I let out a little laugh, knowing she might rethink that when she learned the truth.
I found Maya in her little pink nightgown reading one of her books about horses.
“Hey baby, how was your day?”
Maya perked up when she saw me. “Hi mama. We had a mini-Olympics at camp today and I won the running.”
I sat on the edge of the bed and helped her in. “You’re so fast.”
“Do you think I could go to the real Olympics someday?” she settled into her pillow as I put her book aside.
“I don’t know why not. You’ll have to practice every day.”
“I can do that.”
I kissed her head. “Sweet dreams, baby.”
“G’night mama.”
I turned out and the light and closed the door. I returned to the living area. Petal had set the bottle of wine and a couple of glasses on her coffee table.
“I wasn’t sure if you ate, so I put some cold cuts out for you too,” she said, sitting in the chair across from the couch.
I sank into the couch, grabbing a cracker and cheese to eat. I chased it with half a glass of wine.
Then I sighed and sat back. “Oh Petal.”
“What happened? Things go badly with you and Jude?”
“He has a letter from me breaking up with him.”
She frowned. “What?”
I started from the beginning, including our sexual encounter in his office, my insistence that it had to stop, and our squabble that ended in the realization that Jude never got my letter about Maya and instead got something else.
When I finished, Petal stared at me, her mouth agape. “I’d never think August would do something like that.”
“I wouldn’t either, but it’s the only explanation.”
“Wow…that’s so…”
“Petal, it means Jude never knew I was pregnant.” God, what was he going to do when he found out? He’d have every right to kick the shit out of August. But what really concerned me was how devastated he’d be.
“I hate that August hurt you and Jude, but keeping Jude from knowing about Maya and Maya knowing Jude, that’s the worst.”
I nodded in agreement.
“What did he say when you told him?” she asked.
I winced and finished my wine. “I didn’t.”
She arched a brow. “Why? April, he deserves to know.”
“I know. I just…I was in shock…I couldn’t think. I had to get out. I went to the river to think. I nearly drove out to the house to clobber August. I still don’t know what to do about him.”
“He’s the least of your worries,” Petal said with disdain.
“Well, I have the weekend to figure out how to start putting this all right. I guess I’ll talk to Jude before I tell Maya.”