Saving All My Lovin'

“It’s not me playing games.”

Ann Marie huffed and came from around the counter. She grabbed Raquel by the arm and spoke in a harsh whisper.

“I don’t know what burr you got up your butt, but you best change your tone and quick. Me your mum, not some friend on the street.”

“Really? Then why don’t you treat me like I’m your daughter?” Tears splashed over her cheeks.

Ann Marie looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to the drama unfolding. They all were too busy.

“Come with me.” She pulled Raquel across the room and down the corridor to the back office. She pushed the door open without knocking.

Stephanie dribbled water down the front of her blouse. “What the…” She caught the look of fire in Ann Marie’s eyes. And who could miss the tear-streaked face of Raquel? “Uh, I was just leaving. Looks like a mother daughter moment.” She picked up the file she was working on, gave them both one last look and eased out, shutting the door softly behind her.

Ann Marie whirled on Raquel, her hands planted firmly on her hips. “You want to explain what your problem is?”

Raquel drew in two short, shuddering breaths trying to collect herself. “I was on my way out, to see about a consulting job and the phone rang.”

Ann Marie suddenly felt queasy.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What?” she croaked without the bravado of moments ago.

“About my father! About the fact that he’s recently been in touch with you. About the fact that he’s planning on coming to the States and wants to see me. About the fact that you’re still married to him!”

Ann Marie lowered her defiant gaze and stepped away from her accuser. She drew in a breath and straightened to her five-foot-two-inch height. She turned to Raquel.

“I have reasons which you can’t begin to understand.”

“Tell me.”

“No! It is my business.” She poked at her chest. “You know nothing of the man. But I do.” A shiver ran through her. “I left him and Jamaica for good reasons. To protect me and you.”

“From my father?” she asked in disbelief.

Ann Marie swallowed. “From a life I could no longer endure.”

“You’re not making sense. What happened in Jamaica between you and my father?”

“I won’t discuss it with you Raquel. Now or ever.”

Raquel snickered. “That’s so like you. You have to be in control. Anything to hurt me and push me away.” Her voice shattered like a glass tossed against concrete. “And I thought we were finally getting to a place where we could be mother and daughter—after all these years.” She slowly shook her head, sniffed hard and wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. She looked Ann Marie square in the eyes. “Nothing has changed, Mama. Least of all you.”

She spun away, nearly tore the door from its frame and stormed out. She stopped halfway and tossed over her shoulder, “He said to let you know that business is holding up his plans. He’ll be here at the end of next month. And I plan to see him when he arrives.” She pushed her way passed several clients and disappeared from Ann Marie’s view.

Ann Marie slowly lowered herself into the swivel chair. In control? When it came to Terrance Bishop control never entered the equation. She covered her face with her hands and for the second time in one day she wept.

Activity at the open door drew up her head from her hands. Barbara, Stephanie and Ellie stood on the threshold. They all tried to get through the door at once. If she didn’t feel so god-awful she’d laugh at the spectacle.

She quickly wiped her eyes, but not quickly enough.

“What is going on?” Barbara asked.

“Raquel went tearing out of here like her butt was on fire,” Stephanie added.

“Are you crying?” Ellie asked in amazement.

The trio hovered over her like moths to a flame. She looked from one concerned face to another, which only caused another fresh set of tears to flow.

Barbara knelt down beside her and drew her close. “Ssssh,” she soothed. “Whatever it is, it will be all right.”

“We’re here for you,” Stephanie offered.

“Absolutely,” Ellie added.

Stephanie sat on the edge of the desk. Ellie drew up a chair and took Ann Marie’s hand, patting it gently.

“He—he spoke to her.”

The trio looked at each other and then realization hit. All eyes widened simultaneously.

“Oh,” they chorused.

“I take it you hadn’t spoken to Raquel,” Barbara said.

Ann Marie shook her head.

“How did he get your home number?” Stephanie asked.

Ann Marie swallowed. “Him a police officer. If he got me job number and address, the home number couldn’t be hard to get.”

“But after more than twenty years what made him resurface now?” Barbara asked.

The question sat in the room like rotten food. No one wanted to touch it.

Chapter 3

Somehow, Ann Marie managed to get through the rest of the day without any more outward displays of emotion and even put in a few hours of work at the real estate office. Work was the best cure. If she kept busy she wouldn’t have to think and hopefully by the time she got home Raquel would be asleep.

She wasn’t so lucky. Raquel was sitting in the living room waiting for her when she finally walked through the door.

“I wanted to wait until you got home to tell you that I was leaving.” Raquel stood and that’s when Ann Marie noticed the suitcases neatly lined up near the couch.

Ann Marie lifted her chin. “Time you got back on your own two feet.”

Raquel snorted her disgust. “Figured that’s what you’d say.” She picked up her two suitcases and approached her mother. “You know, most little girls want to grow up to be just like their mothers.

I pray that I don’t ever turn into the woman that you are.” She brushed by Ann Marie and walked out the door that Ann Marie had never closed.