of coffee and bagel before heading to work.
Not this morning. Last night had been brutal. After making sure Darnell took all of his belongings with him, she had sat down for a good, long cry. The tears had restored some of her balance but took all of her energy. She felt hollow and empty. Like she’d lost a part of herself, and in some ways, maybe she had. After all, she’d been with Darnell quite a few years. They had shared many things, and now that had ended. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes. Stop this, Tia chastened silently. You’ve got to go to work, and you can’t excuse yourself each time a fresh batch of tears starts to fall.
After leaving a message on Adam’s cell phone telling him that she’d be in around ten, Tia stood and headed downstairs to make that imaginary coffee she believed she smelled earlier. Turning the corner to her kitchen, she halted. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come for breakfast,” Nia Edwards answered, stirring a bowl of batter.
“I don’t remember inviting you.”
Nia shrugged delicately in her diva way. “Doesn’t matter. I know you wanted and possibly needed me to be here. After all, you’re my twin.” She turned her attention to the meat sizzling in the pan. “Coffee’s ready, the table is set, and I’m making waffles with Canadian bacon. I know it’s your favorite.”
Surrendering to her sister’s knowledge of her favorite breakfast foods, Tia entered the small kitchenette and removed a mug from the cupboard. After filling her cup, she headed for the tiny dining room off the kitchen. The table was indeed set. Nia had placed a vase of wildflowers in the center and used the good china and silver. Tia sank into a chair and sipped her morning elixir, watching her sister prepare breakfast. A thought occurred to her after a moment. “Don’t you have hair appointments scheduled for this morning?”
“My first customer comes at eleven.” Nia glanced at the microwave clock. She removed a bowl from the cabinet and began to slice strawberries into it. “I’ve got plenty of time. I can always reschedule my appointments if need be. Besides, you come first.”
“And it was a nice way to make sure Darnell wasn’t here.”
Grinning, Nia pointed a finger at Tia and winked. “That, too. How are you?” She paused for a moment. “Really.”
“I’m okay. Tired. A little depressed.” On the edge of tears, her voice quivering, Tia added, “I’ll get over it.”
“You’re right. You will. And the rest is to be expected. You and Darnell have been together a long time.” Nia rinsed off her hands, grabbed a paper towel, and took the chair next to Tia’s. A kind and concerned expression filled her sister’s perfectly made-up face. “How did things go? What happened?”
Tia laughed. The sound was harsh and brutal. She blinked rapidly, surprised that such a horrific noise had actually come from her. It reminded her of the cry of a wounded animal. In some ways, Tia felt like one. “You know it’s my fault that he cheated.”
Surprised, Nia’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Oh, yeah. Darnell blamed everything on me.”
Nia grunted. “I’m not surprised. That’s why I can’t stand him. He’s a rat and a typical man. Somebody else is always responsible. Never him. Don’t buy into that bull.”
Tia nodded. “I know. There’s a part of me that wonders if I should have done things a little differently. Maybe we could have gotten past this.”
“Sure there were. There’s not a relationship out there that couldn’t use a little tweaking. A little help in one way or another. But I do believe it was Darnell’s responsibility to talk to you. That was his job as a partner in your relationship. Not go off with the next best thing. How can you work things out if he doesn’t tell you what’s wrong?”
“I know.” Tia lifted her cup and took a long pull. “It’s always easier to question yourself after the fact.”
Nia patted her sister’s hand and then headed back to the kitchen. “Men refuse to take responsibility for their actions. It’s always someone else’s fault. In Darnell’s case, you’re the fall girl. All he had to do was keep his junk in his pants and talk to you, and things would have been fine, but no. He had to show his jewels around town. What an ass.”
“I feel really bad,” Tia admitted, brushing away a tear. “Like I let him down or didn’t do enough.” She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Nia watched Tia from the kitchen. “That’s why I didn’t want him to come back here. I knew he’d lay a guilt trip on you.”
“I thought I was helping to secure our future by making a place for myself at Gautier’s that no one could take away.”
“Hello!” Nia tapped her twin on the forehead. “It takes two to make or break a relationship. You didn’t do it alone.”
“Darnell tried to tell me it was Adam’s fault.”
“Let’s be honest about a few things. Darnell has always been jealous of Adam.” Nia laughed. “Your boss has it going on. The looks, the career and lifestyle; Adam has all the things people like Darnell can only dream of. Don’t take on his guilt. This is his way of wiggling out of his share of the responsibility.”
“Everything sounds good in theory, but I’m the one by myself.”
“No, you’re not. You have family. And I’m going to tell you something. There are other men interested in you. There always have been. You were so involved with pleasing Darnell that you couldn’t see what was in front of you.”
“Yeah, right,” Tia dismissed. “Like who?”
“That hottie at your job is very interesting and interested.”
“Who are you talking about? Adam has a girlfriend.”
“I’m not talking about Adam. That new guy. What’s his name? Um…Chris.” Nia waved the spatula in the air. “I know. Chris Jensen.”
A jolt of something unique went through Tia. She almost choked on her coffee. “Have you lost your mind? I don’t know him. He’s been in our office about a month.”
“What’s that got to do with anything?” Nia placed a platter of Canadian bacon and waffles topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream on the table before returning to the kitchen. “He likes you, Tia.”
“There’s a couple of flaws in your thinking. First, he’s white and French. What am I going to do with that?” Nia opened her mouth, but Tia continued, ignoring her sister and refusing to let her say a word. “Second, I don’t know how long Chris will be in the States. There’s no specific timetable set up for him. Why would I let myself get involved with someone who could be gone in a matter of days? And third, our mother would have a fit.”
Standing at the refrigerator, Nia stated defiantly, “Let her. This is your life, not hers. One thing I know about our mother: She would never allow Daddy to treat her the way Darnell has treated you.” Nia returned to the dining room and placed a pitcher of orange juice on the table and then sat across from her twin.
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“No,
