Chloe
“CALM DOWN PARKER.” I RUBBED my belly in a gentle circular motion, trying to stop my son from kicking. “I know, Mommy’s upset too.”
I picked up my phone and sat down in the oversized chair and put my feet up. If it hadn’t been for this pregnancy, I might have actually hit Kendell. The nerve of her coming here with that crap. “OH! Okay, Mommy will calm down.” I took a few minutes to relax. After a few deep breaths, as deep as possible with a baby pressing on my bladder, I was a little more calm.
I scrolled through my contacts and pressed the number. After the third ring, a familiar, breathy voice answered. “Hello.”
“Good morning.”
“Chloe…are you all right?” I could hear the anxiousness in her voice.”
“Calm down Taylor, I’m fine.”
“Girl, don’t scare me like that. I know if you or Alex calls me before eight your time, there’s a problem. You know I keep a California bag packed and sitting in my closet. You know I have to be ready at a moment’s notice.” She joked.
“Everyone’s fine.”
“Let me catch my breath. How’s the little mommy-to-be doing?”
“Accept for having to pee every twenty minutes, passing enough gas to fuel a jet and feet that look like little sausages, I’m fine.” We both laughed. “And don’t get me started on my breasts, but my hair is fabulous.”
“I know you didn’t call at this time of the day to share the pros and cons of pregnancy. What’s going on?”
“I just had a visit from Kendell.”
“Let me guess, she’s pissed because I chewed her out this morning?”
“What did you say?”
“I told her she was crazy for breaking up with Bas and then I asked what was going on with her.”
“I see.”
“After Alex’s wedding, we went to lunch and she was talking all this nonsense about not being able to trust Bas, and that she felt he was pushing her.”
“This is Bas we’re talking about?”
“Exactly. In all the years I’ve known Bas, I’ve never known him to want to get married.”
“So, he did want to marry her?”
“He had the ring on hold.”
“What!”
“Yes. I saw it. It was beautiful. Girl, he had it all planned. He was going to propose in Central Park after dinner on our last night in New York.”
“Again, this is Bas we’re talking about?”
“Who knew he had a romantic side. That stupid cousin of mine said she wasn’t sure she wanted to get married.”
“So what happened?”
“I don’t know. Moses had the jet take us all home. Bas and Kendell were very quiet, not being too affectionate. I figured they were trying to be cool in front of us.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Me on the other hand, I was trying to figure out how Jason and I could join the private jet mile-high club.”
“You are so bad.”
“I was trying to be. Anyway, they on the other hand, showed no signs of a couple that had just gotten engaged. I kept trying to see if she was wearing the ring, but nothing. I just figured they were waiting to tell everyone.”
“How did they end up breaking up?”
“I don’t know. I did tell her, if she didn’t want Bas to let him go. Stupid girl.”
“That’s exactly what she is. So how did you find out they broke up?”
“I called and asked him when were they announcing their engagement and that’s when he told me.”
“Did he say what happened?”
“No. I don’t think he even knows.”
“I’m still in shock.”
“Like I told her, he won’t be alone for long. A few of my girlfriends told me to let them know when he’s available.”
“There are a couple of girls in my office that said the same thing.”
“Bas is a great catch, but I think it’s going to be a little while before he opens his heart up again.”
“Did you tell Alex Queen Crazy came by?”
“No, I didn’t want to bother her.”
“That’s right. This is her first visit with the family since the wedding.”
“What are they like?”
“Who?”
“The in-laws.”
“His dad and brother are great. His mother and sister are cut from the same snooty cloth. But I think Alex will be able to hold her own with them. Oh, that reminds me, I better pack a New York emergency bag.” We laughed. “Her ally is his grandmother.”
“What’s she like?”
“She runs the show. That’s all you need to know, and that she loves Alex. I think if it weren’t for Miss Emma and Aunt Connie, Alex and Moses wouldn’t have gotten married.”
“Really?”
“Once Emma Bartholomew—-”
“Bartholomew as in EBA Properties?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“EB Properties is one of the largest property management companies on the East Coast.”
“All I know about Emma Bartholomew, is that she’s a very rich widow. Her only daughter is married to Moses’ dad, and she has three grandchildren.”
“I need to do some research.”
“When you find out, let me know. I’ll check on you later. Bye.”
“Bye.”