by Skyy
Patrick coming into her life had changed her whole life plan. Instead of attending law school and pursuing a future as a hotshot entertainment attorney, she was running after a baby boy who just wanted to get into everything. She loved her son, but she couldn’t help that he got on her last nerve. She had never thought being a housewife was in her future, and now she was starting to rethink the whole thing.
Misha thought about Cooley. She wondered what would have happened if she had said no to Patrick and had worked on her relationship with Cooley. Cooley was living a life she had never even imagined Cooley having. After watching her sister ruin her life with all the children she had, Misha had made a decision that kids were not in her future. Somehow a chance encounter with her first love at Lena’s wedding had altered her whole life plan.
Misha pulled up to her home. Patrick’s car was in the driveway. She looked down at her phone. After countless angry text messages, Patrick had given up on calling her the night before once her voice mail was full. She knew it was wrong to ignore him, but she had needed the break. She was home with their son every day, all day, while he enjoyed life. She never got to experience the finer things in life that he always talked about. As a sports agent, he attended functions without her most of the time. She was tired of sitting at home while his job took him to exciting cities and introduced him to athletes and celebrities. She had an itch for more, and she needed to scratch it.
Misha finally talked herself into going into the house. She braced herself for the hell storm she knew was about to hit her. Misha walked into the kitchen. It was quiet, too quiet.
All the lights were off in the house. She walked into the living room and quietly placed her bag on the coffee table.
“Welcome home.” Patrick’s deep voice almost caused Misha to jump out of her skin. She regained her composure.
“Thanks.” Misha turned the light on. She saw Patrick sitting in his favorite leather recliner. His face was still, stern. Worry lines had formed at the edges of both his eyes. She refused to feel bad about her decision to take the day off. “Where’s Jaylin?”
“With my mother.” Patrick didn’t move.
Misha sat down on the couch and braced herself.
Patrick still didn’t move. He just stared at her.
“Look, I know you are mad, but I needed a break.”
“And you figured that was the way to take it? I was worried out of my mind.”
“I told you where I was going to be.”
Patrick’s calm voice was starting to scare Misha. Over the years they had had their share of arguments. This was new to her. Patrick shifted his eyes away from her.
“Sorry if I worried you,” Misha added.
Patrick looked back up. “What are you apologizing for? You know you aren’t sorry.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No, you aren’t.” Patrick shook his head. “Because you don’t have a reason to be.” Patrick stood up. “You see, when you left, I was pissed, but then I started wondering what I did to make you feel you had to run out like that.” Patrick continued to talk as he went into his office. “I realized that I have put too much on you.”
Misha didn’t know what to think. She stood up and walked toward his voice. The hallway was dark. He hadn’t turned on any lights.
“No, you haven’t,” Misha’s voice cracked as she ran her hand along the wall to find the light switch.
“Yes, I have.”
Misha’s hand reached the light switch. She flipped it up and gasped.
On the floor were what seemed like a million red and white rose petals leading to their bedroom. Shocked, Misha covered her mouth with her hand as she walked toward their bedroom. Suddenly Patrick’s hands covered her eyes. He guided her into their bedroom.
Patrick removed his hands, instantly leaving Misha speechless. A trail of petals led to the bed, and in the middle of the bed were tons of gifts wrapped in different size boxes.
“What is all of this?” Misha’s voice cracked again. She turned around to see Patrick holding a single red rose.
“I realized that I don’t tell you or show you how much I love you. You gave up a lot to be with me, and you are the best mom to our son. I figured it was time I show you. Starting with today. Happy Misha’s Day.” An adoring smile appeared on Patrick’s face.
Misha turned around and looked at the lavish display. Suddenly her thoughts of Cooley and what could have been disappeared. She remembered the important thing. She hadn’t given up her goals; she had simply altered them. Patrick and Jaylin were her new future, and it was looking pretty bright.
