Richard Sterling clapped his hands loudly to gather everyone's attention.
The ambient chatter in the grand room slowly faded away into complete silence.
Guests stepped back toward the edges of the colorful floral rug.
Clarissa walked over to the center of the plush floor with two wealthy friends.
Her friends wore bright white and emerald green designer dresses.
All three women knelt down on the rug near the front wall.
A large framed American flag hung proudly on the wall right behind them.
Richard leaned down to little Oliver, who stood in his tiny black tuxedo.
The toddler wore tiny shiny patent leather shoes on his feet.
Richard patted the boy's small shoulder softly with a wide smile.
Richard: Go to the woman you love most, Oliver.
Richard believed the boy would run straight to Clarissa's warm arms.
It would create the perfect photo for the front page of the morning paper.
Clarissa stretched out her hands and smiled gently at the child.
Clarissa: Come here, darling!
Her two wealthy companions joined in with fake cheerful voices.
They clapped their hands softly to draw the little boy forward.
Little Oliver stood still on the shiny floor for a long moment.
His big hazel eyes looked at the three ladies kneeling on the rug.
Then he turned his head slowly toward the side of the room.
His patent leather shoes made soft clicking noises on the polished marble.
He stepped right past the kneeling women without stopping at all.
Clarissa's smile began to freeze as the toddler walked right by her dress.
The three women turned their heads in confusion as the boy kept moving.
Oliver moved faster, his tiny legs moving across the wide open floor.
He was heading directly toward the rear corner of the ballroom.
Elena had just turned around near the serving table with her silver tray.
She held five fresh crystal glasses filled with sparkling apple cider.
When she looked up, her heart nearly stopped inside her chest.
Her little boy was running full speed straight toward her position.
Tears were streaming down Oliver's small red cheeks as he ran.
Oliver: Mommy!
The child cried out the word with deep emotional force.
His tiny voice echoed across the quiet ballroom with incredible clarity.