After the Loving. Gwynne Forster

not going to remake myself for him, and I want him to know it,” she said aloud and she walked down the stairs.

      She dressed Tara in a red-and-white-checkered pinafore and secured her hair with two red clamps. “Sorry, honey,” she said, “braids will have to wait till your mother gets back.”

      “How many more days?”

      “Five.”

      She clapped her hands and exuded happiness as giggles poured out of her. “And then Mr. Telford will be my daddy… I mean my dad.”

      “He’s been your dad ever since the wedding.”

      Tara’s wide eyes stared up at her. “Will he like being my dad?”

      “He will love it, because he loves you. Let’s go. It’s supper time.”

      “Who’s she?” Velma heard a male voice ask, looked in the direction from which the voice came and saw a tall man-for-the-ages sexual dynamite staring at her.

      “She’s Velma Brighton. Why?” Russ asked his guest.

      “Why? You have to ask why? Is she yours?”

      “No, she isn’t,” Russ replied. “Dinner’s ready.”

      Chapter 4

      Russ steered Velma away from her usual place at the table, beside Tara, and sat her opposite him. With Telford away, he sat at the head of the table.

      “That’s my mummy’s seat, Aunt Velma.”

      “Not tonight,” Russ said. After saying grace, he looked at Velma. “Ms. Brighton, this is Dolphe Andrews. We were roommates for a while when I was in graduate school.”