Chapter 8
Carmen stood on the large platform in the middle of the famous Bridals by Lori wedding dress store. She felt as though all eyes were on her. The three-way mirror showed all her sides in the beautiful dress. She turned to the right and then to the left. She, like most of the world, had royal wedding fever, and the dress had just the right amount of Kate Middleton meets the beach.
“And how much is it again?” Carmen admired each side again. Everything about the dress was perfect; it was her vision for her wedding.
“It’s normally ten thousand, but since this is our sample, we can give it to you for six as is,” said the slender, chic wedding dress coordinator without skipping a beat.
Carmen sighed. She wanted to cry. She had a very tight budget of two thousand to spend on her dress, and there was no way to cut enough corners to pay for the dream dress.
Carmen knew she had no business walking into the upscale boutique, but she just couldn’t help herself. Dress shopping was something she was supposed to do with Lena and Misha, but the elegant window display had her hooked. Not to mention that her obsession with wedding shows only heightened when she was standing in front of the store, where she watched women say yes to the dress over and over. She hadn’t expected to walk in, see the dress of her dreams, and have it fit her perfectly.
She turned to her right side again. “I don’t know. Something doesn’t look right.”
“I beg to differ. That dress looks outstanding on you, like it was meant for you.” The coordinator knew exactly what to say to brides.
“Oh, my goodness.”
Carmen turned around to see a young white bride-to-be and her friends and family standing behind her.
The young bride walked up closer to her. “You look absolutely amazing. Oh, Mother, I want a dress that can make me look as good as she does.”
“Yes, dear,” said her very professional and obviously rich mother, while typing away on her iPad.
“When is your big day?” The bride walked closer to Carmen.
“July tenth. My birthday.” Carmen smiled.
“Really? I’m next May. I’m so excited. Aren’t you just excited?” The bride was giddy with glee.
“I’m getting there. I just want everything to be perfect.”
The bride nodded her head. “Oh, honey, if you wear that dress, nothing in the world could go wrong.”
A different coordinator walked out of the back. “Ladies, we are ready for you.”
Carmen knew they were headed to the VIP section of the store. She remembered from Lena’s wedding. The large group of ladies giggled as they headed back to watch the young bride-to-be try on dresses. Sadness filled Carmen’s body. She stepped off the platform, grabbed her phone, and sat on a white couch across the way.
Cooley was going through the large stack of photo proofs of Sahara on her home office when she heard her phone buzzing. She caught it right before the last ring. “C, what’s going on?”
Carmen sighed. “I’m sitting here trying not to cry and ruin this amazing dress I have on right now.”
Cooley looked up from the photos. She hated the way Carmen sounded lately whenever they talked. “What’s going on?”
“Carla, I’m sitting here in this fabulous dress shop, with my dream wedding dress on, all because I walked into this store I knew I couldn’t afford. Serves me right, I guess. This sucks.” A tear
rolled out of Carmen’s right eye. She wiped it before it hit the dress.
Cooley rubbed the top of her head. “I thought you were waiting to go with Lena and Misha . . . and I thought you were doing it in Memphis.”
“I know. I told you I was crazy. I just couldn’t help myself. Damn Atlanta and its amazing stores.”
“Maybe it’s not perfect. I mean, it’s what? The first dress you tried on?”
“Kate Middleton.”
Cooley paused. “Oh.” She knew Carmen had been obsessed with the wedding and the dress. “Well, if you think it’s the one, why don’t you call Lena and tell her to meet you there? You could just be in crazy bride mode right now, and it might not be perfect.”
Carmen really wanted to die. “Nah, I’m just going to leave.”
Cooley already knew the problem. She knew Carmen wanted a royal wedding on a ghetto budget. “How much is it?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it. Let’s just drop it. I’ll just leave before I shoot myself. Hold on a second.” Carmen stood up and walked back to her dressing room.
Her coordinator walked over to help her into the dressing room. “Have you decided on anything?”
