Guilty of Love by Pat Simmons Page B

her family prior to attending Duke. God knows she had
pushed them away.
    “ Why aren’t you coming
home?” Gayle Reynolds had asked, concerned.
    “ Can’t get away from my
job,” Cheney had lied as she recuperated from the surgical
procedure gone wrong.
    “ What are you
hiding?” Janae had asked in a separate phone call weeks
later.
    “ Nothing,” she told
her sister.
    “ What’s going on up
there? That boyfriend of yours isn’t abusing you, is he?” Roland demanded.
    Despite her family’s concerns, she
told them nothing. She had stayed in Durham for five years, living
undercover as a professional who had her life together. In her
darkest hour, she had rejected her family’s love. “Talk to us,
Cheney. We love you. We’re your family,” her sister had consoled
while she was in the hospital, unbeknownst to them.
    Angry and hormonal, Cheney had pushed
them to the point of no return. She was unable to deal with them or
life. The shame, the guilt, and the loss continued to overpower her
to the present day. The housewarming would determine if she could
mend the communication she had cut off. If not, she was doomed to
live alone like Mrs. Beacon. Maybe, she’ll break a leg at her
salsa class, she thought amusedly.
    Silly fears nagged at her every now
and then. I’ve got to stay away from bad thoughts , she gave
herself a pep talk as her cell phone chimed and she
answered.
    “ How are ya, girl. Please
tell me you’re on a hot date, and I’m interrupting.”
    Cheney laughed at Imani. “Better. I’m
leaving a workshop for installing a ceramic floor. Two weeks before
the housewarming.”
    “ I wouldn’t miss it. I’m in
Atlanta tonight, but I’m flying out to London in the morning. Are
you settling in?”
    Tightening her lips in frustration,
Cheney drummed her fingers on the steering wheel as she waited at a
light. Throngs of people carrying lawn chairs, blankets, and sleepy
kids, were leaving a neighborhood park. The traffic was
exceptionally heavy for a Tuesday night. “The house is keeping me
busy, but I’m hyped about the party.”
    “ Me, too. Well, hon, I’ve
got to go. I’m flying with Captain Rogers tomorrow, and I must look
my best.”
    “ Is this someone
special?”
    “ Temporarily,” Imani purred
and disconnected.
    It amazed Cheney how Imani could pick
up her life after living with an abusive husband for three years.
Her friend was a survivor. Imani made peace with her mistakes after
the divorce and was living life to the fullest.
    She pulled up in her driveway. With no
sign of Mrs. Beacon, Cheney turned off the ignition. After
activating the alarm, she staggered to her porch and unlocked her
front door. Cheney wondered what her own future would
hold.
     
    ***
     
    Malcolm arrived at Hallison’s
Hazelwood apartment complex excited about seeing her. He would
never grow tired of Hallison’s wit, honesty, and seduction. Too bad
she didn’t have a sister for Parke. He shrugged as he knocked on
her door.
    Sucking in the night air, Malcolm
patted his chest when Hallison opened the door. She stepped outside
in a long beige crocheted tank dress molded to her figure. A
scooped neckline teased his senses. She was stunning.
    He guided her chin to his lips,
murmuring, “Maybe, we should skip the concert and spend some time
alone.”
    Hallison batted her long lashes. “Oh
no, you don’t. You promised me a night filled with music under the
stars.”
    Malcolm grabbed her around the waist,
causing her to gasp as he pulled her closer. “Hali, what we can
create is more romantic than a concert. I’ll show you
stars.”
    Detangling from each other, Hallison
peered at him with half-closed eyes before planting a fist on her
hip. “Listen, Malcolm, we both decided to just let things happen
between us. You’re making it hard for me to fight—”
    “ Whoa, baby. I didn’t mean
to charge your battery. We’re both attracted to each other, and
it’s natural for that attraction to lead to