Anthony wiped Celesteâs tears then leaned over and softly kissed her lips. âYou know I love you, right?â
Celeste smiled. âI do.â
* * *
They arrived home at six-fifteen in the evening and Celeste immediately walked to the caller identification box that sat on an end table in the living room. She pressed the scan button. Ginger or Portia hadnât called her cellular phone all day but Celeste was hopeful that one of them would have called her home and left a message. There had been two calls but neither call was from Portia or Ginger.
Anthony saw the disappointed expression on Celesteâs face. âThey didnât call, huh?â
Celeste didnât answer him.
Anthony stepped to her. âBaby, why are you doing this to yourself? Just call your girls. You know you want to.â
âAfter what they said to me, Tony? I donât think so.â
âCeleste, you never told me what Ginger and Portia said thatâs got you so upset with them. What did they say?â
Celeste froze. She and Anthony had been married for six years and she had yet to share with him what happened during her sophomore year in high school. Celeste couldnât tell him that Gingerâs recollection of the abortion she had in high school was the reason the three of them werenât speaking.
Early in her marriage, in a private session with her gynecologist, Dr. Bindu, Celeste revealed her secret. After examining Celeste, Dr. Bindu explained to her that the wire coat hanger that was used many years ago had caused irreparable damage. Her right fallopian tube had been punctured and her entire uterine wall was contaminated. Too much scar tissue had developed. In his opinion Dr. Bindu advised Celeste that her chances of conceiving were next to impossible.
Celeste had decided that it was in her best interest if she didnât share the news with Anthony. Instead, for years, she had kept the secret and prayed for a miracle. She would continue to pray that God would bless her womb and Anthony would never have to know about the abortion.
Celeste stood in the middle of her living room wondering how she could answer Anthonyâs question without revealing the truth. âAll of the other times when Ginger, Portia, and I fell out, you didnât wanna know any of the details. So, why are you asking questions now?â
âBecause your arguments usually donât last longer than two days,â Anthony responded. âIn the past the three of you would have made up by now. But youâve been walking around here miserable and with your lips poked out for almost a whole month. And every new day that passes when Ginger or Portia donât call, you get even more depressed. That tells me that what happened between yâall had to be something heavy. So, what was it?â
Celeste looked at the mail sheâd gotten from the mailbox as she walked toward their bedroom. âItâs sista stuff, Tony. You wouldnât understand. By the way, your mother called,â she said over her shoulder.
* * *
An hour and a half later, Anthony and Celeste were at the kitchen table finishing a meal consisting of broiled tilapia, steamed asparagus, and baked potatoes.
Anthony savored his meal. âCeleste, baby, you put your foot in these potatoes.â He inhaled his food and licked his fingers as though heâd gone a whole year without a decent home-cooked meal rather than a month.
Celeste smiled. âIâm glad you are enjoying them. Wait âtil you taste the dessert. I put both my feet in it.â
Anthony became excited. âWhat is it?â
She smiled. âYour favorite.â
He returned Celesteâs smile. âStrawberry shortcake?â
Celeste nodded her head. Anthony leaned over and kissed Celesteâs lips. He then stood from the table and hurried over to the refrigerator. Anthony retrieved the strawberry shortcake from the refrigerator and brought it back to the
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