LITMIR.BIZ

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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 wasn’t completely out of the realm of possibility. Her mother believed in looking her best, especially when the spotlight was on her.

      “She’s not dieting, Maya. Your mother is sick.”

      “Sick?” Maya clutched her purse to her chest. “How sick?”

      “She has pancreatic cancer.”

      “Cancer?” The words felt like an anchor around her heart, but she managed to ask, “What stage?”

      “Stage three. Sophia has been undergoing treatments the last month and, needless to say, it’s taken its toll.”

      “Months? How long have you known about her condition?”

      “Maya...”

      “How long?” How long had her family had been keeping her in the dark? Why they hadn’t told her Sophia was dying?

      “Two months.”

      “And you didn’t think to inform me sooner? She’s my mother.”

      “Whom you’ve been estranged from for five years,” Thomas retorted with a huff, “along with the rest of this family.”

      “You’re not my family.”

      “I may not be a blood relation, but I care about Sophia. Raven and I have been carrying the load because her treatments are expensive even with insurance, not to mention the laboratory visits, PET scans and medications. And besides, it’s been tearing Raven up seeing Sophia like this and not having anyone to talk to beside me. She needs you.”

      “She’s always needed me,” Maya responded tightly, “and I’ve always been there, but what do I get out of it? The short end of the stick.”

      “I—I thought you were going to let go of the past, Maya. You came today.”

      Guilt surged through her. Her mother was sick and this wasn’t the time or place to take score on who’d harmed who. “Thank you for telling me.” She started toward the door.

      “What are you going to do?” Thomas inquired.

      Maya had no idea. Today had been hard enough as it was. She needed a few minutes to digest everything he’d told her and come up with a plan. “I don’t know, but I’ll be in touch.”

      When Maya finally made it back to her hotel room, she was mentally and emotionally exhausted. Confronting the members of her family who’d hurt her and feigning to be the happy aunt had been hard enough. But finding out her mother had cancer was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Not only did she have a splitting headache, but her feet were aching from the new designer sandals she’d bought to ensure she measured up to her mother’s scrutiny. All she wanted to do was run a hot bath, take some ibuprofen and go to bed. In that exact order.

      Maya had kicked off her shoes and was unzipping her dress when there was a knock on her door. She glanced down at her watch. It was seven o’clock. She was in no mood for company after the bomb Thomas dropped on her. And who knew she was in town anyway?

      Padding to the door in her bare feet, Maya swung it open in frustration. The person on the other side was someone she never thought she’d see again, not after the one night they’d shared.

      “Ayden?”

      “Hello, Maya.”

       Two

      At six foot three, weighing about 210 pounds of solid muscle, Ayden looked as yummy as he ever had. Maya was dumbfounded to see the man she’d once adored standing in the flesh in front of her. How could she not be enthralled by those hazel eyes, his strong nose and the light stubble surrounding the best mouth and cleft chin in Texas? He was impeccably dressed in a dark suit with

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