The Bad Twin

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The Bad Twin Page 23

by Shelia Goss


  Janice said, “We’ve also been enjoying a fully stocked bar filled with snacks. I’m so full. I don’t think I can eat anything else.”

  Lance reached over and grabbed a finger sandwich. “This is just the beginning. We’re going to drop Mama at home.” Pearle looked up and smiled at him as he continued saying, “Then we’re going to Planet Hollywood for dinner. We’ve made sure Mama and Aunt Mae or anyone else who decided to stay at the house will be taken care of.”

  Rose was delighted that her family and Lance seemed to be getting along. She looked around at all of the faces in the car and gave a genuine smile, not the kind she gave the cameras all night long, but a smile of joy and contentment. It was like one big happy family.

  Planet Hollywood was packed with stars and groupies. They were finally seated and they all tried to eat between people snapping their pictures. “Audrey, are you okay over there cuz? I know the flashes can be annoying. I’ve learned to ignore them.”

  Audrey pulled out her compact mirror to tidy up her makeup. She said, “Girl, yes. As long as they get my good side, I’m all right.”

  They all laughed and continued to enjoy the night. By the time they got ready to leave, some of the fans had left. Rose was glad, because she didn’t want to have to fight their way out to get back to the two waiting limousines. “Janice, you and Terrence can use the other limousine if you like and I’ll have someone come pick you up and bring you to my house, so you can get your car tomorrow.”

  Terrence and Janice looked at each other and both said in unison, “Sure. Thanks.”

  They hugged and as Rose stepped into her limousine, she fell out in pain. “Somebody help me. My side.”

  Lance rushed over to see what happened. “Rose baby, what’s wrong?”

  Violet placed Rose’s head on her lap. “It’s her side. It’s probably her bladder. She was having problems with it, when we were in Shreveport.” Violet stroked her head. “Rose dear, did you follow up with your doctor?”

  In between pains, Rose responded, “No. I didn’t have time. Somebody hit me upside the head and put me out of my misery.”

  Lance told the driver to take them to Cedars-Sinai Hospital. He rubbed Rose’s feet while she laid on Violet’s lap. Lance and Violet tried to comfort her. The ride over to the hospital was silent except for the wails of pain that came from Rose.

  65

  VIOLET

  Violet was pacing the floor and Pierre tried to comfort her as they waited for the doctor to come out and inform them of Rose’s status on the results of the tests. Violet turned to Pierre and Lance and asked, “Should I go ahead and call Mama or wait until we have some concrete news?”

  “Why don’t I go pick her up, so I can tell her in person? That way she won’t be as worried. If you get an update, you can always call me on my cell phone. I’ll turn it on as soon as I get outside,” Pierre said, while hugging Violet. “Baby, everything will be okay.”

  Pierre met the limousine driver in the hallway and left to go get Pearle. Lance and Violet took turns pacing the floor. After an hour had passed, a doctor walked out and asked for Rose’s closest relative. Lance and her both walked over to him and identified themselves as her sister and fiancé. “We discovered some things, but she’s going to be fine.”

  Violet felt relieved. “What’s wrong with her? Is it her bladder?”

  “Yes. We have it under control though. We want to keep her overnight for observation.”

  “Did the nurse tell you she had some problems a few weeks ago with her bladder?”

  “Yes and fortunately she got treatment for it; however something else set off this bout of pain.”

  Lance and her said in unison, “What?”

  The doctor reached out to shake Lance’s hand. “Well sir, you’re going to be a daddy.”

  Lance stared in disbelief. “What? Who me? A daddy?”

  “Yes. She told me to tell you that, just in case she was sleeping when you came to see her. She wants to see you both, but she needs her rest, so I ask that only a few of you go in at a time.”

  “Lance you go ahead. I’ll call Pierre and I’ll see her when you’re done.”

  She watched as the doctor led Lance down the hall. She called Pierre and told him the news. “She’s pregnant, can you believe it?”

  While she waited on Lance to come out, Pearle and Pierre showed up.

  Violet hugged Pearle and said, “She’s going to be okay. Did Pierre tell you everything?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why are you crying? She’s going to be fine.”

  Pearle used her handkerchief to wipe her face. “My baby is having a baby. I’m going to be a grandmother.”

  Violet put her arms around Pearle and walked her to a chair in the waiting room. “Mama, don’t cry. It’s only going to make me start crying and then they’ll kick us both out for flooding the place with tears.”

  Pearle laughed. Pierre stood to the side and watched the mother and daughter interaction. Pearle held her hand. “I’m so glad you girls are finally working out your differences.”

  “It’s been rough, but I’m trying.”

  “That’s all I can ask for. I love you both.”

  “I love you too Mom.”

  At that moment Lance came out. Violet walked up to him. “How is she doing?”

  “She’s a little drowsy, but she wants to see both of you.”

  Violet could see the concern on Pearle’s face. “Mama you go in first.”

  “Are you sure?” Pearle turned around and asked. “We can go in together.”

  “No Mama, I need to go in by myself.”

  Pierre walked up to Violet with a cold drink and a cup of ice. As she took the drink from him, she said, “Thanks. Thank you for being here.”

  “I told you I’m in this for the long haul. I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

  “I’m going to hold you to it.”

