Page 77 of The Don

“No, because he’s very sweet. I am not. We’re still getting to know each other, and I would like to do that without you two around for a while.”

“She means she wants to send us away so they can get freaky without running into us,” Zahra whispers to me.

“Yes, exactly,” Zoe agrees.

Zahra shrugs. “Okay. But only because he’s good for you.”

“Not this again,” Zoe groans in irritation.

I listen to them trade sisterly barbs back and forth over my head, feeling sadder by the moment.

And then Zoe squeezes my arm. “Hey.”

I look at her, shake my head, and smile. “I’m okay,” I say, those words undercut by the wobbly sound of my voice and the tear that slips from the corner of my eye.

“Don’t cry!” Zahra screeches.

“Aw, Shae Butter,” Zoe says, hugging me. “Don’t be sad. Everything is going to be fine.”

“Is it? You’re going to be here, and I’m going to be at home. Oh, God, I’m going to have to explain to the Council that I lost both of you here.”

“Nah, you’re good on that. I’ve been writing an email. I’ll send it when you leave.”

“Is it rude?” Zahra asks.

“No, I’m not a heathen. I love those weird old women.”

“Okay, let me read over it, and if it’s not terrible, I’ll sign it.”

“Write your own letter, mooch.”

Zahra sucks her teeth.

“Anyway,” Zoe says, turning back to me. “From what I can gather, your man is leaving but still very much in the mix, so I don’t think this is going to be your last trip to Italy.”

“At all. And, of course, I will be coming home for every Thanksgiving. Something tells me I will not be able to get mama’s dressing in Naples.”

“Girl!” Zoe agrees. “We’ll also come home for weddings and funerals and Shae Butter Baby’s first birthday.”

“Oh, we are definitely calling the baby that. Lemme text Symone.”

My eyes go wide. “Um, does Symone know I’m pregnant?”

“Yeah, apparently, auntie Caroline has been telling everyone since the summer,” Zahra says, texting quickly with her thumb.

“What?”

“Girl, please, she’s been dreaming about fish for months,” Zoe says. “She thought it was you or Symone, but then she ran into Symone at Costco with an industrial-sized box of tampons.”

I’m shocked. But not surprised.

“Done,” Zahra says. “Look, the point is that we love you.”

“Very much.”

“And nothing is going to keep us from you or this baby.”

“I… I know that, but…” I’m overcome with so much emotion that I can’t finish that sentence.