and she furrowed her brow.
