“I can’t tell you how much what you said will stick with some of these kids,” Lachelle said.
“I wish it would stick with all of them.”
Lachelle laid her hand on Barrett’s forearm. “You can’t save them all, Barrett. If you reach only a handful of them, it’ll be enough. Trust me.”
“Have you got a few minutes?” Lachelle asked Harmony. “I have a meeting in about a half hour, but I’ve got new pictures of the boys.”
“I wouldn’t miss seeing those. Providing Barrett has time.”
His lips curved. “I have time.”
“Awesome,” Lachelle said. “Follow me to my office.”
Harmony started moving, then realized she felt a little dizzy. It was awfully warm in the community center. She’d noticed it while she was listening to Barrett’s speech. She should probably mention it to Lachelle, but then again her friend was likely already aware of the glitchy AC system.
They made their way into Lachelle’s office. “Sorry,” Lachelle said. “It’s kind of tight in here. We don’t really get spacious offices.”
“This is fine,” Barrett said. “I can lean against the doorway.”
Harmony made her way inside and sank into the chair. Now she was feeling nauseous. It was brutally hot outside today, and now that they were sitting in this tiny box of an office, it was even warmer.
She swallowed, fighting back the rising tide of nausea as Lachelle brought her laptop over and faced it toward Harmony. “The one on the left is Marcus, and on the right is Mateo.”
She blinked to clear her vision, which was currently a bit wonky. She smiled at the two adorable toddlers in the photo as Lachelle flipped through a slide show. “I cannot believe how big they’ve gotten since I saw them last.”
“Future linebackers if you ask me,” Barrett said.
Lachelle laughed. “My husband is hoping for point guards or power forwards.”
“Oh, a basketball guy, is he?”
“Indeed.”
“They have long legs,” Barrett said. “I’d say your husband has a pretty good shot at those positions.”
“And he’s six foot six, so I’m hoping they get their height from their daddy, and not from me.”
Harmony was trying hard not to fall out of her chair. Or sweat all over it.
“What do you think, Harmony?” Lachelle asked.
She blinked and lifted her gaze to her friend. “What?”
Lachelle laughed. “Head already somewhere else?”
“I’m sorry. Just staring at these cute babies. I can’t wait to cuddle them.”
She was going to have to make an exit.
“We’ll definitely do that soon.”
Lachelle’s phone rang. “Oh, I have to get that.”
Harmony waved her hand. “I’ll talk to you later.”
She pushed out of the chair, using the edge of the table for support. She turned to Barrett, who suddenly seemed out of focus.
“Ready?”
“Yeah.”
She looped her purse over her arm and followed him out the door, hoping like hell she didn’t pass out in the hallway.
But she only made it to the end of the hall before she felt the walls closing in on her.
She couldn’t breathe, and she was so dizzy she couldn’t move another step. She leaned against the cool wall.
Barrett was right there.
“Harmony. What’s wrong?”
“Dizzy.”
He slipped his arm around her, his strong body giving her the support she needed. “Let’s sit you down somewhere.”
She shook her head and laid her hand on his chest. “No. Not here. Lachelle will see me and fuss. Need to get out of here.”
“Okay.”
He pulled her against him, using his body to support her while he walked her outside.
God, it was so hot out here. She was glad she hadn’t eaten today, so she wouldn’t throw up.
Hadn’t eaten.
Dammit.
Thank God he’d used remote start to cool the car down. She was so hot. Barrett got her into the SUV and hurried over to the other side. Her hands were shaking as she fumbled in her purse.
When Barrett climbed inside and started the engine, she was ever so grateful for his phenomenal air-conditioning system in the vehicle.
“Do I need to take you to the hospital?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Low blood sugar.” She found the energy bar that had been buried in the bottom of her purse. “Need to eat.”
She was afraid she was going to pass out before she could get a bite of the bar into her mouth. Her hands were trembling so badly she couldn’t even unwrap it.
“Here,” he said, his voice calm and gentle. “Let me do that for you.”
He unwrapped the bar and broke it in half. “Eat. We’re heading to a restaurant right now to get some fluids into you.”
“O . . . okay.”
She took a bite, then another, still feeling nauseous. The last thing she wanted right now was food, but she knew it was what she needed most.
By the time Barrett pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, she felt marginally better—at least better enough that she wasn’t in danger of passing out. But she was still shaking.
He put the SUV in park and turned the vehicle off, then leaned over to her. “You okay?”
“I’ll be fine now.”
“You wait right there while I come around to your side to help you out.”