Page 9 of Strength

Chapter Four

Olivia

It was seven by the time I got home from work. Twelve hours in that place was hell, especially when I had worried about my son all day. When Rea left at two-forty-five and wished me luck on the date, I realised it had totally slipped my mind in all my worry.

I was supposed to be going on a blind date with this Emmett bloke tonight. I was so exhausted, I felt like cancelling. But cancelling a date at the last minute was bad form, no matter how good the excuse, and based on my initial conversation with him, Emmett seemed like too nice of a guy. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

So I went to my wardrobe and dug out the only nice dress I owned. A classic little black dress that I hadn’t worn since I was nineteen—the only nice outfit that still fit me post-pregnancy and that I hadn’t sold post-break up. As I zipped myself up and put my earrings on, I called Rea so I could check in on Charlie. Unfortunately, he was less than happy about being stuck there.

“Do I have to be on this playdate, Mom?” Charlie hissed.

“Why, sweetie? Aren’t you having fun with Lucy?”

“No! She’s so girly!”

“You have fun with Danisha and she’s a girl.”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t play with glitter or dolls.”

I was sure he was wrong about both of those things. Then again, when I stopped to think about it, I’d only ever seen Danisha with plastic animals and crayons. I doubted Latisha would ever let glitter into her home.

“Maybe you should introduce her to some of the games you play with Danisha, Duke, and Jada, then.”

“Okay,” Charlie moaned again.

“Oh, and Charlie?”

“Yes, Mom?”

I dropped my tone to a more serious one. “Remember, you’re a guest in someone else’s home. I don’t want to hear that you sulked all night. I’ve taught you better than that, haven’t I?”

Charlie quickly changed his attitude. “Sorry, Mom. I’ll be nice.”

“That’s my boy. I love you.”

“I love you, Mom. I hope you don’t get bored at home without me.”

I laughed as I hung up. I hadn’t let on to him that I was going out tonight, let alone on a blind date. Charlie didn’t need to know those kinds of things.

I quickly checked myself in the mirror once more and then picked up my black bag. It wasn’t cute, and it wasn’t pretty. It was the same black purse I’d had for years and it was big enough to carry everything a mum needed. I’d been using this thing since Charlie was in diapers.

I slipped into the only pair of heels I owned, and they instantly made me feel like a giant. Flats had become a staple in my life, so I hoped I remembered how to walk in these things.

I left the apartment and as I walked to my car, which was parked directly in front, I noticed little Tiana standing at the screen door of Latisha’s place. I waved at her and she stared and continued to chew on her blankie. I shrugged, but a moment later, she laughed and violently waved her arm up and down.

I laughed to myself.

Her adorableness buoyed me for the evening to come.

I drove down to the restaurant and parked as far away from the entrance as I could. It was probably a stupid idea given it was getting dark and would be late when I left later, but given that I was so nervous I was shaking, it gave me the chance to collect myself.

Clutching the handle of my handbag, I approached the ‘please wait to be seated sign’ and peered into the restaurant.

A waiter approached and nodded his head toward me. “Good evening, ma’am.”

“Good evening.”

“Are you looking to dine with us this evening?”

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