Page 148 of Lost
“Okay,” she breathes, handing me the sketch pad.
Opening it, I begin to look through the sketches. My jaw drops at the level of detail that she has in each one. I can see the branches outside of her window, the piles of fresh snow, and the clouds above. In some sketches, she included herself at the window with the snow in the background.
“Holy shit, baby,” I whisper. “These are beautiful.”
“I think you’re biased,” she says ruefully with a small smile.
“Maybe, but I’d never lie to you,” I say vehemently. “These are amazing. How is the business license process going? I think you should hang some of your drawings up in the building once you’re open.”
Nova gets very singleminded when she’s in the middle of a project, and after she spoke to the co-founders of the Omega’sHaven, she’s been planning and working on the necessary items she’ll need to open a birth center. Several business owners have already heard through the grapevine that Nova wants to do this, and have offered to help raise funds.
At work, several nurses have come up to me to demand that I treat Nova well. I have no idea how they found out who my omega is, but they bombarded me at the hospital. They’ve also told me how good a midwife she is, and all I can do is smile proudly.
Nova is a calm space for her clients, and I’ve known that since the day I walked in on her pulling off bloodied gloves. I’m simply an awkward bastard.
“You really think they’re good enough for the birth center?” she asks, looking up at me. “John went through an oil and acrylic painting phase, and I remember how much I hated it because of how different the drying time was for both. Switching between them at his whim was obnoxious.”
“I think that having your paintings or sketches on the walls would bring a personal touch to things. Remember that you have more to offer the world than you think,” I tell her. “When are you planning to open the birth center?”
“I’m going to make an announcement tomorrow on Omega’s Link,” she says. “Hollis says that may help get both interest and money toward the center. She thinks I should do a video about it, and while I tend to shy away from the camera, there’s no real reason for me to do that anymore. I need to get used to having that freedom.”
Tugging her up to stand, I take her place on the window seat before sitting her on my lap so she can lay on my chest. It’s surprisingly comfortable for such a small nook, and that’s mostly due to all of the pillows surrounding us.
“Is it weird not to have to run anymore?” I ask.
“I think it’s the fact that I also don’t need to make that my every waking thought too,” Nova admits. “I can justbe.And that’s enough for now.”
Snuggling into my chest, her breaths get deeper and slower as I rub her back until she falls asleep. Smiling, I pick up her phone to text Hollis. I want her to see what I’m doing later because it involves the birth center as well.
Me
Is there anything I can do to help Nova raise money for the birth hospital? I would just donate a shit ton of money, but I don’t know if that’ll fly with her.
This is Tyde by the way.
Hollis
It doesn’t look like you’re trying to hide that you’re messaging me, so I’ll let it slide, I suppose. I think that helping her host an event would be helpful. What do you think rich people like?
Me
You are a rich person, Hollis. Don’t act like you aren’t.
Hollis
Yes, but I also walked away from it all very early on.
Me
You’re so difficult, woman. While silent auctions do well, so do things that are different. Ballet, dancing events, etc.
Hollis
Oh fuck, if aerial dancing is something you think they’d be interested in, then I may have an idea. Let me call an omega about some silks.
My lips twitch at her enthusiasm and I thank her. I think aerial dance would go over really well at a charity event. I’m glad she has some kind of pull and a direction to run in, because I’m still trying to convince myself not to open my wallet.
Ugh, I suck at this shit. All I want to do is give my omega the world. If I can’t donate money to the cause, then what good is it?
