wide patio where people could mingle inside and out.
“I’m not sure what we can do at this point,” Sonia stated on a sigh, her eyes glued to her phone. Her hair was a stunning shade of spun gold. One side was pressed behind her ear, the other side skimming her cheek in a pretty natural wave. She wore a sexy as hell red suit with black piping. I loved her in red. It upped her powerful politician vibe times a thousand.
“Kick some skinny girl ass, is what’s going to happen if I get my hands on her.” Blessing crossed her legs and pursed her lips, all sass and spitfire, ready to bring the smack down on Tabitha.
Mama Kerri glared at Blessing and she clamped her mouth shut and looked to me.
“I’m with Blessing. That girl needs a kick in the pants. Big time. You guys should have seen her. It was awful. Repeating herself. Looking thin and sickly. It was almost as bad as when she was eighteen and had gotten in with that rave crowd.” I frowned remembering that time as being awful.
Mama Kerri shook as though she were cold, then pressed her hand to her forehead. “Please Lord, take care of my girl or bring her home to me and I’ll do it. Just keep her safe.”
“Si. I agree. We need to find her, show her how much we love and need her in our lives. Help her to choose us over the drugs.” Liliana wiped a tear from her eye.
Jonah entered the room from behind us, his face a mask of severity, jaw locked, dark gaze zeroed in on mine.
Last night after my shift I was barely functioning when Jonah took me home. I had gone straight to his bathroom and brushed my teeth. From there I yanked off my top, my bra, and my jeans, and hit the bed face first in nothing but my panties. Jonah had promptly covered me up and did whatever it is guys do to close up a house at night before sleeping. I didn’t even feel him enter the bed, nor did I feel him leave it this morning when I woke. He’d been broody and serious all morning, even when driving us across town to Sonia’s building where everyone was staying.
Genesis had taken a few days off work at the Department of Health and Human Services where she was a social worker who placed displaced and orphaned children into foster homes. Rory was sitting on her knees coloring in a Disney Frozen coloring book quietly at the glass square coffee table. For three years old, she did a damn fine job too.
“There are a couple new programs for drug addictions that I’ve researched. They have impressive success rates. Though these ones are not only expensive, they are out of state, request no visitation from outside sources including family, and are deeply immersive. Tabitha would have to agree to it and sign herself into it. For serious cases like hers, they recommend a full year at their facility but no less than six months. We have to keep in mind, she’s already been through two before. She may not be willing. And that’s if we can find her first.” Genesis frowned. Her hair was pulled back in a long French braid that fell almost to her bum. I had some serious hair envy because hers was the deepest espresso color, silky, shiny, and perfectly flat.
“Well, I don’t know what to say other than I’ll pay for the program this time. Mama Kerri paid for the first and Sonia paid for the second. I’ve got wads of cash in the bank and not a lot of time or desire to spend it. Besides, my agent just scored me a new bathing suit gig in the Mykonos that will pay off my condo downtown.”
“Girl, you are rolling in it, as you should be with that fine full-figured sexy body.” Charlie snapped her fingers and gave Addison a high-five.
“You are such an inspiration to women everywhere, hermana,” Liliana added.
“Thanks, sprite.” Addison winked at Liliana.
Liliana rolled her eyes and grinned. Sprite was a running nickname for Liliana because she was only five foot three. The smallest of us all. The woman was like a gorgeous Spanish doll. Perfect Latina features with her short curly dark hair, pointed chin, plump lips, rounded cheekbones, and skin the color of a pristine sandy beach made of crushed light brown coral.