Page 23 of Andrew’s Outback Love

The walls were painted cream and gold marble pillars were dotted about. On one side, there was an elevated platform and a dais had a white and gold banner draped across the front, proclaiming - The 2018, Vision of Light Humanitarian Awards Gala. The marble floors were so highly polished I could almost see myself in them. It was all very impressive.

“Sir.” The young man extended his arm and indicated the seat where I should sit. A gold card with my name printed in white sat in front of the place setting.

I thanked him, asked the passing waiter for a glass of iced water and seated myself. The other five chairs remained empty at this point and I wondered who I was to keep company with for the evening. I was bitterly disappointed none of my team had been able to make it but I understood when they gave me their valid excuses. I wished I’d known Linda in time to invite her along. Although I’d been tempted to do so, it didn’t give her enough time to organize a dress, shoes and the rest of what she would need.

The water arrived, I accepted it politely and took a long swallow. The cold liquid slid down my parched throat and for the first time since I’d left my hotel in Docklands, I began to relax. It didn’t mean I was going to enjoy the evening but it did mean I would no longer be on edge now I was inside.

A few moments later, two older couples arrived at my table along with a single elderly man. We all introduced ourselves. Well they did, it appeared I didn’t need to. They already knew who I was.

“Dr. Lowman, I must say, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” The man with snowy white hair and the largest spectacles I’d ever seen, shook my hand and indicated the pretty and only slightly wrinkled woman beside him. “I’m Dr. Hans Gerter and this is my wife, Helga. As you can gather from my accent and our names, we are Dutch. I’m an Ophthalmologist specializing in Macular Degeneration as is my colleague here.”

The colleague was a tall, thin man with small beady eyes but a smile that lit up his entire face. His wife looked about as happy to be here as I was. She had a pinched expression on her thin face and a pointy nose.

“I’m Dr. Evan Stenhouse and this is my wife, Charla. As Hans said, we are extremely pleased to meet you. We have been following your work closely and admire what you are doing.”

I managed to thank them both before the last elderly man spoke up. He was rather rotund and had a red speckled complexion, the result of a circulation problem I suspected.

“My name is Roger Pinkro. My wife was an Ophthalmologist but unfortunately passed away three months ago. I guess they felt sorry for me and issued me with an invite to this shindig anyway. I wasn’t going to come but now I’m real pleased I did. It’s a pleasure to meet one so young who is having such a huge impact in the field of vision.

“Well, thank you all very much for your kind words. I do what I can to help those who are less fortunate.”

Before we could converse further, Dr. Charles Peterson – the CEO of Vision of Light – stepped up to the dais and tapped the mic. I was surprised when I glanced around to find the ballroom was packed, every seat now filled. The lights had been lowered so, it was impossible to see where people I’d know were seated. I’d have to catch up with them later.

The room quieted as the doctor introduced himself and said he would take the next thirty minutes to cover the goals of the organization for the coming year. It gave me time to zone out and think about the past week on the road. And Linda......

CHAPTER TEN

“Now, onto the awards and then we can eat.”

I was jolted back to the present by hand clapping and glanced up to see Dr. Peterson being handed a bunch of envelopes. He placed them all on the dais in front of him before selecting the one on top and tearing it open.

“The first award is for the person in their debut year who has had a significant impact. This is a young lady not long out of school who donates her time to helping children in orphanages in Farretta in Africa. Her supervisors have informed me, she goes above and beyond for these children, ensuring they all have access to medical and dental check-ups and follow-up treatment where required. She has been more than willing to drive children into the city – over 80 miles away, to be treated for illness, deformity or some other medical concern. She spends a great deal of her own time ensuring these children have the quality of life they deserve. Please welcome, a very deserving winner of this award. A young lady whose compassion at her age is unequalled - Miss Renee Williams.”

The room erupted in applause and I watched as a spotlight turned on the young lady. She stood from the table after receiving kisses from two older people I assumed were probably her parents and made her way up to the stage. Dr Peterson handed her a beautiful glass trophy and shook her hand before handing the microphone over to her.

Renee’s acceptance speech was both graceful and humble and I had no doubt the young woman would go on to make a huge difference in a great many lives.

Award after award was handed out and I became restless waiting for it to be over. I didn’t resent or begrudge any of the winners, they were all extremely worthy, but I wasn’t a man who could sit doing nothing for hours on end. I became antsy. When I saw the doctor lift the last and largest gold envelope which was sealed with a red ribbon. I breathed a sigh of relief.

“The time has come for the major award for 2018 and the winner is one of the most deserving men I have ever known. Like our other recipients, this man is selfless when it comes to those less fortunate than himself. He gives hours of his time and generous amounts of his own money to ensure both children and adults are given a better quality of life. He cares a great deal for those he works with and he is highly respected in the field for his excellent skills. His colleagues have the utmost respect for him as do others he comes in contact with regularly. There is no bias in his attitude, everyone is treated equally. If they need his help, they are given it without question and often without charge.”

The doctor paused and I wondered who the person he was speaking about could be. I certainly wanted to take the time to make his acquaintance and shake his hand.

“This man doesn’t have a shiny operating room with the latest state of the art equipment. He has what he needs and does an exemplary job with it. Along with his exceptional team, he goes to great lengths to give the under privileged of our outback, mostly our indigenous children, something most of us take for granted. He gives them sight and with it, their hope for a future.”

I stiffened in my seat. Fuck, weren’t you supposed to be warned when you won an award like this? I didn’t even have a speech. Maybe the doctor was talking about someone else. Yeah right. Fuck! I was about to make a fool of myself.

“The recipient is totally unaware of winning this award because his colleagues were worried that if he knew, he’d find a reason to be out of town.”

Everyone in the room laughed and I swore to strangle my entire team the next time I saw them. Dr. Peterson leaned on the dais and continued addressing the room. I wondered if anyone would notice if I snuck out the door.

“Please welcome to the dais, an exceptional young man and surgeon – Dr. Andrew Lowman.”

The applause was thunderous and I was almost blinded by the spotlight which landed on me. The others at the table offered their hands and congratulations. I shook each one before standing and making my way up to the dais.

I glanced around the room and noted a spotlight illuminating a large table to my left. Everyone was standing and clapping. I watched as Ruby placed her fingers to her lips and let out a deafening whistle. My entire team was here along with Barry, Finn, James, Viv and Gary and Marge and Rex. They’d all known and hidden it from me. My chest was ready to burst with love for these people although I still wanted to strangle the lot of them.

When my eyes found Linda and I noted the vacant chair beside her, probably meant for me, I smiled. Her eyes lit up and she blew me a kiss which had my heart thumping in my chest. Tearing my gaze away, I approached Dr. Peterson, shook his hand and accepted the award before stepping up to the mic.