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“No one begrudges you that Naomi. I think sometimes it’s all about the delivery that’s all. So, you have never wanted to talk to me at all. Every time we’ve been in a room you are always telling me what’s going to happen or what you’re going to do. What’s so different about today’s visit?”
Naomi sighed.
“I came here today not because you needed another visit. Let me tell you that out of all of the people that I have to do house calls to it is always a joy to come here.”
“Then you have me at a complete loss. If anyone had asked for you said those words to me I would have sworn I was on the edge of losing my babies. To be honest with you Naomi every time you come I’m on the edge of my seat.”
Naomi nodded.
“I know and that’s why I came by today. I wanted to say I was sorry.”
“Sorry?”
Naomi nodded.
“I know we don’t know each other very well Claudia but I do believe in being fair when I can. I wanted to say I was sorry to you because I thought you were weak being in an abusive relationship.”
“You’re not the first one,” Claudia admitted.
“Well, I didn’t want to get put in the group of ignorant people. Then I realized I was already in the group of ignorant people, and I owed you a face-to-face apology at the very least. I also become dog you are more than competent.”
Claudia hated to admit it, but Tamara was right. Naomi was in need.
“Thank you Naomi for coming by. I imagine it must have been some type of life event to make you come to this conclusion.”
Claudia watched Naomi blink her eyes quickly with what she suspected were unshed tears.
“The last couple of days have been challenging. I realized that I wasn’t as put together as I thought, and my life wasn’t as safe as I thought.”
Naomi stood and Claudia knew she was going to leave. She had seen the look on Naomi’s face that so many other women she had met in shelters had. It almost always started with disbelief when you became a victim. There was that confusion on how did it all happen and where did you go from there.
“Listen Naomi, you know you can come by whenever you want to see the babies.”
Claudia saw Naomi eyes light up.
“Really? After everything?”
“I can assure you that whisper and smoke do not mind having more attention. I’ll just have to let Tamara know that you’re coming by.”
Naomi nodded and then gathered up her coat from a nearby chair.
“I’ll let you and tomorrow get back to dinner but I want to thank you. Thank you for being kind to me when you had no reason.”
Claudia reached out and placed her hands on top of Naomi’s.
“A woman once told me that we should be kind to each other just because it’s another living being. I can’t wait for you to drop by.”
Claudia showed Naomi to the door and had to wonder what else could possibly happen today. Everything she knew was changing. Naomi the wicked witch who was out to steal her children was becoming kind. The attractive man next door who obviously had some nefarious plans Wanted to make her the center of a new fashion line. So many changes were happening but all Claudia wanted to do was laid down and wrapped herself up with her dogs.
* * *
If Claudia was hopingthat the weekend would bring an end to the news that Austin had spread about town she was going to be very mistaken. Claudia adored her friends. Tamara came with her from the shelters but they both found Tanya to be a knight in shining armor, or a Princess with a big sword, as Tanya would like to say.
Tanya came over two days later not work with sweets in hand. Tanya wasn’t pushing Tamara today about going out into the world. No, Claudia could see that today’s conversation was going to be all about her. Tanya went straight to the kitchen and laid out the sweets. It was like a finely oiled machine. As Tanya was laying out the sweets Tamara was putting on the coffee and tea pots. Claudia cleared the table and then put out everybody’s favorite cups. With their coordination it took them about 20 minutes to get everything set up for the girls to have tea coffee and sweets. Tamara called it bootleg high teatime.
“So here a gorgeous man has just offered to make you the center of his world and tie his money to you. I’m not saying that bad, but you have to wonder why?” Tanya asked looking over the top of her cup.
“I haven’t the faintest clue. I mean he came into the store, and he looked at my wares, but nothing led me to believe that he was doing it for any other reason than just being a customer.”
