Nivea scowled.
“I’m only joking, Miss Nivea.”
“I didn’t find that joke funny at all.”
“Okay, I’ll be mindful of the jokes I tell.” She steered the grandiose carriage out the front door. Nivea hovered in the doorway as Odette struggled getting the pram down the steps. She watched as the nanny pushed the pram down the street, pleased with the extravagant purchase and mentally plotting on a designer high chair.
Odette’s comment about the baby riding around in a Cadillac got the wheels turning in Nivea’s mind. Her six-year-old Acura was in good condition, but it was time for an upgrade. With the enormous amount of money in her bank account, and all the extra cash that would be pouring in for the next eighteen years, she could afford something more luxurious to get around in. Besides, now that she had a child, she needed a vehicle with a little more room. An elegant “Mommy-type SUV.” Maybe a BMW X6 or a new Cadillac SRX.
She went online and checked out the prices. The brand-new SRX with all the extras cost around $57,000, which was only a drop in the bucket and wouldn’t put much of a dent in the hush-money she’d gotten from Rachel Sandburg.
Nivea left the Cadillac dealership driving a new white-on-white SRX and feeling smugly content. Looking and acting affluent and important, she had sneered when the salesman had offered a variety of loan options. Declining the loan offers, she haughtily pulled out her checkbook and her Montblanc pen.
That purchase triggered an urge to spend more money. She and Mackenzie needed a new all-white wardrobe to match the car. Instead of heading for home, she got on the expressway, her hands clutching the steering wheel excitedly as she headed in the direction of the King of Prussia Mall, where high-end brands were housed under one roof.
Gucci was the first stop. She spent $350 on a white tulle dress for Mackenzie and $200 on an adorable, tiny pair of white patent leather ballet flats. Her daughter would look like a dream in all white. After leaving the Kids Department, she spent another $900 on white sandals and a pair of white sunglasses with the Gucci logo for herself. Unable to find a white dress, she paid a visit to Hermes and found the perfect, whimsical white dress crafted from luxurious Egyptian cotton and blended with silk and cashmere.
After splurging on additional, all-white clothing items in other exclusive shops, the mall trip was completed after a jewelry shopping excursion at Bailey, Banks, and Biddle as well as Tiffany & Co.
All total, she’d spent $60,000 at the Cadillac dealership and $11,000 at the mall. But Nivea wasn’t worried about the money; she was rolling in dough with lots more to be deposited into her bank account each and every month.
Later that night, after the baby was asleep and Odette had gone for the evening, Nivea had yet to open the bags that contained her new purchases, yet she powered on her laptop and went online to continue her compulsive shopping spree. She wanted her little girl to have a doll collection, and once she started looking, she wanted every doll she saw. She not only purchased five insanely expensive dolls, but she also bought their exclusive little wardrobes and adorable accessories.
While browsing doll furniture, she happened upon a site that featured custom-made clothes hangers that were made of satin with pearl handles. Nivea’s heart began to pound when she realized she could get Mackenzie’s name hand-sewn in glittery thread in the center of each hanger. She immediately ordered two dozen of the personalized hangers.
Kenzie really needs a bigger room with a walk-in closet. Her small bedroom is already beginning to overflow with her numerous toys and extensive wardrobe. The moment I have an extra minute, I’m going to have to start looking at houses. We’re outgrowing this townhouse at a rapid pace.
HARLOW
Harlow let out a gasp of surprise when the positive sign appeared on the test stick. Impulsively, she picked up the phone to call Drake and share the good news. But exactly how reliable were home pregnancy tests? She’d be distraught if the test result turned out to be a mistake, and so she decided against sharing the news with Drake.
She poised her finger to call Vangie, and then remembered they were no longer friends. She called Nivea instead. She hardly ever called Nivea, but she had to talk to someone.
“Hey, Niv, this is Harlow. How’re you doing and how’s the baby?”
“Hi, Harlow, what a pleasant surprise. Mackenzie’s doing great. She’s putting on some weight, has cute lil’ chubby cheeks, and her hair is finally starting to come in.”
