Chapter 8 - The Gala Invitation
In April, the city of Dayton held its annual Centennial Civic Gala at the Schuster Performing Arts Center.
The event celebrated the completion of the Miami Riverfront Restoration Project, a landmark urban park development designed and constructed by Callen Holdings.
Sarah sat at her desk at the Oakwood Library on a rainy Wednesday afternoon, sorting through municipal archive requests.
The front bell chimed, and Arthur Vance walked in, wearing his sharp gray suit and carrying a heavy, cream-colored linen envelope.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Bennett," Arthur smiled, setting the envelope on her desk.
"Mr. Callen asked me to deliver this invitation to you personally."
Sarah opened the envelope, pulling out the embossed golden card:
You are cordially invited to attend the Dedication Ceremony of the Thomas Bennett Riverfront Pavilion.
Sarah gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as tears instantly blurred the elegant calligraphy.
"The Thomas Bennett Pavilion?" she whispered, looking up at Arthur in utter shock.
"The central pedestrian bridge and public amphitheater have been named in your late husband's honor," Arthur explained softly.
"Mr. Callen petitioned the city council three months ago to ensure that the plaque commemorates Thomas's sacrifice."
"The mayor will unveil the bronze memorial at seven o'clock on Friday evening."
"He... he didn't tell me," Sarah choked out, wiping a tear from her cheek.
"David does not believe in announcing his good deeds before they are completed, Mrs. Bennett," Arthur said with a warm, knowing smile.
"There is an executive car scheduled to pick up you and the children at six-fifteen."
"He very much hopes you will be there."
On Friday evening, Sarah stood before the antique mirror in her Oakwood bedroom, adjusting the neckline of a modest, elegant navy silk wrap dress.
Her chestnut hair was swept up in soft, natural curls, and her cheeks held a healthy, radiant glow that had completely erased the gray exhaustion of the past five years.
Cora wore an ivory lace dress with a brand-new yellow ribbon in her hair, while Mikey looked adorable in a navy blazer and clip-on tie.
When their private town car pulled up to the Schuster Center, a crowd of city officials, engineers, and reporters filled the glass atrium.
David Callen stood near the entrance of the banquet hall wearing a bespoke midnight-blue suit, his tall frame cutting an imposing figure among the councilmen.
Yet the moment his eyes caught Sarah walking through the foyer, his conversation died mid-sentence.
He excused himself from two city commissioners and walked across the marble floor to greet them.
"Sarah," David said, his voice dropping into a breathless, quiet murmur as he took her in.
"You look... extraordinary."
"Thank you, David," she blushed, looking up into his clear gray eyes. "Thank you for the pavilion. I have no words to describe what this means to our family."
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"You don't need words, Sarah," David smiled, offering his arm.
"Tonight, we let the bridge speak for itself."
