Page 6 of Thiago (Family Ties #6)

Chapter Six

“ O h my goodness, are you okay?” Kiara swept into India’s apartment, pulling her into a sisterly hug.

After India’s mother died, she moved in with her grandmother, who lived a couple of doors down from Kiara and her family. The two became best friends almost immediately and had been close ever since.

A bundle of energy, Kiara was a few inches shorter than India, with almond-gold skin and sparkling hazel eyes.

India laughed, squeezing her friend tight. “I’m fine. I told you, it was heartburn. Not a real heart attack.”

Kiara stepped back. “I know, but still, it was scary, I bet.”

“Very.”

Kiara held up a paper sack. “Mom sent you some oatmeal raisin cookies. Want me to put them in the cookie jar?”

They had known each other so long, Kiara knew her way around India’s apartment, and when she was at Kiara’s house, she moved through the rooms as if she lived there.

“Yes, please. Then meet me in the living room. I have the snacks laid out for us.”

India had set out a tray of nuts, cheeses, and crackers. She sat on the sofa and poured Arnold Palmer from a pitcher into two glasses. It was their favorite drink as kids, and they both still enjoyed it together.

Kiara joined her on the sofa and immediately picked up her drink. She took a sip while eying the spread. “Is that brie?”

“Yes, and this one is Comté. It’s French.”

“Of course.”

“Of course,” India said with a laugh. “The flavor is kind of nutty, like Fontina or Gruyère. They served it at a conference I attended a while back. I remembered it when I was at the store and thought it would be a nice addition to our tray.”

Kiara grinned. “It’s nice having a wealthy friend to introduce me to the finer things in life.”

“It’s just cheese, and I’m not wealthy,” India said.

Kiara blew a raspberry with her lips. “Stop being modest. You live in this great apartment, you make a ton of money, and you only have to take care of yourself. You’re rolling in dough, and I appreciate the benefits of knowing you.”

They laughed as her friend set down her glass and then looked directly at her.

“So, what’s going on? Based on our conversation, you sound like you’re going through a midlife crisis.”

“Maybe not that bad, but I have to do something.” India placed a couple of almonds on her tongue.

“Do something like what?” Kiara asked.

India shrugged, at a loss because she hadn’t completely figured out what she wanted to do yet but knew a change was needed. “Expand my options.”

“Your health scare was a false alarm. You said so yourself.”

“I know, but it might not have been. I could have ended up like my mother.”

“Your mother had an undiagnosed heart condition.”

“It wouldn’t have been undiagnosed if she’d gone to the doctor instead of working around the clock.

She had lupus, Kiara, worked two jobs, then started working three.

Three jobs !” Her mother had a full-time job, worked nights during the week, and then worked for a commercial cleaning company on the weekends.

“You’re not your mother.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” Folding her arms over her chest, India frowned. “She worked herself to death. Literally. There’s no other way to say it. Look at the hours I put in now. Some days, I’m at the office for twelve hours.”

“Except Friday nights,” Kiara pointed out with a smirk.

India ignored her. “What kind of life am I living? All those hours at work, for what?”

“Okay, I understand where you’re coming from. You had a health scare, and you’re concerned you might be on the wrong track.”

“I am on the wrong track. I have all this”—she waved her hands around the room—“but no one to share it with. No kids. No husband. I don’t even know anyone on my father’s side.”

That part hurt quite a bit, not knowing an entire half of her identity.

Though her mother never said, India figured she had been an unplanned pregnancy because her parents had been teenagers when she was born.

Her father, Karl Monroe, had paid child support, what little he could afford on his meager salary.

He was an artist, a dreamer, she’d once heard Grandma Selah say, while her mother, Giselle, had been practical.

She had never pushed Karl for more or taken him to court, so they struggled most of India’s childhood.

After India turned eighteen, she didn’t hear from him much. The last time she saw him was two years ago. She recalled the pain of that moment, which proved beyond a shadow of a doubt he didn’t care for her or love her.

Kiara studied her with a frown etched into her forehead. “Are you saying you want to have kids?”

She had never seriously considered them before because of her lupus, but children had been one of the fleeting thoughts that entered her mind as she lay on her back in the emergency room.

India shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’d be a horrible mother. I can’t cook. What would they eat—cereal and Pop-Tarts?”

Kiara smiled at her. “Cooking is not the only requirement for being a mother, and personally, I think you’d make a great mom—if that’s what you want.”

“What makes you so sure?” India asked, hating she sounded as if she were fishing for compliments, though she was.

“Because you’re a perfectionist, and I imagine you treating motherhood like one of your projects. You’ll study it inside and out and become the best damn mom on the planet, putting the rest of us to shame.”

India groaned. “Bad answer. Being a mother isn’t like being a marketing executive.

There are rules and guidelines in my industry.

Being a mother is like being tossed into the middle of the ocean with no life jacket or idea which direction land is in.

You have to keep swimming and hope you’re going in the right direction. ”

Kiara laughed. “Motherhood is tough, but it’s not that bad, I promise.

Listen,” she said, leaning closer, “forget what I said about you being a perfectionist and treating motherhood like your career. You want to know how I know you’d make a great mom?

You’re a fantastic godmother to my kids.

You’re patient with them. I’ll never forget the day Jayden spat up on your brand new silk blouse, which I know cost a small fortune. I was mortified, but you just laughed.”

