Lonely Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

couch. “Daddy was more interested in what was goin’ on with momma’s car. Since when did he give a rat’s ass what I did?”
    My temples pounded, forcing me to squint. I applied pressure until the pain subsided.
    “Are you alright?” Tiffany laid a hand on my arm.
    “I’ll be fine. My blood pressure has been up for the last month. My doctor is dang near ready to put me on bed rest. I don’t have time for foolishness. I have no problem with you bein’ here, Tiffy, but there are gonna be some rules.”
    Her eyes widened. “You’ve got to be shittin’ me.”
    “Rule number one, no cursin’.”
    “Oh come on!”
    “My baby is not gonna be raised around foul language. This is not Bailey Senior’s House, so leave the bad habit behind.”
    “Like you don’t curse!”
    I stared at her, unaffected by her accusation. “When I do it’s because I’m pissed. Besides, this is my house, my rules. If you don’t like it…” My silence filled in the blanks.
    Another eye roll followed. If she didn’t watch it, they would end up on the floor instead of her head. “Okay, fine. What else?”
    “Two, start lookin’ for a job. There are no free rides here.”
    “No problem. I don’t like bein’ broke.”
    “It’s not about bein’ broke, Tiffy. It’s about believin’ a man is gonna take care of you. Look at me,” I waved a hand around my apartment. “I had a man who swore he loved me, wanted to marry and take care of me. Bein’ pregnant changed everythin’. If I hadn’t been able to care for myself before this happened, I’d be screwed.”
    Tiffany’s gaze went to my belly. “Can I touch it?”
    I smiled. “Sure.”
    Her eyes widened as my baby kicked. “That’s amazin’!”
    I placed my hand over hers, moved it to the other side. “I think your niece or nephew is sayin’ hello. Feel that?” She nodded. “That’s an elbow or somethin’.”
    After a few minutes, she pulled away. It was then I realized her eyes were watery. “Why did he leave you, Kaity?”
    I studied my sister. How crazy was it to have siblings, but feel as if I were an only child? Since moving to L.A., I’d been adopted into Yasmine’s family just as Ebony had. My issues with my parents had nothing to do with my relationship with Tiffany, Bailey Jr., or Justin. While Yasmine and Ebony were my ‘sisters from another mother’, as Yasmine liked to say, Tiffany was flesh and blood.
    We had a lot of time to make up for. It would be my goal to get to know her again. And let her know me.
    The good and the bad.
    “He didn’t, I left him.” My attempts to get as comfortable as possible were failing. “Luke used to be different. We talked about havin’ a family of our own one day, but in the end, it was all talk. Instead of bein’ happy about the baby, he got mad. I don’t want my baby to grow up like we did. I’ll be all my baby needs. All the love, all the care…even if he doesn’t want to be part of this.” I rubbed my belly and forced my voice to stay strong. “Learn from my mistakes, Tiffy. Don’t get into a relationship with someone who will leave you high and dry.”
    “I’ll be sure to avoid one if you can tell me the formula for detecting a man full of crap.” Tiffany’s laugh was dry. “We’ve been screwed over for most of our lives. I thought you found a way out.”
    I patted her knee, lay back to rest my head against the sofa, and closed my eyes. “Yeah, well, me, too.”
    “At least you’ve got me now to help out.” Her voice perked up.
    I glanced over at my sister. God, it had been three years since I last saw her. She was sixteen then. Though she seldom acted like it; Tiffany was wise beyond her years. For as much she promised to help, I had no doubt she’d be just as much of a handful. No longer living underneath our father’s roof would be a life changing experience.
    I know it was for me.
    With any luck, I’d help her navigate the treacherous waters. But most of all, I hoped to keep her