Troublemaker by Trice Hickman Page B

model worthy. Her coarse hair used to be disguised by expensive weaves and wigs, but now she wore it in a sophisticated pixie cut that shined as a result of regular deep conditioning, hot oil treatments, and weekly salon visits. And instead of wearing body-enhancing garments to give her the illusion of curves she’d never had, she made her thin, boy-shape body stand out by rocking slim pencil skirts paired with expensive stilettos that highlighted her toned, mile-long legs.
    But as Samantha looked at herself in the mirror and examined her skin, which appeared rough and sallow, and peered closely at her eyes, which carried a tired, beaten-down expression, she was a long way from the glamorous woman who usually stepped out into the world with confidence. She shook her head in frustration. “That boy’s trying to make me a grandmother, and I’ll be damned if I’m not already looking like one.”
    She walked back out to her bedroom, poured herself another glass of wine, picked up her phone and dialed her best friend, Emily, as she headed back into the bathroom.
    â€œHey, Samantha,” Emily said after picking up on the second ring. “Is that water I hear in the background?”
    â€œYes, girl. I’m running a much-needed bubble bath.”
    â€œYou must have the house to yourself tonight.”
    â€œYes, but only for a little while. Chase is spending the night at a friend’s so he’ll be gone, and Tyler’s conducting a community forum across town, so he’ll be back in a few hours.”
    â€œLucky you. I can’t remember the last time I had the house to myself for a few hours.”
    â€œGirl, me either,” Samantha said as she took a sip of wine.
    â€œEd and the kids are always here. I’m not complaining, but I sure do miss my me time. It’s so important for us to have time to ourselves.”
    â€œYou can say that again, and I’m savoring every minute of mine.”
    â€œI’d so love to trade places with you right now.”
    Samantha shook her head, wishing they could do exactly that. Samantha and Emily had been best friends since their freshman year at Spelman College. They’d been roommates and formed an instant bond, tying them closer than any two blood sisters could ever be. They even shared the same birthday, but aside from that they were opposites in almost every way one could imagine.
    Emily had grown up an only child in a modest home tucked inside a working-class neighborhood. She’d been raised by her widowed mother, a school teacher with a kind heart who’d passed along her sweet nature and kind ways to Emily.
    Samantha’s upbringing had been drastically different, hailing from an old-money, Washington, D.C. family in the famed Gold Coast community. She had an estranged brother whom she hadn’t seen in nearly twenty years since he’d moved to Paris with his male lover, and she was daughter to an uncaring socialite mother whom she loathed. But her heart and love were rooted in her nurturing father, who was a prominent attorney. Other than her husband, Samantha’s father was the best man she’d ever known.
    The two women’s unique backgrounds and personalities served to complement one another. Emily’s calm demeanor softened Samantha’s bold, often over-the-top personality. And Samantha’s wild and free spirit helped bring Emily out of her shy, timid shell. They valued, protected, and loved each other to no end. But their long-standing friendship had been tested many years ago by an unexpected and shocking betrayal.
    Shortly after celebrating their thirtieth birthday, Samantha had found out that her meek and quiet friend had been having an affair with her father.
    In Samantha’s eyes, her father, Edward Baldwin, could do no wrong. Ever since she was a small child she’d been a daddy’s girl. Conversely, she’d always had a mutually hateful relationship with her mother,