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her shit today. “Hello to you too, Carmen.” Carmen was a beautiful woman with a huge ego. She frequently got on her nerves, but Malanie still loved her. “I’m not in the mood for your attitude right now. I tried to call you when I needed a friend, but your phone was cut off.”
    “Whatever. You could’ve asked Luis,” she said, sitting down in the seat in front of her desk, taking off her sunglasses. “I can’t believe you broke up with him. Aren’t you due any day now?”
    She took a deep breath. “Because of your cousin, I lost my baby. That’s why I fucking left him. You’re always defending him, even after all he’s done to me. Making excuses for him. Well, I’m done and I’ve moved on.”
    “I’m sorry, Malanie. I didn’t know you lost your baby, he didn’t mention it.” She tried to look at Malanie’s stomach, but she hunkered farther down behind her desk. “How are you doing?” she finally asked with the requisite concern.
    “I’m doing good, with the help of Alanie. She lifts my spirit every day.” She smiled, thinking of her daughter. “She calls me every morning to say good morning and every night to say good night. She’s so special.”
    Carmen looked at her, a bit surprised. “So you’re gay now?”
    “No, I’m not gay.”
    “Well you said Ala—whatever her name is—is special, and she lifts your spirit.”
    “Alanie is my daughter.” She paused, thinking. “The baby you tried to convince me to have an abortion.”
    “You finally found your kid, after all these years?”
    “Well, actually, Jeremy found me.” The memories of that day came back to her in a flood.
    “I’m happy for you,” she said, smiling. “How?”
    “It’s not something I really want to talk about right now. Just know I was reunited with my little girl.”
    “Why won’t you tell me? Is it Jeremy? What did he do this time?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
    “Jeremy hasn’t done anything to me. He has been wonderful. He saved my life from the hands of your cousin, and on that day, I finally met my daughter.” Carmen sat there, obviously in shock. “Yes, Carmen, because of your cousin, I had a miscarriage.” She had to look away.
    “I bet he didn’t mean to. I know he’s sorry. Jeremy hurt you too. He practically raped you, or did you forget?”
    “He didn’t rape me.” She raised her voice. “I thought I needed to prove to him that I loved him. The way he went about it was wrong, but he didn’t rape me.”
    “Whatever.”
    “I forgave him, but if you think about it, there’s nothing to forgive, because I gave in. I’m the one that needs forgiveness from them, for being so weak.”
    “You forgave him, but you can’t forgive my cousin? Who’s being a hypocrite now?”
    Malanie stood up. “I can’t believe what you just said. Jeremy was a kid, and he didn’t mean to hurt me, unlike Luis. He’s been beating on me and you knew about it, but for some odd reason that’s okay and you hate Jeremy.”
    “He’s my cousin.” Carmen got up, too. “Luis loves you and he doesn’t mean to hurt you. He’s been through a lot. He is willing to go counseling.”
    “Carmen, out of respect for our friendship, I’m going to tell you this in the nicest way possible. Get the hell out of my office!”
    Carmen picked up her purse and walked out through the door.
     

Chapter Thirteen
     
    Jeremy never liked to do it, but found himself reprimanding one of his men about an incident that had happened on his watch. His phone rang and he ignored it. “Chief, I need a report on my desk by the end of the day.”
    “Yes, sir.” The chief turned and left.
    He picked up his cell, and saw Malanie had called. He dialed her number.
    “Hello?”
    “Hey, sorry I missed your call. I was in a meeting.”
    She sniffled. “It’s okay. It wasn’t important.”
    “It must have been if you called me.”
    “Are you free for lunch?” she asked.
    “What time?”
    “In about an hour. If you