Page 127 of Can't Get Enough

“Sure can.”

“And if you don’t mind fixing Aunt G a plate? She was kind of groggy when we left and didn’t get to eat. I need to make sure she—”

“Hendrix,” Mrs. Redmond gently interrupts. “I got it, baby. Okay?”

My breath stutters and my eyes water. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You keep us posted on Betty. You staying there or coming home?”

I glance up the hall where they wheeled Mama away an hour ago.

“I’m not sure. I don’t want to leave Mama, but I don’t want Aunt G alone all night. Hopefully they’ll come tell me something soon.”

“How about I stay with Geneva till you get home,” Mrs. Redmond offers. “And if you need to stay there all night, I’ll stay here.”

“Oh, are you sure?”

“Baby, I won’t doin’ nothin’ when I got home but watchingLaw & Order. Y’all got a TV, right?” she teases.

“Yes, ma’am. Of course.”

“Well, I won’t be doing nothing at home that I can’t do at your house. Now you focus on your mama. We all love her and are praying for her.”

After we hang up, I sit holding my phone, humbled and stunned by the kindness of my mother’s friends; of her community. I’d never realized that I’ve built a community of strong, loyal women as my friends because Mama modeled that for me. I saw it in my mother’s friendships when I was growing up and replicated it in my way.

With Aunt G sorted, I’m back to waiting. I’ve texted Yasmen and Soledad, assured them I’m okay and will keep them posted. They’re both so busy. Yas with planning some festival and Soledad preparing to take the kids on the cruise tomorrow. The one person I want to talk to, to see more than anyone, is Maverick. He’d want to know what’s goingon, but we’re still so new, and I’m going this deep already? Plus I know he’s in New York speaking at a business summit.

But… I have to call him.

He would want me to.Iwant to. Ineedto, and needing anything from a man… well, I’m still getting used to that like a brand-new pair of Manolos. Gotta walk around a bit. Gotta break this feeling in.

His phone rings four times, then rolls to voice mail. Instead of leaving it all as a message, I decide to text.

Me:Hey. Could you please call me as soon as you get this message? It’s important.

My phone rings a few minutes later and it’s him.

“Mav, hey!” I hear the relief in my voice, but can’t suppress it. “I’m glad you called.”

“It’s not Mav,” a male voice replies. “It’s Bolt.”

“Oh. Bolt, hi. Is Mav okay?”

“He’s fine. I wouldn’t usually answer his phone, but I keep it when he’s speaking. He’s literally onstage now addressing the audience. I saw your message come across. I didn’t mean to be… well, I thought it might be… I’m making sure it’s not urgent. Maverick would want to know that as soon as possible. Is everything okay?”

My knee-jerk response is to say everything’s fine, but I don’t. I need to talk to Maverick. Somehow I know he’ll make things feel better, even if they’re not.

“No, I’m… my mother’s in the hospital,” I say on a rush before I change my mind.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Bolt has always struck me as pretty stoic, other than the way he burns hot for my assistant. Now, though, his voice warms with sympathy. “As soon as he gets offstage, I’ll let him know.”

“Thank you, Bolt. That means a lot.”

“Can you give me details about where you are? Anything you need?”

“I don’t need anything, but…”

But Mav.

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