“Shelly, what have I told you about being in my office?” Rosolyn asked the pretty, brown-skinned young girl who was sitting at Rosolyn’s desk, writing. She had big puppy dog eyes that said she’d seen too much, too soon. She wore her hair in a ponytail on top of her head. She looked like she couldn’t be any more than twelve.
Shelly looked up from her paper but didn’t crack a smile. “Sorry. But it’s the only place I can write in peace.”
“You tell me that every time I catch you in here. But I still don’t want you in my office when I’m not around,” Rosolyn chastised.
“Okay, okay,” Shelly said, gathering up her stuff. “I’m leaving.”
Rosolyn waved her hand. “No, you’re here now. You might as well stay. What are you working on? Another poem?”
For the first time Shelly smiled. She nodded eagerly and announced, “This one is called ‘Black Butterfly.’”
“Shelly writes awesome poetry,” Rosolyn said, turning to Vanessa. “She’s only eleven, but as Aunt Ida would say, she has an old soul.”
“Wow, poetry, huh?” Vanessa said.
“This is my sister, Vanessa.” Rosolyn motioned toward her.
“I love poetry.” Vanessa came over and glanced down at Shelly’s paper. “My sister writes it all the time. She used to make us listen to it when we were little and I always have loved it.”
Rosolyn chuckled. “I forgot about Dionne and those ‘Roses are red, violets are blue, I got my man and I’ma take yours, too’ poems.”
Shelly looked offended as she closed her tablet. “I don’t write about no lame boys.”
Rosolyn stroked her hair. “I know you don’t, baby.” She turned back to Vanessa. “Shelly writes about deep stuff. Too deep, if you ask me.”
Shelly headed toward the door. “I just write what I know,” she said matter-of-factly.
“That’s the sad part,” Rosolyn replied.
Shelly shrugged. “I’m gonna go. Maybe I can get a shower before everybody starts bombarding the bathroom.”
“’Bye, Shelly. Nice to meet you,” Vanessa called out as the little girl left.
Shelly flashed a meek wave, but didn’t turn around.
“What’s her story?” Vanessa asked as soon as she was gone.
Rosolyn placed the papers down on her desk.
“Dad shot her mom, then himself, with her sitting at the kitchen table watching.” Rosolyn shook her head. “I just for the life of me can’t understand how these parents can be so selfish. Not once did he ever think about what this would do to his only child.”
Vanessa cringed at the story. “Wow. How long has she been here?”
“Four years. No one wants to adopt a preteen.”
“She’s been here for four years?”
Rosolyn nodded. “Yep. Her parents did leave a small life insurance policy. She went to live with her father’s family and so they got the money. But then the mother’s side acted such a fool that the state intervened and took custody of her. The sad part is, after a few months here the money ran out; nobody wanted her. She’s been here ever since.” Rosolyn shook her head, discouraged. “She really is a sweet girl. She’s just a loner, that’s all.”
Vanessa glanced toward the door. Shelly’s story tore at her heart. “That is so sad.” She brightened up as a new idea came to her. “Maybe she could be the face of the center. You know, kind of give people a reason to support you guys.”
Rosolyn shot Vanessa a chastising look. “My sister, always the businesswoman. Nope. You can use me. You can use the center, but I can’t let you use the kids.”
“But—”
“No buts. That’s not even an option.”
Rosolyn sat down before her computer, intending to start work. Yet when she tried to turn it on, nothing happened. She pounded it in frustration. “This dang computer is about to drive me crazy. It’s so old that you have to do a Fred Sanford on it just to get it to come on.” She tapped the side twice, then hit the top once. The machine sputtered, but the screen didn’t light up. “I guess you just don’t feel like working today,” Rosolyn hissed at the computer. She reached for the phone. “Let me call Bruce and ask him to come fix this thing again.”
Vanessa stood up. “Well, I need to be going. Thanks for letting me come take a tour.” Her mind returned to Shelly. “Putting faces with your plight here at the center really hammers home how much you guys need help.”