“He was a baby. How could I be mad?”

“Exactly. You showed patience and had a sense of humor about it, which is typical for you. Being a mother is not for the weak. You have to have patience because kids—whew, lord—they will test you. And embarrass you in front of other folks. There are so many ups and downs and challenges, and keeping your cool is essential. That sense of humor is important to get you through the rough patches. Not to mention, you’re nurturing. ”

“I’m not nurturing.”

“You’re nurturing,” Kiara insisted. “God forbid Thiago eats a protein bar after work. You feed him every time he comes to your house, though you can barely boil water.”

“Hey, I can boil water.” She playfully tapped her friend’s hand.

Kiara smiled. “You’ve been nurturing with my kids.

Jayden and Josiah love their Auntie India, and speaking as a mom, I appreciate the way you love them—unconditionally—as if they’re your own.

It puts my mind at ease, knowing that if anything ever happened to me and Josh, my boys would be well taken care of. ”

India pointed a chastising finger at her. “Don’t you dare make me cry.”

“All I’m saying is, if you want to have children, you’ll be a great mom. But if you’re really worried about being a good mother, I’m here for you to lean on. Anytime.”

“Thanks,” India said softly. “I’m not ready to have a child yet, but it’s definitely something I’m considering. My head is full of a lot of ideas at the moment.”

“Are you thinking about having a child on your own?” Kiara asked tentatively.

“I would consider it, but we’re putting the cart before the horse. Having a child is a monumental change. I think what I’d like to do is start small and begin dating. I’m thirty-three years old, and the last time I was in a serious relationship was in high school.”

“Damien Jones. He was so fine,” Kiara said wistfully. “I wonder where he is now.”

“Who knows, but the point is I was, what, sixteen? He and I dated until we graduated and went to separate colleges. I’ve had men in my life since then, but no one serious. In college, I was focused on my grades. Then I found out I had lupus, which threw me into a depression for a few months.”

“Yeah, you almost flunked out of college.”

“Until you had an intervention.”

“You’re my girl. I couldn’t let you flunk out of college.”

“Which I appreciated, but by the time I graduated, all I cared about was succeeding, and that’s how it’s been all along. Every job, every position, has been moving me toward promotions and more success. I don’t have much of a social life.”

“At least you have Thiago.”

India eyed her friend. “Do I?”

“It’s not the best relationship, but you said the sex is amazing, and he did buy you that gorgeous bracelet for Valentine’s Day.”

She had to agree with Kiara. The bracelet was stunning. It was a gold and platinum bangle with a huge diamond that sparkled when it caught the light. But she hadn’t worn it yet since she suspected Thiago felt obligated to give her the gift because of the holiday. There was no sentiment behind it.

“He didn’t give it to me, though. He had it delivered because we didn’t see each other on Valentine’s Day. If the holiday had fallen on a Friday, I would have seen him, but it fell in the middle of the week.”

“Are you thinking of breaking things off with Thiago?”

India swallowed against the wave of pain that hit her. Truth be told, she needed to pull back a little. Not be so into him.

“I’ll keep my relationship with him for now. It serves a purpose.”

“Mhmm. You get your back blown out every Friday night.”

“You’re crass.”

“I’m living vicariously through you.”

“Whatever. You have two kids under five. You and Josh have a perfectly fine sex life,” India said dryly.

“Well…” Pink color tinged the crests of Kiara’s cheeks.

“I think it’s time I expand my options. Thiago and I have never made any type of commitment to each other. We both know the score. This is a convenience thing because we’re both busy professionals. When it no longer works for either of us, we can walk away with no regrets.”

Kiara picked up a cube of cheese. “I wish I could be like you. I’m an emotional creature. I have sex and fall madly in love. That’s how Josh got me. Bastard.” She popped the cheese in her mouth.

India laughed. “And you love that man like nobody’s business.”

“Hard. Can’t imagine my life without him.”

India experienced a twinge of envy. “That feeling wouldn’t be so bad to have—to love someone and know they love me.

I want someone I can’t imagine living without, and I don’t have that with Thiago.

He and I are placeholders for each other.

Eventually, he’s going to slow down and look for the perfect little wifey to host his dinner parties, and I’m going to find a man who won’t be intimidated by my success and independence. ”

“How are you going to find this mystery man?” Kiara asked.

India sipped her beverage, using those few seconds to think. “I have an idea already.”

Kiara’s eyes widened. “You’ve been holding out. Who?”

“No, I haven’t, I promise,” India said with a laugh. “It’s the emergency room doctor. I wasn’t paying him any mind at the time, but I think he was hitting on me, and I have his card.”

“A doctor. Nice. You know what, I can check with Josh and see if any of his guy friends are single and get back to you. What do you think?”

India didn’t hesitate. “I’m open to all possibilities.”

Giddy, Kiara clapped her hands and did a little dance.

“I love playing matchmaker. Oh, do you need him to be in a certain income bracket? Because I just remembered one of Josh’s friends is single and a really nice guy, but he doesn’t make the kind of money you do.

He does make decent pay, though. His name is Leo, and he runs a gallery on the north side of town, so you’d have your love of art in common. ”

“Definitely a plus, but to be honest, I don’t care what he does. As long as it’s legal, he’s nice to me, and he’s not intimidated by my career and the money I make, we can give dating a shot.”

Kiara’s grin widened. “Perfect. I’ll talk to Josh.”