Free Moments of Clarity by Michele Cameron Page A

blocking the vehicle’s exit. They gave each other a brief look. Sexton observed the scowl on Sasha’s face as she got out and stalked towards the front of the house. He followed closely at her heels.
    As they entered the foyer, they saw Calvin standing absently rubbing his bald head as he watched Peter and his brother Rufus take a mattress out of the spare bedroom. Peter’s usual sallow complexion was red and blotchy from embarrassment, and he kept his head down, avoiding Calvin’s angry gaze.
    Even if Sasha hadn’t recognized Rufus from the wedding, she would have known at once that he was Peter’s brother. They each stood about five feet, six inches in height, and they appeared even shorter as they passed Calvin, who towered over them. As they passed by, Sasha tried to will Peter’s eyes to meet hers, but they didn’t.
    Calvin beckoned them to follow him into the kitchen so that their conversation wouldn’t be overheard.
    â€œWhere’s Tiara?” Sasha demanded abruptly.
    â€œShe’s in the master bedroom. She’s almost catatonic. She says she won’t come out until Peter and his brother leave,” he added quietly.
    â€œWhy is Peter taking stuff out of here? He doesn’t deserve anything after what he’s done to her.” Sasha whispered her words, but indignation was apparent by her tone and her body language as she stood with hands on her hips.
    â€œHe’s taking only his clothes, the bedroom furniture out of the spare room and a loveseat out of the den. Everything else stays.”
    Sexton shook his head from side to side. “My God! What was he thinking? He’s messed up his home life for sex with a hooker.”
    â€œApparently before he got married that’s what he did for his physical gratification, and he hasn’t been able to break that habit.”
    â€œHow did Tiara find out that Peter had been arrested?” Sasha asked.
    â€œOnce he got arrested, Peter called his brother Rufus to bail him out. Rufus came up short on the bail money and called their other brother Mike. Mike said that he had the money and was on the way to the jail to bond him out. He text messaged Peter, but Tiara and Peter had switched cellphones. Peter’s phone had so many roaming charges from previous trips that he took Tiara’s. She got the text message that Peter was locked up and that’s why we left the club like that. When we showed up at the jail, that’s when we found out why he was locked up.”
    â€œDamn!” Sasha spoke in a horrified whisper. “Can you imagine showing up at a jail to bail your husband out only to find out that he tried to pick up a hooker? Why didn’t Tiara call me?”
    â€œShe’s too embarrassed.”
    â€œShe’s not the one to feel ashamed. She doesn’t share in the blame for this mess.”
    â€œI don’t know if she’s thinking straight. She’s been hiding in the bedroom ever since she found out last night. When Peter and Rufus came she wouldn’t come out of the room. I had to go in and get Peter’s clothes and hand them out to him.”
    Sasha nodded her head. “I’m going in to talk to her.”
    When she entered the darkened bedroom she could barely see the Tiara. She was lying on top of the bed on her side, facing the wall. The drapes were drawn and the only light in the room was seeping in from the nightlight in the adjoining bathroom. Sasha gently sat down on the bed and lightly touched Tiara on the arm.
    â€œTiara,” she whispered in a soothing voice, “it’s Sasha.” Then she hesitated, not quite knowing what to say. “Calvin told us what happened,” she finally said.
    Complete silence was Tiara’s response.
    Sasha cleared her throat. “Sexton and I are here, and we want to know if there’s anything that we can do.”
    â€œWhy is Sexton here? I don’t want anyone to know about