“Thank you so much, Vanessa,” Rosolyn replied as she punched the numbers on the telephone.
Vanessa blew her sister a kiss as she headed back toward her car. She looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Shelly, but the girl was nowhere to be found. Vanessa took one last glance around and felt more charged than ever. She had come to the center hoping to get enough political ammunition to bolster her run for office. She had a feeling, though, that helping the center was going to be good for her in more ways than she could ever imagine.
Chapter 19
Dionne groaned inwardly. Something told her not to answer the phone when she saw Aunt Ida’s number pop up. It was, after all, seven in the morning. Her aunt knew better than to call that early. And on Dionne’s day off at that. But it was obvious Ida didn’t care, the way she was going on and on.
“…and you know my dreams be coming true and I saw fish clear as day,” Ida rambled. “It was a whole slew of them swimming in a bathtub.”
Dionne tried to sound fed up, but she was actually shocked. “Auntie, I assure you, I’m not pregnant, so it ain’t me.” She didn’t like lying to her aunt, but she wasn’t ready to share her news until she figured out what she was going to do. Now that Roland was out of the picture for good, she needed to snap out of her funk and pull herself together. Lots of women had babies by themselves. Or better yet, maybe she needed to look at giving Bruce a real chance, since he seemed like he could definitely provide for her.
Naw, she thought. She was a lot of things, but she wasn’t into using men, especially nice guys like Bruce. She told herself she just needed to find a better-paying job. That way, when she broke the news of her pregnancy to family and friends, no one would trip with her about being a single mother.
“Well, maybe it’s Rosolyn,” Ida continued. “Or, Lord willing, it’s Vanessa, and maybe she and Thomas will work things out.”
“Or maybe it’s Alana, the chick Thomas got pregnant. Or better yet, maybe you’re just crazy,” Dionne tried to joke.
Her stomach was in knots. She’d been tossing and turning all night as thoughts of Roland filled her head. Initially, they had been hate-filled thoughts. Then they had turned to happier times, like the time he’d surprised her at work with barbecue for the whole staff to celebrate her birthday. Or the time he’d moved mountains to get her front-row tickets to the Prince concert, even though he hated concerts. People didn’t see all of that. But she knew—in her heart she knew—she and Roland were good for each other. And even though he’d never said it, he loved her, despite what he did to her.
“Ummph, you talk about me all you want.” Ida’s raspy voice snapped Dionne back to her phone conversation. “But you know my intuition doesn’t lie. Remember that time my palm was itching and I hit that Cash Five lotto?”
Dionne grinned at the memory. “Yeah, that six thousand dollars that you won gambling, but you claimed God was okay with it because you gave fifteen percent to the church.”
“That’s right,” Ida replied, very pleased with herself. “And I told you—Wait, are you trying to be funny?”
Dionne was about to respond when she heard pounding on her front door. “Auntie, I gotta go. Someone’s at my door. Check with Rosolyn or Vanessa and see if they are the ones pregnant. I’ll call you later. Love you.”
Dionne hung the phone up, raced downstairs, and flung open the door. She’d been expecting a delivery from UPS for something she ordered off eBay.
Her mouth dropped in disbelief as she stared at the fine chocolate specimen leaned against her door frame.
&nbs
p; “Hey, baby,” Roland said, with a huge grin.
No, this fool didn’t have the audacity to come show up on my doorstep like nothing is wrong.
Dionne folded her arms across her chest. “Roland, what do you want?”
He pulled a bouquet of white roses from behind his back and held them out toward her. “I want you. I’m here to tell you that I’m sorry.”
“Go tell someone who cares,” she replied, starting to push the door closed.
He put his hand out to stop her. “Awww, come on, baby. Don’t be like that. Let me talk to you. I miss you, girl.”
“Roland, go to hell, or back home to Tasha, which is probably the same as hell anyway.”
“I’m not with Tasha anymore.”
“Yeah, right. Then why was she just at your house answering your phone yesterday?”
