I was still frozen as Greg walked up. “Here, hon.”
Sabrina broke out in a huge smile. “You go on and see about those kids now.” She set her glass down and turned to Greg. “Hi, I’m Sabrina Fulton. You must be Felise’s wonderful husband.”
Greg smiled and shook her hand. “Greg Mavins, nice to meet you. Are you a friend of Paula’s?”
“Kinda sorta, by way of Felise here,” she replied. “Felise and I used to be roommates our freshman year, and we all would hang out whenever Paula came to town. I hadn’t seen her in a while, but I work at the Four Seasons, so I’m trying to help Paula figure out what happened to her husband.”
I sucked in air and tried to keep from passing out. Greg didn’t seem to notice, but Sabrina smirked.
“Such a shame,” Greg replied. “They say it was his heart, so I don’t know what else there is to find out, but I know Paula is just looking for some peace.”
“Yep,” Sabrina said, “and I’m hoping I can help her find it.” She turned her malicious smile on me. “Well, I must get going. Give my condolences to your BFF.” She actually reached out and hugged me, and it took everything in my power to hug her back.
As she backed away, I had to lean against Greg to keep from losing my balance. Sabrina was a hood girl who had landed at UT on a track scholarship, and I knew all about her survival instincts. Her street ways would mean major trouble for me, if she knew anything about that night.
She doesn’t know anything, I told myself.
“Greg, it was nice to meet you.” She took out her iPhone. “Felise, give me your number so we can . . . catch up.”
“Uh . . .” I began.
“Oh, I know today isn’t a good day. I can call Paula later and get it from her if you prefer.”
I quickly took her phone. “No, I’ll put it in.”
She stood there with a stupid grin on her face as I programmed my number in her phone.
“Cool,” she said, taking the phone when I was done. “I’ll be in touch.”
She flashed one last smile before she took off. As she walked away, Greg put his arm around me and said, “I sure hope she can help Paula get some closure.”
I hugged him tighter, but only because I realized what Sabrina wanted. She knew. The question now was exactly what she planned on doing with that knowledge.
22
Paula
MARTIN LAWRENCE DANCED ACROSS MY television screen. He was in rare form playing his neighbor Sheneneh Jenkins. That used to make both me and Steven crack up laughing. But now I stared blankly at the television. Even if I did find it funny, was I supposed to laugh? Was I supposed to laugh ever again? How could I watch our favorite shows? How could I find joy in the little things we used to do together? How could I do any of that ever again?
My door eased open and Tahiry peeked her head in. “Mom, Grandma Lois said she’s about to head out. She needs to get to the airport.”
I knew that I’d been a horrible host to my mother-in-law, but hopefully, she understood. Steven’s father had passed several years ago, so she knew the pain of what I was going through.
Lois peeked her head in. “You don’t have to get up.”
I was already on the edge of the bed. “No, I need to see you out.”
Lois walked in the room, and the look on her face told me it pained her to enter her son’s bedroom.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Lois asked.
“I’ll be fine,” I replied.
Concern blanketed her face. “I’m really worried about you.”
I managed a smile, even though I was so unhappy. “My mom is here. Seriously, I’ll be okay.”
“I feel like I need to move back here. We still have the house on Danforth.” Lois had moved to Florida after her husband died, and I knew how much she loved living there.
“No. I’m fine. You don’t need to be worried about me or the kids,” I told her.
She nodded in acceptance. “Okay. I hope I’ll still be able to see the kids.”
I squeezed her hand. “You know I would never keep you away from your kids. You’re their link to their father.”
She seemed relieved. She had always been cordial to me, but we’d never had the relationship I’d envisioned having with my in-laws. I think part of the reason was because she was disappointed in my getting pregnant before we were married. But thankfully, she’d never treated me with ill will. And regardless of how she initially felt, she loved her grandchildren and had always played a vital role in their lives.
“Well, I’m going to keep you in my prayers. I know your mom is here, but you let me know if you need anything,” she replied.