Double Trouble by Erosa Knowles Read Free Book Online Page A

think you’re a pushover, then I want a ringside seat as you straighten them right quick.”
    Pam smiled and gave her another quick hug. “Be nice. Remember I had to battle with you to get what I needed for my clients, I know better than most who’s the tough chick in the room.”
    Belinda shrugged as they headed back to their seats. “Being a case worker in Social Services means you toughen up or go crazy.” She glanced at Pam. “I couldn’t afford to do crazy.”
    Pam chuckled just as Brooks stood to the side and three women, one Latina and two black, entered the room. “Hi Vianca, how’re you doing?” Pam asked, standing and reaching for the Latina.
    “Good, Chica, you?”
    Belinda watched the two women greet each other and could tell there was a genuine fondness between them. She took a moment to check out the other two females, who stood a little off to the side. Neither woman hid their interest in the house and were busy looking around the room as if they were in a museum or something. Belinda couldn’t blame them, the house was magazine worthy.
    “Pam, I want you to meet Denise and Cherise.” Vianca stepped back, allowing the two women to move forward.
    “Hi, I’m Denise and I am so happy to meet you. From what I’ve heard, Julio’s happy and that makes you a star in my book. He’s always been so nice. Now, if you could remind him of a promise to make me some cabinets a few years back, I’ll be your best friend forever.”
    Belinda pegged Denise to be in her late twenties, early thirties. She had a curvy build, mocha brown complexion, and stood taller than Pam by a few inches, so that’d put her around five five or five six.
    Pam chuckled. “Thanks Denise, you’ve got to tell me more about his cabinetry skills. I’ve heard things.”
    “Girl, Julio is the best when it comes to working with wood. You should see the cabinets he built for Ms. Connie, then you’d understand why I was so heartbroken when he left Michigan.” Denise pouted and then laughed. It made her slanted brown eyes sparkle in her heart-shaped face. She pushed wisps of her shoulder length hair from her face as she stepped aside.
    “Hi, I’m Cherise. I love your home, it’s large and warm,” the statuesque woman said, smiling. “And congratulations and best wishes on your marriage, I hope this chapter in your life is the best.” She handed Pam a large box that Belinda hadn’t seen before.
    “Thanks Cherise, I appreciate that,” Pam said, sounding genuinely touched.
    “School teacher on the premises,” Denise said, pointing at Cherise with a warm smile. “I forgot to congratulate you on your marriage and I should have, especially since my husband gave me carte blanche on finding the perfect wedding gift.” She stepped backward, picked up a brightly colored bag and handed it to Pam. “This is from my husband, Red and I. Congratulations, and best wishes to you both.”
    For a moment no one said anything as Pam sat the gifts on a nearby table. Belinda felt eyes on her and relaxed into the moment. Whenever Pam got around to introducing them was fine with her.
    “This is my friend Belinda. She moved here from Miami a month before I did. Our jobs crossed paths so often back then we just decided it’d be easier to be friends than enemies. That was five years ago, so I was happy when she called to say she’d be moving here.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Vianca said, smiling at her. “Pam told me you used to work for Social Services, I bet you have some stories you can tell.”
    Belinda nodded. “You’d be right. I did it for ten years, saw a little of everything. But I helped a lot of people, so it balanced out.”
    “Hi Belinda,” Denise said. “I’ve always wondered how that worked. I’d love to sit and talk with you sometime. My girls are getting older and I’m thinking about doing some other things.”
    Girls? Belinda wondered briefly about that but let it go. “Sounds good, just let me know when. I moved here