mother said, “I’m happy you’ve finally chosen to put the past behind you and return to the fold.”
She held open her arms and Maya reluctantly walked into them. As expected, the embrace was brief. Maya suspected she’d received it because several guests had walked in and her mother wouldn’t dare make a scene.
“Raven and Thomas will be so happy to see you,” Sophia whispered in her ear. “Please go in.” She motioned Maya toward the pews.
Would they be happy to see her? Or would her presence be a reminder of their past transgressions? Maya forced herself to put one foot in front of the other and enter the hall. Raven and Thomas were at the end of the aisle talking with the pastor. Her sister looked as stunning as ever even though she’d just had the baby two months ago. She was wearing a cream suit and had her hair in a French roll. Raven was already back to her svelte size-six figure. Thomas wore a suit and striped tie and beamed by her side, holding the baby.
Maya walked toward them. When Raven turned around and saw Maya, Maya felt her heart constrict. It had hurt being estranged from her baby sister.
“Maya?” Raven said as she drew near.
Maya glanced at Thomas and gave him a nod, stepping toward Raven. “Yes, I’m here.”
Tears welled in her sister’s eyes. “Oh, thank God, our prayers were answered. I’ve asked God for forgiveness every day for what we—” she glanced at her husband “—did to you. And now, I’m blessed to have you back in my life, in our daughter’s life.”
“Don’t get carried away, Raven,” Maya responded. “All is not swept under the rug.”
“Of course not,” Raven said. “I owe you a long overdue apology.” She reached for Maya’s hands and grasped them in her own. “I’m so sorry for hurting you, Maya. Can you please find it in your heart to forgive me?”
Maya stared at her in stunned disbelief. She had never expected an apology. Least of all, from Raven, who’d always been self-centered. But then again she’d never given her the chance.
“We’re both sorry,” Thomas said from Raven’s side. “You deserved better than how we treated you. You deserved the truth. We should never have sneaked behind your back. It was wrong and I’m sorry.”
Maya swallowed and nodded. She was too overcome to speak. She didn’t know what she’d thought would happen during the visit, but clearly Raven and Thomas had matured enough to admit their mistakes.
“Would you like to meet your niece?” Raven asked, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Y-yes, I’d like that very much.”
Raven walked over to Thomas, took their daughter out of his arms and placed the sleeping baby in Maya’s. Her niece was the most beautiful little girl Maya had ever seen, with her smooth brown skin and shock of hair surrounded by a white headband with a bow. She was outfitted in the cutest white lace baptism dress. “She’s beautiful.” Maya grasped her niece’s little finger in her hand.
“Can you believe I’m a mom?” Raven asked in wonder.
“Actually, I can’t,” Maya said, glancing her way, “but you are.”
Raven gave a halfhearted smile. “You were always supposed to be the stay-at-home wife while I was supposed to be the career girl. It’s funny how the tide changes.”
“Yes, it’s funny.” Maya leaned over and returned Nysha into her sister’s arms. “She’s really beautiful. Congratulations to you both.”
Maya stepped away as fast as humanly possible. It didn’t hurt that guests were already headed toward them to greet the happy family. She needed some air. She couldn’t breathe; it felt like she was suffocating. Maya sidestepped several guests entering the church and rushed outside.
Leaning against the building, she took in large gulps of air and forced the rising tide of emotions overwhelming her to calm. Had she honestly thought it would be easy seeing Raven and Thomas with their daughter? Maya glanced at the door. It should have been her. She should be the one who was a wife and mother; it’s what she’d always wanted. Maya had always known she would make a good mom because she’d cared for Raven her entire life. Sophia Richardson had been too busy working two or, sometimes, three jobs to be there for them. Maya had been left to care for Raven, make her dinner, help with her homework and pick out her school clothes. So much so that Raven once had called her Mommy. Sophia had been livid and had yelled at Raven that she was her mommy.
Maternal instinct ran through Maya’s veins, while Raven had never cared for another human being beside herself until now. But it was clear to Maya that Raven loved her daughter and was happy. Maya didn’t begrudge her sister happiness, but did it have to come at her expense? Perhaps she’d made a mistake in attending? She could sneak off with no one being the wiser. She’d made an appearance. Surely that had to count for something?
Maya was just about to head down the church steps when her mother’s voice rang out. “Maya, dear, we’re about to begin.”
Darn. She’d missed her chance to use her get-out-of-jail-free card.
Inhaling, Maya spun around to face her mother and walked inside the church.
Hours later, Maya was looking for her handbag in one of the many bedrooms of Nysha’s godparents’ home. She was ready to leave. After the baptism ceremony, the entire group had adjourned here for a light meal. True to form, Sophia had gushed over their home, how beautiful it was and what great godparents they would make. It made Maya ill to see that nothing had changed; her mother was just as superficial as she’d been before.
Maya had done her part by showing up and making polite pleasantries. It was time for her to leave.
“Ah, there it is,” she said aloud when she discovered her purse.
“Do you have a minute?” a male voice said from behind her.
Maya didn’t need to turn around to know who it belonged to. They’d once been lovers. She whirled on her heel to face Thomas. If looks could kill, he would have been struck down on the spot. “What do you want?”
Thomas held up his hands in a defensive posture. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t.”
“I was hoping I could speak to you for a few minutes.”
“I don’t wish to discuss the past,” Maya responded. Just being with her family had conjured enough of her old insecurities.
Thomas lowered his eyes. “Quite frankly, neither do I. It wasn’t my finest moment.”
“Then what is it that you want? I don’t have all day.”
Thomas glanced up and Maya hated to see the regret in his eyes. But she wasn’t prepared for his next words. “It’s about Sophia.”
Maya’s ears perked up. “What about my mother?”
“You may have noticed she’s lost some weight?”
“Yes, I did, but I figured maybe she was dieting for the big event,” Maya offered. It
