Secret Liaisons by Shelia M. Goss Page A

them were worthy of committing to?”
    â€œNo, I’m not saying that. But you know as well as I do, those women were only trying to get ahead in their careers. They weren’t trying to get to know me on a deeper level.”
    â€œI agree with you. But it’s your own fault. You wouldn’t even know what to do with a woman of substance like myself because you keep surrounding yourself with the shallow ones.”
    The doorbell rang.
    â€œSaved by the bell,” Terrance said.
    They both laughed.
    â€œYou know I’m right,” he heard her say as he left to go answer the door.

Chapter Fourteen
    Mona placed the omelets on two plates while Terrance went to answer the door. She hoped it was her clothes. The thick, white, terry cloth robe covered her body but she still felt naked around him.
    She tried to pretend like what happened between them wasn’t anything, but it meant more to her than she wanted to admit.
    â€œMom, let’s go in the living room,” she heard Terrance say. He was talking louder than normal as if he was trying to warn her.
    She didn’t want his mom to see her in his kitchen wearing nothing but a robe. Mona had to think and think fast. She opened one of the cabinets. If she held her stomach in, she might be able to fit inside. She attempted to try but the door wouldn’t close.
    Their voices were getting louder. Mona had two choices. She opted for the second choice. She ran out of the back door with nothing but a robe on. She could see Terrance’s head from the window. She noticed him looking around, probably wondering where she was.
    Fortunately, his house was far enough away from another house where she didn’t have to be concerned about a nosy neighbor. She turned when she heard a van. It parked behind Terrance’s mom’s Mercedes. When she saw the man park and get out of the van carrying a bag, she knew it was her clothes.
    She ran over to him. The man seemed startled.
    â€œAre you Mrs. Beckham?” he asked.
    â€œYes,” she lied.
    He handed her the bag along with a brown pad with a piece of paper on it with a pen attached. “I need for you to sign right here.”
    Mona signed the paper. The delivery guy stood there. Mona realized what he was waiting for. “I’m sorry. I left my money inside. I’m locked out. I’m glad you came with my clothes when you did. Can I borrow your phone?”
    The delivery guy reluctantly handed her his phone. “I don’t have too many minutes.”
    â€œI promise you this won’t take but a second.” Mona dialed Terrance’s number. He didn’t answer. “Dang it,” she said out loud. She dialed his number again.
    This time he answered. “Terrance, don’t hang up. It’s me. Mona.”
    â€œWhere are you?”
    â€œI’m outside.”
    â€œWhat are you doing there?”
    The delivery guy paced back and forth.
    â€œLook, I have to give this guy back his phone. He dropped off some clothes. Is the front door unlocked?” Mona asked.
    â€œIt should be.”
    â€œGood. Keep your mom in the kitchen. I’ll be in there shortly.”
    â€œLook lady, I don’t know what you got going on, but I need my phone. Don’t worry about a tip.”
    Mona handed the deliveryman his phone and rushed inside of the house. She tip-toed up the stairs to Terrance’s room and closed the door.
    Terrance scratched his head trying to figure out why Mona didn’t just slip through the door that led up the back staircase instead of going outside.
    In the meantime, he tried to figure out how to explain two plates on the counter to his mom.
    â€œI should have known you were entertaining some lady friend when I didn’t get my early morning call,” his mom said.
    â€œMom, it’s only ten o’clock in the morning. I was going to call you.”
    â€œWell, I was out and in your area.”
    â€œYou live at least an