Sharleen took the grocery bags out of the trunk, grabbed the letters in the mailbox and unlocked the front door. Sunshine streamed through the bay windows, filling the main floor with light. To create an inviting feel, she’d decorated with Persian area rugs, off-white furniture and brass lamps. Glass sculptures beautified end tables, and black-and-white photographs of her parents were prominently displayed in the foyer.
“Why don’t you go in the living room and relax while I put away the groceries?”
“Sounds good to me.” Jocelyn took a wine cooler out of the fridge and grabbed a pack of barbecue chips off the kitchen counter. “I’ll order the pizza.”
Working, attending aerobics classes and hanging out with Emilio left little time for housework, so while Jocelyn watched TV, Sharleen cleaned the kitchen and sorted through the mail. She was surprised to find a letter from Antwan’s company, Elite Management. She ripped it open and read the handwritten note inside.
Keep up the good work, and there’ll be more bonuses in your future.
Sharleen studied the check attached to the note, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her. Antwan had given her bonuses in the past, but he’d never sent her a check for ten thousand dollars. She grabbed her cell, dialed his number and when his answering machine came on left a message.
Her mind racing, she drummed her fingers on the counter. She had to return the check—it was the right thing to do, the only thing to do. Besides, she’d had nothing to do with Emilio’s decision to come out of retirement, and she didn’t want Antwan—or anyone else—to think she’d influenced him in any way. Emilio was his own man, his own boss, and if he ever found out about the bonus, he’d be upset.
Sharleen walked over to the garbage, but when her gaze fell across Jocelyn, she had second thoughts about destroying the check
An idea came to her. After grabbing a pen from her purse, she scrawled her signature on the back of the check and strode into the living room. “This is for you,” she said excitedly, flopping down beside Jocelyn on the sofa. “Use it to pay your mom’s medical bills.”
“What’s this?”
“A gift.”
Reluctantly, Jocelyn took the check from her outstretched hand. “Ten thousand dollars?” Her hazel eyes grew wide. “I can’t take your bonus. You earned it, not me.”
“You need it more than I do.”
She cocked her head to the right. “Did you win the lottery or something?”
“No, but I signed on to work with Rashad J, and the pay’s incredible. We had our first session yesterday, and even though he’s difficult, I’m up for the challenge.”
Jocelyn squealed like a five-year-old girl at Disney World. “Rashad J! Wow, that’s awesome. I love his new single, ‘Heaven in Your Eyes.’”
Yeah, I like it, too. Every time I hear it on the radio, I think of Emilio.
“I’m so happy for you! Before you know it, you’ll be the life coach to the stars, and celebrities will be beating down your door for a private session.”
“I don’t want to be famous. I just want to help my clients discover their life’s purpose,” Sharleen said, speaking from the heart.
“I don’t know when I’ll be able to pay you back. It could be months from now.”
“Jocelyn, it’s a gift. No strings attached.”
Her lips moved soundlessly, and unshed tears filled her eyes. “I can’t believe this. Yesterday, I didn’t know how I was going to pay my mom’s medical bills, and now I have enough money to pay off the balance.”
“You’ve been an amazing friend and colleague, and this is my way of saying thank you.”
“I love you, girl. You’re the best.”
The doorbell rang, and Jocelyn jumped to her feet.
“I’ll pay for the pizza,” she said, with a cheeky grin. “It’s the least I can do!”
Sharleen picked up the remote control and flipped channels. On the sports channel she saw a commercial for the World Series Racing All-Star Race, and she leaned forward in her seat. Her eyes were glued to the picture on the screen of Emilio. His five o’clock shadow and brooding gaze gave him a mysterious air, and he looked drop-dead sexy in his red-and-white fitted coveralls. He’d been training with his team for weeks, and Sharleen was surprised by the changes in his personality. He smiled more, laughed more and constantly cracked jokes about his grumpy pit-crew boss.
“Girl, get in here quick!”
Startled by the urgency in Jocelyn’s tone, Sharleen raced into the foyer. The first thing she noticed was all the shopping bags on the floor; the second was the wide-eyed expression on her friend’s face. “What’s going on?” Sharleen asked, dumbfounded.