Alicia waved good-bye to her mother-in-law. “I can’t believe Raven said all those things to Kawana. And then to say she didn’t want to come over here, right in front of your mom.”
Levi backed his black Escalade out of his mom’s driveway. “Kawana shouldn’t have made that comment about her being called Lady at the church, though, and then Kane made that joke about the royal palace. I could tell Raven was through from that point on.”
“Yeah, but she didn’t have to say Kawana was ghetto. Or that she can’t stand being around ghetto people. I told you a long time ago that Raven was full of herself, and now she’s worse than ever.”
“Well, I just hate that it happened, because my mom didn’t deserve that.”
“I was so embarrassed, and I could tell Dillon was, too. Raven showed us exactly who she is, and that’s why we can never let her be co-pastor.”
Levi slowed down before turning the corner. “Hey, speaking of Dillon, did you notice anything different about him?”
Alicia slightly twisted her body toward him. “I thought it was just me, but he seemed nervous and kind of anxious at the table. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something seemed wrong.”
“I noticed it before we even started eating. It was like his mind would drift off somewhere and like he was a little fidgety.”
“He was really upset about Daddy a couple of days ago, so I hope that doesn’t have anything to do with it.”
Levi looked at her and then back at the road. “Hmmm.”
“What?”
“I know I’m probably wrong, but baby, you know I’ve seen it all. When I was dealing drugs, I only sold coke and prescription drugs, but I met every kind of addict there was. From people who shot dope to chronic alcoholics, you name it.”
“You don’t think he’s doing drugs, do you? Please don’t tell me that.”
“Baby, I don’t know. If he is, he hasn’t been doing it for very long, but something just wasn’t right.”
“Maybe he and Raven had gotten into it before they came to your mom’s,” Alicia suggested, but she wondered if she even believed her own words. “Or maybe it’s like I said, he’s still worked up over what he told me about Daddy.”
“What, the radio interview?”
“Yeah, remember I told you about it Thursday night?”
Levi looked at her with a sly grin. “I vaguely remember you saying something, but after you wore me out the way you did I was pretty out of it.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“I’m serious. You did wear me out, but it was one of the best nights we’ve had in years. Our lovemaking was as powerful and passionate as it was when we first met. You seem so much more like yourself.”
“I feel more like myself, too. I feel good.”
“Well, as far as Dillon goes, let’s just hope I’m wrong and you’re right. Because being a pastor and doing drugs won’t work.”
Alicia prayed that drugs were the furthest thing from Dillon’s mind. He didn’t need something like that in his life right now, and neither did she. As it was, she was still working on her own problems, and that was more than enough. She just hoped her brother’s issues with their father hadn’t pushed him to start doing something he shouldn’t. He was progressing so well as a pastor, and their vision for the church was successfully moving in the direction Dillon wanted it to.
Alicia and Levi rode along in silence, listening to a smooth jazz radio station.
Levi held her hand, and Alicia loved how he still sent chills through her body when he touched her. Sometimes just looking at him, even when he didn’t know she was, made her heart flutter like a teenager in love for the first time.
They continued on their way, but when they were about five minutes from home, Alicia’s phone rang. When she pulled it out of her purse, she got nervous and excited all at the same time. Her dad’s house number displayed on her screen.
“Oh my God.”
“What?”
“This is from my dad’s house.”
“Well, answer it.”
“Hello?”
“Hey, Alicia,” Charlotte said.
It wasn’t that Alicia wasn’t happy to hear from her stepmom, because she was. It was just that Charlotte usually phoned her from her cell, so Alicia had been hoping this was her dad.
Alicia smiled. “Hey, how are you?”
“Good. I just wanted to call to say happy Fourth of July to you and Levi.”
“Thank you,” she said, looking at Levi. “Charlotte says happy Fourth of July.”
“Tell her I said happy Fourth.”
Alicia relayed Levi’s message.
“So did you guys go to your mother-in-law’s as planned?” Charlotte asked.
“We did. We’re just on our way home from there now. Did you guys enjoy the day also?”
“We did, but it still wasn’t the same without you. I miss having you over here for the holidays. We all miss you.”
“Well, maybe most of you, anyway.”
“No matter what your dad says or does, trust me when I tell you he misses you. He never wanted to stop seeing you, but I don’t blame you for standing your ground about your husband. I would do the same thing if someone treated your dad that way.”
At that very moment, Alicia wished she could hear his voice.
“Mommy, who is that on the phone?” Alicia heard Curtina say.
“It’s your sister.”
“Ooooh, let me speak to Licia, Mommy. Please let me speak to her.”
“Okay, okay. Alicia, here’s your baby sister. Goodness.”
“Hi, Licia,” nine-year-old Curtina said.
“Hi, sweetie. How are you?”
“I’m fine. How are you?”
“I’m fine, too.”
“And how is Levi? Is he with you?”
“He’s doing well, and yes, we’re on our way home.”
“Did you go to his mommy’s house?”
“Yep.”
“Did you eat a lot of food?”
“Unfortunately, we did. We ate too much. What about you?”
“Yeah, we ate too much, too. Especially Daddy. And now he’s lying down in the family room already asleep. Can you come over, Licia? I miss you sooooo much.”
Alicia’s hand shook, and she burst into tears.
“Licia, what’s wrong?” Curtina asked. “Why are you crying?”
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Levi said.
Charlotte got back on the phone. “Honey, what’s the matter?”
“I hate the way things are with all of us.”
“I know,” Charlotte agreed, “and we have to find a way to fix this.”
“I don’t know how.”
“Well, we’ll figure out something, because it’s time to move on from two years ago.”
Alicia sniffled. “Thank you for always caring about me.”
“We love you, and don’t you ever forget that. I’ll call you tomorrow or Monday, okay? And maybe we can set up a day for me to bring over Curtina and little MJ.”
“Sounds good. And hey, where’s Matt and MJ, anyway?”
“After we ate, Matt took MJ to see his other grandparents.”
“Well, tell him I said hello. I know he’s still not speaking to me all that much, but I still love him.”
“He loves you, too. He just can’t handle that you and Dillon are as close as you are, but he’s going to have to get over that.”
Alicia knew Dillon had slept with Matthew’s wife and that Matthew wouldn’t be happy about her forgiving Dillon. But she’d never imagined that Matthew would be upset with her for this long. He didn’t understand how she could have anything to do with Dillon, and he saw Alicia as a traitor.
“Well, it was good talking to you,” Alicia said.
“You, too. See you soon.”
Alicia ended the call and leaned her head against the passenger window. Levi grabbed her hand again, but he didn’t say anything. There wasn’t much he could say at this point. Not much anyone could do at all, when her father wasn’t willing to accept Levi, and she wasn’t willing to be around a father who couldn’t accept her husband. So they were at a standstill. They’d been at one for all this time, and she didn’t see how it would ever change.