Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
“ W hat’s this?” Amina stared at the letter Paisley handed her.
The blonde plopped down in the chair across from Amina’s desk. “It’s my letter of resignation.”
Amina’s heart plummeted. In the past few months, she and Paisley had become best friends outside of her relationship with Ethan. They were shopping buddies and called and texted each other regularly.
She’d never had another woman she could confide in like Paisley. Amina was friendly with a few of the nurses at the office, but she wasn’t as close to any of them like she was with the chipper receptionist.
“I don’t understand. Why are you leaving? Is there something I can do to make things better? It’s not Carole is it? She’s been very testy lately.”
Paisley rolled her eyes. “Carole is a miserable human being and there’s no changing that. And to be fair, she’s made me want to quit before, like that time she deliberately ate my donut. I think if you hadn’t fixed the situation I may left that day. But no, I’ve learned not to let her get under my skin.”
“So what’s the issue? The office won’t be the same without you.”
“Well, I never finished my degree because I partied way too much when I went away to college. And since then, I’ve kind of been in limbo. You know my situation, how I’m the only girl in a family full of boys. I admit I’ve been spoiled to death by my dad. He still pays my rent and my credit card bills. Isn’t that kind of pathetic? I’m twenty-six years old, still being supported by her daddy.”
“I mean if he’s willing to do that for you, most people would say you’re very lucky, especially in this economy.”
“I know but lately, I’ve been thinking about my life and how I’d like to be able to stand on my own two feet and pave my own way. All my brothers have careers and families and I’m just good old Paisley meandering through life. No one in my family puts expectations on me because I didn’t have expectations for myself. I wanted to tell you before I told Dr. Carter and Dr. Han about me leaving because you’re kind of the catalyst for this.”
Amina’s brows flew up. “Me? Have I done something to offend you?”
Paisley waved her hands and shook her head. “No. Of course not. You know I love you Amina. You’re my girl. But it’s actually a good thing. Sometime around spring, there was something different about you. Some kind of spark. You weren’t the same gloomy office manager who kept her head down and didn’t really speak to people unless you had to. There was a light in your eyes that wasn’t there before. You started dressing better, with my help of course.” She paused to wink.
“And you seemed more confident. I was so inspired by you at that engagement party. I thought it was really badass how you handled that obnoxious family and your ex.”
Amina couldn’t help but giggle when she remembered Paisley threatening to call the cops. “Yeah, you went full white woman that night.”
“Hey, I don’t want to be one of those people, but I wasn’t going to let that jerk lay a finger on you. And I’d do it again. Anyway, seeing how much you’ve changed these past months has made me want to better myself as well. I’m going back to school and getting my degree in nursing. I want to be a geriatric care nurse.”
“My nana lives in one of those independent living nursing homes where all the patients have their own apartments. I love visiting her and I’ve watched the nurses interact with the residents there. I think I’d like to do something like that. I love old people and you know I’m super talkative. I’ve enrolled in a program at the local community college and once I get enough credits, I plan on transferring to either Temple or Penn. Not sure which yet.”
A smile touched Amina’s lips. Her eyes welled with tears and she was happy to have inspired someone into changing their life in such a positive way. Before her rebirth, Amina’s life had been so bleak and hopeless and now not only was she in a healthy relationship and saw a bright future, she was also helping others realize their potential.
“Well, not that you need my blessing, I wish you the best of luck. I’m very proud of you, hon. This may be sad news for the office but great news for you.” She stood up and walked around her desk to give her friend a hug.
Paisley returned her embrace enthusiastically. “Thank you, besties. I was so scared to tell you because I didn’t want you to be upset with me.”
“Why would I be upset over this? I think this is amazing news. You’re going to be an awesome nurse. You have a great heart and you’re compassionate and enthusiastic.”
“That really means a lot coming from you, Amina. I know my dad is going to be relieved when I can fully support myself.” She giggled.
“I’m sure that will be an added bonus. And plus even when things get hard, there’s a sense of pride being able to take care of yourself. I’m really going miss you Pais.”
“You act like we won’t be hanging out still. I’m going to keep calling and bugging you. And of course I’ll be at the wedding when you marry Dr. Han.”
