Page 67 of Forsaken Vows

I almost cried.

“Tocara?” My voice cracked, and I didn’t even care. I moved before I could think, wobbling around the desk with my belly leading the way. She met me halfway, arms already wide.

We hugged so tight my chest burned.

“I been looking for you since I moved back two years ago,” she whispered. “You disappeared.”

“I got married,” I choked. “So much happened.”

She pulled back, holding me at arm’s length. “I heard from your man. Girl, we got catching up to do.”

Sam slid out like magic, telling me he had errands to run. He left his card at the front and told the receptionist, “Whatever she wants, she gets.”

Me and Tocara talked like no time had passed. She did my nails while grilling me like a big sister. I told her everything—Mark, the divorce, Sam, the baby.

“He really loves you,” she said, eyes warm. “I can tell. We talked a few times since he contacted me. And I’m not just saying that ’cause he brought your ass back to me.”

We stayed at the shop for two hours, then grabbed dinner at a little Cuban spot Sam picked out for us. Tocara was in the middle of telling me about her fiancé and why she moved back to Florida.

“Found out he was community dick,” she said, chasing the words with a bite of black beans and rice. “Caught him in my damn bed with this bitch named Shandra. My bridesmaid. Supposed-to-be business partner.”

My mouth fell open. “In your house?”

“Leaving cum stains in sheets I bought. Candles I liked, even listening to the playlist I made. All I heard was moaning and Tank.”

I gasped. “Tank is sacred!”

“Right?!” she said, shaking her head. “I’m standing there with a bag of shrimp from Publix, talking about, ‘Babe, I got your favorite—’ and there go Shandra, tooted up, airing her ass out on my shit like she paid rent.”

I clutched my chest. “What did you do?”

She didn’t even blink. “Dropped the shrimp. Grabbed the bat. Beat the both of them out my house, naked.”

I nearly choked on my drink. “Noooo.”

“They tripped over each other trying to get out. She tried to press charges on me and everything,” she said proudly, then sipped her drink. “I don’t do betrayal. You gon’ feel me if you fuck over me.”

I nodded, heart squeezing. “That’s why I needed you back. This baby needs aunties who don’t play.”

Tocara reached across the table, her fingers grazing mine. “And you gon’ have me.”

Right then, Sam appeared at the table, hand brushing my shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt, but I think we should head out. You’re getting tired. I’ve been watching you for the past five minutes, your eyes lolling.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Tocara smiled knowingly. “Go on, mama. Let your man take you home. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

We stood, hugged tight like no time had passed.

She promised to come with me to my next ultrasound and threw out baby shower themes before we parted ways.

I didn’t know how much I needed that.

I felt full. Not just from the food—but from life. From friendship. From something that felt like real joy.

Sam pulled up in the truck, already out the driver’s seat, passenger door open for me.

“You good?” he asked, brushing hair from my face.

“I’m perfect,” I said. “Thank you.”

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