The Salvationist - Chapter Sixteen

“What do you think of the centerpieces Harriet?” asks Emma carefully observing Elton’s decor skills.

Looking at the red and yellow roses mixed with the delphiniums and baby’s breath in the frosted crystal vases with the crest engraved on the front with the linen doilies Harriet says “I think they are beautiful. I wonder where he found the bowls?”

“I think that he must have ordered them from saresrouceconnection.org because they now have a large assortment of gifts for the advisory board and auxiliary members” objectively guesses Emma “I ordered a few things yesterday for the bell ringer awards for the service clubs. I think that I would like one of the vases for my office. I’ll have to ask Elton if he has any left over after the annual meeting.”

“Where did he go?” asks Harriet looking around but not finding him anywhere in the fully decorated gym of linen tablecloths, center pieces, and hired waiters from the catering service busily shuffling around the room in black pants and white shirts with “ties like Zorro might wear” thinks Harriet to herself.

The room radiates with the scent of fresh flowers, fresh baked yeast rolls and seasoned roast beef that it being prepared for the dinner. Harriet looks at the name cards and locates their table. It is the table closest to the head table where Emma points out to Harriet that “Elton has a good view” of her.

Visitors begin to arrive who are friends and acquaintances of the Advisory Board and Auxiliary members. The meeting’s intent is a fund raiser. Tickets have been sold at a hefty price to business leaders to raise funds for the yearly Army community programs and services. There is about a seventy-five percent profit when it is done right with corporate sponsorships of some of the more expensive items such as the speaker or entertainment in the Annual program.

Emma glances through her glossy color program of multiple pictures that she has taken of people who have been helped by The Salvation Army throughout the year. She reads some of the personal stories of how individuals have been impacted and given a new chance at life because someone took a moment to care about them. The statistics are always interesting on the back page as well as the financial statement, but what impresses Emma the most is the short letter in the front written by Elton explaining that emulating the life of Jesus is the motivation for the community services that are provided.

A few pages later, Emma finds a fold out of the celebrity guest speaker who has a history of supporting the Army. “Look! It’s Caroline Bingley!” As Harriet screeches over her shoulder “I’ve even seen her on TV!”

“Who?” asks Emma not really listening too closely to Harriet’s burst of excitement because her thoughts are elsewhere. The name sounds vaguely familiar to her though but for other reasons. It sounds similar to someone she met as a teen at the territorial music camp.

“Caroline Bingley! She is on GGN. You know - Galaxy Global News . . . GGN.” informs Harriet “She is a famous meteorologist. Her slogan is ‘In my sight – Always Right!’ She hardly ever gets the weather wrong, at least that I’ve seen”.

“Well, they do have a lot of technical equipment now which is helpful too. I’ve noticed on the national weather it is more of a generalization of temperatures rather than anything very specific. The local news handles the weather details” acknowledges Emma observant of the current methods and trends that are used for media.

“I can’t wait to see her! Maybe I’ll even get to speak with her. Do you think Elton will introduce me?” nervously excited asks Harriet.

“I think he would be thrilled to introduce you to her” states Emma with a plan in mind.

Out of the corner of her eye, Emma sees a wave of hair that she recognizes as Lt. April Hawkins. At that moment April turns around and catches Emma looking at her. She glares in response, raises her chin, and walks determinedly over to where Emma and Harriet are sitting. Finally realizing Elton is not interested in Jane, she sets her sights on Emma.

“What are you doing here?” asks April short and curt “I didn’t know that this was a requirement for both of you to come.”

“It’s not. Elton invited us” Enthusiastically offers Harriet “He called us earlier this week after coming to see us at Emma’s office.”

“Oh. He must have had some last minute cancellations and needed you to fill in a few spaces for him” snidely remarks April with confidence.

“Why are you here? Your corps is not very close to here. Isn’t it about three hours away?” asks Emma not entirely thrilled to see April again.

April ruffles her shoulders at Emma’s comment “I’m here to observe how to do an annual meeting. I thought that it would be very helpful since I have to do one for my corps in the spring. Elton is an excellent example in everything that he does.”

“Do you have anyone with you?” asks Emma.

“Yes. I purchased a table. My board chairman, corps sergeant major, and Home League secretary came with me. I would have offered you a place at my table but you appear to be more comfortable here” insincerely offers April “Elton was very kind and went out of his way to make sure that I and my corps members were well taken care of” states April adding the next comment with determined intensity “He and I have a special friendship and nothing will ever come between us!”

