Page 133 of Steps

Mom and Daniel walks out of the living room then.They see us together and stall in their steps.

“What were you doing up there?” Mom blurts, voicelaced with accusation.

“Nothing,” I rush to say. “We were just checkingout the nursery.”

Daniel scratches his head. Seems he hasn’t dyedhis hair recently because his gray strands are prominent among the dark browns.

“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea,” he says. “I thinkit’s too soon for you both to be around each other again.”

Alison steps out of the kitchen. She has a totewith food containers.

“Doesn’t matter how much time goes by, Dad,” Varensays boldly. “My feelings for Toya will never change.”

I twist and give him the ‘what the hell’look.

His eyes appear apologetic as they regard me. “Ilove her. That’ll never go away.”

“God,” Mom murmurs. Turning to her, I notice she’srubbing her belly, an uneasy look on her face. “Varen, you should leave.”

Daniel looks at her. He places his arm around hershoulder. “I… I agree, son. If you still feel that way, then you shouldn’t moveback home right now.”

“Why does he have to leave but not me?” I sputter.“This is Varen’s home.”

He touches my back and says in a pleading way,“Toya, just come with me.”

Mom’s chestnut eyes expand as realization hits.“You still see each other.” It’s not a question.

My body stiffens. My head and heart pounduncontrollably.

Daniel’s mouth drops. “What? No, she’s… Toya’sbeen here all summer.” He looks so baffled. “No.”

Alison drops her gaze to the floor, guiltilychewing at her lip. She must have recalled the morning she’d caught me sneakinginto the house but didn’t tell him.

“Not all the time.” Mom shakes her head. “No,those Sundays when Kenya would pick you up.” She points at Varen harshly. “Hedoesn’t work on Sundays. Kenya was helping you both. Even last Thursday whenyou didn’t come straight home from school. You weren’t tutoring. You were withhim.”

I wince at her barks. Her disappointed stare sendsa tidal wave of guilt crashing over me.

As if he knows, Varen drapes his arm around mywaist to give me comfort.

“Is that true?” Daniel snaps at us, eyes turningred.

No use lying anymore. “Yes. We never stopped.”

He huffs and wipes his mouth aggressively. “Ican’t believe this. What is the matter with you two?” He motions to my mom’sbump. “You have a sibling on the way!”

“We know that,” Varen fires back. “But we can’thelp how we feel about each other, Dad. Can’t you just understand that?”

Daniel’s nostrils flare. He yells, “This is lust!I don’t want it around our child.”

Varen grasps my hand. “That’s fine. Toya’s movingin with me.” My head snaps to him.

“What?” Mom blurts. When I look at her, she gripsher stomach and buckles over, gasping in pain. “Uhh…”

Alarmed, Daniel touches her back. “What is it?What’s wrong?”

“Ah!” Mom yelps.

Panic soars in me when I see blood streaming downher leg. “Mom…”

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