After work on Thursday evening, Sandra strolled through her front door. Unaccustomed smells and sounds greeted her.
The aroma meant Talise had made herself at home and felt up to cooking dinner. Yummy. Her sons could cook, but they always burned the first batch of anything. A soft gospel melody serenaded in the background, another welcome home treat. What a contrast to the R&B music Kidd and Ace would blast when they lived there.
After placing her purse and keys on the French side table in the hallway, Sandra rounded the corner into the living room. She stopped and smiled, taking in the sight before her eyes. Stretched out on the sofa, Talise dozed. Sandra hated to wake her, but she looked uncomfortable.
“Hey.” Sandra said softly, gently shaking Talise’s shoulder until she stirred. Her lids fluttered open. Once Talise seemed to have her bearings, she smiled. “Hey. How was work?” Sitting up, she rubbed her stomach.
“The same every day and every minute—crazy. I’m glad you felt up to cooking. You didn’t have to, but thanks.” Sandra headed to the kitchen and washed her hands.
Talise stood and followed her. “It’s the least I could do. You rescued me from the craziness at my apartment. I slept well last night and, as you can see, was in the middle of an afternoon nap. Now your grandchild is hungry.” They laughed.
After filling their plates with slices of roast beef, beets, green beans, mashed potatoes, and a roll, the two women enjoyed easy conversation. They chatted about fashion, hair, and baby stuff.
“That was good. You’re a great cook,” Sandra complimented, putting down her fork.
“You’re the one who left me with something to cook—”
The house phone interrupted Talise. Her eyes widened as Sandra stood to answer it. “Hello?” She paused. “You have the wrong number, sweetie.”
When Sandra returned to her seat, Talise wouldn’t look at her. Instead, she picked with her napkin and said, “Sandra, I appreciate you not only opening your home to me, but reaching out to me in the beginning. You’ve really become an unexpected friend and I appreciate that. But I have to ask …” She took a deep breath. “Are you comfortable with me dating Minister Thomas, really? I know we discussed it briefly.”
“I have mixed emotions. As a mother, of course, I want to see my son happy and doing the right thing. I would be ecstatic to have you as a daughter-in-law. You already know that.”
Talise nodded.
“But, most of all, I want us to remain close—no matter what. I know how it can be, going at it alone. I was a single parent.” Sandra snickered. “I guess I still am. And the title didn’t come without sacrifices. I traded in my social calendar for a school calendar, nice lingerie for cartoon underwear, and going back and forth between boy scouts meetings and football practice.”
Talise listened quietly as Sandra continued to share from her heart. “Back then, no man wanted an unmarried woman with two little blockhead boys. In hindsight, I guess that was a good thing with so much molestation of our boys going on. It’s horrendous.”
“I know, that scares me too.”
“My sons didn’t have a full-time or part-time father. I blindly loved Samuel and let him get away with it. I was one of those silly women who suspected he wasn’t upfront with me, but I ignored it.”
Tears stained Talise’s cheeks as she sniffed. “You make your life sound so sad.”
“Children bring you joy—for a little while, anyway.” Sandra rolled her eyes. “I’m surprised you didn’t make sweet potatoes.”
Talise chuckled. “You didn’t have any.”
“Back to your original question. Richard is a confident man who knows your situation and isn’t judging you because of it. He wants to be in your life. That’s love.”
“I wonder how it might affect my relationship with Eva and the others.”
“You have a support system from the entire Jamieson clan. They put their money where their heart is. Although they’ve already given you some money, their intent is to set up a trust fund as soon as the baby is born and issued a social security number. No strings attached.”
Talise shook her head. “When you love someone, there are always strings attached.”