The Pride – Page 31
“Well, I’ll let you know. I might be really busy.” Romina turned away from her children and started pulling cans of vegetables from the cupboard. She fought back her tears by taking deep breaths. She didn’t want her oldest girls to know she knew they were embarrassed by her. At that moment, the doorbell rang, and Romina motioned for her children to stay seated and walked past them to the front door.
She looked through the peephole, but she didn’t recognize the lady standing on the other side. She was dark-brown, very pretty and alone. Romina couldn’t understand why she wasn’t sure she should open the door. The woman didn’t look threatening. She looked young.
“Yes, who is at?” Romina spoke into the door with her eye still set closely to the peephole.
“I’m looking for Romina Morgan, please.” The lovely woman on the other side of the door stepped back a bit, realizing that she was probably being watched through the peephole. She smiled into the glass eye, and Romina found herself smiling a bit, too.
“And, you are?” Romina spoke into the door again.
“My name is Xavari. Forgive me for just showing up to your house like this, but when I called your number it was disconnected. We have a mutual friend.”
“Who,” Romina asked puzzled, thinking there wasn’t anyone they could know in common.
“Um. Emmanuel Freemont.” Xavari dropped her gaze as she said the name.
Romina stepped back from the door, unlatched the chain and opened it. She looked at the young lady and smiled.
“Sorry to bother you? Is this is bad time?” Xavari shifted uncomfortably but tried to pretend like it was the most natural thing for her to be knocking on a stranger’s door.
“You said you know Emmanuel,” Romina asked her.
“Yes,” Xavari said. Romina continued to smile warmly at her and Romina’s next words stunned Xavari.
“Is he the father of that baby in your belly?”
———-
Xavari & Emmanuel
“I heard Regina leave. That must mean your hair is done.” Emmanuel lie on Xavari’s bed with his back to the door. He felt her sit down on the bed, but he didn’t turn to face her.