“Yeah, I think I’m going to have to pass.” Carmen fought to hold in her tears in front of the woman. The coordinator closed the door behind her. She put her phone back to her ear. “I knew better than to come into this store. Hell, this is where Lena’s dress came from, so I should have known anything in here would be out of my budget.” Carmen wanted to scream.
“Damn, Carmen, can you listen to me for one moment? Call Lena or Mish, and tell them to meet you there. Who knows? They might not agree. I gotta take this call. Can I call you right back?”
Carmen wanted to throw the phone. “Yeah, I need to take this dress off, anyway.”
Carmen hung the phone up. While tears ran down her face, she took the beautiful dress off. She handed the dress to the coordinator and finished getting dressed.
“Are you sure you don’t have anyone to come give you a second opinion?”
“That’s what my friend was just telling me. I guess I’ll call my friend.” Carmen picked her phone up and called Lena, who, surprisingly, was in the area. Carmen forced herself to smile at the woman. She knew, no matter what, she couldn’t leave with the dress, but at least she’d have a few more moments with it.
“Okay, here I come.”
Lena sat in anticipation of the dress, which Carmen had claimed was the dress of all dresses. She watched as the door swung open.
“Well?” Carmen looked up at Lena, whose mouth was covered. Tears began to form in Lena’s eyes. “Lena!” Carmen yelled as Lena began to cry like a little baby.
“I’m sorry, Carmen, but it’s just . . . it’s just so perfect.”
The coordinator clapped. Carmen was doomed. She couldn’t help it. Tears began to fall, and they weren’t tears of joy.
“Carmen.” Lena stood up. She asked the coordinator to excuse them. “What’s wrong?”
Carmen held up the price tag. Lena knew Carmen couldn’t afford that dress or any other dress in the store. She smiled.
“We’re getting this dress.” Lena turned to call the woman back into the room, but Carmen grabbed her arm.
“Nic will kill me. This is damn near the whole budget.”
“Carmen, I’m buying you this dress.” Lena grabbed her purse, but Carmen stopped her again.
“No, Lena, you don’t understand. I can’t come home with a ten-thousand-dollar dress, even if it’s on sale for six. Nic already doesn’t like that you guys are always doing stuff for us.”
“What? Come on, Carmen, you are my best friend.” Lena crossed her arms.
“It doesn’t matter. She thinks I rely on you guys too much. It’s a pride thing.”
Lena could understand where Nic was coming from, but she didn’t agree. She hated that Carmen felt she couldn’t ask her for things, but she also understood that Nic wanted them to live within their means.
“Nic doesn’t have to know. I’m sure they won’t mind tacking on a different price tag or something.”
“But I’ll know.”
“Carmen, your wedding is in two months. We don’t have time for this silly pride crap.”
Carmen’s phone rang. Lena answered it.
“So?” Cooley’s raspy voice came through the speaker.
“It’s perfect.” Lena hated saying the words as Carmen walked back into the dressing room. “But she’s not going to get it, and she won’t let me get it.”
Lena hung up with Cooley as Carmen came out in her regular jeans and shirt. She tried to put on a happy face, but she couldn’t. She was hurt. It had finally hit her that her dream wedding wouldn’t happen without dream finances.
Carmen walked past all the beautiful dresses on the racks. She could hear the other bride’s friends’ oohs and aahs coming from the back. This was not how she had expected her wedding planning to go.
Carmen and Lena headed toward the front door. A case of sparkling tiaras caught Carmen’s attention. She couldn’t resist. She walked over to the beautiful diamond tiaras, admiring their beauty. She wanted the fairy-tale wedding she’d been dreaming about her whole life. She wanted to feel like a princess, but her situation was making her feel more like a servant. She forced herself away from the case of tiaras and headed to the door.
Carmen heard her name as she was walking out of the door. She and Lena turned around to see the coordinator rushing toward them with a big smile and a large white garment bag in her hand.
“You don’t want to leave without this.” The coordinator held her arm out. Carmen’s confused face said it all. “It’s been taken care of.”