For a brief moment, Emma believes that April thinks that Elton is interested in her, but dismisses the thought as nonsense. Emma turns for a second where April cannot see her and ruefully smirks. “I didn’t know that you and Elton were so close. He doesn’t give that impression to me, but I don’t know him all that well.”

April’s eyes burn with anger “Well, you see I do. I think that I know him better than he knows himself and what he wants or needs.”

“Well, he is going to be pretty hard to take care of since he lives so far away from you now. Perhaps he needs to take care of himself for awhile” frankly states Emma not really liking April very much at all and saying it just to annoy her “He’s a man and seems to do fairly well without your help”.

April’s face turns a little red as her lips tighten and her nose flares in disgust “Don’t underestimate me or my influence with Elton. He listens to what I have to say even if he chooses not to specifically tell you about it” then adding assertively “I have to go now, my friends are waiting for me” quickly turning on her heel and walking to her purchased table.

Observantly, Elton sits at the head table across the room and watches the whole scene and believes in his heart that Emma is fighting for him.

The dinner finally begins following the invocation by the visiting divisional commander. At the tuned piano, Jane is thoughtfully playing soft music favorites while everyone is being served their elegant meal with fresh green garnishes. A fancy chocolate display of intricate woven pieces is before each guest. Harriet dives into her desert while waiting for her turn to be served.

Emma gives Harriet a gentle look, Emma unwraps her napkin that has been folded in a swan shape, holds it up and then lays it to rest on her lap folding the top two inches backward to catch any fallen food. Observantly Harriet does the same thing following her teacher.

The salads are served first. Emma again takes her hands and places them on each side of the plate and points inward with her fingers in a helpful gesture. She puts her right hand back down in her lap. Emma takes the smallest salad fork on the far left to eat her salad. Emma was a very good Sunbeam at seven years old and remembered all of her lessons for the etiquette badge believing that she would do a lot of entertaining as a grown-up princess.

A cream of celery soup is served next. Harriet slurps her soup since it tastes so good. Emma smiles at Harriet. By example she takes little quiet sips and as the bowl is nearly empty Emma tips the bowl away from her to scoop up the last spoonful of soup. Harriet is pleased that Emma is teaching her how to be a regal lady.

A large yeast roll is served. Emma breaks the bread with her hands and then butters it with the butter knife. At Emma’s prompting, Harriet puts down her gravy covered steak knife that she has used to cut her meat. Harriet picks up the smaller knife by the upper left plate to butter her bread that she has broken into two or three pieces. Harriet sighs, it is a lot to remember and learn in one night.

After dinner is finished, Emma takes the fork at the top of the plate to eat her scrumptious dessert. The waiter brings a fresh round of hot flavored coffee. Emma turns her coffee cup on the right side of the plate upside down not wanting any coffee but satisfied with her cold ice tea. Harriet thanks the waiter for the coffee feeling quite content with the new lessons that she has learned.

While the speaker is introduced by the Auxiliary President, Emma points out and whispers to Harriet “Did you notice? Elton has been watching our table the whole night. He can’t keep his eyes off of you!”

Harriet has been enjoying the meal way too much and talking to the people across the table from her to notice anything happening elsewhere in the room. “I wonder who was supposed to sit in this chair next to me. No one ever came” Harriet observes “Do you know Emma?”

Emma shakes her head a little confused as well. “Perhaps Elton expected me to bring my dad or Knightly with me tonight. But dad didn’t feel like coming and Knightly had to go back to his regular job at divisional headquarters.”

Emma looks up as Elton who is smiling at her from the head table. Emma looks to the side of her thinking that he must be smiling at Harriet who is chomping on a piece of ice at the moment. Emma presumes he is tickled by Harriet’s expressions as she shivers because the ice has hit and landed on one of her tooth fillings.

At the start of the main program, Elton provides a few moments of reflection on the achievements of last year. The evening continues with music by the small divisional brass ensemble mostly made up of the divisional music director and the assistants.

As the special guest speaker, Caroline Bingley is entertaining and humorous in a professional kind-of way. She makes a few political jokes which every one chuckles too because of the slight discomfort of what is being said. She speaks with an air of authority and knowledge. She is an attractive confident woman. She is polished and smooth in her speech and demeanor. Elton is to be commended because she has made a very good impression with the community leaders of Crestwood.

