“Bailey and I were both nominated for best in fiction by Book Times Magazine,” Harini announced. “I just saw that she won.”
“How do you feel about it, sis?”
“That I deserved it more. I’ve been nominated every year for the past ten years and I’ve won each time. However, a lot of my so-called sister scribes have complained that these awards are just a popularity contest. I think Bailey won just to shut them up. The magazine needs subscribers and a lot of authors vocalized that they would no longer support it.”
“You read her book. What did you think of it?”
“It’s alright. I don’t see what the fuss is all about,” Harini responded.
“Can you ever say anything nice about any other author’s books?” Pip questioned. “Because I can’t remember the last kind word you’ve said about someone else’s work.”
“This is why I hate talking to you sometimes.”
Pip shrugged. “Too bad. You’re stuck with me.”
Harini stormed out of her office, muttering a string of profanity.
“Was it something I said?” Pip called out after her.
After the Philadelphia signing, Bailey sat down to dinner with Cassidy and Maurie. This was her first time back in Philadelphia since leaving to return home to Raleigh.
“Girl, it’s so good to see you,” Cassidy greeted as the two women embraced. “The last time I saw you was at your wedding.”
“I know,” Bailey responded. “I promise to do better. Helping my mom, settling into my marriage and being a mother has kept me busy… then my writing…”
“I’m so proud of you,” Maurie interjected.
Bailey hugged her next. “I’m so glad y’all are here with me. I’ve really missed you both.”
Maurie took a sip of her drink. “You look happy.”
“I am,” she responded. “Trace is a wonderful husband and father. My children are my everything. My writing career is fantastic—I have no reason to complain.”
“It’s well deserved,” Cassidy said.
The waiter arrived with a tray of entrees for them.
“The bookstore was crowded,” Maurie stated before slicing off a piece of fish and sticking it into her mouth.
Bailey smiled. “I always wonder if I’m going to walk into a store with only ten people waiting to see me—I tell myself that if I do—I’m still going to have fun.”
Cassidy leaned forward in her chair. “So, tell me how it feels to have a movie adaptation of your book?”
“It’s incredible,” Bailey said with a grin. “Right now, we are in the script writing phase of this journey.”
“I thought Harini might show up,” Cassidy said. “Even if only to try and upstage you.”
“I didn’t expect to see her.” Bailey took a sip of water. “I don’t think she’s woman enough to face me one on one.”
Maurie agreed. “She wouldn’t chance a one-on-one confrontation in public like that.”
“I would never confront Harini in front of readers,” Bailey stated. “If and when I do have a talk with her… it will just be the two of us.”
“Bailey, is it even worth it? Look at you… success is the best revenge. You’re a bestselling author; you have a great marriage and two children. What does Harini really have outside of her books? A cold bed? The heartbreak of losing her baby?”
“You’re right, Cass. It’s not that I want to live in the past.” Bailey shifted her position in her seat. “I just need to tell her exactly how I feel about what she did to me. Who knows? She might be doing the same thing to someone else.”
Maurie wiped her mouth on a napkin. “Enough about Harini. Let’s talk about something more important. Dessert.”
Bailey was looking forward to seeing Dallas. I wish I had enough time to visit the Arts District. Maybe Trace and I can come back before the year is out.
Since the success of her debut novel, Black Rain, Bailey felt as if she’d hit the floor running. Her publishers were happy and had just offered her a new contract with a six-figure advance. Her career had really taken off, for which Bailey couldn’t be happier.
She was grateful.
Her painful experience with Harini was in the past. Bailey intended to leave it there. She refused to look backward.
Bailey knew Colton lived in Dallas, but she hadn’t really expected to see him at her signing. Especially with the way things ended between them.
She kept her eyes from lingering on him too long as they landed on everyone in attendance.
Bailey was a little surprised that he’d waited around until she’d autographed everyone’s books and stock copies. When he approached the table, she stood up and greeted him with a polite smile. “Colton… it’s nice of you to come.” The animosity she once felt for him was gone.
“Congratulations. I always knew you had it in you.”
“Thank you.” She picked up her purse and headed toward the exit doors.
“Bailey, I took a chance of coming here tonight because I wanted to talk to you.”
Her expression blank, she eyed him. “About what?”
“Can we grab something to eat?” he asked. “Please…”
“We can go to the restaurant on the corner,” Bailey responded after a brief pause.
Once they were seated, Colton blurted, “I’m so sorry for my part in what happened.
You didn’t deserve what I did to you.”
“It’s all in the past,” she said. “We’ve both moved on. I have a wonderful husband, two children. A six-year-old girl and a boy who’s four.”
“That’s good to hear. I actually got married four years ago.” Colton shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Bailey smiled. “I’m very happy for you.”
“I’m a father now, too. I have a son. He’s three years old.”
She was genuinely thrilled for Colton. “You have to show me pictures.”
After giving the waitress their drink orders, they pulled out photographs of their children.
“I’m glad you were able to bounce back after what Harini did to you—what we did to you.”
