Hey, Syd.” Cali walked into Syd’s bedroom and tossed her briefcase on the bed.
“Hi,” Syd grumbled.
“What’s wrong?” Cali asked. “Are you in pain or something?”
“I’m tired of being in the bed, Cali. I’m ready to get up and go outside and drive my own damn car. I haven’t even had a chance to finish the baby’s room.”
“Well, unfortunately, I’m not willing to incur Morgan’s wrath, but I’m here to keep your mind off of your troubles. Let’s talk baby shower. Has Dr. Love given you the okay to go to your baby shower?”
Syd rolled her eyes. Hard. “Shut the hell up. I can go to the damn baby shower. But I have to keep my feet up and come right home.”
“Okay. That’s good.”
“Whatever. I’m going stir crazy. Morgan and Red and Kent have been in here talking about the bar and everything. I want to go to the bar myself,” she whined. “Then, I’m horny as hell and Morgan won’t touch me.”
“Aw, baby.” She pulled Sydney into a hug, chuckling when she struggled to get out of her hold.
“Let me go,” Syd warned. “I’m liable to punch you.”
Cali released her and sat down on the edge of the bed. Pulling a folder out of her briefcase, she handed it to her furious friend. “You really should watch those frown lines. This is the menu. I need you to okay it.”
Syd put on her glasses and studied the menu. “Can you add some cheesecake bites?”
“Syd, there’s like eight different desserts on the menu.”
“Just do it. They are not for me. Mama loves them.”
“Fine.” Cali scribbled a note to herself to call the caterer. “How is Mama Smith?”
“She’s fine, excited about the baby and ready to spoil her.”
Cali was glad to hear that. The Smith family had been dealt their fair share of heartache. She knew that Morgan’s relationship with Caden was still strained, which was to be expected, but it did her heart good to know that Mama Smith supported Syd. “That’s great. I can’t wait for her to meet Corrine.”
Syd observed her over the rim of her glasses. “Listen to you. If I didn’t know you, I’d think you’re loving being a mother figure.”
“What is that supposed to mean? You’re talking like you think I ain’t shit.”
“Ha! That’s not what I meant. You’re awesome, when you’re not being annoying. But your eyes… they lit up when you mentioned Corrine.”
“She’s adorable, that’s all. And if I want to be with Red, she’s part of the package.”
“Is that it?”
“Yes.” The words left her mouth, but Cali wasn’t even sure if she believed them. “Anyway, let’s finish this up. The favors arrived and the shower gifts are all wrapped and ready.”
“Thank you.”
A soft knock sounded and they turned to the door.
“Surprise.” Allina walked into the room, a big smile on her face.
“Allina!” Syd shouted.
Cali jumped up and hugged her long lost friend first. They held on for a few seconds before they pulled apart. Allina made her way over to Syd.
“Look at you,” Allina said, smoothing a hand over Syd’s full belly. “You look like you’re ready to pop.”
“I am,” Syd said. “I’m so glad you’re here. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too—both of you.”
Cali pushed her briefcase onto the floor and climbed next to Syd. She patted an open spot. “Hop up. When did you get here?”
“This morning. I’m so sorry about Uncle Cal.” Allina squeezed her hand. “I want to see him while I’m here.”
“He’ll be glad to see you. He’s at Red’s right now. We had to hire a nurse to come over and help.”
“What is this I hear about you and Red?”
Cali’s cheeks burned and she dropped her gaze to her hands. “Girl, please. Stop. And how do you know about us? I’ve been trying to call you for weeks. Where have you been?”
Allina swallowed, pulled her hand back and pushed her glasses up. “I’ve been busy, trying to find work in Ohio.”
Syd rubbed her belly. “Is everything okay? Why did I have to hear about you moving from Kent? Excuse me, but I thought I was your best friend.”
“You are. It happened so quickly. Isaac’s father asked him to take over the youth ministry at their church. He was ready to move.”
“What about your opportunity?” Cali asked, shocked that Allina was actually sitting there admitting that she’d relocated to another state for a man that wasn’t her husband.
“There are plenty of opportunities in the Greater Cleveland area. Besides, my parents are close by.”
Allina was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, which was about forty miles from Cleveland. Cali had only visited one time. Syd had dragged her down to keep Allina company while her parents were away one summer. The best thing about the visit was the Galley Boy burger and a refreshing drink called California from a place called Swensons.
“They’re both getting older,” Allina continued. “I don’t mind being a short drive away from them. And there are a few premier bridal shops in Cleveland that might take me on.”
“How is that better than taking over for Bessie here in an already established shop?” Cali knew she probably should shut up. But Allina had spent so many years living a life that was beneath her. It infuriated Cali that she would throw away an opportunity to be a business owner to chase after a man. “Allina, you’re a talented seamstress and businesswoman. You can do something here.”
“Cali, don’t.” Syd squeezed her arm. “Let’s not talk about this right now. I want to catch up. Tell me about Isaac.”
“There’s time to talk about him. I want to hear about you two.”
