Black Lies White Lies by Dranda Laster Page A

had, she knew my favorites.
    Lindsay put the finishing touches on my hair. Why hadn’t Ashton told he used to model? I had assumed we were closer than that. Of course we hadn’t known each other that long. I wasn’t sure of his feelings for me even though I knew he was someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. “Looks like that will take care of you for a while.”
    “It looks fabulous, Lindsay. You always do such a terrific job and thank you for getting me in on such short notice.”
    “Anytime. You’re such a loyal customer.”
    “I’m going in the back to see what Lucy has for my trip.” Lucy was finished setting up. She had such beautiful things. She’d brought a lot of summer linens in pastel colors. Pink was my signature color.
    There was a white bikini with a pink chiffon cover up, I just loved. “Oh, Lucy, I just love it all. No wonder you’re Nordstrom’s leading personal shopper.”
    “I do my best, Candice. You have always been an excellent customer. I’m thinking about opening my own design studio in the garment district this fall.”
    “That’s an excellent idea. Let me know when you get up and going. I will send you some clients.”
    “Let me finish getting you dressed so you and I can get out of here.” I picked the outfits I wanted and said goodbye to Lindsay and the others as Lucy took my charge card. I needed to get home and pack.

Sebrina
    Chapter 8
    I was surprised when Candice called today. We haven't had a close relationship. Or any relationship, for many years. Sometimes I wanted to be closer to my sisters, but Momma had made that difficult at times. Then again, I couldn’t blame her for everything. I loved my sisters even though we lived very different lives.
    I was so tired and frazzled from all this. I needed to go home and check on the boys. My life was such a mess. Anthony was lying there in that lifeless state and now I wanted to care.
    Why now? Why now when I wanted to leave this life and was trying to find a way out of all this recklessness? I wanted the life I’d had before all the money had changed us into people we didn’t know. I wanted a different life than the one I was raised in, but I didn’t know how to get it.
    I thought all I was valued for was lying on my back and scheming. After all, that’s all my momma had been skilled at and people said I was just like her. And I had proven them right.
    I truly loved Anthony. He was still my high school sweetheart. Life had changed that and I needed to pull it together. Life had taught me to be tough, go with the flow. I refused to let this beat me or Anthony. If we could get through this we could get through anything.
    I walked back into the hospital where I had been for over a week now. I wanted to go home and just lie in my own bed. But when Anthony came around I wanted to be there. I heard the door opening, “What’s up, Girl?” Lucinda came walking in, all dolled up and dressed to the nines. “I’ve been worried about you and Anthony. Have you been home?”
    “No I haven’t. I want to change my clothes. I showered, but it’s not the same as being at home.”
    “Let me stay here with Anthony and you go home for the day. I can call you if anything changes. I have your cell number on speed dial. You know how much this fool loves me anyway,” and I laughed for the first time that week. Lucinda had a way of making me feel like things were going to be fine.
    “I think I will take you up on that. I’m tired of this hospital food. I want a cheeseburger with all the works.”
    “I’ll walk you to the elevators. Sabrina, Stevie has been blowing up my phone trying to find you.”
    “Lucinda. You know I can’t think about Stevie right now. Not while Anthony is lying there near death. All of his buddies have been here visiting him. The flowers just keep coming in. I told the nurses to give them to the other patients. Anthony would like that idea.”
    “Yes, nothing would please him more. He’s that kind