Anna felt the sting of tears press against her eyes.
“What’s a man to do other than marry you? Especially a good man like Matt who wants to do the right thing.
“I’m not complaining, mind you. Your arrangement suits me fine. Hope you don’t mind sharing, because I sure don’t. Matt is a fantastic lover, and I have no problem filling in when needed. He told me this would be just until you’re married, but something tells me one does not forget the heady taste of the wine when boring grape juice will be all you’ll offer up.”
Anna gasped, and the tears she had been fighting to suppress, welled and glistened.
“Not to mention … I’m a girl who loves diamonds, and the extra benefits are not too shabby either.” She fingered a large diamond hanging from a pendant around her neck.
Matt’s mom, Faye, pushed the door open. “There you are, Anna! Matt is looking for you, and Darren and I are getting a hotel for the night so we can get some sleep. We wanted to say goodbye.”
Anna turned from Tamara, desperately trying to regain calm and not show her mounting fear.
Faye rattled on without understanding what she’d interrupted. “I want to thank you for letting us visit Melody. Will we be able to see her again tomorrow? We leave for home the following day—”
“Excuse me, but we’re talking here,” Tamara said. “And tell Matt that Tamara said he can wait a few minutes.” She flicked her hand toward the door as if to dismiss Faye.
Faye stopped and took a close look at Anna who blinked a tear free. She turned and gave Tamara a once over. A look of knowing flashed in her eyes. “I’m Matt’s mother, and I think it’s you who can get out.”
“You’re the so-called excuse for a mother Matt told me about, the shrew that can’t get along with anyone. Go figure. It seems like the two of you have bonded. No surprise there, you’re both gold diggers going after a man for his money.” Tamara spit her words out.
Faye instantly pulled back her shoulders and glared. “And you are?”
“I’m Matt’s girlfriend, Tamara.” She let the words slip from her lips implying the statement was still current and true.
“Oh, that explains everything. You’re the jealous wench who couldn’t land him. Ain’t it a pity?” Faye slipped her arm into Anna’s. “At least Anna and I have what it takes to get a ring on our finger. You obviously don’t.”
Faye’s words were like throwing oil on a banked fire.
Tamara’s knuckles turned white as she clenched her hands into tight fists and her lips formed a tight ashen line. “How dare you—”
“Oh, I dare,” Faye cut her short.
Tamara’s cheeks turned red and her nose flared.
“Now who has the unattractive blotchy skin? At least Anna looks adorable when she blushes. You look like you have an outbreak of some ghastly infection,” Faye taunted. “Serves you right for trying to embarrass my dear Anna earlier. I can tell by the sound of your voice, those rude words were from you.”
Anna could not believe her ears. Matt’s mom was not only defending her but calling her ‘my dear Anna.’
“And furthermore,” Faye said, lifting her arm to wag her finger in Tamara’s face. “You would do well to stay away from Matt and his family, or you’ll have me to deal with.” Fire danced in her eyes. “Trust me when I say I have more than one way to bury anyone that messes with my family. And if you think I make false threats, I’ll give you the names of some tarts that dared to trespass on my marriage. You should see them now—pitiful creatures, no money, no friends, no connections.
Tamara blanched.
“Yeah, you take me seriously or this little social network you have hobnobbing with the doctors, the rich and the upper crust of this city, will be over.”
With that, she literally dragged Anna from the room.
Anna was visibly shaken, not used to that kind of bold confrontation, yet she inwardly rejoiced at the fact Faye had stumbled upon them.
Faye hugged her close. “Come, Anna, I’m going to take you directly to Matt, and you’re not to leave his side again for the rest of the evening until that witch departs. I know her type, and they spew nothing but venomous lies. Promise me you won’t believe a word she said.”
Two weeks had passed since their engagement party and Anna stayed quiet. She wanted to talk to Matt about her conversation with Tamara, but the moment never felt right.
Matt’s mom had reiterated to disregard anything that Tamara said as lies, but Anna was not so sure. A faint memory from the day they walked in the park tapped on the door of her mind. Matt had desperately wanted to discuss his past, and she had refused to open that door.
A wave of fear picked up Anna and swept her in its folds. Question after question rolled over her, and she felt like she was drowning. One question stood out above all the rest. What was Matt’s interpretation of the word past?
Had Matt been with that woman after Anna came into his life? Could she blame him? For months, they had not been a couple. Worse yet, had Matt been with her since he became a Christian?
Anna felt trapped in an impossible nightmare. If she questioned Matt and Tamara had been lying, he would be devastated that she didn’t trust him. Yet to have her mind troubled with unanswered questions did not set a good foundation for marriage.
“Come on, Anna, now you’re hedging.” Matt said. “We need to set a date for our wedding. Lorena’s baby is due in early May and if she decides to give her baby up, then I want to be there from the start, not only to bond with
