CHAPTER 32

 

 

Sherita glanced at her phone seeing Emily’s picture and name on the display. She could barely hang up with Dante and Emily was already calling. And she knew why.

“Hello,” Sherita answered.

“What do you mean you’re not coming back?”

“Emily—”

“This has to be a joke. You’re joking, right.”

“No, Emily. I’m not joking. I’m not coming back. I told you I was leaving last Friday. Why are you acting like you’re surprised now?”

“Because when I talked to you a few days ago, you said everything was okay, so I thought you and Desmond had straightened things out.”

Sherita closed her eyes. Rubbed them. “I’m staying here in Myrtle Beach. That’s what I should’ve done in the first place instead of getting involved in this stupid marriage nonsense for The Champion Corporation. That’s my fault. I’m the idiot for doing that. Now, I’m doing something about it.”

“But that has nothing to do with me or our friendship. You’re punishing the rest of the family for something somebody else did to you.”

“I’m not punishing you.”

“That’s exactly what you’re doing, Sherita!”

“So we can’t be friends long distance? Is what you’re saying? I don’t understand why you’re upset, Emily.” Then she snapped. “Why do you want me to come back to Asheville? Seems everybody wants me for something, but it’s never anything genuine. I mean, are you afraid you won’t find anyone to work at your boutique anytime you need them, because I’m sure Dante will take care of that for you. You have a nanny. You don’t need my babysitting services. So why do you want me to come back?”

“Because you’re my friend, and I love you.”

A tear slid down Sherita’s face. She sniffled and brushed it away. “I’m not coming back. I’m done…done doing everything for everybody else, making other people lives happier and easier and what do I get in return? Not a thing as usual. Goodbye, Emily.”

Sherita hung up the phone and dropped her face into her hands, sobbing. She was close with Emily. She was close with Melanie, too, and then it dawned on her – what about Ezra and Grace? If she never went back, she wouldn’t see them grow up.

And they wouldn’t get to know their twin cousins she was carrying inside of her.