CHAPTER 2
Across the room, Desari, Monique, and Selene were staring in wonder at them as they sat in the booth, surrounded by food, talking like old friends. "Well, well, well, look at her." Desari whistled.
"I am looking. She looks so . . . relaxed. I have never seen her like that with anyone," Monique said.
Granny Clemaree smiled. "He's good for her."
"How do you know?"
"I talked to him a while back. He'd never hurt anyone, let alone a woman."
"You are sure?"
"Absolutely. I've felt nothing but good rays from him since he's been here." Unlike Monique, Granny Clemaree sensed a person's aura. "Are y'all gonna sing?"
"We plan on it."
"Great. I'll go tell Charlie." She started to rise.
"Not yet, G.C., we wanna have some fun first," Desari said, pulling her back down.
"Hey, Selene! Wanna dance?" Carlos Rivero, an average height man with blonde hair called form the center of the dance floor. Selene smiled. "Be right there, Carlos! See ya'!" She got up and sprinted to him. Another man, with red-gold hair and shocking blue eyes sat in her seat.
"Hey, it's the Ferocious Five! But where's Celeste?"
Desari giggled. "Hey, Luke Skywalker." She tipped the chair he was balancing on one leg with her foot and sent him sprawling to the floor.
"That ain't nice, Desari. And I was gonna ask you to dance, but if you're gonna be like that, I'll ask Monique," he muttered as he pulled himself up. "Well?" He looked at Monique, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
"Sure." She followed him onto the dance floor.
"Thank goodness she's gone. I've been waiting for my chance to talk to you alone. You need to clear something up with Monique, Autumn. She thinks you're pregnant! Can you believe it? Autumn? Autumn, are you okay?" Desari glanced at her grandmother as Autumn paled. "You're not, right?"
Autumn was silent for many minutes before she finally bit her lip and nodded. "Yes."
Desari gasped and Granny Clemaree smiled. "Who's the father? Is it too late to get rid of it?"
"Desari! We will not take this baby from her. Who's the father, sweetie?"
Autumn looked like she would burst into tears any second. "Michael. I . . . I wanted to tell you, but after the accident, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to keep it or not. It's almost too late to get an abortion."
"How could you let this happen? You know what could happen to you!"
"Michael asked me to marry months ago, while we were at the lake together. He didn't have a ring yet and he didn't want anyone to know until he could ask me properly. He was slowly working towards a big raise and a promotion."
"It wouldn't have mattered, you know that," Granny Clemaree scolded gently, well aware of Autumn's mental and physical state.
"It mattered to him, so I promised not to say anything." She hesitated. "We made love that night. He was surprised that I was still a virgin and he didn't want my first time to be in any more uncomfortable or painful than it had to be so he didn't wear a condemn. And I didn't have any birth control with me."
"How far along are you?"
"Seven months."
"Then there's still time."
"Yes. But I'm not going to get rid of this baby. I loved Michael and this baby is the only link I have to him. We made a promise that if anything happened before or during the birth, we would save the baby first. I'm keeping to that promise. Cole!" she called. Cole was one of the musicians who got paid to play at the club. He immediately heard her and moved to their table. "Could you take me to Celeste and Rafael?"
"Sure, Autumn." He gently took her elbow and helped her through the crowd over to Celeste and Rafael.
"We've still got time." Desari looked at Granny Clemaree, who was still smiling "You can't be serious about this! She can't possibly take care of a child. And besides, she could die, both her and the baby. I'm surprised she managed to have sex when she can't see."
"Desari, that's quite enough out of you! As far as I'm concerned, she has every right to choose to keep this baby. There's a big chance she and the baby will both pull through. Go apologize to her right now," she snapped before she stood up and walked over to the bandleader, Charlie Ingram, whispering in his ear.
"Well, I guess we're singing." Desari sighed. She weaved in and out of the crowd till she reached Celeste, Autumn, and Rafael. Celeste had moved to sit next to Rafael and Autumn was sitting opposite her, holding her hand as though she meant to break it.
Celeste looked up as she neared them. Her eyes held a dangerous gleam to them no one had ever seen before. "Hi. Autumn's explained the situation to us and I agree with her one hundred percent."
