Hearts in the City Read online

  “Now, sweetheart, you make sure you throw it over here at me, ya hear? I might be getting a little old but I still got a little something left in me yet. Your grandpapa would want me to find someone to take care of me, God rest his soul,” she said with a laugh, referring to her dear husband who’d passed on only a couple of years ago. She was dressed to kill in a baby blue suit, a choker of pearls, and matching hat.

  Simone kissed her cheek. “He certainly would, Mammy. But don’t worry, ‘cause I’m going to make sure I aim it straight at you.”

  “That’s right. Just like a good girl.” Virginia smiled and winked.

  Olivia linked her arm into the elder woman’s arm. “How about we go find a good spot to stand in?”

  Virginia nodded and smiled as the two of them made their way over to where the women stood for the throwing of the bouquet. Once there, Olivia stood just off to the side. Of course she had no interest in catching the bouquet, but at the same time she didn’t want to look like a party-pooper at her best friend’s wedding either. She watched as Simone stood with their back to them and wound her arm around a few times, ready to take aim. Before Olivia had realized what was happening the bouquet was heading straight in her direction. She caught it on impulse, much to her sheer horror. Shit. Just my luck, she thought as the onlookers giggled in delight.

  “Ooh, girl, you’re gonna be next!”

  “Better get planning that wedding!”

  Olivia responded with forced laughter.

  When it came time to throw the garter, the crowd roared with delight. Simone sat on a chair and hiked her dress upward. When she did, Jamal ducked his head underneath and when he reappeared he had the garter belt between his teeth. The crowd lapped it up. A cluster of well-dressed men had already gathered around Jamal, waiting for their chance to take part and hopefully catch the desired object. Olivia wished they’d hurry up and get the damned thing over with so she could go back to chilling out and sipping her wine. She scanned the group of men and realized Alistair was missing. In the next instant, she spotted him over in a corner all by himself with a cell-phone to one ear and a finger held over the other, probably doing what players did best, chatting up one of his many girlfriends. Too bad it put him out of the running of men who might catch the garter. Probably just as well she thought, though she couldn’t help but feel a slight tinge of disappointment. If she had to suffer through having someone slip the garter on her leg it certainly wouldn’t have hurt to have Alistair be the man to do it. Oh well, the whole thing was silly anyway.

  When Jamal tossed the garter belt behind him it was though a football game had erupted. The would-be garter catchers jumped up, arms outstretched, hoping to be the lucky recipient. And when it was all said and done a younger cousin of Simone’s ended up catching it. He headed in Olivia’s direction with a sheepish grin on his face. Olivia had taken a seat in the middle of floor of the banquet hall, her cheeks flushed. She felt just as embarrassed as the poor kid did, but fought it off, taking it all in stride, deciding to play along with it. The kid was only seventeen, after all. She figured it would give him something to brag to his schoolmates about.

  Looking somewhat embarrassed, he slipped it on her leg and the whole ordeal was over just as quickly as she’d hoped. She hugged him, gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and thanked him then got up and made her way back to the bar to get another drink. She was waiting for her drink when Simone’s mammy appeared beside her with her hands on her hips.

  “Child, if arthritis didn’t have these hands of mine all gnarled up, I’d have caught that bouquet you know. You wouldn’t have stood a chance.” She laughed, giving Olivia a playful poke.

  “I was hoping you’d catch it instead of me,” Olivia said, grinning at the smartly dressed older woman. “I think Simone meant to throw it in your direction. As a matter of fact...” she carefully placed the bouquet into the elderly woman’s hands. “...here, take it home and put it in a nice vase. It’ll make a nice keepsake from the wedding.”

  “I would never do that.” Virginia took Olivia’s hand and squeezed it. “You caught it so it’s yours. That’s only fair. Besides a young girl like you sure got a better chance walking down that aisle than an old woman like me.”

  Not any time soon if I have anything to do with it, Olivia thought. “No.” Olivia shook her head. “I insist you take it.” She smiled.

