“Oh, and your two o’clock canceled. Said she’s sick.”

“Again?”

“I know. Drama.” He rolled his eyes and returned to his desk.

Dominique quickly dialed her sister’s number. “Faith, it’s me.”

“Hey, Sis.”

“Reggie said you called. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, everything’s fine. The kids are over at Mama’s.”

Dominique exhaled a relieved breath. “She’ll bring Justin home.”

“Physically, I’ve healed but emotionally... it’s still touch and go.” Faith had been three months pregnant when she miscarried what would have been her and Aaron’s third child. It didn’t matter that the embryo had barely been an inch long when she lost it; she’d loved it as much as twelve-year-old Michael and eight-year-old Alexis.

“It’s going to take awhile, Faith. Don’t expect too much of yourself.”

“Aaron’s been great. We know we’ll get through it, just taking it day by day.” The women were silent as they pondered the preciousness of life. “So,” Faith said into the silence, “you’re probably wondering why I called you in the middle of the day.”

“Yes.”

“It’s about a friend of Aaron’s and before you put your blocks up, let me tell you about him.”

“Really, Faith—”

“He’s a nice guy, Nikki,” Faith argued, calling Dominique by the name that only the family was allowed to use.

“I’m sure he is but I’m not interested. And it’s not for the reasons you think.”

“Oh really? Then why is it?”

Dominique was grateful that Faith had brought up the subject of men. It made her feel it was okay to talk to her about Jake. “Because me and Justin’s football coach had dinner last night.”

“Who, what, when, where, why?” Faith gushed, running the words together the way they used to as hormonal preteens and teenagers about to share a juicy story. Dominique heard more joy in Faith’s voice than she’d heard in a while, definitely since the miscarriage. “Well, don’t keep me waiting, sister... tell me more!”

Dominique giggled and soon it was like old times when these sisters shared secrets about stolen kisses and school-boy crushes. Except for Dominique this wasn’t your average attraction. The more she talked the more she acknowledged that what she felt for Jake didn’t happen every day. For her it had never happened before. Not like this.

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