An Unexpected Love (Women's Fiction/BWWM Romance)

by Stacy-Deanne

  “Pregnant. Yes.” She held her stomach.

  “This is wonderful!” Layla hugged her. “This is amazing! I’m so happy.”

  Valerie stumbled. “I can tell because you’re about to kill me.”

  “When?” Layla caressed Valerie’s stomach. “How?”

  “I think you know how.” Valerie grinned. “I’m about a month.”

  “Oh my God.” Layla covered her mouth. “I can’t believe this. Does Momma know?”

  “No one knows but you, David, and Corrine.”

  “Corrine?” Layla dropped her hands. “You told Corrine before me? Wait. Why would you tell Corrine before me?”

  “We’re getting closer these days. In fact, when I’m not spending time with David, I’m spending time with her. We have a day where we hang out together each week. I told you about the counseling too.”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t know you actually were going through with it. I think that’s great.”

  Valerie got a pepperoni slice off the counter and popped it into her mouth. “Corrine and I are going to the spa next week.”

  “Can I come?”

  “No.” Valerie playfully pulled on Layla’s ponytail. “We’d love for you to come, but my days with Corrine are for us to get closer.”

  “I understand.” Layla snatched Valerie’s hand. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Valerie sat down. “Let’s just hope this one sticks around to full term.”

  “It will. This is the first time you’ve even gotten pregnant since the miscarriage. We’re gonna be positive. Momma’s gonna be mad that you’ve been pregnant a whole month and hadn’t told her.”

  “She’s just gonna have to be mad.” Valerie kicked off her shoes. “This might be my last chance. In three years, I’ll be old and decrepit like you.”

  “Uh…” Layla grabbed a knife. “Who are you calling old and decrepit?”

  Valerie laughed. “Put that knife down.”

  “No, who are you calling old and decrepit?”

  “Layla…” Valerie chuckled under her hand. “You’re old.”

  “I’m not old.”

  “You’re forty.”

  “So?” She put the knife on the counter. “Forty is the new twenty.”

  “Uh no…forty is the old forty.” Valerie guffawed. “Both of your kids will be twenty in a few years. Face it: you’re old.”

  “Damn, I can’t believe both of my babies will be that old.”

  “I can stay for pizza, right?”

  “Hold up.” Layla went back to fixing it. “You gonna come up in my house and call me decrepit and expect some pizza?”

  Valerie winked. “Yep.”

  The doorbell rang.

  “Just a minute.” Layla left the kitchen and went to the door. She peeked out the peephole and almost lost her breath.

  Deep breaths, Layla, she told herself as she opened the door.

  “Hey.” Cross smiled with his hands in his pockets.

  “Hey.” She almost melted at the sight of his gorgeous eyes. “Is it safe to say you got my message?”

  “I did.”

  “Cross.” She pulled him into the living room. “I’m so sorry. I was a fool. I’ve been whining all this time about not being happy, and I go and throw away the one thing that’s made me happy in a long time.” She took his hands. “I also abandoned you when you needed me.”

  “It’s okay. I understand that you’ve been going through things. I shouldn’t have gotten upset like I did.”

  “You had every right, because all you’ve been is supportive and look how I treated you. I’ll never do that to you again, Cross.” She put her arms around him. “I wanna be with you. I meant what I said.” She touched his hair. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” He hugged her tight and finished it with a gentle kiss. “Next time, remember that whatever you’re going through…I wanna be there for you. There’s nothing I want more, Layla. You’re so special to me.”

  “How do you always know the right things to say?” She put her head on his shoulder. “I can’t believe it’s only been a week. I missed you like crazy.”

  “I kept hoping you’d call and…when you did…my heart almost stopped. Getting that message made me the happiest man in the world.”

  “So…” She grinned and tugged on his hand. “You wanna stay for pizza? Val is here.”

  He kissed her. “That sounds great.”

  The doorbell rang and Layla huffed. “It’s like everyone in the country decided to come over tonight.”

  Cross grinned as he left the room. “Let me say hi to Val.”

  Layla looked through the peephole, and her heart nearly dropped again. God must’ve been busy today, because he’d answered both of her prayers.

  She opened the door and there stood Shanti smiling with her luggage. “Hey, Momma.”

  “Sweetie!” Layla hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She kissed her cheeks. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’ve missed you too.” Shanti laid her hand on Layla’s back. “I’m sorry I made you worry.”

  “None of that matters now.” Layla gestured to Shanti’s bags. “I guess this means you’re coming home?”

  “If you’ll have me.”

  “If I’ll have you?” Layla pinched her cheek and grabbed a bag. “Get on in here.”

  Shanti chuckled and walked in. Patrick walked up from his car. “Hey, Lay.”

  She smiled. “Patrick.”

  Shanti got her other bag from Layla. “I’ll go put these in my room.”

  “Your room.” Layla beamed. “I love the sound of that.”

  Shanti smiled. “Goodbye, Daddy.”

  He blew her a kiss. “I love you, honey.”

  She turned her face, as if to pretend it landed on her cheek, and then left the room.

  “Thank you for bringing her home,” Layla said. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

  “She wanted to come.” Patrick cleared his throat. “It was the right thing to do. She knows I’ll always be there when she needs me.” He sniffed. “Mmm. That’s your homemade pizza sauce I smell.”

  “Would you like some pizza?”

  “No, I see Cross and Val are here.” He pointed at their cars in the driveway. “I don’t wanna impose.”

  “You wouldn’t be imposing, as long as you don’t act a fool.”

  He chuckled. “I’d better go.”

  “I don’t mind if you stay.”

  “I do mind.” He exhaled. “I’m not ready to sit with you and Cross and act like it doesn’t bother me. Maybe one day I can, but not now.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I do hope you can accept the changes. I know it’s hard.”

  He kissed her cheek. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”

  “For what?”

  He walked off the stoop, saying, “For not treating you the way I should’ve when I had the chance.”

  ****

  “A.C., I…” Aliyah paused from her phone call and glanced at her bedroom doorway.

  Shanti waved from the hall. “Hey.”

  “A.C., I’ll…I’ll call you back.” Aliyah hung up and threw the phone on the bed. “Shanti.”

  “How are you doing?” Shanti asked as she walked inside.

  “I should be asking you that.” Aliyah stood. “You’re talking to me.”

  “Yep.” Shanti walked around the room. “I missed you.”

  “Shanti, I’m so sorry I—”

  “Shh.” She raised her hand. “What happened wasn’t your fault.”

  “I feel horrible.”

  “I know, but it’s not your fault, and I never should’ve made you feel like it was.” She stood by the dresser. “I love you, Liyah.”

  “I love you too!” Aliyah ran to her and hugged her. “I’ll never let anything bad happen to you again. I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’ve missed me too.” Shanti put her arms around Aliyah. “But I’m back now…and better than ever.”
>
  THE END