She smiled. “I won’t argue with that.”
Chapter 16
After a night of some of the best lovemaking that she and Gerald had enjoyed in a long while, Lenora headed for home. Their night of passion wasn’t as wild as those they had experienced after they first met, but it was way better than anything that had happened over recent months. If it had been up to her, they would still be going at it, but Gerald left for work at six-thirty that morning despite her pleas that he stick around in bed longer. He insisted that he absolutely could not afford to go in late. So she got up reluctantly and had a quick cup of coffee with him as they planned the day out. She would drive back to her place, walk Paws, shower, and dress. She would call the lottery board as soon as it opened at 8:30 a.m. and then drive out there. He would call her around noon to see how it went.
That was the plan. And it worked fine up to the part where she took Paws for a brisk stroll around her building. But as soon as she came back up to the condo, her stomach started acting up again, twisting and turning to the point where she could hardly catch her breath. She stripped down to her underwear, climbed into bed, and pulled the sheet up over her shoulders. As if she sensed her pain, Paws hopped up beside her and rested her head in her lap.
What was the matter with her? On the one hand, she was ecstatic about the money and couldn’t wait to get out and start living her new life. No more worries about not being able to make mortgage payments or bill collectors pestering her. She could easily buy just about anything she wanted. Car, house, new cameras and equipment. Then there was the total freedom that came with that kind of money. No longer would she have to go to work and face her evil boss if she chose not to. Oh, how sweet the thought.
But there was a flip side to all this, stuff no one else had to think about. Yes, she could quit her job, but what would she do with her time? She couldn’t lounge around the house all day long. She had long dreamed of having her own photography studio, but that involved huge risks. That had become all too clear as she had watched Gerald and his partners struggle to keep their business afloat. What if she started a studio and failed to land clients? What if she wasn’t so good at managing the finances? All sorts of things could go wrong if she went down that path.
The truth was, she had no idea how to handle the money. She had heard so many horror stories of people coming into large fortunes and mismanaging them badly or hiring people to help who swindled them out of every dime. Given her dismal financial track record, she couldn’t assume that she would do any better. Chances were that she would make a complete mess of it.
She stared at the ceiling. Maybe she could ignore the money or give it all back. She closed her eyes for a second and opened them again. How silly, she thought. She couldn’t possibly do that. Nor did she really care to. What she wanted was a magic way to become a master at handling the money. But this wasn’t going to happen. She had to figure this all out on her own.
She would have to work hard to avoid the pitfalls. And that meant taking her time and moving cautiously, thinking through every angle before she made a move. She probably shouldn’t quit her job right away, even though others would expect her to and she was certainly tempted. In fact, it was a wonder she hadn’t already picked up the phone and quit.
But as much as she despised Dawna, now more than ever she needed to know what her days would be like. That sense of security would vanish the minute she quit her job. She would also miss not seeing her photos in print on the pages of a major local magazine.
She sat up and patted Paws on the head. Now that she had made what seemed like a sound decision about her job, she felt a little better. She was going to fire up her laptop and gather as much information from the lottery board’s website as she could. Given her mental and physical state, the fewer surprises when she went there, the better.
She swung her feet around to the floor, and a sharp pain shot across her belly. She clutched her waist and grimaced as she ran to the bathroom. She threw the toilet seat up and leaned over, but nothing came out. She sat on the floor next to the toilet and waited until the crummy feeling passed. Then she stood and let out a deep gust of air.
Damn these nerves. That’s all this was, she was sure. She just wished they would go away, she thought as she reached for her toothbrush. Maybe getting into the routine of her day would help. She bathed and slipped into a pair of running pants. Eating anything now was out of the question. Perhaps a quiet walk would soothe her. She put the leash on Paws, who was thrilled to get two walks in one morning,
In front of her building, gardeners were edging the lawn along the walkway and placing mulch at the bases of flower beds. The grounds of the building were well maintained—this was one of the reasons she bought her condo here—and she had seen the workers out there many times before. But now they reminded her of Ray. She found herself wondering where he was working that morning, what he was up to. She also wondered what he would say if he knew that she’d won millions in the lottery.
As soon as she got back upstairs, she removed the photo of Ray tucked under her mattress. In all the excitement, she had forgotten about it. She had also forgotten how young and photogenic he was, she thought as she stared at the photo for a minute. Then she smacked her lips in annoyance. Why was she doing this? Why was she even thinking about Ray? She had just spent a passionate night with her boyfriend, the best in a long while. And more than likely she would never see Ray again.
She shoved the photo back under the mattress and went to get a glass of juice. Before she could decide what to do next, she noticed that the message light on the wall phone in the kitchen was blinking. She was surprised to discover that it was Gerald. She wasn’t expecting a call from him until later that afternoon.
“Hey, baby,” Gerald said in the message. “Sitting here at my desk thinking about you. I just wanted to say hi to Maryland’s sexiest millionaire and wish you luck at the lottery board this morning, but it looks like you may have already left. I’ll catch you later tonight to see how it went.”
