Page 69 of Love & Other Disasters

The doorbell sounded, bringing him out of his reflections. Violet was in the bathroom, so he moved to the door and pulled it open. An African American woman with her hair pulled into a tight bun stood there. She looked familiar.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

“Oh my god,” she said, gaping at him.

Violet appeared next to him in the doorway, and the woman’s eyes cut between them.

“Oh no,” Violet breathed.

Then J.P. recognized the woman. His employee. Violet’s colleague. Monique Dagen.

Monique’s surprised stare moved from him over to Violet, and she shook her head in disbelief and turned to go.

“Wait,” Violet called, pushing past him out the door after Monique.

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