  “Well I suppose so then,” Virginia said, relenting. “God love ya, missy. I’m going to do what you said and take it and put it in a vase.”

  Soon the DJ cranked up the music and guests spilled onto the dance floor. Olivia stood off to the side sipping a drink and chatting with a few people she knew. Maybe she’d put in a dance or two later on. She was straining to hear the conversation above the roar of the crowd and thumping of music when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She spun around and found herself almost nose to chin with Alistair who stood grinning down at her, his heavy-lidded eyes smoldering and suggestive under the dim lighting.

  “Come dance with me,” he shouted above the music.

  The smell of his cologne coupled with the charisma oozing from his pores made him impossible to refuse. “Sure, why not!” she blurted as he pulled her out onto the dance floor.

  Chapter Three

  “Bonjour! How are you?” Annabelle, owner of Monique’s Boutique quipped in her thick French accent. “I put some things aside for you. Come see!” She motioned for Olivia to follow to the back of the store.

  Annabelle had left a message on Olivia’s cell-phone informing her she received a new shipment of outfits from her favorite designer. Olivia had managed to slip away from her usually work-filled lunch hour to take a trip to the boutique, anxious to get a peek at the new DKNY collection.

  Monique’s was very upscale and Olivia wanted to project a certain image. Monique’s clothing suited her perfectly. She'd purchased most of her work wardrobe there.

  Olivia followed Annabelle to the back of the store where she’d already set several outfits aside on a separate rack just for her. A faithful shopper, Olivia could always count on Annabelle to give her the royal treatment. Over the years, Annabelle had become her personal stylist and could be counted on to recommended what outfits she thought Olivia would look great in or what colors she should go with for the changing seasons.

  "I can’t wait to try it on," she said, taking a two-pieced off the rack. "It’s gorgeous.”

  Annabelle’s eyes glowed as she watched Olivia hold the suit against her skin. “Look at that. The color is gorgeous next to your beautiful brown skin,” she said with enthusiasm.

  Olivia quickly escaped to the dressing room. She emerged moments later and stood in front of the floor length mirror. She had to agree with Annabelle. The olive green colored fabric looked great on her rich brown skin tone. The suit jacket had six buttons down the center and the sides of it curved in at the waist and showed off her flattering figure.

  Annabelle nodded in approval when she saw how the suit looked. “It looks incredible on you.”

  “It does. I'll take it,” Olivia said in a hurry as she continued examining herself from all angles in the mirror.

  After spending several more minutes mulling over the remaining outfits, she’d settled on four of them, much to Annabelle's delight. As Annabelle rang up the sale, Olivia glanced at her watch and realized it was almost two-thirty and she still had lots to do before her dinner gathering that evening.

  “I hate to rush off but I’ve got to get back to the office to finish up some research I’m preparing for a case.” The sooner she finished up there the sooner she could head home and get dinner started. “Thanks for setting the outfits aside.”

  “No problem. Enjoy them. Thanks as always.”

  “Thanks so much. See you soon,” Olivia said, hurrying from the store with her packages.

  A few hours later she arrived home, tore off her work clothes, and dropped them in the hamper.

  She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. It wou
ld be eight o’clock soon and her guests would be arriving for dinner. She hurried downstairs. When she walked into the kitchen Jazlynn was nosing through the packages she had brought home from her shopping trip earlier that day.

  “Don’t get any ideas about wearing any of them,” Olivia said, watching as Jazlynn examined the outfits one by one.

  “Wow...these are gorgeous,” Jazlynn said with a look of delight. Her expression suddenly changed. “Theo called when you were upstairs.”

  “Well why didn’t he just call me on my cell?”

  “Probably because you were too busy yacking on it.”

  “He’s still coming tonight isn’t he?” Olivia asked.

  The two of them had barely seen each other the past week. She missed him terribly. Her hectic schedule made time together scarce. She was looking forward to the two of them spending time together with their friends.

  Jazlynn nodded, making a face. “Of course. Why wouldn’t he? He did want to know what time, though.”