She smiled as she hung up the phone. It was sweet of him to take the time out from his busy workday to call, she thought as she put on a pot of coffee. She wished he would do that kind of thing more often, but better occasionally than never.
Back at her desk, she turned the laptop on and sat down to learn as much as she could about what to do when you win the lottery. By the time she looked back up, she realized that it was nearly nine and she had yet to call the office. She picked up her cell phone and dialed. Dawna wasn’t in yet, so she left a message with Jenna to tell the boss that she had some urgent personal business to take care of and wouldn’t be in today.
She gleaned a lot of information from the website and decided to drive straight to the lottery board. She turned the computer off, and the minute she stood, her stomach heaved. She covered her mouth and made a dash for the bathroom. Nothing came up, and the squeamish feeling soon subsided. Damn, how was she going to get through the day if this kept happening? One step at a time, she told herself. She had to manage somehow.
She walked to the closet and rummaged through her clothing, trying to pick out something nice to wear. She was a millionaire now. Her usual jeans or shorts with sneakers no longer seemed appropriate. She wished she didn’t feel so queasy and could fully enjoy all the good stuff that was happening to her. It had been ages since Gerald did something frivolous like calling in the morning from his office to offer words of encouragement. He used to leave messages like that on her phone almost daily when they first met. The renewed attention from him had to do with the money she had won, but that was fine. She knew that Gerald really loved her. If he had just won the lottery, no doubt she’d be paying a little extra attention to him as well. It was exciting, and he wanted to be a part of it. That was understandable.
She pulled a skirt off the hanger and another pain shot through her stomach. She dropped the skirt onto the floor and clutched her stomach as she made her way to the bed. She buried her head into th
e pillow and tried to will the pain away. She didn’t understand this. She should be on her way to get her check, not in bed writhing in agony. This was crazy.
The phone rang. She reached across the nightstand to pick it up and immediately recognized Alise’s voice.
“Congratulations!” Alise said. “Monica just told me.”
Lenora was startled. This was the last thing she expected. She was going to have to call Monica and insist that Monica keep quiet about the money from here on out. Not that she minded Alise knowing, she simply would have preferred to tell Alise herself in her own time. “Thanks,” Lenora said.
“That’s it?” Alise asked with a chuckle. “I expected you to sound a lot more excited than this. Aren’t you happy?”
“Of course. I hoped Monica would wait until I was ready to start telling people, that’s all.”
“Sorry,” Alise said. “You didn’t want me to know?”
“It’s not that. I just… oh, never mind.”
“You don’t sound good,” Alise said. “You definitely don’t sound like someone who just won several million dollars.”
“Is that what Monica told you? It was only five million, and much less after taxes.”
“Oh,” Alise said. “Only five million dollars. Poor you.”
“You know what I mean. And to tell you the truth, I feel like I’m coming apart. I can barely think straight.”
“I can imagine,” Alise said. “Or maybe I can’t. Not too many people could imagine what it’s like to win that much money. But I’m sure it will all work out for you.”
“Thanks,” Lenora said.
“Have you gone down to claim your winnings?” Alise asked.
“No, not yet.”
“Really?”
“I checked on the website,” Lenora said in response to Alise’s obvious surprise. “I have a hundred and eighty-two days to claim my winnings. That’s, like, six months. So, there’s really no rush. It’s fine.”
“Right,” Alise said after a brief pause.
“I know it seems strange that I’m not running down there the minute it opens, but the money isn’t going anywhere. Really, what’s the rush?”
“None, I guess,” Alise said.
“It’s odd how this has affected me physically and emotionally. I mean, I’m thrilled that I won, but I’m getting these weird thoughts and feelings that I never expected to have.”
“Like what?”
“Mainly fear. It’s a huge amount of money, and I worry that I’ll screw it all up. Or how other people will act around me once they know.”
“I hear you. I’ve heard stories about that kind of money changing people’s lives. And not always for the best.”
“I always assumed that was because the people’s lives were screwed up to begin with,” Lenora said. “Now I’m not so sure. It’s like someone put my life and all my history in a blender and shook violently. Nothing makes sense. I literally get sick to my stomach when I stand up.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“I know,” Lenora said. “I’m hoping it’s nerves and I’ll get over it soon.”
“That’s what I was thinking. Eat lightly for a day or two. Are you taking anything for your stomach?”
“I’ll have Gerald bring me something later today. He’s being a real sweetheart about it.”
“Well, you just be careful with him,” Alise said.
Lenora frowned. “Meaning?”
“This kind of money will change some of the people around you.”
“Not Gerald,” Lenora said firmly.
“Mmm.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying this, Alise. You don’t even know Gerald that well. Trust me, he isn’t like that.”
“Maybe not,” Alise said. “You’re right, I don’t know him that well. I just know how people are.”
“Thanks a lot for the vote of confidence in the man I’m going to marry,” Lenora said sarcastically.
