“James, maybe I should leave, this is yours and Toni’s daughter and I don’t want to intrude.” Karen felt bad that the first meeting between her and Toni had to be so uncomfortable.

“Toni, my name is Karen and I don’t mean to impose on you….”

“Then don’t. Leave now before I slap the taste out of your mouth. You don’t know me or my daughter and evidently, you don’t know that you are sleeping with a married man, who happens to be my husband. So, poof; be gone before I forget that I am a lady.”

“Toni, stop it! I asked her to come down here and be with me, and in case you forgot, I am only your husband for a few more days and then I will be done with you! Now if you don’t want me to have you arrested this time, I strongly suggest you get yourself together and remember why you are here.”

For a moment, Toni was silent. How dare he take up for some woman he just met! She was still his wife and he was obligated to act accordingly. She was tempted to say more but realized this was not the way to win him back. If she wasn’t careful all her plans would fall apart if she didn’t hold it together and play the scene out until its end.
“I’m sorry James. I’m just a little on edge worrying about April. Where is she? How is she doing? Did you let her eat something that didn’t agree with her? I want you to take me to her now if that’s alright with your girlfriend.”

Toni could barely keep the disdain out of her voice as she spoke these last words. Lord knows she didn’t want to be civil, but for the sake of the plan, she would try. She could feel the shakes beginning and wished that she had another drink to steady her nerves. The mimosas she drank before leaving the house were beginning to wear off and she could use something a little stronger right about now.

She noticed that James had grown quiet and he just stood in front of her with his head hanging down.

“James, didn’t you hear me? Take me to April now! I want to go see how my baby is doing.”

The sound of Toni speaking April’s name was almost too much for him to bear. He wasn’t ready to tell either of the ladies where April was and how bad her condition really was. For the first time in a very long time, James reached out to take Toni in his arms. Caught off guard, all Karen could do was step back and watch the intimate moment between her man and his wife, the mother of his child, as it unfolded.

For a moment Toni was in shock as she felt his big strong arms envelope her and hold her close to his chest. She inhaled his scent; a scent so familiar and so missed. A scent that reminded her of all the good times they had shared together. Her mind flashed back to them lying in bed, her head resting on his chest and she just wanted to stay there, inhaling his essence, forever. She briefly forgot what she was doing there and savored the moment. His embrace felt oh so right.