Contracted To Love

Michelle sipped on her coffee and giggled.

“Since you’re practically a virgin, s*x and having a bun in the oven are obviously out of the question, what’s the name of the cream and who’s your connection? Also, how are they getting them in through customs?”

“I’m not using any black market cosmetics, thank you very much,” Michelle said, smiling before she sipped on her latte.

“Then are you…” Vickie raised an eyebrow. “Of course! Why didn’t I see it before? You’re here having a latte while you could be having wine. That should have been my first hint.”

Michelle almost choked on her drink.

“You’re kidding me, right?”

“What? Is it so ridiculous for me to think about that?”

Michelle nodded.

“Yes. It is ridiculous!”

“Well, you’re the one having latte in a five-star restaurant. What am I supposed to think?” Vickie said matter-of-factly.

“I’m having a latte because I still can’t drive back home under the influence.”

Vickie bit into her pastry and sighed.

“Well, that only leaves one more option. So, who is he?” she asked. “The man responsible for this glow?”

Michelle took a long sip of her latte, wondering what to tell her best friend. Vickie could get a little dramatic.

“Considering your ‘arrangement’ the only way for you to go would be to get some Desperate Housewives arrangement. Maybe a gardener or perhaps someone more professional?” Vickie asked and Michelle rolled her eyes.

“Don’t you dare make this into a big deal or so help me I am going to be the first person to make this place be on the news for all the wrong reasons,” Michelle hissed and Vickie’s eyes grew wild with excitement. “I swear, Vickie. Do. Not. React.”

Vickie nodded.

“On my life.”

“We’ve been talking lately, David and I. We’re not strangers to each other like we first were and we were invited to the Mayor’s Ball over the weekend,” Michelle started. “It was the first time we would be seen in public together since the wedding and maybe it was the wine we had there… when we got home, we fu*ked right on the kitchen counter.”

“What?” Vickie forced out a confused laugh. “How?”

“Like I said, maybe it was the wine… but maybe it was also us. The fact that we wanted it. Both of us,” Michelle said in a whisper.

“Why do you say that?” Vickie asked.

“Because it happened again,” she whispered.

“No way!”

“And again,” Michelle said as she reached for her cup. “And again.”

By that time, Vickie could do nothing but stare. She was still looking at her best friend when Michelle’s phone began ringing, vibrating in her purse. She reached for it and put a finger up, signaling for Vickie to give her a minute.

“David,” she said when she answered the phone.

“Hey, where are you?” he asked.

“The Cheyenne. I’m having coffee with Vickie. Why? Is everything okay?”

“Yes, everything’s fine. I just had something to tell you, but it can wait.”

Michelle frowned.

“What can wait?”

“I’d rather tell you when you get home—”

“David,” Michelle said in a firm tone, cutting him short. “Just tell me. I’ve never been good with suspense.”

“Okay. Your daughter’s coming home,” David said and Michelle exhaled loudly.

She was happy she was sitting down because otherwise she was sure she would have passed out. She’d waited so long to hear those words and now that it was happening, she wasn’t so sure if it was real or just some kind of mean trick the universe was playing on her. Her heart was racing and her eyes were already welling up.

“What happened?” Vickie asked in concern.

“I don’t understand… how?” Michelle asked.

“I promised you I would move heaven and earth to get your daughter back,” David said.

Michelle brushed off her tears when she noticed a few people giving her a curious look.

“Where are you?” she asked. “I’ll come to you.”

“No, go on home. I’m on my way there too.”

“Okay,” Michelle said in a small voice.

“And Michelle?” David said quickly before she could hang up.

“Yeah?”

“Drive safe. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“I will.”

Michelle put her phone back in her purse and looked at Vickie, whose face was riddled with worry.

“What happened, Michelle?” she asked and once again, Michelle felt a fresh flow of tears threatening to roll down her cheeks.

“It’s Andrea. My baby’s coming home.”