“Just looking out for you,” Alise said. “Don’t get so defensive.”
Lenora rolled her eyes to the ceiling as they mumbled good-byes and hung up. Lenora felt worse than she had before the phone call. She groaned, turned over on her side, and decided that she would wait a day or so to go in and claim her winnings. She was going through too many changes now. She needed to rest and give her mind and body some time to adjust. The money would still be there when she felt better and was ready to deal with all the changes that lay ahead.
Chapter 17
Lenora woke up when she heard Gerald opening the door to her condo that evening. She lifted her head and peered at the clock as Paws jumped from the bed and ran to greet Gerald. It was 5:30 p.m., and Lenora realized that she had been drifting in and out of sleep all day long.
She sat up and tried to straighten her hair as Gerald approached the bed. He sat beside her with a concerned expression on his face and gently touched her forehead. When he had called to check on her at lunchtime, she had asked him to stop and get her something for her stomach.
“You feeling any better?” he asked as he placed a bag from Walgreens on the table next to her bed.
“Maybe a little,” she said.
“How long you been sleeping?”
“Off and on all day pretty much.”
His eyes grew big. “You’ve been sleeping all day?”
Lenora nodded. “Just about.”
He touched her forehead again. “You don’t feel hot or anything.”
“It’s mainly my stomach. But I also feel woozy when I stand up.”
“I brought you some Pepto-Bismol. Let me go get you a spoon.”
When he returned, he had removed his suit jacket and loosened his necktie. He opened the bottle and poured a couple of spoonfuls for her.
“That should help,” he said as he replaced the cap on the bottle.
“Hopefully,” she said.
“You don’t sound optimistic.” He rubbed her legs gently beneath the covers.
“That’s ’cause I’m so upset with myself,” she said. “Why do I feel so lousy?”
“It is what it is,” he said. “You didn’t even get down to the lottery board, did you?”
She shook her head. “I told you, I’ve been in bed all day. But I’m definitely going in tomorrow.”
“Do you think you should see a doctor?”
“No. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
“You want me to go in late and take you to the lottery board in the morning before I go in?”
“That’s not necessary. I know how hectic things are at your office.”
“I can manage a couple of hours before I go in,” he said. “This is a pretty big deal for you.”
“I know,” she said. “And thanks. But I can take care of it.”
“That’s all well and good if you do, but in case you don’t get down there tomorrow, you should let me put the ticket in a safe-deposit box at the bank. The longer you wait and keep it in that drawer, the more likely stuff could happen.”
“Nothing’s going to happen.” She didn’t want anyone else messing with her lottery ticket, not even Gerald. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him. It was just another of the strange feelings she was getting since winning the money.
“You don’t know that,” he said.
She waved him off. “I’m going down there tomorrow.”
“What? You don’t trust me with it?”
“Of course I trust you. But the ticket is fine, Gerald.”
“Suit yourself,” he said, exhaling loudly. “At least see a doctor if you don’t feel better by tomorrow.”
“I’ll be better by then. I’m sure of it.”
“I’ve never seen you act this way,” he said. “Usually when you’re sick for more than a day, you run straight to the doctor.”
“Why are you making a big deal out of this?” Lenora asked. Everyone was acting so odd, and it was starting to freak her out. “I need you to hold me and comfort me,” she added. “Not to interrogate
me.”
“Sorry.” He removed his shoes and slipped into bed beside her. He put his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. This was more like it, she thought.
“Is the medicine helping any?” he asked after a few minutes.
“I just took it.”
“Probably just nerves,” he suggested.
“Why on earth would I be nervous?” she asked sarcastically.
“About the money,” he said. “That’s a lot of dough you won.”
Lenora realized that her sarcasm had gone completely over Gerald’s head. They weren’t connecting. She removed her head from his shoulder and sat up straight. “I was kidding.”
“About what?”
Lenora sighed. “Nothing. I’ll be fine. The ticket is fine until I get down there to the lottery board.”
“If you say so. I’m done talking about it,” he said and stood up. Lenora watched with more than a bit of surprise as he walked to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator door, and removed a beer. He popped the cap and sat in front of the television.
She had never expected him to be so short on sympathy for what she might be going through emotionally after this major upheaval. It felt like a bomb had exploded in her life. And Gerald had walked off to drink a beer and watch the tube.
Was Alise right? Was the money going to come between them?
Chapter 18
She tossed and turned all night in agitation. By late Tuesday morning, it felt like she hadn’t had a minute of sleep. Still, she dragged herself out of bed to walk and feed Paws. She circled the building on that clear spring day and took lots of deep breaths, hoping that the fresh air would revive her.
Early that morning, Gerald stood over her for several seconds before leaving for work. She suspected that he wanted to say something to her, but she pretended to be asleep. She was as baffled by her sudden illness as anyone. Yet she was sure it was nothing but nerves and that it would pass. She didn’t need Gerald bugging her about it, and she didn’t need any doctors. What she needed was patience. She wished Gerald could recognize that.
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