He held up his hands in innocence. “She came over to get the last of her stuff. She answered my phone when I went to the bathroom.” He paused, letting her see he was on the level. “We’re done. I’m for real. That’s history.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Like I believe that. You’ve already shown me how much of a liar you are.”
“It’s the truth.” He licked his lips in that LL Cool J way that turned her on. He knew that because she’d told him. “I messed up, D. I’ve been sick without you.”
I’ve been sick without you, too, she thought. “Whatever, Roland. You are so full of it.”
“Tell me you don’t want to see me and I’ll leave.” He held the flowers up again.
She glared at him. “I don’t want to see you.”
He dropped the flowers down by his waist and nodded, trying to keep his voice controlled. “This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with the dude you went out with the other day, would it?”
Dionne was momentarily speechless.
“Yeah, you went to Boudreaux’s, so you knew my boy was gonna come back and tell me.”
“I thought Quentin was just supposed to serve drinks, not spy on the customers,” Dionne said, trying to contain her elation.
“Whatever, D. You knew what you were doing.” His frown dropped away. “But it worked. I was sick when he told me.”
Dionne folded her arms across her chest. “So, you’re only here because you don’t want me with anybody else.”
His voice became earnest. “No, I’m here because I don’t want to be without you. And yes, I didn’t know how much I wanted you until you were gone.”
“Roland, you are so full of it. Just leave.”
“You don’t mean that,” he responded.
Dang, he looked good. The bad part was she didn’t mean it. Her heart was filling with joy at the sight of him standing there, saying the words she’d prayed to hear him say. She wanted him so bad it hurt.
Dionne let out a long breath as she leaned against the door. “Roland, I’ll ask you again. What do you want?”
“I just need to talk to you. I miss you so much.”
Dionne sighed as she opened her door and motioned for him to come in. She knew she shouldn’t, but she wanted to hear him explain how he could’ve hurt her like he did. Roland walked in, letting the door slam behind him. “You have five minutes,” she said.
As she brushed past, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. Before she knew anything, he was planting a deep, wet kiss on her lips. She loved his kisses. “Ooooh, baby. I’ve missed you so much,” he moaned as he slowly kissed her neck.
Dionne felt her body weakening at his touch. She wanted to curse him out, go off on him. But it was like her body wasn’t getting the message her brain was trying to send.
“Girl, I can’t get you out of my mind,” he whispered hoarsely. He ran his hand up under her T-shirt. “I’m so sorry. I messed up, bad. Please forgive me.”
She was fighting her feelings but both his words and his touch were melting her defenses. “Roland, stop.”
“Baby, I’m sorry. Let me make it right,” he pleaded.
“What happened to your ‘me’ time?”
He nuzzled her neck. “There’s no me without you.”
That sounded too rehearsed. She pushed him away again. “Please. Go run that game somewhere else.”
He grabbed her, not enough to hurt her, but enough to catch her by surprise and get her attention. “D, you got my head messed up. I mean, I didn’t know how bad I had it for you until I didn’t have you anymore. I need you in my life. I’m begging you to give me another chance.”
Dionne couldn’t help it. Her hand immediately went to her stomach. She thought about her baby. Their baby.
“You hurt me,” she said softly. A single tear began to trickle down her cheek.
“I know. And I’m so sorry.” He took her face in his palms and gently kissed away the tear. “I love you, Dionne.”
She froze. A month ago, she would’ve given anything to hear him say that. But hearing it now tore at her heart even more.
Dionne closed her eyes and let out a soft moan, but then shook her head and pulled herself together. “No, get off of me,” she said, snapping out of the trance he was luring her into. She pulled away from him completely. “You have a lot of nerve. You were cheating on me and dumped me for some old girlfriend I knew nothing about. And I’m supposed to just welcome you back with open arms?”
“I made a mistake. I came here to tell you that and let you know how much I love you.”
“Whatever, Roland,” she said as she flicked him off and walked into the kitchen. She pulled out a bottle of Dasani water and took a sip. She had to cool off the heat building in her body.
