Page 45 of Mace
I really got tearful when I heard her words, “Do you really think so?”
She opened her purse, pulled out a clean tissue and handed it to me. “Yes, I do. Huri’s a grown man who makes his own decisions in life. Don’t you start feeling guilty about him being hurt. He’s the type to right wrongs where he finds them. Just because you asked for his help doesn’t mean he had to say yes.”
I wiped my tears away, feeling terrible about the whole situation. “That’s just the thing. I didn’t ask for his help. My father made me come to America with him and his men. He kept me in a broken-down cabin in the wood, cooking and cleaning for them while they ran drugs and guns. I wasn’t safe there. When Huri saw, he saved me. When he realized my mother wasn’t safe, he got his club to start searching for her. Everything is so complicated right now.”
Before they could respond, the door slid back, and Rosie was standing there with two prospects with three trays of food. “Oh no, you’ve turned the water works on again. Here, use this napkin.” Rosie shoved a napkin into my hands and began taking food off the trays and arranging it around the table. “I know you’ve been really worried about Mace. That’s why I told Thunder to stick by his side today, you know, in case anything bad happens.”
I nodded, “Thanks Rosie. I appreciate all the things you do for me so much more than you will ever know.”
Setting the last few items down on the table, she gave me a faint smile. “Like I said before, I’ve been where you are. I didn’t have anyone but Thunder to support me. That’s why I’m making sure you’ve got women in your life that you can count on.”
She gave Wren and Ruby a firm nod before she stepped back and snapped the sliding door shut again.
I decided to trust these women. Rosie invited them to support me, so they must good people.
I looked down at my plate, I really wasn’t feeling hungry, and the thought of food made me nauseous. Though I wonderedif Rosie had any pickled jalapenos. For some reason the thought of them was wonderful.
“You eat a bite and then tell us more,” his grandmother insisted.
I looked back at the plate as I felt my mouth fill with saliva. I swallowed repeatedly trying to quell the nausea. I’d been feeling nauseous a lot recently.
Nausea. Cravings.
Oh shit.
“You’re not hungry?” Ruby asked.
“My stomach’s upset. Maybe I’ll just drink the juice Rosie brought instead.”
His mother’s head snapped up to look at me. “Exactly how upset is your stomach?”
I shrugged. “Enough that eating isn’t appealing right now.”
“How long have you been having problems?” she asked as she glanced over at the older woman.
I shrugged, “I don’t know, about a week. It’s probably just the stress.”
The two women exchanged glances and nodded.
“I felt it early too,” Wren said.
“Always been the same with our women,” Ruby put her hand on my shoulder.
I looked from one to the other of them, confused. “Feel what?”
His grandmother, as blunt as ever, answered. “It is my daughter’s time to become anUnna-Inna.”
It took a minute to catch on to what they were implying. “No, I can’t be,” I protested. My heart was racing, and I could feel my face grow hot.
“My mother can always tell,” Wren said with a smile.
I grabbed my juice and took a big, refreshing gulp, not wanting to admit to this lovely woman that I’d been having lots and lots of unprotected sex with her son.
Suddenly, Mace’s grandmother spoke up again, her voice warm. “Don’t look so distraught. We wouldn’t be angry with you over something our family sees as a blessing.”
I rolled my juice glass nervously between my hands. “I’m not sure your grandson will be quite as thrilled as you are about a pregnancy at this stage of our relationship. It’s too early,” I sat the glass down because my hands were shaking so much, I worried I might spill the juice. I couldn’t be pregnant, that was crazy thinking.
His mother reached out and took one of my hands in hers. “You truly have nothing to worry about. I know my son well and he would welcome a child. God knows our son will make beautiful babies for you.”