by Nia Arthurs
I step back. Nod. “Okay.”
We head to the cashier downstairs and I notice that it’s raining outside.
“I didn’t bring an umbrella,” Brenna says, worrying her bottom lip.
“And it’s a long walk to the car.” Glancing around, I notice some pink umbrellas on display and slide one onto the conveyor belt.
We head to the door. The rain sounds like a roaring chorus as it pounds against the roof. A cold wind blows, seeping beneath my skin. I push the umbrella open and it snaps to life, extending to its full breadth, which isn’t all that impressive.
Holding it over Brenna’s head, I nod. “Go on. I’ve got you.”
She steps outside and I push the umbrella firmly over her. Rain soaks the left side of my shirt and drips down my arm.
I ignore it, but Brenna doesn’t.
“Hey, you’re getting wet.” She presses herself against me, pasting the length of her arm, her thighs and her hip to mine. “Let’s share it.”
“I’m okay.”
She raises her hand and wraps her fingers around my wrist. “Is it that hard for you to take care of yourself?”
“Taking care of others comes more naturally. It’s a dad thing.”
“It’s a you thing.” Despite the downpour, her steps are short. She’s in no rush to find shelter. “You have so many fans.”
“I doubt it.”
“Kastle gushes about you nonstop. Kaelyn adores you as much as he does.”
“They’re family. They don’t count.”
“No. It’s more than that.” Her eyes drift away from mine. “I heard you went back to help the woman who lives next to the farmhouse.”
My eyes widen. I didn’t tell anyone about that. “How did you…?”
“I went to check on them.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I wanted to make sure Anastacia was alright and see if I could help in any way. That’s when the mom told me,” she steps even closer, “someone had already stopped by. He’d offered her husband a job with his construction crew.”
I rub my chin. “I wonder who that could be?”
She stops and stands close in front of me. The rain pours all around us but, having her so close, I feel like I’m standing next to a bonfire. My fingers tighten on the umbrella handle to keep from wrapping around her.
Brenna speaks so softly her voice is almost drowned by the rain. “You… bother me, Heath. I can’t stop thinking about you.” She licks her lips. “It’s really frustrating.”
My lips twitch. It’s not a love confession, but it’s an acknowledgement that whatever I’m feeling, she’s feeling too.
I stare into her eyes.
She’s so gorgeous I can hardly breathe.
Moonlight spills over her brown skin and long hair.
Over the eyes that are begging me to make this uncomplicated.
To make her forget about the farmhouse.
About everything.
I keep the umbrella over us and reach out slowly.
My hand cups her cheek. Fingers graze against her soft skin.
She sucks in a deep breath. Leans in.
I gather her up.
Press my lips to hers.
Warmth snaps through me.
She fits so perfectly against my body.
So pliant.
So sweet.
I taste cherry gloss.
A hint of coffee on her tongue.
The smell of the earth after a rain surrounds us.
It’s just me and Brenna.
Just us.
I keep it soft. Gentle.
Because this moment feels too precious.
Too sacred.
Like I should cradle it.
Before it shatters.
I pull back and stare into her eyes.
No words are spoken but, feeling the finality of the moment, we breathe in at the same time.
We did it.
We crossed the line.
Sixteen
Brenna
I replay the kiss in my head as I lie in bed that night. Heath held tightly to the umbrella, making sure that not a drop of rain fell on me. Even in that moment he was still taking care of me.
I think about the way he cradled my chin with his free hand.
The callouses that brushed my cheek with every rasp of his thumb.
His tongue gently sweeping over my bottom lip.
His mouth clasping onto mine in a rhythm all our own.
Heat flashes through my chest.
Makes my blood boil.
Makes my body pound.
If he bothered me before, he’s completely and totally taken over now.
I swing my legs off the bed. Press my feet into the tiles. Try to inhale when my chest is so full I can’t even breathe.
I’m drawn back to my desk.
My fingers reach out. Flick the chain on the lamp.
Light bursts around me.
Scattered on my desk are messy notes. Names. People.
A hundred lives and a thousand days captured in black and white characters on a page.
These people have stories they need told.
Stories of redemption and victory.
Of sacrifice and pain.
They ran for their lives under the cover of night, terrified that the future they had been promised would sputter out before they got to freedom.
And along that path, there were beacons of light. Hope in the form of abolitionists. People who believed so strongly that slavery was wrong, they were willing to open their homes to strangers. Willing to break the law. Willing to die for it.
I turn the page and spy more of my sticky notes.
That means something, doesn’t it?
It…
Has to.
Glory’s confession from the ice cream shop whispers back to me. “My medicine is expensive.”
The man I kissed tonight is not the money-grabbing jerk I thought him to be. He wants to tear down the farmhouse to save his baby girl.
I understand that.
Respect it even.
But does that mean I should step aside? Should I silence the voices that echo in these newspaper clippings and in the history books? Should I push them aside to be forgotten, the way so many others were?
The questions tear me up inside.
My purpose is to illuminate sparks of history that have been buried in the darkness.
It’s what I’m good at.
It’s why I breathe.
