Double Trouble (6 page)

Glad for the support of her friend, she inhaled and continued. “Yeah, after my mom kicked me out, I called my boyfriends to tell them about the baby, didn’t know I was having twins yet.” She looked up at the ceiling to stop the tears from falling. “And to this day, they have never returned my calls.”

“You sure they got the message?”

Belinda nodded. Having lost the battle of keeping her eyes dry, she wiped away a trail of water with her fingertip. “Yeah, I talked to their father each time, he said he would tell them I called and give them the message to call me back. I didn’t have the money to get back to Pennsylvania, and a condition of staying with my godmother was that I stop 'fornicating,'” she said, holding her fingers up in quotation marks. “Go to church, focus on me and my child. I had to sneak to make the calls when I did. Months before the boys were born they changed their number, and it was unlisted after that. I didn’t know their address or their parent’s names, so I couldn’t write.” She tried to smile and failed. “That’s my story of love and loss, damn it.” She sat up. “I didn’t come here to cry and be a Debbie Downer. I’m happy you are so in love you don’t want to share your man with anyone else. I say go for it, do it your way and all that jazz.”

Pam wiped a tear from her eyes, and pulled Belinda close. The gesture warmed Belinda to her toes. She had never been able to really discuss her feelings over Donnie and Blaine’s rejection. It had been too painful, it cut too deep. Plus, there hadn’t been any sympathetic ears in Georgia or anywhere else. The few girlfriends she had in high school were getting ready for college. She had been too ashamed of how her mom and the twins responded to her situation to tell anyone back home about her predicament, so she shut down all communications.

If there was a penalty for loving two brothers, Belinda believed she had paid it in full. Not only had she lost her heart, but she didn’t have time to grieve the death of that relationship. From the moment her godmother allowed her to stay, she had been slammed into another world of religious fanaticism. Church three days a week and Sundays. She became her godmother’s chauffeur until she was too big to get behind the wheel. The day she settled in her godmother’s home was the last day the older woman cooked or cleaned. It was no wonder her two godsisters visited just once a year, and that was Thanksgiving. They sympathized with her plight but told her flat out they had no desire to spend more time with their aging parent.

“I know it hurts and it’s been years. Last time we talked you told me you were finally dating again, does that help in any way?” Pam asked, still holding her hand.

She nodded slowly, as her thoughts turned to her new lover. “Robert is nice. He’s older, much older, and has little patience for my boys. So you know that relationship isn’t long term or serious. He’s a nice sexual diversion every once in a while. I am not interested in anything serious right now with my dad being so sick.”

Pam sat back and held her hand. “You’ve been through what every person in a relationship dreads, hurt and betrayal. You, Belinda Moore, are a tough as nails survivor, and I’m damn glad you’re here. I value your friendship and need a second pair of eyes on my back.” She grinned at Belinda, who was glad to be off the subject of her former lovers.

“Ms. Pam, your other guests just cleared the gate and will be here in a few minutes,” Brooks said from the entry.

“Thanks.” Pam glanced at her as she stood. “How do I look? Do I need to fix my face?” she asked, walking over to a nearby mirror on the wall.

Belinda joined her. “You look great…like a woman in love. Hang onto to him and what you have with everything you’ve got. If he put that look in your eyes, he’s worth it.”

Pam stared at her for a moment and stumped her foot. “See now you got me crying again and I need to be dry-eyed and clear-headed. I don’t know these women.”

Belinda chuckled as she checked her face. It was fine. “Don’t worry. First off, this is your home. That means you set the tone. Second, I got your back. I’ll block the arrows and make sure you know where they came from. I’m used to your hard core, fix it now, attitude. If the people of Flint think you’re a pushover, then I want a ringside seat as you straighten them right quick.”

Pam smiled and gave her another quick hug. “Be nice. Remember I had to battle with you to get what I needed for my clients, I know better than most who’s the tough chick in the room.”