As the evening comes to a close, the “Others” award is given to an outstanding business leader who has helped raised awareness and funds for the Army during the previous year. She has made a powerful impact in helping the Army meet the needs of people in the local community to “Do the Most Good”.

One by one the guests leave after saying farewell to their friends and acquaintances. April absurdly waits for a tremendous amount of time for Elton to finish with his other guests until her Home League secretary finally tells her that she has to get home because her grandchildren are coming to visit tomorrow. Disappointed April stays for another twenty minutes, but then ultimately agrees to leave without having said a personal goodbye to Elton who is conveniently ignoring her.

After saying goodbye to her new friends at the table, Harriet rushes up to Elton hoping to have a chance to meet Ms. Bingley before she leaves. Emma follows slowly behind wanting to provide a few moments for the “couple”.

Elton practically ignores Harriet who he sees is coming to meet him from across the room. He takes Caroline by the elbow and politely guides her in Emma’s direction. “Ms. Bingley, I would like to introduce you to one of my very good friends, Emma Woodhouse.”

In a composed posture and voice recognizing Emma, Caroline Bingley extends her hand to Emma. “My name is Caroline Bingley” expecting Emma to be in awe of her as now she is now famous and as several of her fans typically are when they meet her for the first time.

“Hi! It is nice to you again” shaking her hand while looking around impressed with her style remembering her as a teen at camp Emma continues “Harriet is hoping to meet you. I don’t know where she went though. Elton have you seen her?” asks Emma still not paying much attention to Caroline.

Elton wanting to please Emma makes a concentrated effort to locate Harriet’s whereabouts but to no avail. “I’m sorry. She will have to meet Ms. Bingley next time.”

Ms. Bingley nods her head and gives a closed mouth tight smile relieved that the evening is almost over. It has been a very long day and she is hoping for an early standby flight home tomorrow. Elton walks Ms. Bingley to her rental car. He thanks her for all of her generosity and efforts in making it a very successful annual meeting this year.

The catering company cleans up as the volunteer committee folds chairs and tables and returns them to their storage place. Emma and Harriet help put away the centerpieces, left over programs, key chains, magnets and pins that have been left at each place setting with the printed shield and address of the corps. “I have to put a few things back in my office. Would you like to come with me?” asks Elton to Emma with Harriet standing beside her.

“Sure! We’d love to come!” exclaims Harriet “I’ve never seen your office before”.

Harriet chatters about everything that she knows about Ms. Bingley on the news. She is quite a fan. “I always wanted my hair to look just like her hair, but it never happened . . . I wish that I was as tall as her. She is sleek and beautiful. I’m more . . ummm … well – not tall.”

Elton is glad that Emma has a moment that to show his new office to her. He has added some plants similar to her office. He also brought some things from the quarters that he had packed into tubs when he first arrived that she had purchased to decorate the house. They are now displayed on his wall, bookshelf, and end table between the two chairs at the front of his desk.

“Wow! This has changed so much since Brandon was here!” exclaims Emma delighted with Elton’s remodeling efforts that reflect so closely to her own taste in design.

“Did you notice something new on my wall?” asks Elton to Emma.

“No, not really . . . Harriet! He framed our Christmas poster!” exclaims Emma delighted in this confirmation and affirmation of Elton’s feelings towards Harriet.

Harriet plops down in the chair in front of his desk “This is really comfortable. I could sit here all day and talk with you.”

Elton glances not enthused by that image and sighs. “I’m sure that you have much better things to do then keeping me company.”

“Sometimes, but I think being here would be a fascinating job” shares Harriet dreaming of her potential future with Elton.

“The days would be easier if I had some company” reflectively states Elton looking towards Emma who doesn’t look up contemplating the books in his bookshelf although she hears him. Emma thinks that it is a very sweet thing to say to Harriet.

Harriet slightly blushes and raises her eyebrows at Elton’s statement “Maybe I can visit you sometimes when I am not so busy.”

“Bring Emma along too. I think that we would work very well as a team together” dreams Elton envisioning Emma and him as leaders of the future “What do you think Emma?”

“I think that you know what you want and are capable of achieving that” cryptically replies Emma encouraging him to make his concealed feelings known to Harriet. Emma turns her back and raises an eyebrow as a signal to Harriet of her swift calculating statement.

Elton feels that Emma is giving him a signal to reveal his true feelings towards her. Elton knows that he will tell her what is on his heart in the very near future. He just has to find the right moment when Harriet is not around to interfere.