So setting it aside now feels…
I sigh deeply. Even so, a person is more important.
A life is more important.
But Heath can just get another job.
Would it be that simple?
I rub my forehead. This is why I shouldn’t have kissed Heath.
It’s too complicated.
Unable to return to bed, I decide to clean my small apartment. I do my laundry, fold clothes, and vacuum every inch of the place. By the time I’m done, the sun is peeking through the horizon and I’m too exhausted to greet it. Falling into bed, I close my eyes and I don’t open them until lunch.
When I realize how late it is, I spring to my feet and rush to the shower.
Once I’m out, my phone rings.
It’s Kaelyn offering a ride to the party.
I accept the offer and quickly throw on a dressy blouse and jeans. Taking special care with my makeup, I apply a light spritz to my face. I’m not usually one to mess with makeup, but I want to look my best today.
I’m waiting outside by the time, Kaelyn and Kastle park on the curb.
Climbing into the car, I wave at the couple. “Hey, guys.”
“Hey, Bren.” Kaelyn turns and flashes me a big grin. “It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“I’ve been busy working on the farmhouse case,” I say.
“You’ve been avoiding me.” She scrunches her nose. “That’s hurtful.”
“She’s been whining about how much she misses you,” Kastle expla
ins.
“You know I’m always out of the office when I’m doing research.”
“Still.” She pouts.
I pat her shoulder. “I’ll try to make it back to the office this week.”
Kaelyn brightens. “By the way, Glory told us about how you two met at the library. Did you know she was Heath’s daughter when you saw her?”
“I had no idea.”
“But now that you do, they look alike, don’t they?” She nudges Kastle. “You would never guess that…”
“That what?”
She winces and turns to her boyfriend. “Should I just tell her? She’s one of us.”
“What?” I lean forward, my heart beating fast.
Kastle nods. “I trust her. And I think Heath would too.”
Kaelyn turns around in the front seat. “Glory isn’t Heath’s biological daughter.”
My jaw drops. I’d noticed that Glory has darker skin than Heath’s and assumed he had gotten with a black woman in the past.
I never asked Heath about Glory’s mother because it didn’t feel like any of my business, but I didn’t once assume…
“She’s our sister,” Kastle says in a low voice.
“You mean your dad—?”
He nods stiffly, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. “My parents paid off Glory’s mother, hoping the ‘problem’ would go away, but she died soon after giving birth. We begged dad to take Glory in, but he refused.”
“What about your mom?”
“Mom only cared about what the affair would do to our show and our net worth. And dad didn’t need any convincing.”
“Heath stepped in,” Kaelyn continues. “He took responsibility for Glory. When she got even sicker, he spent most of his money and time going to hospitals, shouldering everything on his own until Mercy came along to help.”
“Thank God she showed up. My brother would suffocate before he admits to needing anyone,” Kastle grumbles.
Kaelyn sighs. “It’s annoying, but you have to understand. To Heath, ‘family’ means putting on a show, manipulating everyone, and turning your back on your children when they need you the most.”
Kastle glances at me in the rearview mirror. “Heath gave up everything he wanted without a second thought. Thinking he has to do everything on his own is his biggest weakness. He doesn’t let us know when it’s too much. That’s why we sometimes have to barge in and force him to take a break.”
Tears glisten in my eyes. “I-I had no idea.”
“Neither does Glory,” Kaelyn says with a grim frown.
“My parents kept what happened under tight wraps, and Heath doesn’t want people knowing in case it drags Glory into the spotlight. He wants her to grow up normal. Without the Jameson burden on her back.”
Kaelyn rubs her boyfriend’s shoulder. “Because he knows firsthand how much that can damage a person.”
Kastle flicks the indicator and pulls up in front of a huge acreage with immaculately pruned shrubs and extravagant gardens. The parking lot is flooded with fancy cars and there are balloons on almost every tree.
I clear my throat. “This place is… a lot.”
Kastle grins. “My idea. Glory’s spent all her birthdays in the hospital. Now that she’s feeling better, I wanted to throw a huge bash and, for once, Heath didn’t argue with me.”
“Come on!” Kaelyn throws her door open.
I follow them into the sparkling, ladybug-themed chaos that is Glory’s birthday party. Sunshine gleams over tables of food laden with a kids’ fever dream—brownies, donuts, hot dogs, burgers, and a huge sculpted cake in the form of Glory’s favorite ladybug character. There are also bouncy houses, llamas in a pen and giant mascots waving to everyone who walks in.
“Kastle,” I lean over and whisper, “you went overboard.”
His smile cracks. “I know.”
“Oh look!” Kaelyn waves at a large group of beautiful women who are all shades of brown.
They wave back.
“Who’s that?” I ask.
“The Make It Marriage crew.”
At the name ‘Make It Marriage’, my entire body stiffens.
If they’re here, that means…
My gaze sweeps the lawn, swinging back and forth until I find Heath.
Hell. He looks so good.
His hair is in a bun. The green shirt he’s wearing matches his eyes.
There’s not a hint of stubble on his cheeks. He must have shaved for the occasion.