Belinda shrugged as they headed back to their seats. “Being a case worker in Social Services means you toughen up or go crazy.” She glanced at Pam. “I couldn’t afford to do crazy.”

Pam chuckled just as Brooks stood to the side and three women, one Latina and two black, entered the room. “Hi Vianca, how’re you doing?” Pam asked, standing and reaching for the Latina.

“Good, Chica, you?”

Belinda watched the two women greet each other and could tell there was a genuine fondness between them. She took a moment to check out the other two females, who stood a little off to the side. Neither woman hid their interest in the house and were busy looking around the room as if they were in a museum or something. Belinda couldn’t blame them, the house was magazine worthy.

“Pam, I want you to meet Denise and Cherise.” Vianca stepped back, allowing the two women to move forward.

“Hi, I’m Denise and I am so happy to meet you. From what I’ve heard, Julio’s happy and that makes you a star in my book. He’s always been so nice. Now, if you could remind him of a promise to make me some cabinets a few years back, I’ll be your best friend forever.”

Belinda pegged Denise to be in her late twenties, early thirties. She had a curvy build, mocha brown complexion, and stood taller than Pam by a few inches, so that’d put her around five five or five six.

Pam chuckled. “Thanks Denise, you’ve got to tell me more about his cabinetry skills. I’ve heard things.”

“Girl, Julio is the best when it comes to working with wood. You should see the cabinets he built for Ms. Connie, then you’d understand why I was so heartbroken when he left Michigan.” Denise pouted and then laughed. It made her slanted brown eyes sparkle in her heart-shaped face. She pushed wisps of her shoulder length hair from her face as she stepped aside.

“Hi, I’m Cherise. I love your home, it’s large and warm,” the statuesque woman said, smiling. “And congratulations and best wishes on your marriage, I hope this chapter in your life is the best.” She handed Pam a large box that Belinda hadn’t seen before.

“Thanks Cherise, I appreciate that,” Pam said, sounding genuinely touched.

“School teacher on the premises,” Denise said, pointing at Cherise with a warm smile. “I forgot to congratulate you on your marriage and I should have, especially since my husband gave me carte blanche on finding the perfect wedding gift.” She stepped backward, picked up a brightly colored bag and handed it to Pam. “This is from my husband, Red and I. Congratulations, and best wishes to you both.”

For a moment no one said anything as Pam sat the gifts on a nearby table. Belinda felt eyes on her and relaxed into the moment. Whenever Pam got around to introducing them was fine with her.

“This is my friend Belinda. She moved here from Miami a month before I did. Our jobs crossed paths so often back then we just decided it’d be easier to be friends than enemies. That was five years ago, so I was happy when she called to say she’d be moving here.”

“Nice to meet you,” Vianca said, smiling at her. “Pam told me you used to work for Social Services, I bet you have some stories you can tell.”

Belinda nodded. “You’d be right. I did it for ten years, saw a little of everything. But I helped a lot of people, so it balanced out.”

“Hi Belinda,” Denise said. “I’ve always wondered how that worked. I’d love to sit and talk with you sometime. My girls are getting older and I’m thinking about doing some other things.”

Girls?
Belinda wondered briefly about that but let it go. “Sounds good, just let me know when. I moved here to take care of my dad. He’s had serious back problems and hasn't been able to walk for a year. He wanted to stay in his home and he asked me for help. So my time has to be scheduled around his nurse visits.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Cherise and the others murmured. “I had a miscarriage a few months ago, it’s not the same as your situation, but pain is pain. My husband and I are still hurting. If you need anything let me know,” Cherise said in a sincere voice with a look of understanding that only those who had experienced devastating loss wore.

Touched more than she could say, Belinda nodded. “Will do and thanks.”

“Same here,” Vianca said as she sat in an arm chair across from the sofa. “My workload has lightened and I’m here in town more. We could do a lady’s night out or something.”

“Are you dating anyone?” Denise asked Belinda.

“I have met someone and we go out from time to time,” she answered hesitantly.

