Amara Obi nearly dropped both grocery bags. The lobby of the Marriott Marquis in downtown Houston was loud and busy—businessmen checking in, tourists dragging suitcases, kids running everywhere. Amara was already exhausted, trying to balance groceries in both arms while keeping up with her 5-year-old twins.

Everything you went through, everything I missed, and then I need to confront her. Amara hesitated. Maybe we should slow down. This is a lot to process. Slow down? David stared at her. Amara, I have a son and a daughter. I’ve had them for 5 years, and I didn’t know. I’ve been living in the same city as my children, and I didn’t know.

There’s no slowing down. There’s only making this right. His phone rang. He looked at the screen. His face changed. “It’s my mother,” he said. Amara felt her blood run cold. “She’s calling about the charity gala tonight. I’m supposed to give a speech.” He declined the call. “I’m not going. I’m staying with you, with my children.
We need to figure this out.” “David, if you don’t go, she’ll know something’s wrong. She’ll come looking. She’ll His phone rang again. Same number. She never calls twice,” David said slowly. “Unless she already knows.” Amara looked around the lobby, at the hotel staff, at the guests. And then she saw her standing near the entrance in a cream colored designer suit, gold jewelry dripping from her neck. Chief Mrs.

Gloria Achebe staring directly at Amara. Her face was calm, pleasant, completely controlled, but her eyes her eyes were murderous. David,” Amara whispered. David followed her gaze, saw his mother. Gloria started walking toward them, each step deliberate, elegant, deadly. The twins pressed closer to their parents. “David, darling,” Gloria called out, her voice warm, and sweet for the audience around them. “I thought I’d find you here.

The gala preparations are behind schedule. We need you at the venue.” She stopped 3 ft away. Her eyes moved to the twins, to their faces, David’s face. Something flickered behind her mask just for a second. Then she smiled. And who are these adorable children? David stepped forward.