“Oh,” she said. That was just like Phillip. Always trying to do right by others and always going out of his way to show how much he cared about people.

“So, how are your mom and your dad James doing?”

“They’re doing well, and actually we were visiting them yesterday when Carmen’s mom fell ill. How’s your mom?”

“She’s doing great. As busy as ever.”

“Good, and you’ll have to tell her I said hello.”

“I will.”

Alicia and Phillip smiled like two teenagers who’d just met for the first time, and it was obvious that neither of them knew what to say next. Thankfully, Carmen broke the silence.

“I’m going to go back in to check on my mom for a few minutes. I know we just left her, but I really want to see her again. Then I’m going to run down to the cafeteria to get something to eat.”

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“No, you stay here and visit. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure? Oh, and wait. There was something you said you wanted to tell me.”

“I know, but there’s no rush. We can just talk about it later.”

“Okay, well, I’ll be right here when you get back.”

“So,” Phillip said without hesitation. “How have you been?”

“Good. And you?”

“I’m doing well. Although, maybe not as well as you, because I hear you just got married.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Are you happy?”

Alicia didn’t mean to pause before answering but finally said, “Yes. I am.”

“I’m glad, because happiness is all I ever wanted for you.”

“That’s very kind of you to say. But what about you? Are you seeing anyone?”

“Sort of.”

“Is it Shandra?”

Now Phillip hesitated. Then he said, “Yes.”

Alicia knew it was wrong for her to care one way or the other, but she wasn’t thrilled to hear about his dating another woman. She definitely didn’t like hearing that he was seeing his high school sweetheart, and she couldn’t help feeling a little envious. She had no right, of course, but Phillip still held a special place in her heart. She’d tried telling herself that she no longer loved him, but now that she was seeing him face-to-face, she wasn’t so sure.

“So, did you already see the person you came to visit?” she asked, changing the subject.

“No. I was on my way to his room and as I was passing, I just so happened to look in here. I wasn’t positive it was you until I opened the door and came in, but I’m so glad I did.”

“I’m glad you did, too.”

“So, have you spoken to your dad lately?”

“Yeah, I called him earlier to ask him to pray for Carmen’s mom. What about you?”

“I haven’t talked with him since this past weekend, but we try to stay in touch as much as possible.”

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, because everyone knows that Daddy thinks the world of you.”

“And the feeling’s mutual. I may be here in Chicago, but Curtis is still my mentor and I’m still learning a lot from him.”

“I can imagine,” she said, but was at a loss for words again. Phillip seemed to be searching for something else to say as well and Alicia knew why. He still had feelings for her, and God forgive her, she still had very strong feelings for him, too.

“So, your dad tells me you finished your novel and that you’ve signed with his agent.”

“I did, and now she’s in the submission process with editors.”

“Wow, baby…I mean…well, you know what I mean. Anyway, I’m really happy for you.”

“Thanks, and actually, you should take some of the credit because you always encouraged me to keep writing until I finished. Even when we weren’t getting along.”

“I did it because I knew you were good and that you deserved to be published.”

Just then two sixtysomething women who looked like sisters walked in, said hello, dropped a couple of overnight bags on the floor, and went back out.

“They must be planning to be here for a while,” Phillip said.

“Probably so. I’m sure a lot of people stay for days just like Carmen is planning to do. I guess it just feels better to stay close when someone you love is fighting for their life.”

“There’s no doubt about it,” he said, and the moment between them became awkward again. Not in a bad way but in a bashful, nervous, and uncharted-territory sort of manner-uncharted because while they’d once been completely in love with each other and had taken marital vows before God, this whole seeing-each-other-for-the-first-time-after-the-divorce-and-still-experiencing-intense-chemistry thing was a bit overwhelming. Not to mention Alicia had a new husband. She was married to a man she loved and one who cherished her very being, so none of what she was feeling made any sense.

Alicia and Phillip sat watching CNN and made small talk, and Carmen soon returned.

“So, what did you get to eat?”

“I had a tuna croissant and some fries.”

“Good. Because it really was time you ate something.”

“Well,” Phillip said, standing up, “I guess I’d better get going. But before I do, would you like me to go say a prayer for your mom, Carmen? Because I would be more than happy to.”

“Yes. My mom needs all the prayer she can get, so if you don’t mind, I would really appreciate that.”

“I don’t mind at all,” he said, and the three of them headed toward the intensive care unit. They strode down the corridor, Carmen walking slightly in front and Alicia and Phillip walking side by side. They continued on their way, and it wasn’t long before Alicia felt a wonderful sense of comfort. But then she thought about JT and felt a tremendous sense of guilt.

Chapter 28

JT typed in his user ID and password and waited for his account details to pop onto the screen. He’d already browsed it late last evening, but he couldn’t help looking yet again. First he saw a transfer amount of one hundred thousand dollars and then a second for fifty thousand. It was all there, every single dollar, and now he really would be able to pay for the hundred-thousand-dollar media campaign and also give Barb the fifty thousand she was demanding. Everything was working out exactly the way he wanted it to, and he couldn’t have been happier.

Although he did wonder if this really would be the end of Blackmailing Barb, and sadly, he knew there was no way to guarantee it. He knew her word basically meant nothing and that all he could do was hope the money he was preparing to give her would more than suffice and that she would disappear. He couldn’t be sure one way or the other, but he would pray for that kind of outcome just the same.

JT scrolled through his account information, clicked on a few other general banking items, and then signed out. He was all set on the financial front, and that made him think about Veda and how it wouldn’t be long before he’d be able to search for and purchase that nice little getaway property he’d been thinking about. It would be his home away from home and the place where he could spend all his private time with Veda whenever she was able to fly in from Minneapolis, and also with any other women he might connect with from time to time. He wouldn’t go looking for another mistress, but he was slowly beginning to accept the fact that he needed to be with different women. He needed a variety of them to choose from, and there was no use trying to fight the inevitable. He wasn’t sure why, but this morning, he’d done a lot of soul searching and had come to the same conclusion over and over again: He loved or cared about all the women in his life, but none of them was enough. Not Alicia, not Diana, not Veda, and certainly not Carmen. So, in the end, he was who he was and there was simply no changing that.

JT pulled out his BlackBerry and dialed Veda’s cell number. It rang three times before she answered.

“How are you?” he said.

“I’m well. How are you?”

“Fine, now that I’m talking with you.”