Amina’s face grew warm and her heart skipped a beat. Ethan alluded to wanting to spend the rest of his life with her. She could see him in her future as well, but she didn’t want to jinx it. But things were going well. Maybe too well. “Girl, we haven’t been together for a year yet. It’s way too soon to talk about marriage.”
Paisley pursed her lips. “Who are you kidding? The man is smitten with you. We all see how he looks at you. That’s why Carole’s attitude has been so stinky recently. She’s a certified hater.”
As if she’d been summoned, Carole poked her head in Amina’s office with a thunderous frown. “There are people in the lobby, Paisley. You need to be at your station instead of chit chatting.”
Amina knew very well, Carole was only antagonizing Paisley because she thought the agreeable receptionist was an easy target.
“You can cover for her for a few minutes, can’t you?” Amina asked with a smile on her face.
“I have some charting to do,” Carole countered.
“And yet you’re here in my office telling Paisley what to do. I’m sure you can spare a couple minutes. And please close my door on your way out.”
Carole turned bright red almost matching her newly dyed hair. The perturbed nurse slammed the door but not before muttering something under her breath about hating this job.
“Wow, she was pissed.” Paisley shook her head. “Thanks for that. I’m glad I only have to deal with her for a couple more weeks.”
“Let her be mad. Give her a cape and she can be super mad.”
Paisley laughed. “I’m going to miss working with you.”
“Likewise but like you said, this friendship of ours won’t end. Right bestie?”
“Right.”
Amina pulled into the driveway of her house for the first time in over a week. She hadn’t spent the night alone here since the night of her engagement party.
She’d practically moved in with Ethan and only came here to get a change of clothes and to get her mail. But lately she’d missed her house and would come by after work and hang out to unwind, usually when Ethan was still at the hospital.
Ethan had a surgery this afternoon that she knew would take a while, so instead of going to the condo, she headed back to her house to get some more clothes and to catch up on some reading.
When she walked up to her door however, there was a note attached. Her name was handwritten in the middle so it couldn’t be from a solicitor.
She hadn’t received any notifications on her phone that someone had rung her doorbell so why would someone leave her a random note?
Amina took the note and unlocked her door. She disabled her alarm and headed to the living room. After plopping down on the sofa, she opened the note.
Amina, you have me blocked on everything so this was the only way I could reach you. I know we haven’t always had the best relationship and that’s mostly my fault. I’m sorry for being so mean. I want to do better. We’re family and we should have each other’s back. I wanted to let you know that your mom has been in contact with us and she wants to see you. Give me a call when you can and I’ll give you the details.
Candace.
If she wasn’t already sitting, Amina would have sunk to the floor. Her mother had shown up after all these years? Amina hadn’t honestly given her mother a thought in while. Why would she suddenly want to get in contact after all this time?
At this stage in her life, she figured her mother wanted nothing to do with her. Aunt Sharon would always say that she never loved Amina or else she wouldn’t have abandoned her. But why now? Amina was 27, 28 next month.
She always figured if their paths ever crossed again one day, she’d have a lot of questions. While she never felt that same need to connect to her mother like Ethan did for his father, Amina still wanted answers.
She looked at her phone to check the time. Ethan was probably still at the hospital.
She went through her blocked contacts and begrudgingly unblocked Candace’s number and hit dial button.
Candace picked up on the second ring. “Who dis?”
“It’s me, Amina. I have a new number.”
“Oh! What’s up, cousin? You must have gotten my note.”
Candace had never sounded so cheerful when they talked before.
“Yes, I saw your note, why else would I be calling.”
“Well, I mean after you called us out at the party, me and mom should be the ones who are upset but I guess you have a point. Mom’s still kind of salty about it but I’m over it.”
“How gracious of you,” Amina responded dryly. There was really nothing she wanted to say to Candace.
Her cousin sighed. “Look, I know we don’t have the best relationship, and I understand why, but I’m hoping to make amends with you.”
