“Did you just find out?” Monica asked. “The drawing was last week.”
“I know,” Lenora said. “I forgot all about the ticket and then I couldn’t find it.”
“Well, I’ll be. What did Gerald say?”
“I can’t reach him.”
“Not even on his cell?”
“No,” Lenora said.
“Any idea where he is that he can’t answer his cell phone for you?” Monica asked, her voice thick with suspicion.
“Sometimes he turns it off when he’s with a client or in a meeting and forgets to turn it back on.”
“Lenora.”
“Yes?”
“It’s Sunday night.”
“So?” Lenora asked. “He meets with clients on weekends all the time.”
Monica smacked her lips loudly. “If you say so.”
Lenora decided to ignore her friend’s doubtful tone. She was too happy to even contemplate anything negative, especially when it came to Gerald. “I’m way too excited to be worrying about that or anything, for that matter.”
“I hear you,” Monica said. “I’m excited for you.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight.”
“You won’t. I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep. This is so unbelievable. I won’t even be able to talk to you now.”
“Don’t be silly,” Lenora said. “You going to be up awhile? ’Cause I’m too hyper to stay in this house.”
“Come on over,” Monica said. “I’ll pop that bottle of bubbly I got last year for my birthday. I was saving it for when we get into The Girlfriends, but forget that, we can celebrate this tonight.”
“I’ll be right over.”
“You know the press is going to come knocking at your door, right?” Monica said. “And everyone else. So be prepared.”
“You don’t have to remind me,” Lenora said. “I work for a magazine, remember?”
“You planning to quit your job?” Monica asked.
“Please,” Lenora said. “I haven’t even thought that far ahead.”
Chapter 14
Monica opened the front door of her townhouse holding the birthday bottle of Veuve Clicquot in one of her outstretched hands.
“Welcome to my humble abode, Ms. Millionaire,” Monica said, smiling.
They hugged each other warmly.
“I’m so happy for you,” Monica said.
“Want to see the ticket?” Lenora asked as she followed Monica into the kitchen and dropped her shoulder bag on the table.
“You brought it with you?” Monica asked, eyes wide with disbelief. “I would have thought you would hide that thing someplace safe in your house.”
“Right here with me is the safest place I can think of now. What if my place burns down or gets robbed?”
“What if you’re in a car accident?” Monica asked. “Or you get robbed in the streets?”
“That’s not going to happen,” Lenora said. “You live only, like, ten minutes away from me.”
Monica shrugged. “It’s your ticket. Let me see, girl.”
Lenora removed the ticket from her bag and cradled it in the palm of her hand as if it were a ten-carat diamond.
“Wow,” Monica said. “Just wow. Why’d you pick those numbers?”
“I didn’t pick them. I let the machine do it.”
“You are one lucky sister,” Monica said. “That’s all I can say.”
Lenora carefully placed the ticket back in her shoulder bag. She leaned back against the countertop and sighed deeply. “I’m still pinching myself mentally. How the hell did this happen?”
Monica retrieved two champagne flutes from the cupboard and placed them on the countertop near Lenora. “Don’t drive yourself nuts trying to figure that out. You got lucky. Enjoy it.”
“You’re right.”
“Did you ever reach Gerald?” Monica asked.
“I still haven’t talked to him,” Lenora said. “I was trying the whole time I drove over here. I’ll try again in a bit.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Don’t you dare say a single word.”
“I’m not,” Monica said. “I’m thinking of saying a whole pile of words. I’m thinking I’d like to give you a good talking-to about that man and his disappearing acts. But you already know what I think.”
“Just ’cause I can’t reach the man doesn’t mean he’s up to no good.”
Monica popped the champagne bottle and rolled her eyes skyward. “Whatevah!”
Lenora held up the flutes while Monica poured.
Monica took her glass and raised it toward Lenora. “To Columbia’s newest, smartest millionairess.”
“Maybe not after taxes,” Lenora said. “And if anyone else won. But still, I’ll drink to that.”
They clinked their glasses and sipped.
Lenora placed her glass back on the countertop, then hugged her friend again. “Damn! Can you believe this?”
Monica laughed. “It’s crazy, but believe it, girl. When are you going to cash the ticket? Tomorrow?”
“I don’t even know,” Lenora said, waving her hand. “My mind is all over the place. When should I claim my winnings? Do I quit my job? Where the hell is Gerald?”
“If it was me, I’d be at that lottery door the minute it opens.”
“That’s what you would think. But honestly, sometimes I feel like I’m going to be sick just thinking about all this.” Lenora frowned. “This changes so much. It changes everything.”
Monica nodded with understanding. “I know. You seriously thinking about quitting your job?”
“I don’t know,” Lenora said. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do. I mean, I hate my boss—no news there. But I love what I do.”
“That boss of yours is a trip to hell, from what you tell me,” Monica said. “Why stay if you don’t have to? I mean, even after taxes you probably won more than ten years’ worth of salary. Plenty of time for you to figure out what you want to do with your life.”
“I love getting out and taking photos of people doing their thing. I love seeing my work in print. And I meet some very interesting people. Did I tell you about the landscaper I photographed last week?”
