Page 3 of A Game-Changing Christmas

London pursed her lips and pulled onto the road.

“Technically, it was her driver Hoke that drove Miss Daisy around much of that movie. And, I’ve never run into anything, so the reference doesn’t apply to me.”

London glanced from the road to Claudia when her friend didn’t come back with a jazzy snapback. Claudia’s gaze ventured off elsewhere, causing London to frown and ask again, “What’s going on, Claudia, should I be nervous?”

Claudia blinked twice then slowly shifted her focus to London.

“No,” Claudia sighed, “but you’ll find out soon enough.”

The car quieted down, and Claudia’s thoughts were riddled with Jaden. Why hadn’t she called him and told him the good news? Her pulse thumped, picking up an unsteady rhythm. There was a life growing inside of her, and she would be responsible for its wellbeing. Bile rose in Claudia’s throat.

“Pull over! Pull over! Pull over!” She shouted.

Quickly, London pulled to the side of the road just as Claudia’s door swung open and she fell to the floorboard, releasing the last bit of breakfast into the street.

“Oh my God!” London screeched, leaning over the seat to lift Claudia’s hair.

Claudia’s eyes watered, and her vision blurred, and she heaved and gripped her stomach.

“My Lord,” Claudia whispered. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and London fidgeted through the glove compartment and handed Claudia a wet wipe.

“Thank you.”

Claudia dabbed her warm face and wiped her mouth.

“Should we go to the hospital?”

“No!” Claudia shook her head frantically just as a vision of her on her back, legs sprouted open took root in her mind.

“Should I call Jaden?”

Claudia continued her frantic shaking. “No, no, no. Just get me to Rumi’s Middle Eastern Grill.”

London was concerned but didn’t want to refuse her boss. Even though she had become close with the Rose family, still, she remained professional when it was warranted. The last time London assumed something, Claudia fired her on the spot. Granted, Claudia apologized and gave London her job back, but London didn’t want to risk Claudia’s anger again.

Lifting herself back into the seat, Claudia strapped her seatbelt on and gave London a reassuring nod. “Let’s go.”

It had only taken them ten minutes to get to Rumi’s after they left the side of the road.

“Should I valet, or would you like me to drop you off?”

London was hoping for the later because she didn’t want to be responsible for something happening to Claudia if she were ill and London knew.

“Let’s valet. I may need your shoulder to lean on.”

London nodded on an exhale as she pulled to the entrance. The attendant opened the passenger door first and offered Claudia a hand which she took and eased out of the Bentley. London was at her side with a hand on Claudia’s shoulder to hold her steady.

Claudia smiled. “Thanks. I think I can walk without falling over.”

“Are you sure?”

Claudia laughed though there was nothing amusing about the fear she wrestled with.

“Yeah.”

The duo strolled into the restaurant, and Claudia immediately searched for Samiyah.

“Over there,” London said, catching a waving hand in the middle of the restaurant. It was Samiyah, Selena, and Octavia.

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