Cali and Syd exchanged glances and she knew her friend was thinking the same thing she was. Allina had moved away from everyone she cared about to be with the man of God and didn’t want to talk about him. Sounded a little fishy.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Lina?” Syd asked, rubbing her ever-growing stomach. “You look tired and stressed.”
Syd was spot on. Allina did look tired. Allina was a fair-skinned person, but right now her skin was pale, almost colorless. Her normally smooth skin was blotchy. And she looked like she’d missed a few meals—or ten. In college, Allina never ate a lot, but Cali had never seen her friend so thin. Her clothes were hanging off of her.
Before Syd moved, though, Allina had seemed to go through a transformation. She wasn’t the type of person to wear a lot of makeup but she’d started. She even straightened her long, natural curls and cut her hair into a short bob. In front of her was a woman who was anything but the friend she remembered. Her hair was still short, but it was flat and lifeless.
“I’m fine.” Allina rubbed the back of her hair. “Just tired from the drive. But I wouldn’t miss this occasion for anything.”
“Allina, there’s something you’re not telling us,” Syd said in her calm, comforting voice. “And you know you can tell us anything.”
“I’m fine. You don’t need to be focused on anything but your baby. And Cali, you have enough to worry about.”
It was just like Allina to push herself and her needs aside. She’d always been that way. Syd had a different relationship with her than Cali did. Allina often confided in Syd things that she would probably never tell Cali. Then again, she’d confided in Syd herself and had sworn her to secrecy more times than she could count.
“Well, I can’t promise that I won’t worry about you, Lina,” Syd told her. “I can look at you and see something’s wrong.”
Allina’s eyes filled up with tears and she slid off the bed. “I told you I am good. Stressed about money, that’s all. You know how I hate to ask anyone for help. But I’ll find a job soon.” She walked around the room, picked up a bottle of perfume on the dresser and sniffed it. “This smells good. Do you need any help with anything, Syd?”
Cali crossed her arms and stared at Allina. She couldn’t fault her friend for choosing to suffer rather than ask for help. That was one thing they all had in common, because she’d done it plenty of times herself. And she knew Syd had, too. “I could use some help with the nursery,” Syd said, elbowing Cali.
“Ouch,” Cali growled, rubbing her arm. “Your elbows are like sharp darts,” she whispered.
“Nursery?” Allina asked. “Where is it? I can help with that.”
Syd scooted to the edge of the bed and Allina rushed up to her. “Should you be getting out of bed?”
“I can walk to the nursery. I just can’t do anything once I get in there.”
* * *
“There’s something wrong with Allina.” Cali rubbed lotion onto her palms and climbed into bed with Red.
“What do you mean?” Red asked, his nose buried in a pile of paperwork. “She seemed fine to me.”
They’d spent the day at Morgan and Syd’s, catching Allina up on their lives. Kent had stopped by for a few awkward minutes. It seemed as though he and Allina were still doing their little dance, walking around each other when they really wanted to walk into each other. Throughout the evening, the conversation would turn back to Allina and her life in Ohio. She always seemed to avoid the questions about her man, though, and that bothered Cali. That had always seemed to be the case with Allina: she’d expect everyone to tell her their business, but never shared hers with anyone else—except Syd, and only sometimes. Cali suspected Syd was in the dark just like she was in a lot of ways. It was hard to get close to someone who was content keeping everyone at arm’s length.
If anyone could understand the propensity to handle people with a long-handled spoon, it was Cali. But even she had to admit that having a confidante was important. Holding things inside only served to destroy rather than build. She had been lucky to find Syd, but she’d already had an outlet in her Uncle. She wondered if Allina had ever had that. Unlike her and Syd, Allina had a seemingly great relationship with her mother, but looks could be deceiving.
“You would think that,” she said. “You’ve never really paid that much attention to her.”
He gaped at her in mock offense. “That’s not true. I pay attention to her. She’s family.”
“Yeah, right. You didn’t even realize she’d cut her hair until it had been like that for months.”
He shrugged, closing a folder and dropping it on top of his briefcase. “Of course I didn’t notice that. Allina is like my sister, always has been. I’m not supposed to notice stuff like that. Kent did, though.”
“Don’t you think their whole exchange was weird?”
“I think you’re reading too much into this. Kent was fine when he came in.”
Men. “You see what you want to see. I bet if Allina came in with a pan of her famous fried chicken you would’ve been all in.”
He laughed. “It’s food. Of course I’d pay attention. Her fried chicken is slamming.”
It was a running joke among their group of friends that Red would eat all day if he could get away with it. Syd always teased that he had an eat-a-lot condition or something. Cali had quickly learned that she could pretty much get away with anything if she had the right food to dangle in his face.
“I thought you liked my fried chicken,” she said with a pout.
“Oh, I like it.” He pulled her close to him and kissed her. “I like your fried chicken and everything else you cook. But food is not the first thing I think of when I think of you.”
“Oh really?” she asked, pulling his specs off and setting them on the bedside table.
