Page 161 of Lost
Hollis glances at the check and nods.
“Damn. Mrs. Peenworthy likes you,” she whispers. “I’ll make it happen. Do you want me to hold onto your checks?”
“Yes please,” I say, handing it to her to put away. “I think I’m in shock.”
“If I didn’t have a feeling you were going to have to bail on your own party, I’d suggest drinking champagne,” she muses. “Oh, I see our grandparents. Let’s go say hello.”
Nodding, I walk over with her to greet them. They both give warm hugs and chat with us both.
“How is it going so far?” Grandma asks. It would be odd to call her that if she didn’t shower me with so much affection.
I’ve never had grandparents, and they’ve both really grown on me. Hollis told me that they’ve always simply wanted the best for her.
“Mrs. Peenworthy gave Nova a million dollars just now,” Hollis whispers to her.
“Damn,” she grunts. “I’ve always liked that woman.”
“Even though you two squabbled often?” Grandpa asks, chuckling and holding out a check in his hand. “It’s not a million dollars, but it’ll help, Nova.”
My first instinct is to tell him that it’s enough that he’s here, but this organization won’t get built if I refuse to take everyone’s money.
Taking the check, I inhale sharply as I see that a lawyer’s salary for a year is written out on it.
“Holy goodness," I whisper. “Thank you so much. This is too much.”
My grandfather crushes me to his chest, squeezing me hard. “Please don’t cry or you’ll set off your grandmother,” he chuckles.
“I think you’re thinking of yourself with that statement,” my grandmother mutters. “We are so proud of you, Nova. This event is going to help you do so much good for the community.
My head jerks up and down as I sniffle. Thank God for waterproof mascara.
“It means a lot that you came,” I say, stepping back. “Thank you so much.”
Hollis collects a lot of checks by the time we find Cerenity, the club’s owner.
“We are almost ready to start the show. I bet wallets will just continue to open after that,” she says softly to me.
I open my mouth to agree when I feel my phone begin to vibrate wildly. Opening my clutch, I make an apologetic noise as I see that Jed is calling me.
“I’m sorry, I have to take this. Is there somewhere I can sneak off to?” I ask.
“My office,” her mate, Augustine says. “Follow me.”
My footsteps are quick behind him as I answer the phone.
“Jed, hi. How is she doing?” I ask.
“Nova, I think that her water broke,” he says worriedly. “She went to try to nap through the contractions, and she screamed when she woke up. Adira thought she had pissed herself.”
“Was it a lot of liquid?” I ask.
“Oh yes. It’s still steadily trickling too. I have her sitting backward on the toilet right now,” he explains.
“That’s a good position to labor in,” I relay. “I know it doesn’t sound like it, but it is. Get her a towel to lay her head on the tank of the toilet, and just let her work through the contractions. If she feels like she has to push, have her get up immediately. I’m leaving the charity event now to come deliver your baby.”
“So it is time?” he asks excitedly.
“Ask Morris how far apart the contractions are?” I ask.