“Back then, I don’t know which hurt worse. Your betrayal or hers.” Bailey took a sip of her water. “But like I said, it’s all in the past, so it really doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Can you forgive me?” Colton asked.
Bailey smiled. “I forgave you a long time ago. I’ve forgiven Harini, too.” She paused a moment before saying, “I do want to know one thing. Did you love her?”
Colton shook his head no. “To be honest, there was something not quite right with Harini—I couldn’t fully trust her.”
Bailey couldn’t resist asking, “What do you mean?”
“She was just weird about some things. Harini never wanted to talk about her past. I thought it was strange that she didn’t have any family pictures anywhere in her place.”
“Her brother lived with her—at least that’s what she told me.”
“I talked to the man a few times on the telephone, but I never met him face-to-face until the day she left the hospital. Apparently, he travels a lot. Pip was always sending postcards and texting photos.”
“Wow… that’s interesting. So, you didn’t really get to know him.”
“Harini lost the baby a couple of months after everything went down. I landed a job here in Dallas, so I left Philly. As painful as it was to lose my child, it’s worked to my good.”
Their food arrived.
“When you were in Philly, did you see Harini?” Colton inquired. “I’m hoping she had the good sense to apologize to you.”
“No, but I will see her eventually,” Bailey responded. “The literary circle isn’t that big. We are bound to run into each other. As for an apology, I’m not expecting one and it’s fine. I’m so over her.”
“Bailey, there’s something you should know about Harini,” Colton said. “Deep down, she’s a very insecure woman. She puts on this act like she’s got it all together and that
nothing bothers her, but it’s just a façade.”
“I find that a bit surprising. According to Harini—she’s the next best thing to Jesus.”
“You are a fantastic writer, and don’t you ever forget it, Bailey. Harini knew it and that’s why you became a threat. Just know that you’re now an even bigger threat to her now because you’re in the same league. She plays dirty.”
Bailey shrugged in nonchalant. “I’m not afraid of Harini Samuels.”
“It’s good to see you doing well,” Colton said. “I wish nothing but the best for you. I want you to know that—it’s all I ever wanted.”
“Thank you,” Bailey responded. “I wish the same for you.”
When she left Colton at the restaurant—Bailey left her past with him where it belonged. In the past.
Harini—she was a different story.
Back at her hotel, Bailey showered, slipped into a pair of pajamas, then climbed into bed.
She called her husband. “Hey you…”
“How was the signing? Trace asked.
“It went well. Did you check on Mama? Make sure she’s taking all of her meds.”
“She’s fine, sweetheart. She told me to tell you not to worry so much.”
Bailey chuckled. “How are my babies
“Finally asleep,” Trace responded. “They both miss you. T.J. kept asking when you were coming home. I told him that you’d be home soon.”
“I miss all of you.” Bailey paused a moment, then said, “I saw Colton. He came to the signing.”
“Did you two get a chance to talk?”
“Yes. We went to dinner. He apologized for everything. He’s married now and has a son. I told him about you and the children. Colton’s happy and so am I. It was nice.”
“So, you were able to get closure.”
“Yes,” Bailey responded. “I think it was the same for Colton, too.”
“Sounds like you’ve made peace with your past,” Trace stated. “I’m glad.”
“Me, too.” She picked up a pillow and held it close to her. “I can’t wait to come home. I really miss you.”
“Our bed is lonely without you in it.”
Bailey talked to Trace until her eyelids grew heavy. “I’m getting sleepy. I’ll call you tomorrow when I get to New Orleans.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you, too.”
She ended the call, then rearranged the pillows for her comfort. Bailey pulled the covers to her chin, reveling in the softness of the comforter. “I’m so loving my life right now,” she murmured.
Chapter 18
“Bailey Hargrove’s book is number 1 on the USA Today bestsellers list,” Kaile announced when she ran into Harini, who happened to be signing stock at a bookstore in the Galleria. “I can only imagine how much it must thrill you to see your former protégé doing so well. Speaking of which, why didn’t you attend her signing on Tuesday? It was packed in there—standing room only.”
“Of course. I’m very happy for her,” Harini responded sardonically. “I noticed I didn’t see your book anywhere on the list.”
“And neither was yours,” Kaile countered. “Looks like her book sales are much better than ours. I think it’s wonderful.”
Harini did not respond.
“When I talked to Bailey, she mentioned that this was the fourth book she’s written. I asked her whatever happened with that first one. I recall her being very excited about it.”
Harini glared at Kaile. “And what did she say?”
“Oh, I’m sure you already know. You were her mentor at the time.”
“We parted ways. She was too married to her work.”
Kaile burst into laughter. “Same ole Harini…” She turned and walked away, still laughing.
Harini was fuming by the time she arrived home.
“What’s got you in such a mood?” Pip asked.
“I saw Kaile. That witch has always been jealous of me,” Harini answered. “She wants to try and humiliate me; well, what few readers she has is about to find out that she’s nothing more than a homewrecker. I don’t think they’re gonna stick with her when they find out she’s messing around with a married man. That’s who paid off her bills and bought her that house.”
