Tasha snuggled deeper into Blake’s warm body and smiled, relishing the beginning of a new day. It was Thursday and the sun’s goldeneye was already peeling through the window blinds.
Blake stirred in his sleep and opened his eyes, a lazy smile spreading on his lips.
“Good morning, baby,” he cooed and kissed her on the lips. “Did you sleep well?”
“Good morning darling,” she stretched her limbs, feeling loose and languid. “I’m still sleeping. My alarm hasn’t gone off.”
“Sure,” he smacked her lightly on the ass. “I need to get up now. I have a conference call meeting with Conrad and his team, remember?”
Conrad was the company’s chief accountant in their Dallas branch.
“Yes.” She pulled the covers closer, her eyes closed. She wanted just a few more minutes to lose herself in the soft embrace of sleep. The chirping of birds outside the window drew her back into slumber. Blake, ever the early riser, smiled at her and rolled out of bed, leaving the warmth of their shared space behind.
She woke up again forty-five minutes later to the thrill from her alarm. She didn’t try to stop it. Tasha opened her eyes, the sun now a bright, cheerful presence in the room. She stretched again, feeling happy and free as always.
She stood before the mirror hours later, her reflection a study in simple elegance. She wore a simple black dress, with its fabric clinging to her curves. The dress was cinched at the waist with a thin, silver belt. A single strand of pearls rested on her neck, a touch of classic sophistication.
She smiled at her reflection and applied a second coat of her lipstick. She was going to the country club with Jolie for brunch. And she planned to go shopping alone after their meal. The boys had been invited to an exclusive kiddies party on Saturday by one of Blake’s business associates; she wanted them to wear something new.
Jolie had become more than just Blake’s sister to Tasha. They had always been close right from when Tasha started dating her brother. And now that she was back, they had continued their friendship as if Tasha had never left. She was still Tasha’s confidante, her cheerleader, and her partner in crime. They shared secrets and dreams that transcended the boundaries of family.
Feeling lucky and blessed, Tasha picked up a small, leather purse off the bed and stroud to the door. As she reached for the door, her phone buzzed in her purse. It was Laura, calling.
She swiped across the phone screen. “Hey Laura.”
“Hey you too,” Laura chuckled from the other end. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good,” Tasha replied. “Is the baby kicking fine?”
“Sure, sure,” Laura laughed.
“What up, Laura?”
“Yeah, I’m in Berkeley,” she said. “I want to know if you are in town?”
Tasha had told her the week before that she may be in Berkeley to pack up her house that week.
“Oh no,” she opened the bedroom door and walked out. “I can’t make it again this week. Are you in town?”
“Yes, I am,” she said. “Actually, my mom is sick, she just had a surgery.”
“Oh, sorry about that,” Tasha descended the stairs. “How is she now, I hope she’s getting better?”
“Yes she is.”
“Good to hear.”
“How long are you staying in town?”
“Hmm, maybe two more days.”
“Alright,” Tasha said as she opened the front door and stepped outside. “I will call before you leave so I can talk to your mom.”
“Okay, Tasha, talk to you later.”
“Later,” Tasha said and cut off the line.
Laura put her phone in her pants’ pocket and walked back to her mother’s hospital room.
Mrs. Gray was diagnosed with appendicitis when she was rushed to the hospital. She was immediately operated on and she had been recuperating well.
Harvey Gray, her father was still in the room when she got there. Laur sat down quietly on one of the vacant chairs.
Her father’s phone rang and he brought it out of his pocket.
“I already told you I can’t come to the office,” he snapped at whoever was on the other side of the phone. He listened to what the person was saying and then said, “I’m not sure when I will be back,” he was clearly irritated by the person.
“Darin is in charge until I return. Talk to him.” He said with a note of finality and cut off the call. He shoved the phone into his pocket.
Just then, a doctor walked in with a nurse behind, pulling a trolley.
“Good afternoon everyone,” the doctor greeted cheerily, and they answered her.
“Mrs. Gray needs to take her drug and injection now,” the lady doctor said as she picked up the case file beside the bed.
She turned to Harvey and Laura. “I’m afraid you both have to give her some time to rest.”
“We won’t disturb her,” Mr. Gray said. “We have not been disturbing her. She’s been resting well.”
“I know,” the young doctor said with a smile. “You need your rest, too.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Mrs. Gray said from the bed. “Please tell him. I have been begging him to go home and rest, but he won’t listen.”
Laura had to give it to her father. He had been so caring. Just like he used to be before the breakup of their family. He had barely left his wife’s side since they brought her to the hospital. He hadn’t been to the office either. Even though he could have been going home at night to sleep and return in the morning. But he had chosen to sleep on the three starter couch in the hospital room. He would only quickly dash away to the house to take a bath and have breakfast, then he would return to her side.
Of course, she had known her father to be a loving person, but Laura never knew he still had it in him after everything.
“You know what, Mr. Gray?” the doctor said. “I want to make a deal with you.”
He looked into her face with a frown; he knew she just wanted to psych him up.
“I want you to go out now. Just walk around the compound, sit for at least one hour. Then, you come back and stay with her until six pm and then go home to sleep until morning. Then I will make sure she’s discharged tomorrow evening.”
Just as he thought. A nurse had already told his wife may be discharged the next day.
“Fair deal,” he shrugged and smiled at the doctor and nurse. He got up and left the room reluctantly.
Laura stayed as they gave her mother the injection and administered the drugs to her.
“Why don’t you take a walk too?” Her mom said groggily. “You need to stretch your legs because of the baby.”
“I will,” Laura replied. “But I will wait until you sleep off.”
Mrs. Gray nodded gently, the drugs already taking effects on her.
With her mother sleeping soundly, she decided to go out and take some fresh air too. She stood up and tiptoed out of the room, her belly a heavy weight against her, as she walked slowly down the hallway.
She took a deep breath when she stepped outside the doors, the cool air blowing against her skin.