CHAPTER 17

Keesha returned with the groceries and after putting them away, she heated up a pot of soup for dinner.

"I stopped at the bakery for warm bread, too."

"Sounds good."

A.J. watched Keesha as she stirred the soup. Her thoughts seemed miles away.

"Keesha, did something happen at the store?"

"No," she said, looking up. "Why do you ask?"

"You've seemed distracted since you've returned."

Keesha sighed and placed the spoon on the counter.

"I didn't want to say anything to you, but as soon as I left here, Carly was getting off the elevator."

"And you two had words," A.J. guessed. Correctly.

"You could say that. She just totally aggravates me, A.J. She could not or would not understand that you're not ready to see her."

"I have no doubt you cleared up her confusion," A.J. said and grinned.

"I tried to, but if Tony hadn't shown up, I think she would've been knocking on your door the minute I left. She didn't, did she?"

"No. But what about Tony? Did he hear anything he shouldn't have?"

"No, I don't believe so. We were both surprised to see him, but we recovered quickly. Besides, you know that she-devil can talk her way out of anything. Especially with Tony."

A.J. took Keesha's hand in his and led her to the couch where they both sat down.

"Sweetheart, I love you for wanting to protect me, especially from Carly, but I am going to have to deal with her. And soon."

"I know, A.J. But not on your first day home from the hospital. She needs to learn to back off."

A.J. laughed at that. "You may feel that way, Keesha, but we're talking about Carly here: Miss Desperation 1997. She doesn't know what it means to back off."

"Maybe it's time she learned," Keesha said, her soulful eyes twinkling at the possibilities.

"Keesha...." A.J. chided.

"Oh, all right. I know you can more than competently handle this. Maybe I need to back off a little bit."

"Just a little," A.J. agreed.

"But it's so much fun for me to remind her that I'm around."

"Well, who am I to take your fun away?"

"No, it's okay. I'm sure I can come up with another way to have fun. A healthier way, if you know what I mean."

Keesha smiled at him as she made her way back to the stove.

"Soup's on," she announced with a wink.


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