Key To My Heart (Love Conquers All) (12 page)

When the small child wiggled in her sleep, Ava pulled her into a close snuggle. “How did I ever live without you?” she whispered, kissing her daughter’s forehead. “I love you so much.”

Earlier that afternoon after she and Langston faced and confronted their excruciatingly painful past, neither of them felt up to going out for lunch. Ordering room service, they spent hours discussing how they planned to raise Zoe while living in separate states and households.

They easily agreed that Zoe would spend every other weekend in Philly. On the weekends when she wasn’t in Philly, Ava would go down to Georgetown. And for the summer, Ava decided not to take on a job in the nursing pool at the hospital where she had worked for the previous two summers. Instead, she would spend the entire summer vacation with Zoe.

But Ava wasn’t exactly thrilled with the arrangements. Langston had insisted on Ava spending half the summer with Zoe in Georgetown, and the other half in Philly.

When Ava balked at the idea, he was quick to remind her, “We can always continue the arrangement we have now.” He made it plain that he would not go the entire summer without seeing his daughter.

Begrudgingly, Ava acquiesced to his adamant demand. “Yeah, all right, Langston. You da man.”

If having to be around Langston for weeks at a time meant being with Zoe, what other choice did she have? Once the school year started back up again, she wouldn’t have as much time with Zoe. It would be back to only seeing her on the weekends. She was willing to make this sacrifice to spend time with Zoe.

Langston shook his head and laughed at Ava’s comment. She, on the other hand, didn’t find anything amusing. When he reached over, hugged her, and then kissed her on the cheek, Ava playfully pushed him away. “Did I say you could hug or kiss me?” she asked.

“No, but I’ll do it again every time you say something out of that smart mouth of yours.”

Ava lost count of the number of hugs and kisses she received, mainly because Langston found any reason to annoy her, baiting her to say something smart.

All in all their meeting had gone well. They both agreed that they had to be friends and get along for Zoe’s sake. Ava had to admit that Langston taking accountability in the role he’d played in their past had helped to quell some of her anger. But just because they’d come to an understanding, this did not negate the fact that she felt cheated and betrayed. Oddly, though, each time she wanted to lash out at him, something held her in check. When she looked into his dark eyes and saw the regret, the pain, and the sorrow there, she remembered the Langston she had fallen in love with so many years ago. She remembered the Langston who had promised to love her always.

The entire time Ava spent with Langston, her mind refused to obey her. As hard as she tried, it kept wandering off to what her life would have been like if she and Langston had just run far, far away from everyone. Or what if she had not loved him enough to care about what she and their illegitimate child would have done to his reputation as a young lawyer just starting out and belonging to one of Washington, D.C.’s most elite, influential African-American families. If she had made either choice, Zoe would have always known she had a mother that loved her dearly. And for that, it would have been well worth any consequences.

Yawning, Ava buried her nose in the crown of Zoe’s soft hair. Enjoying the feel of her tiny body snuggled so close to hers, she realized she had just been torturing herself earlier with such thoughts. It didn’t matter how many times she attempted to rewrite history, her reality would remain the same. It was what it was. Be that as it may, Ava was thankful she had been reunited with her baby.

As she closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep, Ava sighed.
God, you have a serious sense of humor. The one man I literally despised, even hated has given me back my baby.

eee

“Should we use your key or ring the doorbell?” Summer asked Starr as they stood on Ava’s front stoop. This was the second Sunday in a row Ava hadn’t shown up to church. After learning their friend had a secret baby, they had given her space, and hadn’t pestered her when she didn’t return their calls right away or cancelled on them Tuesday and Thursday nights. When she called last night saying she needed to talk to them at her place after church, they had assumed she’d be at church that morning, but they were wrong.

Starr contemplated her friend’s question. After she moved in to Kevin’s house in Mt. Airy, Ava had gladly moved into Starr’s home, taking over the mortgage payments which were considerably less than the loft Ava was renting in Center City. Neither of them felt it was necessary to change the locks.

