Page 27 of Unexpectedly In Love

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ANISE

The ping of a phone makes us all stir. From the pillow where I lay, I peer across and see Sage busy typing on her phone. She gives a small nod. I exhale, he is gone. In all the coincidences that could have occurred in my life this one is the king of coincidences.

Kai begins to cry; I instantly get up.

“Chill take some time off from being a mom. That’s why we are here,” Cassia leaves the three of us in the bedroom.

Rosemary turns her head to Sage and me. “I don’t know what the two you heifers are up too, but I know there is something.”

Sage laughs nervously and shakes her head. “Girl, please, you to chill.”

I roll my eyes because if it one thing Sage cannot do well is lie.

“Sage, I think it’s time that we begin to wrap up. It’s getting late,” Rosemary states.

She gets up off the ground and fixes her dress, Cassia is right, it’s very pretty.

“I’m going downstairs. I have to ask Zac something,” I move out of the room, and sprint down the stairs, only to see Zac sitting with the kids.

I didn’t even have to tell Zac that I wanted to talk because he rose and began walking to his office as my feet touched the bottom floor.

I walk right behind him, he opens the office, lets me in, and closes the door after.

“You have to tell him. It’s important.” Zac places his hand on his waist.

“Zac, no. I’m leaving tonight. I can’t stay. You don’t know who he is.” I feel like screaming because I am not about to tell my brother about a murder and put my whole family in danger.

Zac’s face begins to redden, he grips my arms. “I know exactly who he is. Anise, listen to me you have to come clean with this.”

“No, I don’t,” I pulled out of his arm and went to the sliding doors. “You really need to change these doors it’s so awkward here.” I tap my nail against the glass of the door.

“Fuck the doors. Ani, you and Kai can be in danger.” Zac comes and stands beside me. Both of us gazing out at the backyard.

“Danger? Does he want us dead? Even worse I am gone by tomorrow,” I watch the tulips growing the side of the house and the oak trees in the backyard. People we still sitting and enjoying themselves.

“What? No. Ani listen to what I am saying?—”

Zac is cut off by a phone ringing on the table. He stops and watches it.

“Oh my God, Zac, answer the goddam phone,” I shriek as I throw my hands up in the air.

“It’s not mine,” he whispers. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows.

“Whos’ is it?” I ask. My adrenaline begins to spike slowly. “Zac who’s phone is it?”

“Oh, it sounds like it’s in here. Knock, knock.” Rosemary opens both of the French doors leading to the office.

“Thank you so much I thought I lost it,” the voice rumbles.

Change can happen in an instant; it doesn’t tell you when it’s coming, it just arrives. In this moment, I knew my time for change had come.

As those dark fringed grey eyes meet mine, I knew I was done for.

“Rosemary,” he whispered as if he was seeing an apparition.

“Oh my gosh, wow you know my name,” My sister places her hair behind her ear.

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