“Oh, that means all of us are gloriously taken, so a lady’s night out would most likely include our men,” Denise said laughing.

“As if Red would let you go to a club or something without him,” Cherise said, crossing her legs in her chair.

“Ross wouldn’t let you go either,” Vianca snorted.

“And Smoke wouldn’t have anything to say about you going to shake your butt someplace without him?” Denise asked with a smug smile.

Belinda listened to the friendly banter and met Pam’s gaze. These women were down to earth and would make good allies in a town where neither of them knew anyone.

“Now Pam, I don’t know about your husband. I never saw him with another woman, but he is Latino. And Latino men are notorious for being jealous and possessive. So…I doubt he would be down with you hanging out in a club without him either,” Vianca said.

“I’m a newlywed, and as much as I like you ladies, there is no place I want to go without Julio. Not now, probably not in the next five to ten years,” Pam said, leaning back in her chair with a cheeky grin.

“Seems I’m the only one who can hang out without getting permission, soooo…” Belinda let her comment hang as each of the women sputtered and denounced her permission statement. When it was time for lunch, they all laughed good-naturedly as they headed toward the dining area.

“Julio,” Pam called out, and the joy that laced her voice made all the women stop and look around.

“Hey baby.” He took Pam in his arms and kissed her in front of her audience. This was Belinda’s first look at the man who’d stolen her friend’s heart and she was impressed. Julio Cardenas was serious eye candy. Dark wavy hair brushed against his dress shirt collar. He wasn’t as wide across the chest as either of her twins had been, but it was obvious he had a nice body. The way his biceps bulged as he held his wife confirmed her suspicions. When he finally allowed her to breathe, his sharp gaze took in everyone in the room.

“Hello ladies, it is nice to see you here.” His gaze rested on Denise. “Hola Denise, where are your pretty young ones?”

Denise strode toward him and drew him into a one arm embrace since he did not release Pam. “They’re at school. I’m so happy for you and Pam. Congratulations.”

He nodded. “Thank you. I am happy as well. I waited all my life for her, and I am glad to have found her.”

“Congratulations, Julio. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. You look good. Marriage does agree with you. You are lucky to have found your soulmate, someone who loves you just as much as you love her. I, no we, wish you nothing but years of happiness,” Cherise said, giving him a one-armed hug as well.

“Thank you, I treasure your words.” He looked at Vianca and winked. “What are you up to over there?”

Vianca batted her eyes and placed her hand across her chest in an innocent gesture. “Who me? Nothing. I’m just here for the food and laughs, Champ.”

He frowned at her and then laughed. “I bet you drive my friend wild.”

She laughed. “Of course I do. He loves it though.”

Julio nodded and gazed at her. Belinda waited for Pam to come out of the cloud of passion and introduce them. Julio surprised her.

“And you’re Belinda. Ms. Ollie’s former caseworker. I remember some interesting times when you and Pam wrangled over the older woman’s care. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.” He extended his hand.

She took it as heat rushed to her face. Her relationship with Pam had been tempestuous at times. Pam always wanted more for her clients and pushed any and every button to get the maximum. Unfortunately, the services Pam wanted were under the auspices of the government with little flexibility. Often they’d put their heads together to find ways to circumvent red tape, sometimes they were successful like with Ms. Ollie. Most times they were not.

“Yeah, your wife is a real pit bull when it comes to something she wants or believes in. Have you heard from Ms. Ollie?” Belinda asked as she stepped back.

“Yes, she’s loving her new place,” Julio said.

“She should, it’s the Waldorf Astoria of senior living,” Belinda said without thinking.

Vianca and Denise broke out laughing. “Waldorf Astoria? Really? What do they have in that place?” Denise asked, her glance moving from Belinda to Pam.

“You name it, it’s there,” Pam said, moving toward the dining room. Belinda was surprised when Julio walked with them.

He shrugged. “It was the place of her choosing. We could not leave Miami until Ms. O was settled. She is special to both of us.” He gazed at Cherise. “Where is your little man? He is what? Two?”