“I can’t wait to see her again. Maybe we can do lunch or go shopping the next time I’m in town.”
“That sounds like fun. Lunch will be my treat.”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“I insist.”
“Okay, that’s really sweet, Niv. Thanks.”
“So, when do you think you’ll be coming to Philly?”
“Drake has a charity function at the Art Museum next Friday. Maybe I’ll join him and get together with you the next day. Is next Saturday good for you?”
“It’s perfect. I guess Vangie will be joining us, but I’m not picking up the check for her, and you shouldn’t, either. That heifer always gets a free ride when she’s with you,” Nivea said with a chuckle.
“Actually, Vangie won’t be joining us. She and I have sort of parted ways—”
“What happened?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Okay, well, I won’t pry, then. On the bright side, I hope you and I can become closer friends. I blame Vangie; she always stood in the way of our getting closer. She enjoyed being the link between us, and frankly, I don’t think she wanted us to get too close.”
“You could be right,” Harlow said, though she really didn’t agree with Nivea. Vangie didn’t have anything to do with Harlow’s and Nivea’s lack of closeness. Due to Harlow’s upbringing in the foster care system, Nivea had always looked down on her. Now that Harlow had a wealthy husband, she was finally good enough for Nivea. Nivea seemed to have matured since having the baby, and Harlow was willing to let bygones be bygones.
“I don’t know what Vangie did to you, but it had to be horrible. You rode hard for that girl, and I can’t imagine what she did to piss you off to the point where you’ve ended a lifelong friendship.”
“I thought you weren’t going to pry.”
“That’s right; I forgot.” Nivea laughed embarrassedly. “Moving on to a different topic, did you know that things are finally looking up in my life? I’ll tell you all about my good fortune over lunch.”
“Great. You sound really happy.”
“Happier than I’ve ever been.”
“Now I’m curious.”
“My lips are sealed; I’ll tell you all about it when we get together.”
“Okay. Listen, Niv, I wanted to get your opinion on something…”
“Sure. What is it?”
“I took a home pregnancy test and it came out positive. Since you’re in the pharmaceuticals business and you’ve been pregnant, I was wondering if you could tell me how reliable those home kits are.”
“Pregnancy tests work by detecting hCG, a special hormone that’s found in the blood and urine, and it’s only there when a woman is pregnant. Home pregnancy tests are pretty reliable but you can get a false negative if you take it too soon. You’ll get a more accurate reading if you wait a week after your missed period.”
“That’s the thing—my periods are irregular.”
“It’s rare to get a false positive, but if you want to be a hundred percent certain and if you’re anxious to know, then go to your doctor and get a blood test. A blood test can detect hCG levels much earlier in a pregnancy than a urine test.”
“I’ve been to my gynecologist three times in the past six months and it’s getting a little embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed; I’m sure your doctor understands your anxiousness. But if you’re that embarrassed, then go see a different doctor. After you find out you’re really pregnant, start seeing an
obstetrician so you can begin your prenatal care as soon as possible. I’m sure your gynecologist can recommend a good baby doctor,” Nivea said.
“Good advice! I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.”
“You’re all wound up and under a lot of stress right now.”
“That’s true. Anyway, thanks again for listening to my troubles. I love your positive attitude, Niv. You make it sound like I’ll be popping prenatal vitamins in a matter of days.”
“I have a good feeling about it, but you need to see a doctor ASAP, for your own peace of mind.”
Feeling hopeful, Harlow said, “You’re right.”
“If it turns out you’re pregnant, we’ll have to celebrate when you come to town. Do a little shopping for baby things.”
“I’d love that!”
“I’m a pregnancy pro. I know all the basic necessities you’ll need for yourself and your newborn.”
“My newborn. God, I love the sound of that!”
