Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 108173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Ben squeezed her hand and gave her another kiss, before giving her a gentle push toward the microphone at the center of the stage.
“Good afternoon, everyone, my name is Lilah Beckett-Templeton and I’d like to thank everyone for coming today. As some of you may know, this park is dedicated to the memory of my grandfather, a wonderful humanitarian, a great lover of nature, and just one of the kindest souls to ever walk the face of the planet. He would have loved this place, and every corner of it was designed with him in mind.” She spoke for a few more minutes about Gramps, and joked about some of the failed nature walks he’d taken her on. The crowd was friendly, cheering in the right places, nodding sympathetically in others, and she was relaxed and happy by the time she announced the foundation.
“So I’d like to think of this park as the first project of many. We have plans to create green spaces all over the Cape. We would like to involve schools, communities, families… our gardens will be for everyone to enjoy. It will educate children and elders alike. I hope it will serve in some small way to heal fractured communities. These may sound like big dreams, but I believe that we can build some amazing spaces, and take back some of the places crime and poverty and desperation have stolen from so many people. I thank you for listening. Have an amazing evening. And enjoy the concert.”
She was so breathless and relieved to be done that she barely heard the cheers and applause as she blindly stepped back from the mic.
Ben hooked an arm around her shoulders and steered her back to the stage, where people were still clapping and stomping their feet.
“Soak it up for a second,” he murmured into her ear. “All of this is possible because of your vision. And Cyrus’s foundation is going to be a massive success with you at the helm. I’m proud of you. He would be too.”
She smiled shyly and waved at the crowd, before giving Ben’s waist a squeeze, mutely pleading to be released from the spotlight. He chuckled and led her away, stealing another kiss backstage.
He hugged her close, kissing the top of her head.
“You look so pretty today, I could eat you up with a spoon,” he muttered, and she laughed and placed her hand in the middle of his chest to give him a little push. She was wearing a simple, pink slip dress, with a denim jacket and ankle boots.
“You look pretty hot too,” she said, and admired the snug fit of his blue jeans and white t-shirt.
“C’mon, let’s get you that promised glass of champagne and rescue Blake from my little diva princess.”
Fifi had become a million times more insufferably entitled in the eighteen months since Ben had adopted her. She and Lilah at least got along now, but Ben was still her preferred person. She merely tolerated the hoes, Blake, and Rhys. And full on despised anyone else outside of their small intimate circle of friends.
“I’m going to have to take a rain check on that champagne,” Lilah said as she hooked her arm through his and he led her through the milling crowd. Smiling every so often and accepting congratulations as they walked along.
“Hmm? Why? You’re not ready to celebrate yet? You can allow yourself to relax, mo chridhe. The park is a success. The foundation has been launched. You can give yourself a little break. You’ve been running yourself ragged these last few months.”
“I’m ready to celebrate… with some alcohol-free beverage.”
He stopped dead and turned to face her, his eyes boring into hers.
“What are you saying? Exactly? Spell it out for your not-too-bright husband.”
She went up onto her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered it into his ear.
He froze and stared at her in shock.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Already? We only just decided a couple of months ago.”
“Already,” she said. “My gynecologist confirmed it this morning. Just over five weeks along. So I don’t want to tell anyone yet. But yes, we’re pregnant.”
“We’re pr—” He bent double and propped his hands on his knees.
“Are you okay?” she asked with a slight laugh, placing her palm on his back and patting soothingly.
“Fine. Just having a difficult time, uh… breathing is all.”
“Okay, babe…” she murmured. “You’re okay, breathe with me. That’s right. In. Out. Nice deep breaths. Better?”