Legacy of Love by Donna Hill

“Ten.” She looked at Sharlene with beginnings of a smile on her lips. “Just my size.” She checked the price tag and her mouth dropped open. “A hundred and fifty dollars! Sharlene!” She shoved the dress back at her. “I’m not paying that much money for a dress that I’ll probably never wear again, or worse, feel likeI have to wear all the time to compensate for the money I spent on it.”
    â€œOh, stop! Splurge a little. When was the last time you did something for yourself—something spontaneous and completely out of character? Here, just feel it. Imagine the feel of it against your skin. Imagine Jackson when he sees you in it.” She winked and shook the dress in front of Zoe in a teasing fashion.
    Zoe made a face and finally snatched the dress. “Okay, you win.” She hugged the dress to her. “I don’t have anything to go with this.”
    â€œEasily fixed, my sister,” she said and steered her toward accessories.
    By the time they walked out nearly an hour and a half later, Zoe’s credit card was two hundred and fifty dollars heavier.
    â€œSo have you thought any more about the offer to go to New York?” Sharlene asked as they walked back.
    â€œNo. Not really. So much has happened so quickly. I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”
    â€œIt’s a fantastic opportunity for you and it would be a serious boost to your career.”
    Zoe nodded in agreement.
    â€œI hear a but.”
    Zoe threw her a look. “I have to see how things go.”
    â€œBetween you and Jackson?”
    â€œYes.”
    Sharlene smiled to herself. Maybe Zoe was beginning to believe after all.
    They stopped in front of Sharlene’s office. “Call me the minute you get home and let me know how it went.”
    â€œI promise.”
    â€œAnd just relax and have fun, if for no other reason than because you deserve it. You haven’t been out on a real date in ages. You’re long overdue.”
    â€œAll right, all right. Don’t rub it in,” she joked. She kissed her friend’s cheek. “I’ll call you.”
    She started off down the block in the direction of the museum. The next four hours were the longest of her life.

Chapter 11
    J ackson stirred the pot of chili. He sprinkled more cayenne pepper and lowered the flame. Since he would be eating out, he’d prepared his favorite recipe for his sister and niece. He was really worried about Michelle. Travis’s betrayal was hitting her hard. One minute she seemed like she was holding it together and the next she was in a daze. Other times he would walk into a room and find her crying.
    He couldn’t begin to imagine the kind of pain that she felt. Even though he and Carla had broken up a while back, he was devastated and sickened by what she’d done to his sister—his sister of all people. Michelle had befriended her. They’d hung out together, traveled in some of the same circles.It was unthinkable. Yet he couldn’t decide who was worst, Travis or Carla. How long had it been going on? Were they seeing each other when he was still seeing Carla? What kind of people had he and his sister fallen for?
    He put a pot of water on to boil, added a dash of salt and some olive oil for the rice.
    When he and Michelle were growing up, their parents used to fix chili and rice on Saturdays. It was always a treat. They were each assigned a task in preparing the meal: adding the ingredients, grating the cheese, steaming the beans, browning the meat or fixing the rice. He still carried on the tradition. And at least one Saturday a month he fixed chili just the way his family had when he was a kid. He hoped it would stir up some pleasant memories for Michelle, at least for a little while.
    â€œIs that the famous Treme chili I smell?” Michelle yawned as she walked into the kitchen. She came up behind Jackson and wrapped her arms around his