I like it.
Although, I like him scruffy and in his construction boots too.
He’s standing in front of the punch bowl, arm muscles rippling as he stirs. My heart does a double tap. Knowing everything I do about how he came to be the father of his little girl, I’m even more in awe of him.
A high-pitched laugh drags my gaze away from Heath. There’s a woman next to him. Dark hair. Tan skin. Big brown eyes. She’s in a flowery dress and wedge heels. My stomach clenches when she puts her hand on Heath’s arm and grins broadly.
Is that the woman the Make It Marriage agency set him up with?
I scowl. She’s not all that.
Kaelyn tugs on my arm. “Let’s go say hi to the crew.”
“Kaelyn!” A woman with long, reddish brown curls, mischievous eyes and a brilliant smile charges over to us. She grabs Kaelyn and gives her a big kiss on the cheek. “It’s good to see you again! You missed out on Troy’s last exhibit. Make sure you come to the next one. It wasn’t as fun without you.”
Kaelyn beams. “I will.” She pushes me forward. “Guys, this is Brenna, my amazing boss.”
“Hey.” I wave lamely.
My eyes flit to Heath again.
The woman is even closer now.
They’re talking with their foreheads almost touching.
Anger storms through my chest and I grit my teeth.
Someone steps in front of me, blocking my view. She’s a slim woman with light brown skin and hair in a sleek ponytail. She has high cheekbones, plump, pink lips and a quiet aura. Her white dress clings to her hips and tapers down gracefully to her fancy pumps.
She smiles prettily. “Hi, Brenna. I’m Kayla.”
“Hi.” I grasp her hand.
“Amina.” Another woman introduces herself. She has dark brown skin, almond-shaped eyes and a huge afro. The sides of her hair are braided with three little gold clips that wink in the sunlight.
“Where’s Tierra?” Kaelyn asks.
“She’s running late,” Kayla explains.
Venus rolls her eyes. “She’s probably outside making out with Brett in the car.”
“Venus,” Kayla scolds. “Even if that’s true, you shouldn’t broadcast it. Brenna will think we’re animals.”
“Well, when we’re married to such handsome, honest, hard-working men, how can we keep our hands off them?”
Despite how uneasy I feel about Heath and that woman, Venus manages to make me laugh.
Kaelyn was right. These women are a blast.
If only they wouldn’t meddle in Heath’s love life.
My eyes stray away from them.
I focus on Heath.
On that woman who’s standing a little too close to him.
On the fact that he’s not leaning back.
In fact, he’s laughing along with her.
“So, Brenna,” the one with reddish-brown hair, Venus—I think her name was, grins at me, “we love your blog. Everyone at Make It Marriage reads it religiously.”
“Thanks.”
More laughter comes from Heath and the woman. Their heads are even closer together now as they stare at a phone.
The burning in my heart gets way, way worse.
“I notice you work on Saturdays too,” I murmur bitterly.
“We’re always working.” Amina winks.
Venus nods. “It’s the curse of being so good at what we do.”
My fingers curl into fists. The Make It Marriage women are known for arranging matches that last.<
br />
But this time, I really hope they fail.
Seventeen
Heath
The moment I see Brenna standing across the lawn with Kaelyn, Kastle and the Make It Marriage women, my breath gets caught in my throat. She meets my eyes for a second and I lift my hand in welcome.
Her eyes narrow and she glances away.
Not the reaction I was expecting.
“Daddy! Daddy!” Glory gallops toward me, dressed in her fancy birthday outfit. Another gift from Kastle.
This extravaganza is all him.
I wanted to fight it but, in the end, it’s Glory’s day and all I want is my little girl happy. Hopefully, in the future, my business will take off enough that I can do this for her instead of Kastle.
“Hey, baby. Hey, Steph.” I nod at the little girl standing next to her. “You girls having fun?”
“Miss B is here!” Glory grabs my hand and drags me across the lawn.
Steph trots along.
Brenna scowls at me when I draw closer.
I blink in confusion. Is she upset about last night? Or because I didn’t call her after we kissed?
I planned to but, as soon as I got home, Glory was up and asking for me to read her stories. Since it was the day before her birthday, I obliged and she ended up staying awake until late in the night. She also asked to sleep in my bed with me, so I couldn’t call. But I didn’t think it would upset Brenna this much.
I try to meet her eyes. What’s going on?
She ignores me and focuses on my little girl. The scowl dissolves and is replaced by a giant smile. “Happy birthday, Glory.”
“Thank you!” She wraps Brenna in a hug.
“This is just for now.” Brenna taps the gift bag we got yesterday. “Your real birthday present is coming later.”
“Is it books?” Glory squeals.
Brenna gasps. “How did you know?”
“Because we think the same.” My daughter answers sassily.
“She’s so cute!” Venus yells. Turning away from her friends, she searches the field. “Where’s Troy? I want a daughter now.”
Kayla shakes her head, although a serene smile is on her face too.
Last I saw, Brendon had their baby daughter visiting the llama pen. He had to take her away because the Make It Marriage women were fighting so intensely over who would hold her.