Trickery & Envy by D.C. Johnson Read Free Book Online Page A

Jennifer’s eyes and into her cup of mocha.
    “Woman, what am I going to do with you?” Vivian shook her head at her friend.
    “She found a lump in my breast .” Jennifer sat her cup on the end table next to her then cried hard into her palms.
    “Are you serious Jennifer ?” Vivian rose swiftly from the sofa startling both poodles. They leaped from the sofa to the floor and headed in the direction of their cots near the front door.  Vivian knelt beside her friend and hugged her tight. “Jennifer, sweetie it’s going to be okay. When did you find out?”
    “Two days ago , and when I went to see my gynecologist. She also suggested that I have a mammogram.”
    “What are they going to do about it? Do they know how big the tumor is?”
    “Dr. Howard wants me to have a biopsy so that a proper diagnosis is made. Vi, you know I lost my mama to breast cancer when I was ten,” and Jennifer bawled harder, which had Vivian holding her tighter and a few tears falling from her eyes.
    “You’re going to be fine. Does Charles know?”
    “I haven’t told him yet.”
    “Well you need to. He needs to know what you’re going through.”
    “I’m afraid he might leave me.”
    “What would make you think that Jennifer ?”
    Jennifer sniffle d. “He left his first wife. He said after twenty years of marriage she suddenly became moody was acting as if she didn’t want to be bothered with him. He said he tried to talk to her and she wouldn’t let him in. It’s the same thing I’m doing. He said he got fed up with her mood swings and the last time she asked for a divorce, he didn’t hesitate granting it.”
    “Jennifer it’s understandable why he gave her the divorce. She didn’t want him anymore. You never said you didn’t want Charles anymore. I don’t think he feels that you don’t either.”
    “What if this lump is found to be malignant?” Jennifer placed her hand over her right breast. “If I have br east cancer I’m going to have my breast removed. I’m going to have a mastectomy.”
    “Jennifer you’re jumping to conclusions. Nothing has been confirmed. You need to keep a positive attitude.”
    “ I’m trying to. It’s hard Vi,” and a now disconsolate Jennifer removed herself from her friend and the floor. “I’m going to head on home.”
    “Jen you call me if you need anything ,” Vivian said rising, too. “Give me a hug.”
    Jennifer with her arms wrapped around her leaned into her friends shoulder. “You are truly a good friend. If I wasn’t married to Charles you’d be my wife.”
    “You’re a great friend too. As far as being your wife, forget it. As the old saying goes, my name is Eve and I’m looking for Steve.” They shared a laugh. “Tell Charles, Jennifer,” a serious Vivian said narrowing her eyes at her.
    Jennifer nodded her head, okay.
     
    ***
    A few days later Vivian pulled up in front of her salon. She headed to the café next to her shop.
    A fter exiting the café with a cup of coffee, and for no particular reason, Vivian looked across the street and saw her brother watching her. Though she was a little startled she acted as if she hadn’t spotted him and kept her stride walking to her shop.
    “Morning ladies,” she said with a bit of swagger in her step.
    Vivian was donned in a black satin dress that stopped just above her knees. There was a gold-colored belt around her waist. Her black handbag was snuggled underneath her armpit as she sashayed toward her office in gold colored open-toe heels. She inconspicuously made eye contact with Patricia and after reaching her office placed her right hand flat against the door. It was a signal to Patricia to come see her in five minutes.
    Today that exchange was caught by Regina as it usually was when she was in the area tending to a client. Regina envied the relationship Patricia and her boss shared as she watched Vivian going into her office. They get on my nerves with all their secret codes . All she had to say was