Rescue Nova

Another First For Nova

On Sunday morning, Kimberly got Nova up, fed, and dressed. A few minutes before Nova was due at Emily's house, Kimberly took her daughter to the front door and said goodbye.

"Have fun, baby," Kimberly told Nova, hugging her.

"I will. If I can remember it, I'll teach you what I learned when I get home."

"I'd like that, honey. Thank you."

"Bye-bye."

"Bye-bye."

Nova opened the front door and began her walk down the street. Kimberly waved briefly before closing the door.

•••••••••••••••

Nova skipped to her friend's house and rang the doorbell. Emily, who'd been eagerly waiting, was quick to open the door.

"Hi!" Emily greeted enthusiastically.

"Hi."

Since it wasn't quite time to leave yet, Emily's parents let Nova and Emily go to the playroom. Once there, both girls decided to build with Legos and sat on the floor to get started.

"Did your Mama and Mommy tell you about my sleepover?" Nova asked as they built.

Yesterday evening, after Nova went to bed, Kimberly called one of Emily's parents to ask about a good day for Nova's sleepover. After Emily's mother assured Kimberly that Emily could come on any day, the two parents decided to have the sleepover tonight.

"Yeah! I can't wait!" Emily answered.

"Me neither."

"I've never been to a sleepover before. What do you do at them?"

"I don't know, but I bet it'll be fun. Hey, I have a good idea! Why don't you bring Emmie so her and Belle can have a sleepover, too?!"

"That's a good idea! If we're going to have fun, so should they."

•••••••••••••••

The first thing Leila felt when she opened her eyes that morning was the same thing she felt every time she woke up these days - anxiety. She felt like if she let herself, she could lie there for hours ruminating about all her problems. But she refused to do that.

Instead, she forced herself to get up. After using the bathroom, she left the master bedroom and went to the kitchen. On her way, she passed through the living room and saw Kimberly on the couch watching TV.

"Good morning, honey," Kimberly said.

"Hi."

"Breakfast is in the microwave."

"No, thanks. I'll be right back."

Leila went to the refrigerator, grabbed a beer, and returned to Kimberly, sitting beside her.

"Please don't nag me," Leila said as she opened and sipped the beer.

"I wasn't going to say anything."

Leila looked at Kimberly like she didn't believe her. "You weren't planning on saying anything about me drinking first thing in the morning?"

"Well, maybe I might have if you hadn't been so quick to request otherwise. So I guess it's safe to say you're feeling pretty nervous this morning."

"I'm feeling pretty nervous all the time lately."

"I wish you'd stop expecting the worst-case scenario. Like I keep saying, it's very likely you'll be acquitted."

"I wish I believed that."

•••••••••••••••

As Nova, Emily, and Emily's parents got out of the car and walked through the church's parking lot, Nova looked at the building they were walking towards. She had only been inside this building once, when she, Kimberly, and Leila watched Emily's Christmas pageant.