Page 10 of Pieces of Us

I laughed. “Oh goodness. You and your stories. Let Daddy hear about you gossiping, he’s going to make you repeat Ephesians 4:29 until you’re blue in the face.”

“Girl, we don’t live under his roof anymore. And this isn’t gossip; it’s information regarding some tea that needs to be explained. It’s piping hot, too.”

“Mommy, I sleepy,” Mariah declared, laying her head on my shoulder.

“Okay, Honey Bee. Let’s get you down.” I moved up the stairs to put my baby down for a nap.

“I’ll get the wine ready,” Drue called out behind me. I was sure whatever she had to say was going to be juicy.

“I’ll be a minute. I have to get showered and changed.”

“Well, make it snappy!”

“Don’t rush me, heffa!”

It only took Mariah all of ten minutes to fall asleep while I read herGoldilocks and the Three Bears.I kissed her forehead then eased out of the bed. I made sure to turn on her favorite song and put it on a low volume then crept out of the room. I walked down the hall en route to my quarters until I heard giggles coming from Megan’s room.

Lord, I’m not ready for this stage of her life.

I pushed the door open and stuck my head inside.

“That better be Asia or Rudy you’re on the phone giggling with,” I implied with a hiked brow and smirk on my face.

She laughed. “It’s both of them, Mom.”

“Hi, Mrs. Coleman!”

“Hey, Auntie Mo!”

“Hi, girls,” I sang. “Meg, homework now.”

“I got you, Mom. I’m on it.”

I nodded and closed the door, going to my room to shower and change into my pajamas.

Twenty minutes later, I was dressed, heading out of my room and downstairs to my den where Drue was waiting with wine and snacks.

“Alright. What’s tea, Sis?”

“Girl, you still move like a damn snail.”

“Shut up. Now what’s going on?”

“Here. Drink first, and tell me about that awkward look you gave your husband before he walked out of the door.”

I took a sip of my wine and shook my head. “I will not.”

“Really?”

“I don’t want to give it power, Drue. So, it’s nothing until it’s something. Now spill it.”

“Ugh, fine. So, I was just walking through Walmart, minding my little ol’ business, and guess who I see?”

“Who?”

“Shelby Newson.”

My body grew stoic. My heart sank to my stomach and did a cartwheel down to my ass. Memories instantly came flooding back as I tried to keep my emotions at bay. Just hearing that last name and who she was connected to made my vision blurry.

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