Page 59 of Love Always, Nova Black

“I apologize. I had a lot going on.”

“Oh really…like what?”

Steering clear of giving her the actual details, I simply said, “Nothing outside of the usual. Just dealing with work stuff.”

“Sweetheart, why don’t you get some more help? You can’t do everything on your own.”

“Actually, I did get some help,” I said before glancing around the warehouse. “Thanks to Izzy, I have quite a few workers, and things have been going pretty smooth these days.”

“That’s great. Speaking of Izzy, how is she doing? Did she settle down and find her a man yet?”

I rolled my eyes. “Aunt Patricia, you do know there’s more to life than getting a man and making babies, right?”

“Oh lord, here we go with this nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense.”

“Sweetheart, I wish you young women would stop acting like you’re too good for a man or that you don’t need one. Every woman needs a man. I don’t care how they try to pretend like they don’t.”

“Nah, Auntie, I have to disagree with you on that. Yes, we may want one and enjoy having one in our lives, but that certainly doesn’t mean we need one.”

“Mmhmm, keep telling yourself that. Your ass is going to end up alone with three cats.”

“I highly doubt that. I’m allergic to cats.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, okay. Anyway, about this barbecue…am I allowed to bring a guest?”

“A guest? What kind of guest?”

Smiling, I said, “Well, since you’re so adamant about me having a man, I would like to let you know that I do have one, and he’s who I would like to bring.”

“Wow, that was fast.”

“Not really.”

“Hmph, you’re not even divorced.”

“Yeah, and you know why.”

“Have you talked to Jayson?”

“No, I haven’t. That’s what I have a lawyer for. Oh, and speaking of which, please tell me that he’s not going to be at this barbecue.”

“I didn’t invite him.”

“Good.”

“But back to this man you’re seeing. You still haven’t told me who it is. Of course, I’m pretty sure that I already know.”

“I’m pretty sure that you’re right.”

“Well, if that’s what makes you happy...”

“It is.”

She sighed. “I still think you shouldn’t be so quick to give up on your marriage.”