Sweet Violet and a Time for Love by Leslie J. Sherrod Page A

to make sure it gets back to its owner and that is all. No terrorist attacks, danger, threats, or other catastrophes. Just a bag filled with what appears to be all the earthly belongings of an older homeless woman.”
    Leon jumped to his feet, marched to the foyer, and picked it up.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” I followed him.
    â€œI got this.” He shook his head. “I get that you are not going to stop until you’ve returned it to her, so I will help. I’ll do anything to put an end to your distractions.”
    â€œMy distractions? What does that exactly mean?”
    â€œIt means that for the five months that we’ve been married, you’ve been putting more time and energy into complete strangers who you think need help instead of spending time with your husband who needs you.”
    â€œComplete strangers? What are you talking about? I’ve just been working at my practice and have volunteered a few weekends to help at that hospital. These things aren’t really any different from what I was doing before we married, so, I’m not understanding what the problem is here.”
    â€œIt’s not just your job, Sienna. I have a business too that requires me to work late and long hours, but you could never question that I strive to keep you first. Time is a precious thing, and I make spending time with you a priority.”
    â€œWait a minute. Are you accusing me of not making you a priority? I get that time is precious, but are you getting how crazy my schedule is? Besides work and volunteering, I still have the occasional interview or appearance, and now I’m supposed to be working on this book. Wait, is that what it is? You don’t like the attention I’m getting while you are struggling to keep your bakery open?” Even I felt the sting—no, the hard, echoing slap—that were my words. “I’m sorry, Leon. I didn’t mean that. You know I didn’t mean that. I’m not feeling like myself these days. My moods . . .” Oh, Jesus. I was really pregnant. I could feel the stew of rolling hormones and emotions boiling all through me.
    â€œSienna, I’m not going to fight with you.” Leon sounded defeated. “I’m just letting you know that I need more of your time. We are newlyweds and the days and weeks and minutes we have right now are setting the stage for the rest of our marriage production. I want the happily ever after with you.”
    â€œAnd we are having our happily ever after right now.” I reached up to embrace him, praying he wouldn’t smell my vomit-tinged breath.
    â€œI know. I just don’t want anything to come between us.” We both looked down at the plastic bag still in his hand. The bag swung off his wrist and bounced between us, preventing me from fully embracing him.
    â€œGive the bag to me. I’ll check to make sure there is nothing that might give a clue to her whereabouts. I promise you, once this is off my hands, I will make a point not to get involved in anything extra again. I’ll just stick to the children I’m working with at my practice, finish my memoir for the publisher, and spend the next fifty years loving on you.” And our child. I pushed down a dry swallow. Can Leon even handle that news right now?
    â€œWhatever you say, Sienna.” Leon gave me the bag and turned toward our bedroom. “I’m going to change back into my suit and head back to church. I’ll catch the next service. Clearly you don’t need me here right now.”
    â€œLeon, don’t talk like that.” I started to follow him into the room, but I had the sudden urge to pee. Pregnancy could bring a lot of annoying symptoms, I was remembering. The mood swings, the throwing up, the constant need to stay in the bathroom. And that was just the first trimester.
    What am I saying to myself? I shook my head as I entered the bathroom and closed the door shut behind me. I pulled