Gone but Not for Garden by Kate Collins

Author:Kate Collins [Collins, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2022-10-24T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

My stomach dropped to my knees. Please, don’t do it. Please don’t call my name.

“I’d like to welcome the founding members of the Greene Street Detective Agency up on stage with us,” the mayor said, “to take a bow for all their hard work in keeping Sequoia safe.”

Don’t do it. Don’t you dare do it.

“Athena Spencer and Case Donnelly, come on up and join us.”

The crowd applauded, but my heart was pounding so hard, the sound was just static in my ears. I tried to move but couldn’t feel my legs. My worst fear was coming true, and my first instinct was to turn and run. I could see the mayor with his hand outstretched toward the stairs, waiting for our arrival. I felt Case’s hand grab mine, but I still couldn’t move.

Something I had never shared with Case was my utter and absolute fear of public speaking. Everyone knew that crowds rattled my nerves, but standing before a massive audience was petrifying. My legs quaked, and my hand was ice cold as Case pulled me forward.

“Come on, Goddess,” he said.

Lila was smiling at us, clapping with the crowd, her expression expectant.

“I can’t do this, Case. I can’t go up there.”

“What’s wrong?”

“The crowd. All those people. I can’t do it.”

“Just take a bow. You’ll be fine.”

I breathed rapidly in and out, feeling faint as I followed Case up the stairs. The applause grew louder, and I found myself smiling instinctively as we approached Lila and the mayor. Case pulled my hand up with his, stretching it overhead, clearly enjoying the moment. I darted a glance at the audience, barely able to make out individual faces, and forced myself to wave.

Okay, I told myself. This isn’t so bad. All you have to do is stand here and smile.

And then the mayor spoke into the microphone, sending chills to my very soul. “Athena, why don’t you say a few words?”

I shook my head at him, forcing myself to smile but feeling faint again.

“What do you say, folks?” the mayor said. “Wouldn’t you like to hear a few words from our very own Goddess of Greene Street?”

The crowd applauded relentlessly, everyone focusing solely on me. And then, as if my legs had a mind of their own, they began to shuttle me forward. Case’s hand fell away from mine, and I suddenly found myself standing behind the podium. The bright stage lights were blinding. The static in my ears was overwhelming. My mouth opened. And that was all I remembered.

* * *

From what Case told me afterward, I’d managed to thank the crowd for their support and then had sputtered to a stop until Case came to my rescue. He had spoken to the crowd about our mission for justice, and they’d loved him, of course. There was only one man I knew more handsome and charismatic than Charles Sloan, and that was my partner, Case Donnelly.

He held my hand in the VIP area and chuckled as I chugged a bottle of water.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.