The Island Sisters by Micki Berthelot Morency

Author:Micki Berthelot Morency [Morency, Micki Berthelot]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Women's Fiction, Friendship, sexual and mental abuse, Literary Fiction, cultural fiction, Haiti, American fiction
Published: 2022-12-03T16:00:00+00:00

For the past couple years, Lanei had marked time by the number of weeks Maria did not require a trip to the emergency room, how often Kevin made Lanei laugh, and how he nurtured their daughter. She monitored his medications, making sure the refills came in the mail on time and that he never missed an appointment with his psychiatrist. These medications had given Lanei frequent reprieve from the nightly sexual assaults Kevin called lovemaking. Kevin brought Fred over once a week for dinner, and the older man showed Lanei a side of Kevin that had been hidden. She had opened the oven door and was basting the pot roast, golden potatoes, and carrots when she felt the cold March air coming in through the front door.

“Smells good, hon,” Kevin said, kissing her forehead. “You sure know your way to a man’s heart.”

Three-year-old Maria jumped up and down. Kevin scooped up the toddler and tossed her in the air, pretending to let her fall. She giggled.

Lanei smiled. “Maria, I need Daddy to help me hang the new curtains. Remember?”

“Daddy, my aunties are coming for Mommy’s birthday,” Maria said.

Kevin stopped on his way down the hall and turned to Lanei. “What…what is she talkin’ about?”

Lanei had planned to tell Kevin after dinner. Usually, she could get him to agree to her ideas better on a full stomach. She cleared her throat. “Oh, Ceecee and Elle are coming to spend my birthday with me this weekend. I can’t believe we’re turning twenty-five this year.” She shook her head. “We haven’t seen each other since the graduation. I—”

“We ain’t got room, and I’m in no mood for company.”

She wanted to say they weren’t coming for him, but instead she took a deep breath. “They’re staying at a hotel in town. They want me to stay with them overnight.” Lanei took a sip of water from the glass on the counter to moisten her dry mouth. “Um…I’ll leave Maria with Peggy. We’re having brunch here on Sunday for my birthday, and I’ll have Peggy and…oh, please invite Fred. I—”

“So now we got money for dinner parties.” He drummed his knuckles on the table. “I was gonna take you to that seafood buffet place you like.” He bared his teeth in a grin, eyes flashing. “Guess you had other plans.”

She walked up to him and ran her hand down his arm. “Go take your shower. Your pot roast dinner will be on the table when you finish.”

Maria wrapped her arms around his legs. “Daddy, Uncle Nate gave me a pretty book today at the library. Want to see it?”

Lanei’s stomach seized. She stared at Kevin. He closed his eyes. When he opened them, his lips stretched flat against his teeth. He tousled Maria’s curls. “Daddy will see the book after his shower.” He turned to Lanei. “I’m glad your friends are coming. I know you miss them. I’ll keep Maria for the weekend.”

Lanei said nothing, but she would never leave her daughter alone with Kevin.

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