Page 57 of Desire

“What’s not to love? I know you don’t think it’s real, but I don’t care what you think, nor does my husband. It’s time for you to go. I need to feed my daughter.”

I exited the kitchen and went to the front door. Tammy's access to our home made me uncomfortable, and I would discuss changing the codes with Aziel immediately.

“You know, I wouldn’t get too comfortable if I were you. Aziel isn’t capable of loving a woman who isn’t related to him. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when he breaks your heart.”

I wanted to respond, but her words gave me pause—not because I believed them, but because they were familiar. When she was on the other side of the door, I secured it before leaning against it as I debated whether I should share my thoughts with Aziel.

After returning to the kitchen and making Azaria’s plate, I grabbed Aziel’s phone from the counter and called his work cell phone. He answered right after the first ring.

“You good, baby?”

“I’m fine. Tammy just left?—”

“Oh shit. What happened?”

“Nothing major, but she said something that got me thinking.”

“What’s that?”

I repeated to him, word for word, what Tammy had said before leaving our home.

“Doesn’t that sound familiar?” I asked.

“Damn, you think she’s the one sending the messages?”

“If she’s not, that’s one heck of a coincidence.”

“And you know I don’t believe in coincidences. Let me call Quinton. I’ll call you if there’s anything to report. I love you.”

“I love you—oh wait. Guess what?”

“What?”

“Ria called me Mommy this morning,” I told him excitedly.

“No shit. I knew it would happen soon. You good with it?”

“I told you yesterday how I felt about it. She almost had me in tears, baby. It rolled off her tongue so naturally. My heart damn near exploded.”

“Thank you for being so receptive, Desire. A mother was the only thing missing in my baby girl’s life; now she has one.”

“She has me for life, baby. Even if we don’t?—”

“Nah, don’t even say that shit because ain’t no backing out.”

“You’re right. I almost let your trifling assistant ruin my high. We need to change the codes because I don’t like how comfortable she is coming into my house unannounced.”

“I’ll send you the directions on how to change them. I gotta go. I love you,” he repeated.

“I love you, too.”

A text message came through as I placed his phone on the counter. I wasn’t the kind of woman who went through a man’s phone, but when I saw Tammy’s name, I didn’t hesitate to go to the text thread.

Tammy B: I regret suggesting you get married.

It didn’t take me long to decide I wanted to reply as Aziel and help her dig herself into a hole.

Me: How is my marriage affecting you?

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