Page 81 of A Taste of Grace

Me:

I’m so sorry about today. The girls and I are on the way home.

When she didn’t respond immediately, I put the phone down. At the next red light, a notification came through on my watch, alerting me that Grace had texted me.

Grace:

Lunch is at the house. I’m heading out tonight on an earlier flight to DC. Will be back later this week.

Me:

What?

Grace’s flight wasn’t supposed to leave until tomorrow. Was she so angry with me that she changed her itinerary? When she didn’t respond, I put my phone down again.

A feeling of dread rested in my stomach. Grace’s feelings were already tender. I hadn’t been a good steward of the gift God gave me. I needed to work this out sooner rather than later.

Triggered

After church,I hurried to Caleb’s house to get my car and to retrieve essentials for my work trip. I drove home to hide out before leaving for DC in the morning. I lied to Caleb about where I was. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. Too many triggers popped up today, and I needed to process everything away from the girls, who were probably confused about what was going on too.

The girls.

I wished I could snatch them up and bring them to me, but then I’d have to talk to Caleb.

I wondered if their diva mother was still with them or at Caleb’s house. He loved touching on folks so much that I pictured him feeling her up. I fumed, saying a silent prayer of protection for Hannah and Esther before resuming my preparation for my trip.

I sucked in my breath as I walked through my house. The decor from my honeymoon remained, reminding me of my exquisite, sensual times with Caleb.

On the kitchen counter was an unopened bottle of champagne I left for us to drink the next time Ms. Denise or Nita kept the girls. Since I wasn’t letting Caleb between my legs anytime soon, I popped the liquor open and drank directly from the bottle, wanting to drown my sorrows before sinking into a hot bath.

With the bath salts Caleb and I bathed in.

Soul ties were no joke, because as I entered the bathroom, bottle in hand, I smelled him. I moved throughout the rest of the house to escape his essence but couldn’t. His smell was tattooed in my nose. Even the ottoman and bedspread held his woodsy scent, taking me back to our private times like an erotic movie.

To gather myself, I sat outside on the patio, inhaling the fresh air that finally neutralized my senses. I lifted my eyes to the clouds, thinking of past Mother’s Days.

“I miss you so much, Mama. I’m trying to make it without you, but it’s hard. Please send a guardian angel my way. I need your presence now more than ever.”

My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I placed the nearly empty champagne bottle on the ground and touched my stomach. A bubble of indigestion cut through me, pulling me from my musings. I shouldn’t have eaten that breakfast burrito this morning. Pork hadn’t been agreeing with me over the past few weeks. The last thing I needed was to have an upset stomach flying out of town.

The phone in my pocket rang as Caleb’s sexy smile came up along with his name. I sent the call to voicemail and texted him instead.

Me:

I only have time to chat with the girls, so if they aren’t talking to me, you and I can talk tomorrow when I’m done with work.

Caleb:

I know you’re mad at me.

No shit, Sherlock.

Me:

Gotta go.

I put my phone back in my pocket and sat on the wooden bench out back. My phone rang a few minutes later. It was Caleb again.

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