  Olivia shook her head in a huff. Theo obviously hadn’t heard much of anything she’d said during their phone conversation last night. What was it with men and their terrible memories? “What did you tell him?”

  “Eight o’clock like you said. What else would I tell him? Geez, do I look dumb or something?” Jazlynn looked irritated.

  “Oh chill out.” Olivia opened a cupboard, staring inside for a few seconds. “And the next time I give you a grocery list buy what’s on it. The cupboards are full of nothing but junk.”

  “Well at least there’s something for me to eat now. I’m over your health food kick.”

  “Whatever. How’s work?” Olivia opened a package of chicken breasts, taking them out and arranging them one by one in a glass casserole dish. “And where’s the cacciatore sauce I asked you to buy?”

  “God, I’ve missed you,” Theo kissed Olivia softly on the lips. “I haven’t seen you in days.”

  “I know and I’ve missed you,” she said, cupping his chin in her hand and pulling his face close to hers for another kiss. She took him by the hand and pulled him into the kitchen. “Come sit in the kitchen with me while I’m finishing dinner.”

  He obliged, following behind her into the kitchen where they locked lips again, kissing slowly for a few moments.

  “You smell delicious.” He slid a finger down the front of her blouse. “Honestly, I could peel this thing off you right now and take you right here on the kitchen floor,” he said with a lustful glint in his eye.

  She grinned suggestively. “Hmm...and if we didn’t have company coming I’d take you up on that offer,” she murmured, snuggling closer him. She traced the outline of his lips with a perfectly manicured fingertip.

  Their bodies parted. Theo went over and opened the refrigerator and peered inside.

  “Still feel bad about not being able to attend the wedding. Wonder how married life is treating Simone and Jamal,” he said.

  “Simone says things are great. Hey what did you bring to drink?” Olivia changed the subject.

  “Pinot noir. Just like you asked.” Theo removed the bottle of wine from the table and laid it on the counter. He retrieved a corkscrew from of the drawer uncorked the bottle.

  “You remembered. I trained you well.” Olivia winked at him, taking the bottle of wine and pouring two glasses then busying herself back at the stove. Theo embraced her from behind, wrapping his arms around the small of her back, his hands roaming to her breasts and resting on them momentarily. Olivia became aroused instantly. “Cut it out.” She playfully smacked his hand away. “We have guests to get ready for, remember?”

  “Come on...what’s the matter with a little affection while we’re waiting?” Theo moved his hands down to her backside.

  Olivia smacked his hand away. “Hey, I said stop it.” She shooed him away with a giggle. “Now go—sit!”

  Reluctantly Theo took a seat at the table. “I’m just trying to make up for lost time.”

  “And we will...after our guests are gone.”

  “I’d hardly consider that quality time.” Theo’s face took on a serious expression. “To be perfectly honestly, I’m not all that happy about all of this.”

  “Well it’s not intentional. You already know how swamped I am at work.”

  Theo took a sip of wine and swallowed. “You keep saying that.”

  “I keep saying it because it’s true.” Olivia took a stack of plates out of the cupboard and set them on the counter. “Anyway, I’m really glad we’re having Simone and Jamal over.”

  “Don’t go changing the subject. I’m still talking about us,” Theo said.

  “I’m not changing the subject.” Olivia rinsed a head of romaine lettuce in the sink. She began pulling the lettuce apart and putting leaves into a salad bowl.

  “Yes, you are. Look, I can’t help it if I’ve been feeling neglected. A man has needs you know.”

  Olivia laid the lettuce on the counter and turned around, facing him. “Oh, so you’re looking to get your needs met somewhere else, are you? ‘Cause that sure as hell won’t work for me.” His comment evoked feelings insecurity in her. She might have been reluctant to give him a full commitment at the moment, but the idea of losing him to someone else worried her.

  He got up and went over to her and took her face into his hands. “You’re the only woman I want meeting my needs.”

  “I had better be.” Olivia felt vulnerable as she looked into his eyes. She feared losing him equally as much as the idea of committing to him.

