It was crazy how well Lavender knew Aspen. Aspen didn’t have to say a word for Lavender to read her mind. What Lavender said was true. There was no need in Aspen allowing Lance to hold any power over her life in any way.
“Honestly, I’m scared, Lavender. I mean, I’ve lived by myself before, but being alone with the girls worries me,” Aspen revealed and sighed. “I want to be everything they need and much more, but what if I can’t do it?”
“That’s what villages are for. Just because you’re their mother doesn’t mean you must carry all the weight yourself. You’re human. Where you fall, you have family and friends to pick you up, whether Lance is present or not. As long as you have me, Mahari, your parents, and Denver, you’ll never be alonein this world. We got you.” Lavender leaned down and kissed Aspen’s belly. “We got y’all.”
On cue, the twins started moving like crazy, causing ripples to form in Aspen’s stomach. She and Lavender shared a laugh, watching the entertainment until the girls calmed down. With one arm out, Aspen embraced her best friend.
“I love you, Lavender. Thank you.”
“I love you too, baby mama. Now, finish getting ready. It takes a little longer to get to your doctor from here, so we gotta leave soon.”
Once Lavender left, Aspen picked up where she left off on getting ready. Talks with Lavender always made her feel better. There was still a little weight resting on Aspen’s shoulders, but it didn’t feel as heavy as before.
After she showered and moisturized her body, Aspen sat on the bed and went to all her social media apps where she unfollowed Lance. She was taking some of her power back, and it felt good. Sending a quick text to her family group chat, Aspen got dressed and carried her shoes out front for Lavender to help her put on.
The wonderful aroma of breakfast greeted Aspen the second she opened her bedroom door, but there was a scent that overpowered it.
Hisscent overpowered it.
Aspen would recognize those earthy notes from anywhere. She picked up her pace and rounded the corner to see Mahari sitting at Lavender’s dining room table.
Instantly, peace overcame her. All the problems and emotions she’d been navigating seemed to find a clear path as Mahari’s captivating eyes locked in with hers, and he flashed her that panty-wetting smile of his. He stood up and walked over to Aspen before kissing her forehead and holding his hand out for her shoes. Happily, she gave them to him and went to sit down.
“When did you get back in town?” Aspen asked as she placed her foot on Mahari’s exposed thigh. The basketball shorts he wore rose, and she had to look away when naughty thoughts entered her mind.
“This morning. You should’ve known I wasn’t about to miss your appointment, Bunny. They needed me to stay one more day, but I told them we could finish up over a video call.
“Mahari,” Aspen whined, “you didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I couldn’t let you down. Plus, we were basically finished. They laid the law down on all the tracks, so it was an easy job.”
Leaning over in her seat, Lavender whispered in Aspen’s ear, “Wrong cousin.”
Aspen playfully slapped Lavender’s arm. She couldn’t count how many times Lavender said that to her over the years.
“Well, I appreciate you for doing that. Thank you.”
“No thanks needed. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” Mahari replied, and Aspen didn’t miss the glimmer in his eyes.
Before she could get lost in them, Aspen focused on her plate on the table. Lavender had hooked her up with French toast, cheesy, scrambled eggs, smoked sausage, and potatoes. Aspen said a quick prayer and dug in. Everything was good and fresh. The little dance she did in her seat was one of approval.
Mahari sat at the table, and Lavender fixed him a plate as well. Once they were all finished eating, it was time for them to go to her appointment. Since Lavender had to go to work afterward, she decided to drive, while Aspen rode with Mahari.
Five minutes into the ride, Aspen questioned, “Have you talked to Lance?”
“I talked to him on the way to Lavender’s house. I gotta meet him at the studio later to get a few things finalized for his upcoming album.” Mahari glanced over at her. “Have you?”
“Pfft. No. He hasn’t reached out to me, and I damn sure won’t go out my way to reach out to him. Did he at least ask about the girls?”
Mahari’s silence was all the answer Aspen needed. She folded and tugged her lip, peering out the window as she willed herself not to cry. The hurt and anger she felt for their relationship ending was turning to pure rage.
“I don’t even know why I’m surprised or upset. He’s never cared or showed interest. You know when I asked that man if he was excited about their arrival, he blatantly ignored me and changed the subject? He’s shown me for months he doesn’t care, so I don’t know why I hold on to hope he’ll change.”
Lance Creed had shown Aspen who he was and how he felt numerous times. Each time gave Aspen a clearer view of it all, but she forced the stain-colored glasses to make the picture look different. The desire and need to see Lance differently were what kept her all those years. She didn’t want to believe what she’d already known was true.
She’d chosen the wrong cousin.
Picking her hand up and kissing the back of it, Mahari tried to reason with Aspen. “Don’t lose total faith in him. Who knows? Maybe once the girls are born and he sees them, he will change.”