“You sure you want to do this?” Pip asked, following Harini to her office. “I thought you’d stopped blasting people on social media.”
“I need to put Ms. Jefferson in her place for trying to bait me. Bailey didn’t tell her anything because if she had—I know Kaile wouldn’t keep it to herself. She’d take great pleasure in ruining me.” Harini sat down at her desk.
“You two have a lot in common,” he responded.
“I’m nothing like her.”
“You and Kaile both like to keep drama going.” Pip shook his head. “It’s so immature.”
“She can’t handle the fact that I’m the top bestselling African American author. She’s never been number one, and the truth is that she’s not good enough.”
“Right now, Bailey’s the one topping all the bestseller lists.”
“That won’t last long,” Harini uttered. “I’ll make sure of that.”
“Why can’t you get it in that head of yours that there is room for every author? There’s no need for competition.”
Harini broke into a harsh laugh. “I know you can’t really believe that nonsense. The literary world is saturated with people calling themselves authors. Half of them can’t write—it makes the rest of us look bad.”
“Instead of criticizing, why don’t you do something to help them if you really feel this way?”
“I’ve tried,” Harini responded.
“Then you need to do a better job,” Pip told her.
“Leave me alone,” she uttered.
“I’m out.”
She watched her brother storm out of her office, then turned on her computer. “Everybody is about to find out what a slut you are, Kaile Jefferson.” Using her secondary social media account, Harini posted photos of Kaile and her married lover, rapper Zeke.
Bailey had enjoyed meeting her readers, but when her plane landed at the Raleigh-Durham Airport, she was thrilled to be home. She missed her husband and as much as she had enjoyed staying in luxury hotels—she looked forward to sleeping in her own bed.
Trace was parked at the curb when Bailey walked out with her luggage. He got out of the SUV and embraced his wife.
“I missed you, sweetheart.”
“I missed you, too.”
She settled into the passenger seat while Trace stuck her travel tote and suitcase into the back of the vehicle.
“I know you’re tired, but I want to make one stop before we go home,” Trace announced when he entered the SUV. “It’s on the way.”
“That’s fine.”
When he turned into a neighborhood of gorgeous expensive-looking homes, Bailey assumed he was making a house call.
He came to a stop in front of a house with a For Sale sign in the yard.
“What are we doing here?”
“I wanted you to see this house. We talked about buying...”
“It’s beautiful, honey, but I think this may be a bit out of our price range.”
“The owner is very motivated to sell.”
Trace parked, and they got out of the vehicle.
They were met on the porch by the realtor.
As soon as she stepped in the grand foyer, Bailey found the home warm and inviting.
“I want you to see this room first,” Trace said.
Double doors opened to an elegant library, surrounded by custom built-ins, a coffered ceiling, and sleek Brazilian cherry flooring. Bailey and Trace moved forward while their realtor stayed near the entrance.
“This is so beautiful,” Bailey murmured. “It’s the perfect place to write. I love it.”
“I thought you would say that,” Trace said.
They proceeded to tour the rest of the house.
“Formal living, formal
dining,” Bailey murmured as she noted the architectural custom details throughout. “I love the size of this family room. Especially the stone fireplace. I can just visualize Maddie and T.J. camped out in here watching television.”
“What do you think of the kitchen?” asked Trace.
“I’m in love.” Bailey’s gaze traveled from the high-end stainless-steel appliances to the large central island to the spacious breakfast area which opened to a gorgeous bright sunroom. “There’s a bedroom with private bath on this floor—I was thinking it could be for your mom.”
“That would be perfect.”
They went upstairs.
“There’s four bedrooms on this level, each with its own bath,” the realtor said.
Bailey walked into the master suite. “Oh, my goodness. This is gorgeous.”
“It’s ours if we want it.”
She glanced up at her husband. “Really?”
He nodded.
“I put in an offer last week and it was accepted. This is our new house.”
A smile lit Bailey’s face. “Oh, my… I can’t believe we’re going to be living here. What do we need to do now?”
Trace laughed. “We should probably go home and start packing.”
Inside the car, Bailey said, “I’m sitting here trying not to pinch myself.”
“This is all real, sweetheart.”
“All my dreams have come true, Trace. “I have you, Maddie and T.J.—my mama and I are closer than we’ve ever been; I’m published and now we’re moving into this beautiful house. There’s nothing else I want—I have everything.”
Trace leaned over her and placed his lips over hers. The kiss began soft and tender and grew in intensity until it held all the desire, all the love he felt for her. And with the emotions she tasted in his kiss, Bailey believed in him, in their love, but most importantly, she believed in herself.
The next morning, Bailey turned onto Peach Briar Avenue, her Nikes striking the pavement with an even thud. Sunlight blurred her vision, so she reduced her pace for the last stretch of her five-mile run, regulating her breath for the slowdown, and glanced at her watch.
Poison Pen Page 14