Page 102 of On the Power Play

Clara shook her head and moved to the side so Delia could step inside.

Delia handed her the dish. "This is for you. Dinner."

Clara's jaw hung slack. "Seriously?" She took the dish and looked up. "You brought me dinner?"

"Technically, Jack brought you dinner. I owed him one and he asked me to drop it by."

Clara motioned for her to come inside, and Delia slipped off her shoes. "Are you going to his game tonight?"

"Yep. I'll head over early. Get in the box before it gets crazy."

Clara set the dish on the counter. "Good. I'm glad he got you a private spot."

“Are you coming?”

Clara shook her head. “No, I’m exhausted. I’ll probably be in bed by the time it starts.”

Delia noted the shadows under her eyes. She slipped her hands in her back pockets and looked around the kitchen. It was clean and modern. "I love your place."

"Me too.” She paused and pursed her lips. “Maybe a little too small, though.”

“Well, you do have Jack taking up a room.”

Clara conceded that point, then lifted the foil and lowered her head, taking a long whiff. "This smells amazing."

"You can dig in, I already ate with Mary at home. I made an extra pan for the two of us."

Clara didn't take much convincing. She turned and pulled a low bowl from the shelf, then plucked a spatula from a ceramic holder and a fork from the drawer in front of her.

Delia didn’t mean to notice, but when she lifted her arms, her stomach showed. Clara was thin, but her belly pushed well past the waistband of her scrubs. She blinked, then forced her eyes anywhere but on Clara’s midsection as she approached.

Clara scooped a serving of the steaming ratatouille into her dish and blew on it. "This is so kind. I haven't slept in thirty-six hours."

Delia scoffed. "That's insane." Especially if she was in the condition she now suspected.

"That's nursing. And I guess it’s not totally true. I did take a couple of power naps." Clara took a bite and closed her eyes, humming in her throat. "So good. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Clara set down the bowl. "Do you want water or tea or something? I'm so sorry, I'm being a terrible host."

Delia shook her head, then jumped when her phone buzzed in her purse. She pulled it out and saw Tony's name on the display. "Do you mind?" Clara waved her on, and Delia turned to answer the call. "Please don't tell me you have more bad news."

Tony barked a laugh. "Nope. Amazing news. Where are you?"

"Just visiting a friend before the game. Mary and Alvin are in the car."

"Perfect. You need to go to the Saddledome now."

Delia frowned. "Why? We still have forty-five minutes?—"

"Not anymore. The children's choir that was scheduled to sing the national anthem had a breakout of strep. Kels just texted and said you're in."

Delia blinked. "What?"

"They want you to sing the national anthem for the game tonight. Both of them, actually. You know the Star Spangled Banner, right?"

Her hands started to buzz. "Yeah, I haven't sung it in a while, but I'm sure?—"

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