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Lei disconnected the call and tossed her phone onto the bed before sliding out of her dress and starting her nighttime routine. The whole time she did, she considered calling Cashmere and getting her advice. Though Cashmere didn’t agree with Lei keeping Jennifer in her life, she accepted it. Whether Jennifer was the most loving and affectionate mother or not, she was the mother Lei had for the first twenty-six years of her life. It seemed the worst Jennifer treated Lei the more she wanted a relationship with her. No matter the horrible thing Jennifer went along with, Lei’s love and attachment to her wouldn’t allow her to just… not talk to her anymore.
Deciding against calling Cashmere so late to discuss a woman whose name alone could change her energy, Lei decided to pray and sleep on it before making her decision in the morning. Just as long as that old need to earn Jennifer’s love and approval didn’t rear its ugly head, Lei was sure she would say no. If it did, Cashmere wouldn’t hesitate to remind her she owed Jennifer nothing more than her hate.
ten
“Look,I know she was your mother for a long time, but there’s nothing she can ever say or do to make what she participated in okay. I know you can’t turn your love for her off, and I don’t want you to feel like you can’t come to me regarding her, but I’llneversteer you down a path that leads to you seeing that lady or being more involved in her life than you already are. It’s bad enough that you talk to her regularly.Nowshe expects you to be in her wedding?” Cashmere scoffed. “So she just wants to forget the fact that she helped a crazy ass man hide you from your family, then made you suffer for it?”
“Ma.” Lei’s voice was strained as she pulled the white chocolate-covered fruit that had been chilling in the refrigerator out. “I didn’t call to get you worked up.”
“Anytime it involves that lady, I’m going to get worked up. I hate that you made me promise not to make her pay for what she did to us.”
“It’s not like she’s the one that took me.”
“No, she isn’t, but she is a mother herself. Even if she had her baby after he took you, she should have held her baby in her arms and immediately been filled with guilt over keeping you.”
“Well, she wasn’t, and you really need to let it go, Ma. Jennifer has been punished enough. I’m back with you, and we’re good. Please stop holding onto that. You’re only upsetting and stressing yourself out.”
“I don’t see how you can stomach even talking to her. Even if you didn’t want to hold her keeping Hamilton’s secret against her, she didn’t treat you right, Lei. How are you okay with that?”
Chuckling, Lei hung her head as she gripped the edge of the counter. It wasn’t her plan to discuss this with her mother before the girls arrived, but Cashmere didn’t answer when she called her earlier, and she’d just now returned the call.
“The Jennifer that didn’t give me what I needed no longer exists. I wouldn’t allow her in my life. This version of Jennifer is more caring and kinder. Our friendship is authentic because there aren’t any pressures or secrets between us. I know it doesn’t make sense to you, Ma, and I don’t expect it to.” Lei paused and nibbled her bottom lip. “I apologize for even coming to you.”
Cashmere sighed into the receiver, allowing several seconds to pass before she replied.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Princess. I’m sorry for coming down on you so hard. You’re being a good person and I shouldn’t make you feel bad for that. I don’t know if Jennifer genuinely wants to stay in your life or if it’s her guilt over how she treated you, but whatever the case, it’s your choice. If you believe she’s a changed woman and want to be in her life, I accept that. If that extends to you being in her wedding, I’ll have to respect that, too.”
Lei heard her mother’s words, but she could tell by her tone that Cashmere wasn’t as okay with this as she tried to appear to be. Whether she went and participated in the wedding or not, Lei made up in her mind not to discuss Jennifer with Cashmere going forward. She hadn’t taken into consideration how triggering conversations like this were for her mother. For whatever reason, Lei believed if she had been able to forgive Jennifer when she was the one taken, Cashmere should too.
“All right, Ma. I have to get ready for Yandi and the girls, so I’ll talk to you later.”
“You’re letting all of them women come to your house?”
Now that got a genuine smile out of Lei. She hated being in large groups and the introvert preferred one-on-one connections and conversation. Throughout her time in Rose Valley Hills, Lei had met and connected with a lot of men and women over the years. Infinity and Yandi were her closest friends, and they had some of the same friends that Lei acquainted herself with. While she wouldn’t call them friends, she did enjoy when they got together in small groups.
“I’d rather they come here than go to a public place and be around even more people.”
“Yeah… but are you going to be okay with them lingering in your home, Lei?”
Lei shrugged. “I’ll probably want them gone in an hour or so, so I already have a plan to get them out. I’m only bringing out a few bottles of champagne and wine. Once those run out, they’ll be running out too.”
Cashmere laughed. “All right, Princess. Try to enjoy yourself. I love you.”
“I love you too. Bye.”
After she disconnected the call, the latest Labrinth album that she was playing before Cashmere called permeated the speakers all throughout her two story six-bedroom home. Lei was careful about the energies she allowed into her home. It was a gift from her parents when she decided to stay in Rose Valley Hills. Mostly all the leaders of the secret society lived in the same neighborhood, and their families lived only blocks behind. Lei’s home was in the subdivision behind her parents and only three streets away.
Yandi, Lei’s best friend, asked if they could have girls’ night at her home. They took turns hosting the event every few days, and this was the only way Yandi knew Lei would participate. The women of Rose Valley Hills were a completely different breed compared to what Lei was used to in Memphis, in good ways… and bad.
Outside of the wealth they possessed, their characters and attitudes were different. The feminine women were overly feminine and soft while the women in the streets were just as gutta and gritty as the men they led and stood beside. It had been difficult finding her tribe, but Lei was confident she’d done so with Infinity and Yandi… and the friends that were attached to them to a certain extent.
“Okay. Let’s get this together,” Lei mumbled to herself, looking over the spread on her island and counters of charcuterie, fruit, and champagne and wine. She considered having the items prepared professionally, but decided to use the creative outlet to unwind instead.
It took her about forty-five minutes to get everything plated and on trays, then Lei took it to her spa area, where they would be communing. She’d asked her masseuse, nail tech, and esthetician to come over in case anyone wanted to receive treatments while they were there. Just as she’d begun to roll the cart of wine and champagne out, her doorbell rang.
Lei headed toward the front door, humming under her breath. It didn’t surprise her that Infinity was the first to arrive. The two embraced, complimenting each other on their attire for the day.
“What do you need me to do?” Infinity asked after taking her shoes off, following Lei down the hall back to her spa.