“No. What about him?”
Lenora touched her cheek with her hand. “Girl, talk about hot. He’s a scorcher. He’s tall, with a yummy chocolate complexion and the prettiest hands.”
“Hands? You’re gushing over a guy’s hands?” Monica asked, blinking at her friend. “I haven’t heard you talk about a man like this since you and Gerald became an item. How old is Mr. Chocolate Goodness?”
“I have no idea. In his mid-to late twenties.”
“Whoa,” Monica said. “This is getting weirder by the minute. You lusting after some guy in his twenties. That’s my thing. That’s the age where they can still go all night long. If you had any sense you would do him, but you don’t so… Is it okay if I meet him?”
Lenora laughed. “You are too much.”
“I’m serious,” Monica said. “We can’t let this hunk go to waste, can we? And if I know you, you’re not going to want to cheat on Gerald.”
“You’re right about that,” Lenora said. “But if I wasn’t so into trying to make it work with Gerald, I’d be all over Ray. I won’t lie.”
“Fool.”
Lenora shrugged. “Can’t help it if I’m a one-man woman.”
“Then introduce your best single girlfriend to Ray.”
Lenora rolled her eyes skyward. “Not a chance.”
“Uh-huh. Is somebody thinking about cheating on their man?”
“Like you said, I’m not about to cheat on Gerald. Speaking of which, let me try him again.” Lenora pulled her cell phone out of her shoulder bag. “I want to tell him the news so bad.”
“I’ll give you some privacy.” Monica picked up the bottle of champagne and took it, along with her glass, to the dining room table while Lenora dialed Gerald’s number. Lenora waited until his machine answere
d, then hung up, feeling frustrated that she couldn’t reach him. But she had already left him several messages. There was no point in leaving another. Lenora followed Monica to the dining room table and sat across from her.
“Still can’t reach him?” Monica asked.
“No. If I hadn’t just won the lottery, I’d really be pissed. But I’m too happy to get mad about anything now.”
Monica waved an arm. “Forget him for now. Want to go out for drinks or something to celebrate?”
Lenora held her glass up. “Girl, we already drinking and I have to drive back. Don’t need any more booze than this.”
“So how about we just get some dessert somewhere. How about that place up the street that has those yummy Italian cakes?”
Lenora shook her head. “I have got to lose some weight. I promised Gerald. Besides, I really want to go home after I leave here and try to catch up with him. I just won big money in the lottery. I want to tell my man.”
“I hear you,” Monica said. “Well, unlike you, I do have to work tomorrow. So it’s just as well. I couldn’t have stayed out late anyway.”
“We can do something special next weekend,” Lenora said. “I’ll treat you and Alise to dinner at a fancy restaurant.”
Monica nodded. “That sounds like a plan I could get with. You know, you probably won’t have any trouble getting into The Girlfriends now, with all your millions.”
“I hadn’t even thought about that.”
“Well, think about it. And put in a good word for a sistah if I don’t make it with you.”
Lenora smiled. “That might not even be necessary. We might both already be in. Either way, you know I got your back. Will you promise me something?”
“You know I will,” Monica said.
“Promise me that we won’t let this money change things between us. I heard some weird stuff about how winning the lottery can change the winners and the people around them. Don’t get weird on me. And if I get weird or, you know, if I catch too much attitude, let me know I stepped out of line.”
“Deal,” Monica said. “But I’ve known you a long time. We’ve been close since forever. There’s no way this will change you or me or our friendship.”
Lenora reached across the table and squeezed her friend’s hand. “Thanks.”
Chapter 15
In the car, Lenora decided to try Gerald again. If he was at his place, she would drop by and give him the news. It was at least thirty minutes to Silver Spring, but she was too antsy to sleep and doubted she was going in to work tomorrow anyway.
This time Gerald finally answered. “What’s going on with you?” she asked as soon as he said hello.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“I’ve been calling and calling,” she said. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“I was on a conference call with a client and one of my partners earlier. Then I turned it off while I worked on some papers. I just turned it back on.”
“You sure have been spending a lot of time talking to clients lately.”
“Yes, I have,” he said. “But that’s the nature of the business. I got your message when I turned it back on. I was about to call you.”
“Are you home?” she asked.
“Yes. Sure am.”
“Good. I’m going to stop by to tell you something.”
“It’s after eleven. You sure you want to drive all the way over here instead of telling me over the phone?”
“This is important,” she said. “I want to see your face when I tell you. Unless you have a reason for not wanting me there.”
“Actually, I’m getting excited to hear what this is all about. When will you get here?”
“Soon. I’m leaving Monica’s now.”
Twenty minutes later she parked in front of Gerald’s high-rise apartment building on Georgia Avenue. She used her key to let herself in, then entered one of the elevators and rode up to the sixth floor. Gerald opened the door after the first knock and greeted her warmly with a hug and kiss. He was wearing a black bathrobe and had a white towel draped around his neck.
“Mmm, you smell nice,” she said.
