Free Forbidden Paths by P. J. Belden Page B

want to tell him you can do it tonight. I’ve assigned you guys together, again.”
    Closing my eyes, I try to count to ten and calm down. But since I’ve been pregnant, calming down has been slim to none lately.
    “You didn’t think to tell me this before now. You’ve known about this for how long now?” I force out through clenched teeth.
    “Oh, I thought about it, but then I figured it’d be best done like this. You’d have less time to freak out like you always do. You want to be mad at me, but you know it’s true. Besides the guy requested you.”
    Well, that knocks the wind out of my angry sails. “He did?”
    “Yeah according to the other guy that booked the party, he can’t shut up about you.”
    A small smile forms on my lips. He can’t stop talking about me. Maybe there’s hope here yet?
    Before long we had Hazel in the car and headed in the direction of the ‘party’. Hazel often attends the same parties as I do. She’s beautiful. She’s older than both Lia and I, but not too old. She longs to meet Mr. Right and believes she’ll find him and have her family that she’s always dreamed of.
    Many times Hazel would lecture me about Logan. She’d tell me that if I ever got the chance to meet Logan again, to grasp it for all it’s worth.
    Hazel’s story breaks my heart. She got into performing private parties after she was abused by her ex-husband. He beat her so bad that she was in a coma for three months, leaving her family unsure if she’d live or die.
    When she woke from her coma, her recovery was long and hard. Because of the work that went into her recovery all her family turned against her and walked away without looking back. She’s been trying to pick up the pieces of her life since that moment.
    I pray that she’ll find her true love because if anyone deserves a happily ever after she did. Hazel was the kindest person I’ve ever met, but no one seems to see the heart she has beneath the skin they ravage and pay for.
    “How’d your appointment go?” She hugs me.
    “Uh, good I think. I’m measuring well and I’ve gained ten pounds already,” I shudder.
    Hazel laughs, her eyes sad. “That’s great. I’m going to make my guess and say it’s a girl,” she teases.
    “What? No way! It’s a boy,” Lia objects.
    Laughing, I close my eyes to hide the panic. “We’ll know in a couple months, if I find out. I may make you guys wait until he or she is born.”
    “You would be that cruel,” Lia mutters.
    “So Lia, is it the same guys from last time,” Hazel asks, changing the subject.
    “Yes. You’ll have A again. Apparently they all enjoyed themselves immensely last time.”
    “Ah, so did I. That A made me feel things I’ve never felt before,” she sighs.
    I turn in my seat and look back at her. “Do you think he could be your one?”
    “Oh honey, I’ve given up that hope. Maybe I was made to be shared,” she smirks.
    Lia and I laugh, but deep down I really believe she thinks she’s not worthy. Well, I may have to intervene with that one. She deserves to be cherished, treasured and desired by someone that see’s past a release. Even if it isn’t this A character, I’ll find her someone.
    We pull up outside the two story country house. It’s white with green shutters and door.  A small porch, big enough for a porch swing and two chairs and a side table, greets you at the end of a long cobble stone path. It was serene out here. Private.
    Nerves plague me and I can’t get myself to move out of the car. Lia exits and moves around to my side. Squatting down, she takes my hands in hers.
    “You can do this. Remember you are in full control of what you say and what you show. If you don’t want him to know then don’t remove the mask. Okay?”
    I nod my head. Sliding on my mask, I take a deep breath and climb from the car. “The only other time I’ve felt the way I did with him was with Logan. To lose two men that have given me that feeling…”
    “It’s going