Page 30 of Surrogate For My Best Friend’s Man 2

I looked down.

“If what she said is true…”Mama paused. “Then your husband is the one who stepped outside them vows. He is the one who knew he was married. He is the one who allowed that situation to get that damn far.”

I swallowed. “I know.”

“Kim ain’t innocent, but she ain’t the only problem.”

I sat there picking at the edge of my napkin. “I don’t even know what to believe anymore.”

Mama reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “Then don’t force yourself to believe anything today. Let the truth come out, and when it does…”She squeezed my hand. “…deal with it.”

I looked at her. “I still love him.”

“As you should.”

“I hate that I do.”

“You don’t turn love off because somebody pissed you off.” She paused. “But don’t let loving him make you stupid.”

I nodded.

Mama leaned back in her chair. “And that whole situation with Shante?”

My stomach tightened. “What about it?”

“Something ain’t right.”

I looked at her. “What makes you say that?”

“Because you know your friend. You told me she passed out.”

“Yeah.”

“A pregnant woman gets stressed, her blood pressure goes up, she passes out, that part makes sense.” She shook her head. “I’m talking about everything else.”

“What about everything else?” I asked confused.

“The way she's been acting y’all used to be inseparable “Something about that whole situation don’t sit right with me.”

I didn’t answer because I’d been feeling the same thing. Mama squeezed my hand again. “Whatever Deuce got himself into, that's his mess. And if them allegations about them babies are true? Baby, that’s a whole different kind of fucked up.”

I looked toward the living room where Brittany was still sleeping then back at Mama. “I don’t even know who my husband is right now.”

Mama sighed. “Sometimes the person you love ain’t the person you thought you married.”

That one hurt because I was starting to wonder if that was exactly where I was. I was at the point where I was getting tired of all the accusations and lies, I just wanted peace.

I stayed at Mama’s until I finally decided to head to the hospital. I hated leaving Brittany, but she had begged to stay with Grandma, and honestly, I didn’t mind letting her. Mama loved having her around, and I knew my baby was good. I grabbed my purse and keys. “I’m about to go see Shante.”

Mama nodded from the kitchen. “Tell her I said to stay her ass in that bed.”

I laughed. “You know Shante.”

“Exactly why I said it.”

I looked toward the living room. Brittany was stretched across the couch watching cartoons with Minnie tucked underneath her arm.

“Baby, Mommy about to go.”