Page 30 of Unexpected Pass

“I like these,” I said, holding them up.

“Watch me work!” She took off toward the counter.

“Excuse me? Excuse me!” she called out, waving her hand. “Can you help me? My daughter-in-law here loves these pieces but needs them in a larger size. Do you have them in a larger size, or can it be custom made?”

Daughter-in-law?Did she just refer to me as her daughter-in-law? I tugged one of my ears. I had to have heard her wrong.

“We custom make pieces for special orders only. But I’ll have to check with the designer. What size do you need?”

“Great. We’re looking for a…” She turned to look at me.

“A 3X or 4X,” I replied confidently.

“She needs this as soon as possible. We have so many press events to attend. My son, Kellon Barnes, just won the Super Bowl.”

I could barely contain my giggles while listening to Ms. Barnes name drop to get my items.

“Kellon Barnes is your son?”

The clerk’s mouth fell open, and Ms. Barnes nodded.

“I can check if we can have some pieces made in those sizes. Give me a second.” She scurried off to the back of the store only to reappear a few moments later.

“Okay. Great news! We actually have several items available in a 3X or 4X that we can mail to you in two business days.”

“Really?” I gasped at how fast they were able to find my size. I guess the saying money talks was true.

“The rush job will come with a healthy price tag.” The clerk glanced between Ms. Barnes and me.

“No problem. I have my son’s card. Where do I swipe?”

“Right this way.” She led Ms. Barnes over to the cash register, and I watched in disbelief as Ms. Barnes took care of the ten thousand dollar tab like it was nothing.

“Ms. Barnes, thank you. I… I...”

“Thank me by doing right by my son,” she said, and I could feel the seriousness of her words. “He’s been through a lot, and he has a lot to lose, but he likes you, and he hasn’t liked anybody in a long time.”

All I could do was nod my head. I wanted to do right by Kellon, but that would mean taking me and my growing belly out of the picture.

“I hear you, Ms. Barnes.”

“Good. Now, let’s find somewhere to grab lunch,” Ms. Barnes suggested. “I’m starving!”

“Me too. I can’t believe that studio didn’t have any food.”

“Chile, they never do!”

We shared a laugh as we made our way through the bustling streets of New York.

“Here we are,”Ms. Barnes announced as we stepped out of the black SUV.

I felt excitement and nerves while I stared at the towering bricks of the high-rise building before us.

“This is where Kellon lives?” I asked.

“It’s his NYC home. He’s here a lot during the off-season.”

She gestured for me to follow her before she took off through the dark parking garage. I glanced around, marveling over all the expensive cars before I set out behind her, following her to the elevator. This parking garage resembled that of a showroomfloor. It was crazy to think all the cars here belonged to one person.

---