When they finished their meals, Alicia took care of the check, and they headed to the mall. This was certainly not the norm for Melanie, but Alicia was glad she’d been able to talk her into going. What Alicia wanted was to enjoy as many hours with Melanie as she could, because she knew it would be a while before they saw each other again.

It was amazing how extraordinary her father’s impeccably designed mini mansion always looked, Alicia thought as she drove JT’s BMW up the long driveway. She still owned her silver-blue ragtop BMW, the one her father had given her as a college graduation gift, but JT’s car was much sportier and barely two months old. He’d purchased it not long before they’d gotten married, and she loved the way it raced down the highway. It was the reason she always drove it whenever she made a trip over to Mitchell.

Once she parked and turned off the ignition, she walked up the brick sidewalk and rang the doorbell twice. Shortly after, Agnes, the housekeeper, answered.

“Hi, sweetheart,” she said, smiling at Alicia. “It’s so good to see you. Give me a hug.”

Alicia loved Agnes. She hadn’t so much in the beginning because she couldn’t help comparing her to their former housekeeper, Tracy, but now Agnes was just like family to her. “It’s great seeing you, too, and how are you?”

“Wonderful. And how’s that gorgeous husband of yours?” she asked, closing the door.

“He’s fine. I wanted to spend the day with Melanie, so he stayed in Chicago.”

“And how is she?”

“She’s good.”

“You should have brought her with you.”

“She wanted to come, but she has plans this evening with Brad.”

“Well, you make sure you tell her I said hello when you talk to her again.”

“I will. Where is everybody?”

“Matthew had track practice and should be home any time now, but your dad and stepmom are out back with one of the landscapers.”

“I have some news for them, but I may as well tell you now. My dad’s agent loved the revisions, and she’s getting ready to try to sell my manuscript.”

“Oh, honey, that’s wonderful! Good for you. We all knew it was going to happen, but it’s good to know that it’s now a reality.”

“I know. I’m so relieved and can’t wait to see what offers we’re able to get.”

“I’m so, so proud of you,” she said, hugging Alicia again.

“Thank you. Also, thank you for always being so kind to me, Agnes. I know I’ve told you this many times before, but thank you for not judging me or treating me any differently when I had to move back in here. When Phillip and I split up, it was a very tough time for me, but you made me feel very special.”

“I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Alicia looked up when she saw her dad and Charlotte coming down the hallway.

“Hey, Alicia,” Charlotte said, embracing her.

“Hey,” she said, and then looked at her father and smiled. “Hi, Daddy.”

“Hi, baby girl-I mean, Alicia.”

“‘Baby girl’ is fine,” she said, hugging him, and she could tell he was just as happy to see her as she was to see him.

“Let’s go in the family room,” Charlotte said, but when they did Alicia heard a child saying “Lee Lee” and saw her baby sister, Curtina, walking toward her and rubbing her eyes. She was clearly just waking up.

“Hi, little one,” Alicia said, picking her up. She kissed her repeatedly, and Curtina squealed with laughter. “You’re getting so big.”

“Isn’t she?” Curtis added. “She’s only two, but she looks more like three or four.”

“She’s such a doll, though,” Alicia said. “And I’m so glad I got to see her while I’m here.”

Curtis sat down on the sofa. “Actually, she’s been here all week because Tabitha hasn’t been doing so well.”

Alicia looked at Charlotte and wondered why she hadn’t said a word since Curtina had come into the room, but then looked back at her father. “What’s wrong with her?”

“She’s been having a lot of complications, and we’re not sure when she’ll be coming home from the hospital.”

Charlotte sighed loudly, and Alicia knew she still wasn’t happy about this little girl her husband had conceived out of wedlock with his mistress. Alicia could tell she wasn’t happy at all and that the last thing she wanted was to have Curtina living with them indefinitely.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” was all Alicia could think to say.

“You know she’s had HIV for a while,” Curtis said. “So, all we can do now is pray it hasn’t turned into full-blown AIDS.”

Her stepmother still didn’t comment, so Alicia changed the subject. “So, how are your mom and dad, Charlotte?”

“They’re fine. They were down for a visit this past weekend, and we had a great time. Mom and I went shopping, of course, and then they went to church with us on Sunday.”

Alicia switched Curtina from one side of her lap to the other. “I really miss Deliverance Outreach. I mean, I love all the people at New Life, but I’ve known the people at Deliverance for so many years.”

“You should come visit one Sunday,” Curtis suggested.

“I’ll try, but when you’re first lady, you’re sort of expected to be at your own church every Sunday.”

“That’s true, but maybe they’ll excuse you every now and then so you can come hear your dad,” he said.

“I’ll see what I can do about that,” she said, and they all laughed, including Charlotte, and Alicia was glad Charlotte’s spirits were back up.

“So, what else is going on?” Curtis asked her. “Have you heard from Joan yet?”

“Welllll…,” she said, smiling.

“Well what?”

“She’s sending me the author-agent agreement, and she’s getting ready to submit my manuscript to six editors.”

Charlotte’s face lit up. “Oh my God. Why didn’t you call us right when you heard?”

“I knew I was coming by this afternoon, so I figured I’d wait and surprise you with the news.”

“Congratulations, baby girl. This is the beginning of a truly great career.”

“This really is wonderful, Alicia,” Charlotte said. “And words can’t even express how proud I am of you.”

“We’re beyond proud,” Curtis said. “And in only a very short time, you’ll be hitting the New York Times list and receiving all kinds of awards.”

“We’ll see.”

“Well, I already told Joan to use my name, connections, and anything else to get you the most publicity available.”

“I know. She told me, and thank you for doing that, Daddy.”

“Of course.”

“Hey, big sis,” Matthew said, strolling into the room. Alicia set Curtina to the side of her on the love seat, got up, and hugged her brother.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

“Good. Just got out of practice,” he said, and then picked up Curtina and kissed her on the forehead.

“When’s your next meet?” Alicia asked.

“Saturday afternoon. You wanna come?”

“They’re having a meet on Memorial Day weekend?”

“Yep.”

“Let me check with JT to make sure we don’t have anything else going on, and if not, we’ll be here,” she said, thinking how this might be the perfect opportunity for Curtis to get to know JT a whole lot better.

“Oh, and did Mom and Dad tell you I only have one session left at driving school?”

“No, but good for you.”

“I got the car I want all picked out, too.”

Curtis and Charlotte both shook their heads, but Alicia obliged him. “Really? What kind is it?”

“The same as yours, of course. What else do you expect me to get?”

They all laughed, because for as long as anyone could probably remember, Matthew had always looked up to his sister and looked forward to getting many of the same things she already had.

“I’m serious. I don’t want the same color you have, but I do want a plain silver one or maybe even red.”

“We’ll see next month,” Curtis said. “Because the deal was that you had to get straight A’s the entire school year.”