Trust Me [Book 2]

Chapter 19: Ms. Alesci

Chapter 19 – [November 5th]

"Love, you had sex in an abandoned nursery?"

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I gulped down some ice water. Was Tay trying to announce my business to the restaurant?

"Shh! Yes but stop interrupting me. Of course we were irresponsible at first but we were safe the rest of the weekend. It was ah-maz-ing. I felt like we were bonding in a new way. I can't remember the last time Rick and I have agreed on so many things."

"What made him change his mind about more children?"

"He said these past few months made him realize one was enough." I leaned in closer to the table, lowering my voice. "But I think it's because he has Rocky fulltime now. All the running around and playing we do with her makes it hard to imagine another one."

"Appears Rick has done some life searching in your absence."

"I love it. If that's the stuff he comes up with by life searching then he should keep it up."

"Sounds like your weekend was magical. I'm elated you enjoyed yourself." Tay was saying one thing but her body language and facial expression told another story.

Her whole demeanor was slightly off since we met up for my belated birthday lunch. Sparkle and I popped bottles of expensive water together on my actual birthday. Since Tay was busy then so she was supposed to be making it up to me now.

Clearing my throat, I took another sip of water before asking, "How's the wedding planning going?"

"My spirit isn't on that wave length. Let's change topics."

Well damn. "How's Darryl?"

"Alive." The chill in her tone almost made me dial him up to confirm.  "I don't want to forget. I have a gift for you." She pulled a box out of her purse and put it on the table.

I clapped my hands excitedly then reached for the box. Inside were two thick golden bangles. Each bracelet had four precious stones set in them. The carved design looked slightly familiar but probably from something I'd seen in a magazine.

"Tay these are beautiful thank you." I left my chair, giving her a brief hug.

"You're very welcome, Love." She beamed, her first real smile of the morning. "They're my grandmother's."

"Taylor!" I dropped them back in the box. "These are her wedding bangles. I knew they looked familiar." As a little girl, Auntie Sonya showed us these bracelets many times in her jewelry case. They were a gift her great-great-great-grandfather gave her great-great-great-grandmother and has been passed down every generation upon marriage.

"Yes. My mother recently relinquished them but considering your reconciliation I thought they'd better serve as a birthday gift for you. I have no use for them."

"You do. You're supposed to wear these with your wedding dress. It's your something old," I reminded.

"If the day comes, they can be my something borrowed instead."

I still couldn't accept such an important gift. It was troubling that she was trying to give it away.

"Have you decided on colors?" I casually asked.

Tay shook her head, between bites of her salad.

"A date?"

"Sometime warm."

"Can you narrow that down into a month?"

"Love, I expressed my disdain with this topic previously."