“Thanks,” he said, toweling off his short wet hair. “Been working and didn’t bathe all day, so I hopped in the shower after you called. Come on in.”
She entered the living room area of the apartment, sparsely furnished with a few sleek contemporary pieces, dropped her shoulder bag onto a chair, and clasped her hands together. She wanted to share the news with Gerald before another minute went by.
“Have a seat,” he said, leading her to his black leather couch. “I can see that you’re about to burst. What did you want to tell me?”
She tried to contain herself as they sat next to each other. “Oh, God,” she said, fanning herself with her hand.
“What’s wrong?” Gerald asked. “You don’t look good.”
She took his hand in her spare one. “I’m fine. I’m just so excited I think I’m going to faint.”
He knitted his brows. “Well, damn, go on, tell me what it is.” He squeezed her hand. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so worked up.”
“That’s because I’ve never been this excited, Gerald.” She couldn’t sit still for another minute. She jumped up from the couch and turned to face him. He was clearly baffled by her behavior and stared at her in silence. She reached out and pulled him up to stand in front of her. She needed to hold on to something to keep from passing out.
“Will you please tell me?” he pleaded. “Just say it.”
“I won, Gerald!”
“You won? Won what?”
“The big one.”
He frowned deeply. “I don’t get it, Lenora. The big what?”
“The lottery, Gerald. I won five million dollars in the lottery!”
Gerald stared at her speechlessly. His mouth opened to say something and then closed. Lenora laughed at the expression on his face.
“Say that again?” he finally asked when he found his voice. “You won what?”
She nodded with excitement. “The lottery. Five million dollars.”
“You aren’t joking, are you?”
“No, I’m very serious.”
Gerald let go of her hands and smacked a fist into his palm as he paced the living room carpet. “Damn!”
Lenora giggled. “I know.”
She leaped into his arms and wrapped her legs around him. He fell back onto the couch with her on his lap, both laughing uncontrollably. When they calmed down, she pulled back to look into his face. He could not have looked more shocked if she had come in here and shot a pistol. “I hardly know what to say,” he said. “Are you sure the numbers were right and you had all of them?”
She nodded. “Oh, yeah. I checked them, like, fifteen times.”
“Damn!” he repeated. He hugged her and she slid off him and onto the couch next to him. They looked at each other and burst out laughing again. “You know that this is going to change your life, right?” he said.
“No kidding!” she said. “It’s going to change our lives, Gerald. We’re a couple.”
He took her hands and squeezed them tightly.
“I can tell you’re stunned,” she said.
“No doubt about that,” he said. “Aren’t you?”
She nodded.
“So, tell me…” He paused and exhaled deeply to gain control of his emotions. “When did you buy the ticket?”
“On Thursday after you called and postponed our date. Guess I have to thank you for doing that, or I might never have stopped to buy a ticket. I would have been rushing home to start dinner for you.”
He nodded, an ironic smile creasing his face. “Glad I could be of help.”
She laughed. “I just realized that I won a few hours ago. I completely forgot to check the ticket and then I lost it until tonight.”
“When do you plan to go to wherever it is you have to go to claim your winnings?”
“I’ll call tomorrow.�
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“Just call? Don’t you have to go there?”
“I will,” she said. “Eventually.”
“Eventually?”
“What’s the rush? I have plenty of time. It’s weird, but a part of me is real nervous about winning all this money. I have butterflies in my stomach. I don’t know why.”
“It’s a pretty damn big deal, but you’ll be fine,” he said. “And I’m here to help out if you need anything.”
They were still holding hands, and she lifted his and kissed it. “Isn’t this exciting? You always talk about how you want to be more established before we take our relationship to the next level. And then this happens. Now we have all this money.”
“Whoa,” he said. “I’m happy for you, I really am. But it’s your money. You won it.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said. “We’re a couple. We’ve been together for three years now. What’s mine is yours.”
He smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. “It makes me feel real good to hear you say that. Right now I want you to focus on yourself. Don’t even think about me. People are going to start coming out of nowhere asking for a handout. So prepare yourself for that. You’re going to need to develop a thick skin and be willing to tell people to back off and get lost.”
“I know. Long-lost cousins and all that.”
He let go of her hands and leaned back against the couch. He laughed. “This is unbelievable. Have you called your folks?”
“They were the first people I told when I couldn’t reach you. Then I went over to Monica’s.”
“Sorry it was so hard to catch me for a while there, baby.”
She clutched her stomach again. “Oh, God. I get these waves of pain shooting through my stomach.” She held one hand out and watched as it trembled. “I’m shaking like a leaf.”
“I see. You have to try to calm down.” He put an arm around her shoulders and kissed her—a long, slow tender kiss. She felt her nerves steadying and her body began to relax. She didn’t know why she had felt so anxious in the first place. Her finances had just gotten a huge much-needed boost. Good-bye, bill collectors. Hello, new house, new car, new everything.
But first it was time to ramp up her sex life. She yanked Gerald’s bathrobe open and ran her hands across his broad chest as she leaned in and kissed his neck. “Whoa, baby,” he said, sliding down on the couch. “You need to win the lottery more often.”
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