“You’re not going to offer me any?” Roland asked, appearing in the kitchen doorway.
“No, I’m not, because you won’t be here long,” she said pointedly.
Roland sat down at the kitchen table. “Can I ask you a question?” He waited for her to say something and when she didn’t, he asked, “Have you ever made a mistake?”
She looked at him, confused. “What?”
“Have you ever in your life made a mistake?” he repeated.
“Of course I have,” she retorted. “What kind of question is that?”
“Well, I made a mistake by letting you go.”
He looked so sincere, he was making her sick. “Sell that crap to someone who’s buying,” she sarcastically replied, glad that she was cooling off and coming back to her senses.
“I’m serious,” he cried. “I can’t be with Tasha, or anyone else for that matter, because I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Dionne tried not to smile. Roland always did know what to say to get to her.
Seeing her soften, he said, “Dionne, sit down.” He pointed to the chair across from him. Dionne didn’t move.
“Babe,” he continued anyway, “I know I was wrong to keep seeing Tasha when I was with you. But she’s been around for so long, she was like an old security blanket. You know you should get rid of it, but it just feels safe.” Dionne wasn’t convinced, and he poured it on. “Besides, she just rolled with the punches, took whatever I gave her. So she was low maintenance—until she started trippin’. The closer I got to the divorce, the more she talked about us being together exclusively.” He scowled at the pressure he’d felt, and that did seem real. “By that point, I had met you, and before I knew it, I was falling hard for you. After the disaster of a marriage I had, I promised myself that I would never allow myself to fall in love again, but I did. And losing you made me realize that I can’t live without you.”
Dionne could hear her girls calling her all kinds of names right now, but they didn’t know Roland like she did. Love might be blind, but she could see very clearly that Roland loved her. And she loved him just as much. That was reason enough to give him another chance. But throw in the baby and she knew she had to forgive him.
He must have sensed that he was getting to her because he stood up and walked toward her. “Please, D. Give me another chance. I tell you what. I’ll call Tasha with you right here.
You can hear me tell her I want to be with you.” He glanced at the wall phone, showing how serious he was. “I’ve been miserable without you. I didn’t realize how much I needed you. How much I wanted you until you were gone.”
He took her in his arms. She pulled back reluctantly and he lifted her chin. “Just one more chance, baby? I promise you won’t regret it.” A new idea came to him, and he quickly added, “Let’s go to Vegas. I want to spend the whole weekend with you and make up for hurting you.”
Dionne was getting lost in Roland’s light brown eyes. As much as her brain wanted her to say no, her heart wouldn’t let her. Instead she said, “You’d better not hurt me again.”
He breathed a sigh of relief as he hugged her tightly. “I won’t, baby. I promise you I won’t.”
Chapter 20
“I’ll take a Grande Caffè Mocha, no whip.” Vanessa rattled her order off to the Starbucks cashier, then began digging in her purse for the money to pay for her coffee.
After she paid the cashier, Vanessa stepped to the side and waited for her drink to be prepared. The Starbucks employee handed it to her, and as she turned to walk off, she bumped right into another patron.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Vanessa said, gazing down at the hot liquid as it spilled onto the floor. “Did it…” She stopped mid-sentence as her eyes made their way up and met Alana’s.
Vanessa was breathing fire as she took in Alana’s appearance. Pregnancy definitely agreed with her. Her young, smooth skin seemed to be almost glistening. Her shoulder-length hair was pushed back off her forehead with a pair of sunglasses, the soft unruly strands hanging loosely. But it was the pink T-shirt that had Vanessa’s heart on pause. The arrow leading from the words “Baby on Board” across her chest down to her stomach, letting the world know that she was pregnant.
“Oh, hello, Miss Vanessa,” Alana said. The way she said it made Vanessa feel old.
“Excuse me,” Vanessa said abruptly as she walked around Alana and headed out the door. She couldn’t believe that little twit was getting her frazzled. In court she could handle mountain-size men. Vanessa almost dropped her coffee again as she fumbled for her car keys.
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