Double Trouble by Erosa Knowles

and then laughed. “I bet you drive my friend wild.”
    She laughed. “Of course I do. He loves it though.”
    Julio nodded and gazed at her. Belinda waited for Pam to come out of the cloud of passion and introduce them. Julio surprised her.
    “And you’re Belinda. Ms. Ollie’s former caseworker. I remember some interesting times when you and Pam wrangled over the older woman’s care. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.” He extended his hand.
    She took it as heat rushed to her face. Her relationship with Pam had been tempestuous at times. Pam always wanted more for her clients and pushed any and every button to get the maximum. Unfortunately, the services Pam wanted were under the auspices of the government with little flexibility. Often they’d put their heads together to find ways to circumvent red tape, sometimes they were successful like with Ms. Ollie. Most times they were not.
    “Yeah, your wife is a real pit bull when it comes to something she wants or believes in. Have you heard from Ms. Ollie?” Belinda asked as she stepped back.
    “Yes, she’s loving her new place,” Julio said.
    “She should, it’s the Waldorf Astoria of senior living,” Belinda said without thinking.
    Vianca and Denise broke out laughing. “Waldorf Astoria? Really? What do they have in that place?” Denise asked, her glance moving from Belinda to Pam.
    “You name it, it’s there,” Pam said, moving toward the dining room. Belinda was surprised when Julio walked with them.
    He shrugged. “It was the place of her choosing. We could not leave Miami until Ms. O was settled. She is special to both of us.” He gazed at Cherise. “Where is your little man? He is what? Two?”
    Cherise’s face lit up as she smiled. “Yes, just turned two and is a terror. He’s at daycare for half a day, Lenora’s in school. I didn’t bring him this time, I wanted to meet Pam first make sure she had a good impression of me before releasing my brood on you guys. But I’d like to invite the two of you over for a cook-out, nothing fancy, just some food on the grill and light company. But the kids will be there running around.”
    “Kids are fine, and it sounds like fun. We’d love to come,” Pam said, grinning. “I have a recipe for a carrot cake I’ve been dying to make, that’d be the perfect opportunity.”
    “Are you a foodie?” Cherise asked with way too much excitement for Belinda, who cooked rather than starve.
    “Yes, I enjoy cooking, it relaxes me,” Pam said as she took her seat at the table.
    “Me too,” Denise said. “The girls prefer my baking, but I love trying new recipes.”
    Belinda met Vianca’s amused smile. “Not me,” she said softly. “Not my thing. Smoke’s pretty good in the kitchen though.”
    Recognizing a kindred spirit, Belinda picked up her water glass and saluted Vianca.
    “Ladies, enjoy your lunch,” Julio said after placing a quick kiss on his wife’s lips. He nodded to them and left the room.
    Vianca watched him walk away and sighed, loud and long. “I don’t know which one of them has the best ass, Smoke or Julio.”
    “Neither, Ross has the best ass,” Cherise said before popping a cherry tomato in her mouth from her salad.
    “Wrong on all counts, ladies. Red’s ass is smackably delicious,” Denise said with a wicked grin.
    Belinda’s hand flew up to cover her mouth as she choked. “Smackably?” She groaned as they all broke out laughing. Oh yeah, this group of ladies were beyond cool.
     

Chapter 5
     
     
    Donald tossed the pebble into the pond and watched the rippling of the water. After all these years, Belinda Moore was front and center in his mind again. The name tasted alien, even in his thoughts. He had always called her Lindy. His sweet Lindy had left seventeen years ago to visit her godmother in Georgia somewhere and then blew them off without a word or backwards glance. Many nights he had laid awake wondering if seeing him and his twin go at it that day in the park