He lifted her nightshirt off and cupped her breasts in his hands. “We have to be quiet.”
“I’m quiet.”
“Um hm.” He tugged her underwear down and lowered himself on top of her. “Quiet as a freight train.”
She smacked him and pulled him into a deep kiss. Her body needed a release. Pushing him on his back, she tugged his boxers off and straddled his waist. He sat upright, running a hand down her spine. “Damn, I’ve missed you,” he murmured against her mouth, running his tongue across her bottom lip before he captured it with his own.
She dug her fingers into his scalp and lowered herself onto his erection, closing her eyes. He covered her neck with wet kisses. When his body went stiff, her eyes popped open. His gaze was on something behind her.
Slowly, she turned and gasped when she noticed a little girl with hazel eyes standing in the doorway, staring at them. Mortified, she pulled the sheet over her naked body and rolled off of Red.
“Oh my God,” she said, scrambling for her nightshirt.
“Corrine, turn around, baby doll,” Red grunted, struggling to put his underwear on. Once they were secured, he jumped out of bed and rushed over to Corrine, who was still staring at Cali. She hadn’t been able to locate her nightshirt so she had no choice but to sit there looking, more than likely, like she’d got caught with her hand inside the cookie jar.
Red stood in front of his curious daughter, blocking Cali from her view. He leaned down. “Baby doll, aren’t you supposed to be asleep?”
“What were you and Cali doing?” Corrine asked, looking back and forth between them.
“We were…” Red’s cheeks turned a bright shade of crimson and Cali thought it was the cutest thing she’d ever seen. Syd blushed often, but she’d never seen Red that way. She’d be sure to tease him about it later. He cleared his throat. “We were… playing…”
“We were play wrestling,” Cali said, putting Red out of his obvious misery. “And I beat your daddy.”
“But he’s strong,” Corrine exclaimed in awe.
“I’m stronger,” Cali whispered, grinning when Red gave her a yeah, right look.
“Why are you up, baby doll?” Red asked.
“I had a bad dream,” the little girl whined.
Cali finally spotted her nightshirt peeking out from beneath the comforter. She quickly pulled it out and slipped it on. “What kind of dream?” she asked.
Red glanced over his shoulder at her and then led Corrine over to the bed.
She climbed in next to Cali. “About my mommy.”
“What about her?” Red asked, laying on the other side of Corrine.
“That she was hurt,” Corrine whimpered, cuddling into Cali.
Cali shared a glance with Red and he nodded. “Baby doll, I have to tell you something about your mother,” he said.
Corrine turned to her father, eyes trained on him.
“Your mother got into some trouble,” he continued. “Bad trouble. She hurt someone and the police don’t like it when people hurt other people. So… your mother had to go to jail.”
“Jail?” Corrine said, her eyes wide. “But my mommy is nice. Why did she have to go to jail? That’s where bad people go.”
“Sometimes good people do bad things,” Cali explained. “Remember like in the movie we watched. The queen was good, but she did a bad thing.”
“Is she going to be okay?” Corrine asked.
“I think so, sweetie,” Cali assured her.
“Can I go see her in jail, Daddy?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, honey,” he said. “Your mother wouldn’t want you to see her like that.”
“But I want to see my mommy!” Corrine shouted with a pout. “I want her.”
“Corrine, it’s going to be okay,” Red told her.
“No, it’s not!” Corrine kicked her feet in the air and crossed her little arms. Grumbling, she yelled, “I want my mommy.”
“I’m here for you,” he said, his eyes portraying his true emotions.
“I don’t want you!” she yelled. “I want my mommy.”
“Corrine,” he said, rubbing her arms.
She jerked away from him and burrowed into Cali’s side. “No! I want my mommy. I don’t want you.”
Tears pricked Cali’s eyes as Red seemed to deflate right before her eyes. He slumped back against the headboard as Corrine sobbed hard in Cali’s arms.
“Sweetie, it’s okay to want your mother,” Cali told her, kissing the top of her head. “But your father is here to help you. He loves you.”
“Why can’t he get my mommy out of jail then?” Corrine asked. “He’s a lawyer.”
“You’re right,” Cali said. “He’s a lawyer and, normally, he could get someone out of jail. But your mother committed a crime, baby. She has to pay the price for that. You know how when you ate all the popsicles and told me you didn’t? Then your dad had to take your dessert away?”
Corrine sniffled and nodded.
“That’s called a punishment,” Cali explained.
“Mommy used to punish me.” Corrine wiped her eyes.
“I know. Parents have to punish their children so that they can grow up to be responsible.”
Lifting her gaze, Corrine peered into Cali’s eyes. “Are you susponsible?”
Cali giggled. “I try to be.”
“I just miss my mommy,” Corrine cried. “She was only mean sometimes.”
Cali couldn’t stand to look into her sad eyes anymore. The little doll had carved out her own space in Cali’s heart. And it scared her. Pulling Corrine closer, she held her until she fell asleep.