Not wanting to invade Ava’s privacy, Starr said, “Let’s ring the bell first. If she doesn’t come to the door in a few minutes, then I’ll use my key.”

Summer nodded. “All right.”

Hearing the doorbell, Zoe’s tiny feet swiftly padded toward Ava’s bedroom. “Mommy, someone’s at the door,” she called out.

Coming out of the bedroom, Ava bumped into Zoe. Reaching out, she grabbed her before she tumbled into the wall. Both giggled at the same time. “Sorry, my Zoe. I didn’t know you were so close.”

“It’s OK, Mommy. Somebody’s at the door. You think it’s my daddy?”

Taking the child’s hand, she smiled down at her. Zoe’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect that her father was on the other side of the door. Although she had a wonderful time getting to know her new family, Ava sensed that Zoe missed Langston.

“Yup, I think it’s him.”

As soon as Ava swung open the door, Summer’s and Starr’s eyes went to the little girl holding her hand.

Ava lifted a perfectly arched brow. Summer and Starr weren’t supposed to be here for another thirty minutes. Church didn’t let out until one o’clock. “Did church let out early or something? You’re early.”

Both of her friends ignored her as they marched past her, stopping briefly to give her a quick peck on the cheek before closing the door. “No, we left early,” Starr finally answered. “Had to come see what was up with you. But now we see.”

“Zoe, sweetie, these are your aunties, Starr and Summer,” Ava said, pointing to each woman.

“Hi Auntie Starr and Auntie Summer,” Zoe greeted shyly, tightly holding on to Ava’s hand.

“Oh, Ava, she looks just like you,” Summer commented, bending down to give Zoe a tight but gentle squeeze. “It’s so nice to meet you, Zoe.”

Starr gave Zoe the same greeting. Zoe wrapped her arms around her new aunties’ necks, giving them big hugs right back.

Just as Ava was about to tell them to come back to the kitchen so Zoe could finish her lunch, the doorbell rang. “That’s probably your daddy now. You want to get the door?”

“Uh-huh!” was all Zoe said before she ran to the door. “Daddy!”

“Hey, Love Bug!” Langston boomed as he picked up Zoe, swinging her around. “You’ve been a good girl for your mother?”

Zoe giggled at the playful, serious tone his voice had taken on as his thick eyebrows became furrowed.

Both Summer and Starr noted the demure smile on their friend’s face when she spoke up for Zoe. “Of course she was a good girl. Right, my Zoe?

Zoe’s head bobbed up and down. “I was a good girl all weekend.”

Zoe giggled when Langston tweaked her nose. “I knew you would be.”

Langston’s attention then went to Ava. Starr discreetly elbowed Summer, who was standing beside her when Langston flashed their friend a brilliant smile. “Hey, Ava.”

“Hey, Langston,” Ava said, trying to sound nonchalant as butterflies began to flutter in her belly.

Being the gentleman that he was, Langston then turned his attention to Starr and Summer, offering them a warm smile. “Hello, how are you?” he asked.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Langston, these are my best friends, Summer Stiles and Starr Dawson. Summer and Starr, this is Zoe’s father, Langston Warrington.”

“And my aunties!” Zoe proudly beamed, which made all the adults in the room laugh.

Langston shook Summer’s hand and then Starr’s. “Nice to meet you both.”

“Same here,” both women said in unison.

“Well, we better get going,” Summer suggested, making her way to the front door.

Following her lead, Starr said, “Yes, we better. We’ll see you on Tuesday or Thursday night?”

“I promise I’ll see you guys on Thursday. I’m almost finished doing the vision screenings at school.”

“OK, it’s a date,” Starr confirmed.

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to walk them out,” Ava told Langston as she ushered her friends out the door.

“Bye, Auntie Starr, Auntie Summer,” Zoe said and waved.

Bye, Zoe,” both the aunties sang in unison, blowing Zoe kisses.

