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His gaze slowly met Leila’s. He was so sweet and handsome and perfect.Say something. At least tell him you need to talk.Her tongue was frozen, and she didn’t know what to say.You’ve gotta say something.She cleared her throat.
Just then, Desiree called his name. He gestured for her to wait one minute. “I gotta go. I just wanted to say hi and see her.” He brushed his hand over Skylar’s hair and walked away.
Leila swallowed a lump in her throat as she watched him walk away. Leila’s dad passed him, and they greeted each other kindly. Leila’s stomach churned as her vision became blurry. She’d really screwed up and didn’t know how to fix it.
Tom set the tray on the table. “Hey, here’s your food.”
Diane sat next to her and started pulling food off the tray. She caught Leila’s gaze. “So, how did that go?”
Leila shook her head. “Sylar was excited to see him, but he wasn’t over here long before Desiree called him. I guess they’re together again. So much for what I meant to him.”
“I don’t know," answered Diane. "From what I could see, it looked like he wanted to talk to you. Maybe you need to do something about that.”
“Yeah, I don’t know, maybe.” She picked up her burger and handed Skylar a fry, pointedly ignoring the looks Diane and her dad exchanged.
The sun was getting low in the sky, and it was time to get the auction started. Leila left Skylar with Diane and her dad and went to the stage with Jessica and Elizabeth.
Jessica bounced on the balls of her feet. “I can’t believe how awesome the day’s been. The silent auction items brought in so much money. The center has already reached their goal. Deloris is ecstatic.”
Elizabeth took the clipboard from Leila. “I know, it’s been great. Now let’s hope the live auction can do just as well.”
Deloris Green joined the girls and clapped her hands together. “Everything has been going amazingly well all day today. We’ve already raised more than I hoped.” Her face was lit with joy.
Her excitement was contagious and caused a rush of exhilaration to flow through Leila. “I know. It’s been a great day. Everyone has been so generous.”
“I know, and it’s only the beginning, and It’s time for the auction.” Deloris wrapped an arm around each girl. “Thank you so much.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I think I speak for Leila also when I say that we’d never be able to repay all you and the center have done for us. We’re more than glad to help.”
“That’s what the Crisis Pregnancy Center is for. Elizabeth, are you ready to get the auction started?”
“Absolutely.” Elizabeth wore a giant grin on her face as she and Deloris took the stage.
Leila and Jessica stood off to the side to participate in the auction.
Steve Gregor, the auctioneer from Gregor Auction and Realty, introduced Elizabeth as she took the stage. “Thank you, Mr. Gregor. And thanks to all of you for coming out and supporting Crisis Pregnancy Center with your time and money.”
There was loud applause from the crowd.
“I also want to let y’all know that the pregnancy center has already reached their goal . . .” The crowd cheered and clapped. Elizabeth held up her hand. “I agree. That’s amazing, but remember, that was just a goal. Now it’s time to smash that goal to pieces and help the center even more. It’s time to get started!”
The tent vibrated with excitement as the crowd filled it and spilled out into the humid night. People were elbow to elbow as they jockeyed for a better spot to observe the items asthey were presented on stage. The enthusiasm of the crowd was contagious. Hopefully, they were all as enthusiastic about bidding.
Everything about the night filled Leila with joy. She was a part of something bigger than herself. The pregnancy center had been there for her when she was lost and scared, and seeing all these people there to support it helped her stand a little taller.
Jessica nudged her in the ribs and handed her an auction card. “Here’s your number.”
The auction got started. Steve Gregor was off and running, his voice rambling out words faster than Leila could keep up.
They started big, with a Vulcan 900 Classic. The motorcycle, which was rolled onstage, got lots of attention from the crowd, and the bidding started quickly.
Steve Gregor kept things going at a rocket pace, and items flew off the floor. The amount of money being thrown out was astonishing. Leila and Jessica laughed often at the excitement of it all. With the speed of Steve’s babbling, and the bidding numbers being thrown up and down, Leila found it hard not to be a part of the excitement. She almost raised her number in the air a couple times, but luckily, she held herself back because the bidding was way more than her paycheck at the boutique could afford her.
Finally, it was time for the services auction, and the first ones out were the Christian Church youth. They were being auctioned to help with any outdoor chore people needed and were separated into two groups.
The crowd loved this. Some teen girls auctioned off their babysitting services, a piano teacher offered lessons. There was a professional house painter, someone to clean pools, and then finally Brady, Jacob, Tristan, and Chad were up to build an outdoor deck. They were dressed in tight jeans, tight white T-shirts, work boots, and toolbelts which rested low on their hips. They got lots of laughs and cat calls as they strutted onstage.
“Okay, okay everyone.” Elizabeth tried her best to get the crowd's attention. “Thesehandsomemen are here to build one lucky person a deck.”
