Chapter 34

 

April was killing time until Dylan arrived to take her out. Chloe answered the phone and she could hear the dulcet tones of Ed Sheeran in the background.

She smiled. “Hello you.”

“Hi, April, how’s the baddies?”

“Still bad,” she laughed. “How did the fundraising event go?”

“Brilliant, loads of people came. Can you believe we sold the two hundred burgers?”

“Really? That’s fantastic.”

“There was tons of other food left over, though. The organisers gave us stacks to bring home. Even Noah ended up protesting he couldn’t eat any more sausages and he normally loves them.”

“Aw, God love him. How is he?”

“Much better. You wouldn’t even know he’s been poorly, he always bounces back. You’ve just missed him, he’s gone with Gavin to his mum’s.”

“That’s great. How much did you raise, do you know?”

“Just over two thousand.”

A mere drop in the ocean.

“That’s brilliant, Chlo, you must be chuffed to bits.”

“I’m stoked. Gav checked last night and we’ve now got almost thirty-four thousand.”

“Brilliant. It’s amazing how generous people are, isn’t it?”

“I know. We have a sponsored bowling night in three weeks. That should bring in quite a bit, and the website keeps getting donations. We’re now wondering if we can apply for some money from Children in Need.”

“Isn’t that for specific groups of children rather than individuals?”

“I’m not sure. Gavin’s going to write anyway. Anything’s worth a try.”

Gavin was a selfless man. She couldn’t wish for a better dad for her son.

“He is good, isn’t he? Noah’s so lucky to have you both.”

“And you. He’s lucky to have you, as well. Without you, none of us would have him.”

Her insides twisted at the reminder.

“We’re all blessed to have Noah. Anyway, like I said, with a bit of luck, I’ll have plenty of money soon to add to the pot. Then we can start planning his surgery. It’ll be amazing if we can get him walking before he’s six.”

“Wouldn’t it? I have a dream that someone really rich like Elton John or Paul McCartney will come along and pay for it all.”

“Yeah, keep dreaming and you never know. You might get it sooner than you think.”

Chloe sniggered, “Hey, guess what, a pink pig has just flown past the window.”

April smiled, “You wait and see. Right, I’m going to have to go, work beckons.”

“What work? I bet you’re sat in a comfy office somewhere on a computer trying to catch the criminals out?”

Bless you, sweetie, I wish.

“Yeah, something like that. Anyway, big kiss for Noah, love to Gavin.”

“Will do. Take care, won’t you? Love you to the moon and back.”

“You too.”

April ended the call.

Chloe was in for a big surprise when this job was done and they’d have the money for Noah’s operation.

It was the only thing spurring her on.