"G.C. is talking to Charlie right now. I think we'd better find the others."
Before they had moved an inch, a voice came on over the intercom. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to present, in honor of Granny Clemaree's birthday, the Ferocious Five! Autumn, Selene, Monique, Desari, and Celeste!" Everyone turned to them, clapping and applauding.
Celeste paled visibly, although her skin was dark. Rafael noticed and leaned over to whisper in her ear. She brightened and kissed his cheek. They stood as one and walked up to the stage, their steps even and perfect. The other followed close behind. Celeste took the center microphone and Rafael grabbed one of the guitars. Autumn and Desari took the two microphones on either side of her and Monique and Selene took the last two on the ends. Carlos and Luke jumped up on stage and took their places at drums and keyboard. Louie was last, Luke's almost identical twin. He picked up the last guitar. They all conferred for a moment before nodding. They performed five songs total, all of which were songs very popular and well known. Rafael didn't need any assistance, even if he didn't know the song. They were astonished at the applause and even more astonished when Paul handed them each an envelope. "There's fifty in each, ten per song. I'm willing to pay the same every time you guys decide to perform." He walked off without another word.
"Is he for real?" Rafael asked, peeking into his envelope.
"Yep." Celeste laughed. She pulled him away from the others and stretched up to kiss his cheek. He turned his head at the last second, causing her to hit his lips and not his cheek. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear. She gasped and pulled back to look into his eyes. His eyebrow slowly rose up and he grinned down at her. She nodded after a few moments and walked with him to his car. She leaned into his window and laughed at him. She nodded again and stepped back as he drove off.
"Walk with me, Selene?" Carlos pulled her over to the shadows, far away from everyone. Monique shook her head at them but let Luke pull her to his car.
Luke climbed in and rolled down his window. "Come here. I've got to tell you something."
Monique leaned into the window. "What?" She gasped as he kissed her full on the mouth.
"That. Bye!" He rolled up the window and drove off before she could say a word.
"Bye, Luke!" Monique turned back to their car and saw Desari and Autumn arguing inside. She sighed and looked over to Selene and Carlos, still in the shadows. "Great! I have to take on the war zone by myself." As she got near the car, she could clearly hear what they were saying.
"What is so wrong with my pregnancy?" Autumn demanded.
"You could die!" Desari glared at Monique as she slid in next to Autumn. "Talk to her."
"What can I say? Her mind is made up." Monique shrugged.
Celeste cleared her throat as she opened the door and got in beside Monique. "I think she should keep it."
"Thank you, Celeste." Autumn smiled at her. She stared blindly into Desari's determined face. "I'm not getting rid of my little girl."
"How do you know it's a girl?"
"The doctor confirmed it. I'm having a baby girl. Hannah-Marie Fox."
"Fox? Why Fox? Why not Height?"
"Because Michael Fox was her father and I intend for her to know it," Autumn snapped.
"I still can't believe you slept with him! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it's none of your business! How many guys have you slept with?" When Desari looked away and didn't answer, she continued. "See! If I ask you about your sex life you won't answer, yet you want me to give every detail of mine! If it makes you feel better, Michael was the only man ever in my bed, and he was only in it for one weekend. I hate being around people, especially men. You haven't even asked if I'm okay or what happened. It sounds as if you think I'd just take any man into my bed, like you do." Autumn turned her head and got out just as Selene was getting in.
"Desari, apologize to her right now!" Selene said, getting back out. Celeste followed, pausing to glare at Desari before slamming the door.
Monique sighed, climbing into the driver's seat. She silently thanked Selene for dropping the keys onto the seat. "You should be a little more understanding with her, Desari. I cannot imagine what she is going through."
"It's not that I don't want the baby. I just don't want to trade her life for the baby's. Unlock the door." They pulled up beside Selene and Celeste, who were desperately trying to get Autumn back into the car.
"No! Not until she apologizes!" Autumn refused and kept walking.
"Please, Autumn, just get in and after a good night's sleep we will talk about this in the morning," Monique pleaded.
"Alright." Autumn gave in and climbed in after Selene and Celeste. By the time they made it back to the house, they were all too tired to argue.