  Pierre hugged her and kissed her forehead. “We’ll talk more when this is over, but I want you to know that I’ve decided to relocate to the San Francisco office, which will at least put us in the same state.”

  “Pierre when did you decide that?”

  “The day I saw you again at your Mother’s house.”

  “But how did you know I was going to agree to give us another try?”

  “I didn’t. I just prayed that you would.”

  They embraced and remained that way until she saw Pearle come out of Rose’s room.

  “Mom, how is she doing?”

  “She’s doing better than what she looks. They have things hooked up to her, but I was reassured it’s to monitor her throughout the night.”

  “Well let me go.” She headed toward Rose’s room. As she walked, she couldn’t help but remember the last time she saw her Dad. It was in a hospital and every since then she had hated hospitals.

  Violet knocked on the slightly opened door.

  66

  ROSE

  “Violet, I smell your sweet lilac perfume, so come on in sweetie.” “Hi Rose. You gave us a scare for a minute.” Violet stood at the end of her bed.

  “Come over here so I can hold your hand. If I could move more, I would give you a huge hug and wouldn’t let go.” Rose tried to hold back the tears. “You don’t know how much this means to me. When the doctor came in earlier and told me that you were out there waiting, I broke down and cried.”

  Violet held her hand and with teary eyes said, “Rose, maybe you shouldn’t talk, because you need to have your strength for you and the baby.”

  “I'm okay. I need to get something off my chest.” Rose sniffed. “The tears I cried were tears of joy and pain. Tears of joy, because I felt it in my soul that you still loved me. I cried tears of pain, because I was the cause of your pain for so many years. I’m ashamed; yet, you found it in your heart to forgive me time after time. Not only did you give me your love, you’ve been there for me, when no one else was.”

  Violet, unable to control her tears, cried
and said, “Rose, you don't know how much I wanted to remain angry with you, but I’ve finally had to let it go. Mom said something to me that stuck and I had to come to terms with what she said. I asked myself, how could I not forgive my sister, when God has forgiven me over and over?”

  The nurse entered and informed them that visitation hours were ending. Pearle, Lance and Pierre walked in. Lance went and stood on the other side of Rose’s bed and said, “Rose, whether you want me to or not, I’m spending the night.”

  Rose squeezed his hand.

  Violet leaned down and hugged Rose before turning to walk out behind Pierre and Pearle. Before Violet walked out the door, she turned and said, “I love you Rose.”Rose smiled back and blew her a kiss. “I love you too Violet.”

  THE END

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I wanted to thank everyone in ALL4ONE for your support on helping me get the word out about my books. I also wanted to thank all of my readers for going along this journey with me. Without you, I wouldn't be able to do this. You motivate me!

  Shelia M. Goss

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Shelia M. Goss is an Essence Magazine & Black Expressions Book Club Best-Selling author. She has over thirteen books in print as well as several ebooks. She writes in multiple genres: romance, women's fiction, suspense, Christian fiction and young adult. Besides writing fiction, Shelia is a freelance writer. She's also the recipient of three Shades of Romance Magazine Readers Choice Multi-Cultural Awards and honored as a Literary Diva: The Top 100 Most Admired African American Women in Literature. To learn more, visit her website: www.sheliagoss.com or follow her on twitter at www.twitter.com/sheliamgoss.

  SEVERAL MORE OF MY NOVELS ARE EBOOKS.

  Her Invisible Husband by Shelia Goss

  Her Invisible Husband is a full length romance novel and tells the tale of one woman’s desperate attempt to stop the age-old question posed to all women at some point in their lives: So when are you getting married? To appease her family and friends, Nicolette Montana fakes an engagement and Las Vegas wedding. How she handles her web of deceit makes for a dramatic and sometimes comical story.

  V.I.P. by Shelia Goss

  When fans of R & B Diva Parris start dissing her online, Parris knows she has to do something to revive her declining music career. She needs a hit song and fast. CJ "The Hitmaker" is a super producer looking to expand his portfolio. When these two meet, sparks fly, but trouble awaits between the pages. Being V.I.P. comes with a whole lot of drama from groupies and people from their past. Will Parris and CJ be able to mix business with pleasure without getting caught up in a media frenzy? Find out in V.I.P.

  I also have some short stories that are in ebooks. Love Bites are quick short reads. I'm sure you'll enjoy these romantic appetizers.

  THE LOVE BITES COLLECTION

  The Kandie Shop by Shelia Goss

  Sweet and sour not only describes Kandie Taylor's latest candy concoction, but it describes her last relationship. She vows to never date another professional athlete. Trent Lee Davis, former NFL star, finds Kandie intriguing. Will he be able to tackle her barriers? Can Kandie resist the chocolate-licious urge every time she sees Trent, even though he's an athlete?

  Mrs. America by Shelia Goss

  For better or worse...can a marriage withstand? Will the recently crowned Mrs America be headed to divorce court? That's the headline that the whole world saw, along with Vanessa Thigpen as she saw a picture of Douglas, her husband of seven years, sitting next to an unidentified woman in an uncompromising position. Having scratched his seven year itch, Douglas doesn't want to lose Vanessa. Vanessa has to decide whether to forgive him or move on to another phase of her life. Even if it means giving up her reign as Mrs. America.

 

 

 


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