Page 68 of Happy Is On Hiatus
Rather, a deep foreboding had come over her, and she’d not only remained totally still, but her heart had begun to thump wildly.
“She didn’t say it was you,” Sharae replied. “I’m pretty sure she didn’t know it was you. And what the hell are you doing here?”
“Ms.Rose told me to come over and pick up a cake she baked for my mother,” the other woman said.
Sharae cursed. “I really can’t believe this shit. When I saw you with him last year, I told both of you to end this! And since I just saw his trifling ass in Ocean City with another chick, I thought you had.”
The sound of teeth sucking was loud and clear. “In case you didn’t notice, we’re both adults. Besides, Nate hasn’t been happy in that marriage for a long time. This was bound to happen sooner or later.”
“No, this was not!” Sharae yelled. “You getting pregnant by my cousin’s husband wasn’t bound to happen. You’re triflin’ as hell, waltzing around that church, knowing you were sleeping with her husband and smiling in her face.”
Rita moved at that moment. She’d heard more than enough, and her heart thumped so wildly now it was a wonder it remained intact. She entered the kitchen, rage boiling in every crevice of her soul. Their gazes locked instantly.
Amy Edmonds. Her mother was on the missionary ministry with Aunt Rose. Amy sang on one of the other choirs at NVB, and she was one of the adults who led the dance ministry. She was also in her late twenties, something Rita knew because they’d planned to have presentations by women in different age groups at the women’s ministry banquet. She’d seen Amy’s name and age on the list just last week.
“You.” The word came out in a hoarse whisper.
Sharae turned to Rita. “Let’s just walk away,” she said and reached out to touch Rita’s arm.
Rita yanked away. “I’ll deal with you in a minute,” she said, her body vibrating with anger. Sharae’s eyes widened, but she didn’t respond.
If she didn’t know what to expect from Rita, that was just fine, because Rita would’ve never expected this from her.
In the meantime, she stepped closer to Amy. The woman was slim but for the slight bump of stomach protruding through the very fitted tangerine-colored dress she wore. Her french-manicured nails were long, and she ran them through wavy auburn hair that fell to her waist. A wig, of course, but a pricey one.
“You have the audacity to step foot in my house.” There were so many words Rita wanted to say. Questions. Thoughts. Curses.
She could only shake her head.
“How fuckin’ dare you be here in my house!” Her arms shook as she took the step that would close the distance between them.
“Rita,” Sharae called from behind her.
“Shut up, Sharae! You had your chance to tell me you knew this bitch, but you didn’t!”
Amy frowned. “You know me too, Margarita. We see each other in church every Sunday.”
Rita could hear other voices. Somebody else had come into the room, but she didn’t care. Right now, it was just the two of them.
“I want you out of my house, and don’t you ever set foot in here again.”
Amy didn’t look at all bothered by Rita’s statement. “That’s fine. I just need to pick up this cake, and then I can go.” She tilted her head then and gave Rita a half smile. “Nate’s buying a bigger house for us and the baby.”
All the words that had been in Rita’s mind drifted away as her palm connected to Amy’s cheek with a smack that echoed throughout the room.
Chapter 25
DISASTER.
When Sharae went to grab Rita to stop her from hitting Amy again, Rita turned and pushed her back. She fell into the island, and Jemel and Aunt Ceil stepped in, pulling a yelling and raging Rita back.
Amy was spouting profanities as Aunt Rose approached her, and Sharae quickly eased around her aunt to step between her and the pregnant heffa. “You need to go!” Sharae said. “Now!”
“Not without my mother’s cake.” This girl really was out of her mind. “Oh, and I’m pressing charges against you, bitch! See if your daddy can pray you out of that.”
“You’re gonna need somebody to pick your ass up off this floor if you don’t get the hell out of here!” Sharae was in her face, waiting for her to act like she was gonna swing on her the way she’d tried to swing back on Rita.
But even that effort had been fake. Amy didn’t want this. She was stuck in the middle of it right now, but Sharae was convinced this child didn’t come here expecting to get her ass beat down at this cookout. And yeah, she knew the girl was pregnant, but she was also way out of line, so all rules were out the window.
