“No intentions. We’re friends, and we’re going to this ball together that she goes to each year. Just friends.”
“You need to think about this, Son. That young woman has a baby. She comes with a full responsibility, and that selfish son-of-a-gun friend of yours took her on an emotional ride. Don’t play with her emotions, Son.”
“I’m not, Dad. We’re just friends. She’s not expecting anything of me other than taking her to the ball. We were friends before. Besides, she’s Jeremiah’s ex. I don’t do stuff like that.”
He eyeballed me and nodded as we finished carrying the gifts to his truck. Afterward, my brothers busied themselves with picking up the leftover wrapping paper and trash, while my dad headed upstairs.
I walked into the kitchen where Mama was stacking dishes in the dishwasher, and Angel was cleaning the countertops.
Angel had Belle situated against her body in the carrier she had strapped on. I watched as she stroked the back of her head. I leaned against the doorway, watching them for a few minutes. None of them saw me.
“Look at that little dumpling. She’s such a beauty and such a good baby,” Mama stated.
“Thank you. She’s my precious girl,” Angel replied.
“She’s gonna be too big for you to carry in the front soon.”
“I know. I’ve tried transitioning her to my back, but she gets fussy. She loves resting her head against my chest.”
“My boys were the same way, but they were all breastfed, which made them clingier.”
“I try to switch her to the back when we’re at home so she can become adjusted to it, but I don’t when we’re out in public so she’s not as fussy.”
“Can I ask you a question, baby?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Are you sure that you and Christian just reunited?”
“Yes, ma’am. Why?”
“Bryant and I were talking earlier, and Belle looks just like Chris as a baby.”
Angel laughed haughtily. “With all due respect, ma’am, I promise you that this isn’t his baby.”
“Well, okay,” Mama replied doubtfully.
I walked into the kitchen and grabbed the broom to break up the inquisition. I kept feeling Angel’s gaze on me as I swept the floor. When I turned around and caught her staring at my tatted arms flexing while I swept, I winked at her.
She bit her bottom lip, and I watched as a red undertone crept underneath her brown skin, coloring her neck and face. I finished sweeping while they worked on the dishes. I headed back into the living room to talk to my brothers, but Nicholas was on his phone talking, and Joshua was in the bathroom.
I plopped on the couch and waited for Angel. I could hear the two of them talking, and I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I did.
“Mrs. Holly, thank you for inviting me.”
“I’m thankful you agreed to come. I didn’t expect to see you,” Mama declared.
“Why not?”
“Well, after everything went down between you and Jeremiah, you disappeared.”
“I’m sorry. It was nothing personal, but it was just hard and embarrassing.”
“Child, please. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“That was a rough time in my life.”
“I know. Baby, we all have rough patches. I’m glad to see that you got through it, and with that beautiful baby no less.”