“What do you mean?” Carmen hesitated.
“Your friend Carla Wade called in and told me to charge the dress and whatever else you wanted. She must be an amazing friend.”
Carmen’s body felt like it was about to explode from happiness. Lena hugged her. She couldn’t contain herself. Her phone began to ring. It was Cooley’s personal ringtone.
“Carla, no.”
Cooley was grinning from ear to ear. “Shut up and enjoy it.”
“Carla, I can’t.”
“You didn’t. I did. Now, can I please get back to my work?” Denise walked in the room just in time to hear Carmen’s squeals coming through the speakerphone. Cooley motioned for her to come over. “Denise is here too.”
“I can’t believe you did this.”
“You better chill before I undo it,” Cooley said. Denise was now smiling too. “Carmen, you deserve the Disney princess fairy tale that you’ve always wanted.”
“That’s right, girlie. Whatever you want, we got ya,” Denise chimed in.
“I agree,” Lena squealed. Denise’s heart skipped a beat when she heard Lena’s voice.
Carmen couldn’t contain herself anymore and broke down. “I love you guys.” She hugged Lena. She had no idea how she would explain it to Nic, but she didn’t care. In that moment it was about her, and she was happy.
“We love you too. Now, stop being so depressed and go plan away. I gotta talk to Dee.”
“Wait!” Denise yelled. “Yo, let me speak to Lena.”
Cooley grinned as she shook her head. Denise threw her middle finger at her friend. Carmen was grinning just as hard. Lena looked confused as Carmen handed her the phone. Denise took the phone off speaker and walked to the door.
“Um, hello?” Lena said, still looking puzzled.
“Hey, Lena.” Denise lowered her voice. “It’s Denise.”
“Oh.” Lena’s stomach dropped. She turned away from Carmen and started to walk off. “Hey, what’s up?”
“So yesterday we kinda got cut off. I was wondering if we could catch up a bit. How about dinner?”
Cooley made a noise like she was clearing her throat. Denise motioned for her to shut up, only adding to Cooley’s amusement.
“Sure!” Lena instantly felt dumb for her excitement. “How a
bout tonight? Wait. Shit, it’s my last night with my daughter before Brandon takes her to Memphis for two weeks.”
“Well, you can bring her. I’d really love to meet her.” Denise leaned against the wall. She was smiling from ear to ear.
Lena couldn’t stop smiling. “Well, how about instead of going out, you come over to my place?”
The statement made Denise stand straight. “Uh, yeah, that’s cool. I’ll get the address from Carmen. How’s seven?”
Lena couldn’t stop smiling. “Seven is perfect.”
“Great. See you then.”
Lena hung up, feeling like she was walking on cloud nine.
Denise hung the phone up and turned toward Cooley. Cooley’s dimples were deep from her grin. “What?” Denise sat down in the chair across from Cooley.
“As much as I want to get in ya ass right now, we need to get back into professional mode. So even though the statement I’m about to make can go for all aspects of your fucked-up life, I’m dealing only with the professional part at this moment.... Dude, what the fuck are you doing?”
Denise sighed. “I know....Wait, what?” Denise didn’t know if Cooley was referring to Lena or to something else.
“Do you? You are making my life a living hell right now. You need to pick the damn project you want to do.”
Denise’s happiness quickly faded. “I just don’t know. The teenybopper thing is big, but it just seems silly. Cameron would be cool, but it’s only a few words. I like Fast and Furious, and I kinda wanna do it.”
“Kinda wanna do . . .” Cooley dropped her head. “Look, Dee, I love you, bruh, but this holier-than-thou attitude you have has got to go. You made one hot movie, and we don’t even know how the indie one is going to do yet. Two films don’t make you irreplaceable. You don’t know what the second movie is going to do. It could suck. You got these amazing directors wanting you for their movies, and you acting like you fuckin’ Halle Berry or some shit.”
“I’m not. . . .”