“Yeah? And what’s in it for you? The last time Aunt Sharon contacted me was to put money on Antoine’s books. And you called me because you wanted a place to spend the night because you and Aunt Sharon were arguing. And when I did, that one night turned into a month and you made my place a complete pigsty. You didn’t bother picking up after yourself even though you were the one who made the mess. That’s not the kind of thanks you give to someone who’s doing you a favor.”
Candace made a smacking sound. “Well, my knucklehead brother did the crime and has to do the time. That’s my mom’s issue. But as for me staying over at your place, my bad. I was just going through some things. Can’t we let bygones be bygones? I’m trying to make things right by getting you in contact with your mom. Aunt Tracy says she really wants to see you.”
She wasn’t sure how sincere Candace was about making amends. This could all just be her way of wiggling back into Amina’s life to get another favor out of her. But she did want to see her mother.
Amina sighed. “Just give me the information and I’ll contact her.”
“Oh, well she’s only going to be in town for one more night. She’s staying at this hotel just outside of town. I can give you her room number. You can meet her right now. I’ll tell her that you’re on your way.”
“She’s leaving town tonight?”
“Yes, she’s been here all week. I left that note a few days ago but you haven’t been home. Why don’t you go see her now, or are you up under that new man of yours.”
“Ethan is still at work.”
“Ethan huh? He’s cute for an Asian guy. Is it true what they say about them in bed? You know what I mean?”
“First of all, Ethan is a good-looking man for any race. And second, that’s none of your damn business.” Amina wanted to shout to the top of the roof that Ethan satisfied her in every possible way but Candace didn’t need to know that. Besides, she was secure enough to not care what anyone thought about her relationship.
“Hey, I meant no offense. Things must be serious. Anyway, do you want that information to meet your mom or not?”
One of the things Amina vowed to herself when she was reborn was that she’d live without regret. If she wanted to see her mother, this might be her last opportunity.
She sighed. “Fine. Give me the information.”
Amina trembled as she got of her car in the hotel parking lot. As she drove here, she almost turned back around. What would she and her mother actually talk about? What could be said after all this time? But she decided to continue on. If nothing else she could ask her mother why she’d left.
She pulled her phone out to call Ethan but the call went straight to his voicemail.
“Hey, sweetie, I’m going to be meeting my mother who’s in town apparently. It’s a surprise to me too. I’m at the Blue Flower Inn. I just want to talk to her. But if you get home before I arrive I should be there later. Love you.”
She took a deep breath and entered the hotel lobby. It was an old hotel in a neighborhood not many people visited. There was debris on the carpet and a heavy odor of urine and cigarette smoke filled the air. The once white walls were covered in nicotine stains. The furniture was old and cracked.
It was a relic of the past, the kind of place where the front desk workers didn’t ask any questions beyond what form of payment would be in use.
Why would her mother come to a place like this? Something didn’t feel right about this situation.
She turned on her heel and headed to the door.
“Hey Cous! Where are you going?”
Amina turned to see Candace racing toward her.
Amina took a step backward, her frown deepening. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see Auntie before she left out of town. I came downstairs to meet you because I knew you were coming. Were you about to leave?”
“Yes. I can’t believe she’s in a place like this. It’s really sketchy.”
Candace placed her hand on her hip. “Oh and you’re too good to be in a place like this? Well smell you, little Miss Stuck Up. And here I thought meeting your mother would be more important than the location.”
When put like that, it made her sound like a snob. Maybe her mom had fallen on hard times and this was the best place she could afford.
No regrets.
Amina’s shoulders slumped. “You’re right. I’d like to see her.”
“That’s what I thought. We have to take the stairs because the elevator is out of order.”
“Of course it is,” Amina mumbled under her breath.
She followed Candace up three flights of steps and she was thankful for her workouts with Ethan that had increased her stamina.
The hallway that led to her mother’s room was dark, dank and desolate. When they made it to room 401 Candace knocked.
“Hey yo! Let me in!” she called out. “Amina is here.”
The door slowly opened but Amina couldn’t make anything out because it was dark.
Before she had any idea of what was going on, Candace suddenly moved behind her and shoved Amina inside.
The sudden move made her stumble to the ground. As she looked up, the lights snapped on.
Standing over her was Mark.
“Hello, Amina. I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me.” He smirked.