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He kissed my lips, our caress escalating as we yearned for one another once again.
I was finally home.
Autumn was just around the corner. As the leaves began to change, it was also clear the change in Ben and my dynamics. After he opened up about his past and we admitted our feelings, things seemed to move more lightly.
We went back to spending more time together. Since that fateful dinner, there wasn’t a night he was in town when we didn’t sleep together. Another new thing in my life was said dinner. The Bryants made it their business to include me in their weekly occasion, even if Ben wasn’t around.
It was wonderful to be a part of something. Somewhere safe and happy where I felt cared for, and where my baby would grow up being loved.
My life was wonderful and full. I was happy and excited about the future. As cliché as it might sound, I should’ve anticipated things were about to go south.
I was finalizing my baking for the next day, waiting for the last batch to be ready. I walked out front to see if April needed anything, but she was already a pro. As she walked around the tables, spreading joy, I walked to the end of the counter, where Mia was working on her computer, typing furiously, eyes focused on the screen, as she munched on a pain au chocolat.
It was hypnotic seeing her entranced in whatever she was working on. Now and then, she’d push her glasses up with her index knuckle. She’d look around from time to time, moving only her eyes, checking for any possible threats, then she’d devote her attention to what she was doing, not breaking her concentration. What kind of threat she was looking for in quaint Holy Water, I had no idea. Even as she peered around, she didn’t stop typing.
It should be exhausting.
She was lost in her reading, tactilely tapping her hand around on the counter to find her drink. After a few failed attempts, she grabbed her already empty cup, and when nothing came out of it, she shook the thing before trying again, as if the liquid would magically appear. Not once looking away from her computer.
I prepared her a new cup of cappuccino—her favorite poison—and walked to her, giggling to myself when I saw her wearing a shirt featuring a little bird holding two guns over the inscription “Pew Pew Madafakas.” When I placed the cup near her, she was startled, as if she’d forgotten I was around.
“You’ve been at it for hours. You should stop a little.”
She picked up her beverage. “Thank you.” She blew the steam and took a sip. “No time to stop.” She shrugged. “Things are a little hectic right now.”
“Another reason for you to rest.” I noticed the light circles around her eyes. “What’s going on? Can you talk about it?”
She thought for a moment, pondering her words. “Right before we started the company, I made an arrest.”
“Working at the DEA?” At her surprised expression, I explained, “Ben told me.”
She nodded in understanding. “Yes. Then, a few months ago, we had a breakthrough on a case we’ve been working on.” She took another sip and sighed in tiredness, rubbing her eyes with her thumb and index finger under her glasses. “The guy responsible for the bust we made was murdered a few weeks ago. We think it might be connected.”
“Are you guys in danger?” My voice trembled in consternation.
She shook her head and waved a hand. “Nah, we’re small fish. Nothing to worry about.” But I could see her eyes were as tired as they were disturbed.
I was about to spew more of my wariness when my phone rang, making me jump. My groan was unstoppable when I noticed it was my mother. Why couldn’t I enjoy my happy wave a little longer?
Mia furrowed her brows and leaned her head to the side at my reaction but stayed silent as I answered the dreaded call.
“Hello, Mother.”
“Well, if I’m not the one to make the call, I’d never hear from you again, huh?” Always so loving.
“And if you don’t need money, I don’t hear from you,” I muttered.
“What was that?”
“How are you?” Redirecting the conversation was the best course of action.
“Pff, as if you cared.” Or so I thought. “How is your little shop doing? Had to close it yet?”
She was toxic, and her derisive comments were cruel just for the sake of being so. After watching how Rosie treated her family, more than ever I understood what a mother should be like, and how far away from it mine was. “I’m thriving, but I appreciate your concern.”
“Always a disrespectful bitch, I see.” Even though it embarrassed me to no end to know Mia was listening to it—my mother only knew loud volume voice—I needed someone who cared for me to be around, so I could get over that conversation. Hopefully, I’d finally be able to tell my mother about my pregnancy. “I need more money. It’s impossible to keep my lifestyle with the amount you sent. Not that you care that much about your mother.”
“I won’t be able to send it this time. I also won’t be able to do so in the future. I’m…” I took a fortifying breath and almost cried in gratitude when Mia took my hand and gave it a light squeeze. “I’m pregnant. You’re about to be a grandmother,” I tried to infuse some cheerfulness. “So, I need to focus my expenses on the baby.”