“Kenzie wasn’t planned, as you know, but I took to motherhood like a duck to water. Due to the situation, with my family being against me and all, my mom didn’t offer any kind of assistance or advice. I took a training class for mothers-to-be and it was really helpful. Other than that, I had to rely on my own motherly instincts. But you’re lucky; you won’t have to figure it all out on your own because you have me. Honestly, Harlow, being a mother is my greatest accomplishment. It’s not all about me anymore; Kenzie comes first. I honestly love my daughter more than I could ever tell you.”
“I can hear that love in your voice. You really have changed; motherhood becomes you.”
“You’re going to be a great mom, too. Our kids will be like siblings!”
“Oh, my God; I’m so excited. Do you really think I’m going to have a baby?”
“Yes, I do. You can’t argue with that positive sign.”
“I hope you’re right. I’m so glad we had this conversation.”
“Me, too.”
“Oh, one more thing before we hang up. How soon can the gender of a baby be determined?”
“Generally between the eighteenth and twenty-sixth week of pregnancy, but there’s newer ultrasound technology that determine the baby’s sex around the twelfth or thirteenth week.”
“That’s exciting. I’m definitely going for the newer technology. I want to know my baby’s sex as soon as possible.”
“What do you want, a boy or girl?”
“I’d prefer a girl, but I don’t care as long as it’s healthy.”
“What about Drake?”
“He’d be ecstatic if we had a son and I want to give him whatever he wants. Maybe I’ll luck up and have twins!”
“A doting father is the only thing Kenzie’s missing, but between her nanny and me, we try to fill that void by giving her plenty of love and affection.”
“You have a nanny!”
“Full time. But you have to wait until our lunch date before I tell you the whole, fantastic story of my sudden windfall.”
“Okay, well, I’m going to get off the phone and look for an OB/GYN. I’ll talk to you, soon, Niv.”
VANGIE
Vangie pulled her earring off and pressed the phone against her ear. “Hey, Niv. Haven’t heard from you in a while…how are you?”
“Fabulous, girl. I’m absolutely fabulous.”
“Gone with the wind fabulous?” Vangie said, borrowing a line from reality star, Kenya Moore.
“Gone with the wind, what?” Nivea asked.
“Oh, nothing.” Apparently Nivea didn’t watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which wasn’t surprising given Nivea’s bourgeoisie status. “Did you get the paternity test back?”
“Sure did,” she said casually.
“Really? Is Knox the father?”
“Hell, no!”
“Didn’t you want him to be?”
“Things have changed and I don’t need that deadbeat anymore.”
“Forgive me for sounding confused, but how is it that you’re feeling so fabulous? You had your heart set on destroying your sister’s marriage, and I thought you’d be distraught if it turned out Knox wasn’t the baby’s father.”
“Girl, Knox and Courtney can both kiss my ass. I found a much better father for my daughter. Someone who’s not only wealthy, but also extremely generous. I have a full-time nanny for Mackenzie, a hefty monthly child support check, and a lot of money in the bank. Oh, yeah, and I recently paid cash for a brand-new Cadillac SRX. It’s gorgeous, girl. White on white. After I bought it, I had to run out and get Kenzie and me a white wardrobe to match the new ride. And I didn’t shop at The Children’s Place for my baby. No, girl, it’s all about Gucci, Prada, Marc Jacobs, and Hermes around here.”
Nivea sounded delusional and Vangie wondered if her friend was suffering from yet another emotional breakdown. “Whoa. Whoa. How is all that possible? When I talked to you about two weeks ago, you were biting your nails, worrying about going back to work and waiting around to get the results of the paternity test.”
“I’m still going back to work because I don’t want to dip into Kenzie’s inheritance, you know what I mean?”
“Her inheritance?”
“That’s what I call the lump sum of money I got from Kenzie’s father. So much has changed in our lives.”
“Who is her father?”
“A rich doctor. One of my clients.”
“Are you serious? You had sex with one of your clients?”
“I had sex with several clients, but who cares. The right one stepped up to the plate and that’s all that matters. Now that I’m financially secure, I’m going to start hanging out with Harlow. Since she and I are pretty much on the same level now, I bet she’ll be thrilled to have a friend that can pay for her own dinner.”