Once the screen door was closed, Ava looked over her shoulder to make sure that neither Zoe nor Langston were looking. “So what you think?” she asked.

“I think you’re still in love with him,” Summer admitted easily as she dug in her purse, searching for her car keys.

“Mmm-hmm. And he’s still in love with you too,” Starr added.

Ava stared at the both of them like they’d been smoking crack in church. “What the hell is wrong with y’all? I’m talking about Zoe,” she snapped.

“Stop cursing on Sunday, Av. We think she’s adorable. Wish you had told us she was here all weekend, though,” Starr chided. She didn’t try to censor her annoyance with her best friend. Ava didn’t have to wait until the last minute to have them come over to meet their niece.

“She sure is adorable. Looking like a mini you,” Summer said and giggled. “And the next time she’s in town, let’s throw her a little party to meet NJ, Autumn, Ashley, Kyle, and the three K’s.”

Starr’s annoyance quickly faded. “Yeah, good idea, Summer. We can give her a birthday party for all the birthdays she’s didn’t have with you, Av.”

“OK, OK, I like this,” Summer said, nodding. “We can get a clown, an artist to come in and do face painting, and one of those big things the kids can jump up and down and bounce around in.” Summer eyes became wide with excitement. “Ooh, and ponies! The kids will love pony rides!”

“Ponies! Girl, I know we’re having it at your house then,” Starr said and laughed.

Ava tried to swallow the lump forming in her throat as she listened to Starr and Summer chatter on and on about whether they should order one large birthday cake or seven small ones. Should they invite other children, or just keep it strictly for family? Would they have the party before school let out in a couple of months, or in the summer?

She was completely touched by her friends stepping in and being
real
aunts to her baby. The love and support her friends and family were showering on her was overwhelming. Not once had any of them made her feel bad about the choices she’d made.

“What’s wrong, Av?” Summer asked as she noticed Ava’s eyes tearing up.

Her voice quivered when she spoke. “Nothing. I better get back inside. I’ll see you guys on Thursday.” Hugging them both at the same time, she whispered, “Thank you. I love you both so much.”

“OK, honey. We love you too. Now get back inside to your family,” Summer told Ava as she turned her toward her front door, giving her a gentle nudge.

Now get back inside to your family. A family. I have a family
.

Beatrice was beside herself. What was wrong with that son of hers? First he forbade her to come to his home without calling or being invited, simply because she wouldn’t allow that dreaded child to behave like a savage. And now, even worse, that common whore Ava Peretti had wormed her way back into their lives.

She knew the day Ava reappeared at Warrington and Warrington that she’d find a way to worm herself back into their lives. That slut may have fooled Langston with her phony tears, but not Beatrice. She may have tricked him into believing Zoe was her reason for slithering from out of whatever cesspool she’d been in for the last seven years, but Beatrice knew differently. Ava was back to stake a claim on the Warrington name and fortune, just like that home wrecker Lydia. And Beatrice wasn’t having it.

“How’s your tea, dear?” Beatrice asked the young woman sitting across from her in the brightly lit sunroom of her Alexandria home.

Removing the delicate china teacup from her full lips, Christina smiled at the older woman. “It’s delicious. Thank you.”

“Very good.” Setting her teacup gently on the bistro table, Beatrice returned the smile. Studying the young woman, she had to admit that she wasn’t the most gorgeous girl. It wasn’t that she was bad looking, but rather pretty in a plain sort of a way. Tilting her head to the side, she wondered if the young woman had what it would take to capture if not her son’s heart, his attention. Christina maintained a reserved composure despite the fact that she was nervous and trembling on the inside. She had no idea why Mrs. Warrington had summoned her to have tea. After all these years it couldn’t be to blast her for treating her son so cruelly. She would never forget the look in his eyes that night he overheard her talking to her mother.

“Dear, I’m so sorry to hear about your engagement,” Beatrice told the younger woman as she lifted her cup to her lips, hiding a small smirk while taking a sip of tea.