  “Of course you are.” He bowed his head to hers so that their noses touched. “Guess what I’ve been thinking about lately?”

  She gave him a skeptical look. “I’m almost afraid to ask.”

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about what it would be like to have a couple of little ones running around. You know...a little Theo or Olivia...”

  Once in a while it crossed her mind. But it seemed so far off in the distance it barely held any appeal in the present. “I think about it sometime...I mean who doesn’t? But me as a mother just seems so unlikely.”

  Theo caressed her hair. “That’s not true. You’d make a wonderful mother.”

  She pulled away from him suddenly.

  “Come on Liv...” Theo said.

  “I’d rather not have this discussion right now.”

  “Why not? Don’t you think it’s time we started talking about our future and started...“

  The doorbell rang. Olivia hurriedly left the room to answer it.

  Over dinner Simone and Jamal talked excitedly about their time in the tropics. Simone’s secret notwithstanding, she and Jamal seemed really happy together. Olivia wondered if the two of them would be able to get past it if the truth ever came out. Keeping Simone’s secret was difficult, but as a best friend, it was what she had to do.

  “So...we’ve been looking at houses,” Jamal said between mouthfuls of dessert.

  “That’s wonderful,” Olivia said. “What’s the market like these days?”

  “According to Alistair...remember him? Best man? Well he says the market is coming out of a slump,” Simone said. “He says now is the right time to buy.”

  Alistair, Olivia thought, vividly remembering him. Handsome as hell, but he’d had player written all over him. “That’s right...I remember him mentioning that.”

  “He’s been getting more into the investment side of things. The whole house flipping thing is huge right now,” Jamal said.

  “I’m surprised he didn’t try to sell you a house.” Simone laughed.

  From the corner of her eye Olivia noticed Theo staring at her.

  “Alistair’s a high school buddy,” Jamal directed his attention to Theo. “He’s been checking out some properties in the north end for us. We’re hoping he can find something closer to our jobs.”

  “And we’re hoping to be moved and settled long before Christmas,” Simone added.

  “Well if this cat is as good as he sounds, he should have you in
a new home in no time,” Theo said.

  After finishing dinner and dessert, the men retreated downstairs to the den to watch baseball. The two women remained upstairs, taking their cups of coffee into the living room.

  “So...how are things?” Olivia asked.

  “Oh, Liv...I really, really messed up,” Simone said, barely letting her finish her sentence.

  “Well the only thing you can do now is move past it. You certain can’t go through the rest of your life feeling awful about yourself.”

  “No, no, Liv. When I say I messed up, I mean I really messed up.”

  Olivia looked at her curiously. “What do you mean?”

  Simone tipped her head back toward the doorway to the living room. She listened carefully, making sure Theo and Jamal were safe out of earshot before she spoke. “I’ve been feeling really, really tired and moody the past few weeks and thought it was just stress from the wedding. But after we got back from the honeymoon I went to see my doctor...” she hesitated.

  “And?” Olivia gave her a wordless stare.

  “And...I’m pregnant...”

  Olivia’s mouth fell open. “You’re what?”

  “Pregnant.” Simone bit her lip and let out a heavy sigh.

  “Oh. My. God!” Olivia covered her mouth in surprise. ”Oh my God!” she said again. “Lord, the St. Lucia air sure agreed with you. How far along are you?” Olivia suspected she couldn’t have been any more than three or four weeks along.

  “Actually...” Simone looked away with a vacant stare.

  “What...?”

  “That’s the part I’m worried about. Doctor told me I was two months along.”

  “So it could have been right around the same time as...” She did the math in her head “But you did use protection didn’t you?”

  “Not every time...” Simone said worriedly, fidgeting with her hands. “I mean we did sometimes, but not every time.”

  “Girl what the hell were you thinking?”

  “I wasn’t. I was stupid...really, really stupid...”

  ”So then it might not be Jamal’s?” Olivia tried to let the news sink in. What had Simone done?