"Hi, is this Miss Holliday? This is Veronica Mars, leaving a message, just to confirm that I will take on your case. If you could fax me over the details soon, and we'll discuss payment options tomorrow, say 3pm? Thanks, bye" The phone clicked off, and I placed it back in my jeans pocket.
Tonight, I was wearing an elegant silver camisole and blazer, with my favourite pair of red pumps. Not too glamorous, but enough that Wallace was happy. I checked my watch for what must have been the third time in about five minutes; and my dad noticed. "Relax Veronica, and have a good time. No need to worry." he said, smiling as he looked up from the TV screen.
"You'll remember to take your meds, okay? Don't worry, I won't be back too late. I'm taking you to the physio in the morning" I reminded him.
"Veronica, you don't have to put your life on hold because of me. I'll be fine!" he said again, though I didn't believe it. Despite Logan's invitation to move in with him and Dick, I had been staying at my dad's to help him in recovery. However, since the one year anniversary of my relationship with Logan had occurred, in which he gifted me with an expensive new camera and the promise that I was all his, my dad had been trying to persuade me to move out. Seemed he was finally accepting of me and Logan, which was great, but it did change one or two things.
The sound of a car pulling up outside alerted me, and soon enough there was a knock on the door. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans, then crossed to the door. Mac greeted me, wearing a tight fitting navy blue dress. She beamed, excited that I had finally decided to come out with her for a drink, in what must have been the first time since Logan had left. Her face suddenly dropped. "Veronica, are you okay? Your face is all pale and sweaty." she asked in concern, and I turned to the mirror hanging in the hallway. Mac was right, my face was ashen with beads of sweat across my forehead and bags under my eyes. Nausea suddenly hit me. "It's fine, I'm just tired" I said, shaking my head. I reached for my purse and keys, when my stomach started rolling. "Hang on a sec" I smiled weakly, before making a dash for the bathroom.
Chunks of vegetables and bile landed in the toilet bowl as I sat, head in hand; heaving up. Mac appeared at my side, holding my hair up. "Started drinking without me?" she laughed weakly. I shook my head, and wiped my mouth.
"My dad-" I started.
"Don't worry, he was pretty tuned into the TV." Mac said, easing me. I didn't want him seeing me in this state.
"I just don't know what's going on with me. I'm so tired all the time, which is normal, has been since dad's incident, but I keep feeling sick and hungry and..." I felt tears pooling at the corner of my eyes, and quickly wiped them away.
"Veronica... when was the last time you had your period?" Mac asked.
"Oh, its been a bit on and off lately, the doctor said the stress, what with dad and everything, can do that to you. Why, I mean its..." Then it hit me, the thing that had been niggling at the back of my mind, that I had refused to acknowledge because it was impossible, it was unreal, it... it just couldn't be. "No, don't be ridiculous Mac, me and Logan are careful, and I think I would have guessed before now!"
"Well, contraception works about 99% of the time. You never know, besides, symptoms are different for everyone, you don't get them straight away. Really, you never know"
"You never know" I agreed. I stood up, washed my face and stared at the mirror. I could see Mac's worried expression duplicate my own, and sighed. Nothing I could do now. "I'll call the doctors in the morning, make an appointment. Come now, we can't go disappointing Wallace. Besides," I grin "I want to see if this Erica really is as 'fine' as Wallace describes". We exited the bathroom, where I kissed my dad goodbye and headed out the door.
I glance anxiously at my watch. Two more minutes. I'd told Mac I was fine, that I was going to the doctors that afternoon, as soon as Miss Holliday's appointment was up. Mac had wanted to check, of course. Said the home pregnancy test was an important step in the pregnancy.
One more minute.
Oh God. What was I going to do? I mean, Logan and...
Don't think about it. You might not even be pregnant.
I looked down, saw the plus sign.
Well that backfired.
I got up from the toilet, wiped my tear stained face with a splash of cold water, and headed to my office. "So?" Mac asked from her desk, as she sipped her latte. I looked at her for a second, saw the concern on her face, and relented. "So, I'm going to the see the doctor this afternoon" I replied. I didn't want 'Auntie Mac' to get her hopes up. As I opened the door to my office I was taken back by the smell of perfume. What the hell-
"Ms Mars, so glad to see you" Miss Holliday turned around to face me, shaking my hand and then sitting back down in the chair. I silently cursed Mac for not telling me she was already here. Early. "Miss Holliday, lovely to see you again. I got the files you sent over, thank you, and I'll have you know I've already got a source tracking them now as we speak. On to the matter of payment..."
"When do you think you'll have them? The shoes? It's just, I really do need them" Miss Holliday smiled at me, sparkly white teeth in a slightly menacing grin. Wow, this woman really loves her shoes. "Honestly, Miss Holliday-"
"Oh please, call me Heidi" she said.
"Heidi, I'm sorry, but until my source finds any information, I can't really say. I wish I could give you an estimate, but I usually track down cheating spouses, not shoes. If you need any help for the future though..."
"...I'll know where to find you. Thank you, Ms Mars, or Veronica, if you don't mind. But they are very precious to me." Heidi said. She smiled again, but I could tell she was annoyed from the look in her eyes. Guess she was the kind of girl used to getting her own way.
"Now, about that payment..."