“Me too.” Sky honestly meant it.
“Do you mean that?”
“I do.”
Omara reached across the table and held her hand. “I know how hard it is for you to need people.” She chose her words carefully. “Have you talked to them?”
Sky shook her head. “Not since shortly after they left St. Lucia’s Hospital. Charlie called a couple of days ago and left a message on my phone, but I haven’t called her back. I’m not sure I should.” A small smile appeared on Sky’s face. “However, the good news is the feeling in the lower half of her body is getting stronger.”
Omara clapped her hands together. “That’s fantastic! So, the by-pass surgery you performed was successful.”
“Apparently.”
“I’m so proud of you. Now, you are one of eleven physicians who has ever performed it successfully. That must be worth at least a congratulations phone call to Charlie right?”
Sky blew out a breath. “I don’t know. She’s been through so much. I think her family needs some time to heal.” Sky lifted a shoulder. “As far as Remington, I can understand why he doesn’t want to talk or have anything to do with me.” Sky couldn’t help but think it was usually the men who lived down to low expectations, but this time, it was her. “I should have told him my suspicions.”
“It sounds like you were caught in-between a rock and a hard place.”
She had been, but honesty and trust were a huge part of any relationship. He had the same trust issues that she had. Not being completely honest with him was a deal breaker and deep down inside, Sky knew it.
“My apologies, ladies. I had to take that call.” Her mother’s fiancé came back to the table and sat down. “Are you sure you don’t want me to pull the trigger with Bella Langston?”
He was a handsome and distinguished looking man with salt and pepper hair. Sky could understand why her mother was attracted to him. Together, they made a striking couple. Omara was just a couple of inches shorter than his six-foot frame. Her mother was not only graceful like a model but had the frame of one too. She wore her hair cut low to her head and tapered around the back and sides. However, Omara would never be caught dead with gray hair. Instead, she wore it natural but colored blonde. It complemented her smooth mocha colored skin.
“Thank you for being willing to use your position and influence as President of the Creative Artistry Agency on my behalf, Sam. But I’ve had some time to think about regardless of how I feel about her mother’s wicked ways, Charlie still loves her, and I love Charlie. She’ll get hers.”
Sam placed his hands on top of her mother’s in a loving gesture. “Well, if you change your mind, let me know. In the meantime, let’s talk about something positive. Your mother and I have set a date for the wedding. We figured Monaco next month.”
Sky choked on the water she was sipping. “Already? You two have only been dating for a few months. I thought you were going to have a long engagement.”
“When you know you know.” Sam continued to look at her mother lovingly.
Before Sky met Remington, she would never have understood that sentiment. But, now that she had the experience of being with him, and being briefly touched by love, she understood it completely. “Just let me know the day and time. I’ll be there.”
Omara was shocked. “My god. It happened.” Sky’s mother’s eyes grew glassy.
“What?” Sky looked on curiously.
“You know what being in love feels like.” Omara placed her hand over her heart.
Exaggerating the move, Sky checked the watch on her arm. “Would you look at the time. I’ve got to meet Nia at the hospital. We’re negotiating my settlement.”
Omara would let her off the hook for now. But, they were going to talk about it. “That’s right. Today is the day. But delayed is not denied. We will talk. Call me when it’s over, and we’ll discuss everything.”
Sky stood and kissed her mother on the cheek. “I will. Love you.” She turned to Sam. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”
Sam stood when Sky had. “It was a pleasure meeting you as well.”
As they watched Sky walk away, Omara wiped a tear from her eye. She twisted her body toward her new fiancé. “I’ve just witnessed a miracle. Love can change anyone.”
*****
Sky was having a final meeting with Nia before they met with the hospital’s legal team.
“I’m going to start charging you extra for house calls.” Nia pulled her knees up on Sky’s sofa as she took a bite of her chicken salad.”
“Mmhmm . . . then, I’m going to start charging you for groceries.”
“Oooohhh . . . you’re extra cranky today. I take it the lunch with your mother didn’t go well yesterday.”
“Actually, it went very well.”
Nia raised her eyebrows. “I still can’t believe you called Omara Johnston-Reid-Hall to help you cripple, Bella. Before we get into that, what did you think of her fiancé? Is he going to help you?”
Sky was determined. “I had planned to hit Bella so hard that it would drop her to her knees.”
They were interrupted when the buzzer to Sky’s door sounded.
She hadn’t been able to get out of her funk since the moment the reporter called and ruined her life. “If someone from the paparazzi has snuck into this building again—”
Nia responded. “The restraining order I filed should take care