Vangie gulped. “What are you implying? Are you trying to say that I’ve been mooching off Harlow?”
“I’m not implying anything, but if the shoe fits…well, you know the rest.”
“I’m insulted.”
“Didn’t mean to offend you, but I’m only speaking the truth.”
“Have you spoken with Harlow? Did she say anything about me?” Vangie felt particularly paranoid in light of the fact that Harlow hadn’t been returning her calls. She’d sent her flowers over a week ago, and hadn’t heard a word from Harlow. Additionally, she’d been calling Harlow for the past few days, but her calls either went to voicemail or weren’t answered at all. It wasn’t like Harlow to hold a grudge, and Vangie was starting to feel sick to her stomach with worry.
“As a matter of fact, Harlow and I have been talking—a couple times a day.”
Vangie was stunned. Harlow and Nivea didn’t have anything in common. They didn’t care for each other, and Vangie had always been the glue that kept them together. It was hard to imagine Harlow and Nivea sharing a friendship without her. “Did she say anything about me?”
“No. We don’t talk about you at all. Our conversations tend to focus on matters of high finance. Stuff you wouldn’t know much about. Like hot vacation spots, summer homes, nannies and housekeepers. Shit like that.”
“That’s interesting.” Vangie had an attitude. How dare Harlow and Nivea shut her out?
“We also talk about pregnancy.”
“What’s there to talk about when Harlow isn’t even pregnant,” Vangie said in a surly tone.
“Well, she’s working on it and I’m sure she’ll be pregnant very soon. She appreciates the way I encourage her. She says she never knew that I was such a positive person.”
“Since when? I’ve never known you to be anything but negative and all about yourself.”
“People change. And I’m being a very good friend to Harlow, listening to her pregnancy concerns and giving her sound advice. Unlike a certain someone who acted bored whenever she brought up the subject of her desire to have a baby.”
“Did she tell you that?”
“No, you told me.”
“I did not!”
“Think about it. During our last conversation, you sort of confided that Harlow was becoming a bore and that all she wanted to talk about was getting pregnant. Remember, Vangie?”
Vangie swallowed guiltily. “I didn’t put it that way. I hope you didn’t carry that malicious gossip back to Harlow.”
“As I said, your name hasn’t come up during any of our conversations.”
“Good. So, tell me some more about your rich baby daddy. Is he crazy about Mackenzie? She’s such a cutie; I know he fell head over heels in love.”
“He’s not interested in having a relationship with her and I couldn’t care less. He’s going to pay for European vacations, private school, and I’m going to talk him into buying us a new home. Something lavish that’s sitting on several acres. I want Kenzie to have lots of room to play.”
“That’s great, Nivea,” Vangie said, sounding good-natured, though a part of her hoped that Nivea was experiencing illusions of grandeur and hadn’t actually struck it rich. Everything Nivea claimed the doctor had given her was what Vangie wanted for Yuri and herself. Needing to investigate the matter further, she asked, “What are you doing next Saturday? I haven’t seen Mackenzie in a while…wanna meet for lunch?”
“Next Saturday? Sorry, I can’t. Harlow’s coming to Philly with Drake for a fund-raiser at the Art Museum on Friday night. She and I are getting together Saturday for lunch and shopping. She hasn’t seen Kenzie in a while, so I may bring her along…and her nanny, of course. Harlow is going to be so shocked at how much Kenzie has grown. And how gorgeous she is,” Nivea added boastfully.
Vangie groaned inwardly. Nivea was such a braggart. She complained about her mother being pretentious, but she failed to realize she was exactly like Denise Westcott.
“I hope Harlow has a girl,” Nivea went on, oblivious that she was being totally obnoxious. “She and Drake would make a beautiful little girl. Of course, Kenzie and Harlow’s daughter will be the best of friends. Two pretty little rich girls, accustomed to living in the lap of luxury. Like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Isn’t that an adorable thought?”
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