Key To My Heart (Love Conquers All) (21 page)

“Take a road trip with Momma Joan to have a visit with Ms. Beatrice. Now y’all know she would tear up that tail!”

“Gon’ on and say what you really want to say, Starr. Tear that azzzzz up!” Karen cracked.

As the waitress approached the table, the small group of women was hysterically laughing. Smiling, she asked, “Can I clear the table now, then bring you dessert menus?”

“That’ll be fine,” Ava told the waitress. They would be here at least another hour talking. After the

waitress cleared the table and went off to get the menus, Ava shook her head. “Uh-huh, Janet Peretti got this one. Mommy said if she ever sees
that
woman, she’s got a thing or two to say to her.”

It was Summer who asked, “What did your dad say?”

Ava chuckled. “You know he started fussing and cussing in Italian.” Becoming serious, Ava said, “I think for once my parents actually felt sorry for Langston. I think they understand a little better how his mother was able to manipulate him.”

“Hmm, I know I sure do,” Karen freely admitted, reaching for the dessert menu the waitress handed her.

“Yeah, so do I,” Ava muttered, her face taking on a pained expression as she reflected on how she and Langston had stayed in the bathroom clinging to each other for what felt like forever, clinging as if the world would end. Neither one of them wanted to let the other go. That afternoon a special bond knitted their hearts together as they shared in each other’s pain.

Reaching across the table, Starr squeezed her friend’s hand. “Av, I wish I could take this pain away from you.”

Immediately Karen’s and Summer’s hands covered Ava’s and Starr’s. They said nothing. No words were needed. The single tender act of solidarity spoke volumes. They too wished they could take away Ava’s pain.

“What would I do without you guys?” Ava whispered, choking back the tears. Looking at each of her friends, she knew this type of blessing only came once in a lifetime. These women loved and supported her unconditionally, in spite of her many flaws. They’d been there for her through thick and thin, and backed her up even when she was dead wrong. And when she feared they would judge her harshly for giving up her baby, they alleviated that fear by embracing her with the love only a sister could give. It was that same love that gently rebuked her for carrying such a heavy burden alone for so many years. And at that moment she truly realized she would not have made it through the last seven years without them.

Summer gave Ava a tender smile. “What would we do without you? Girl, I can’t count the times you wanted to box Nick for acting stupid.” Summer lifted a perfectly arched brow as she smirked. “Just to let you know, Nick said he knows it was you who keyed his car when he broke up with me.”

Ava’s eyes got as big as saucers. She had no idea until now that Summer knew about that. She had been mad enough to spit nails when Summer called her hysterically crying because Nick had ended their relationship. Not even Starr had known she had set out to vandalize his car. Starr was always the voice of reason and would have talked her out of it. “He did?”

Nodding, Summer said, “He said, and I quote”—Summer made the quote sign with her fingers in the air—“‘I know it was that damn crazy ass Ava that keyed my Benz.’”

The women laughed so loudly they started to draw curious stares from around the restaurant.

“Or the time you wanted to cuss out Kevin when all those heifers was calling my house,” Starr piped in.

Ava smiled sheepishly at Starr. If she only knew.
Wanted to cuss him out! Ha, I did cuss him out.

“No, the best is when I called you about the school nurse giving Kyle some other kid’s medicine.” Karen shook her head. “That woman called me all flustered and apologizing. I never did ask you what you said to her.”

Ava shrugged. “I told that dingy chick she better check next time to make sure she’s giving my nephew the right medication. Humph, she better be glad you didn’t want to make an issue out of the incident, Karen, because Kyle was OK. What if he had a reaction?”

When Ava went off on the school nurse when she gave the wrong asthma medication to Kyle, why did that woman tell Ava it was two fifty
pm
on a Friday afternoon, five minutes before school let out? So many good nurses made simple mistakes when they rushed to complete a task at the end of the day. And this was the case with the nurse at Kyle’s school.

Wrapping her arm around Ava’s shoulder, Summer tilted her head until it rested against Ava’s. “What would you do without us? What would we do without you?”

Ava’s hug enveloped her petite friend. Releasing Summer, Ava leaned back and tilted her head, staring at her friend for a second. Mischief twinkled in her eyes as a smirk danced around her lips. “So your husband thinks I’m crazy?”

Again the women erupted into laughter. Everyone could see the wheels turning in Ava’s head. Nick was in trouble.

Ava smiled to herself on the inside as she gazed at her sisters, loving each of them from the bottom of her heart. Yeah, she was going to be OK. Having them in her corner always made life a whole lot easier.

Holding the phone between her ear and her shoulder, Ava busied herself packing summer clothes into the three suitcases she had on her bed. It felt like this day would never come. The school year had finally ended yesterday, and tomorrow she’d be on the road to spend her summer vacation with Zoe and Langston.

She had so much to do and really shouldn’t be on the phone talking. It was slowing her down. But how could she tell her mother she didn’t have time to talk to her?

“You sure you don’t need me to come over during the week and check on your place for you?”

“No, Mommy, Karen offered to keep an eye on things and water my plants while I’m gone.”

“Positive?”

Ava laughed. “Yes, I’m positive.”

“Don’t laugh at me. I’m just looking out for my only daughter.” Janet paused for a second. There was something she wanted to talk to Ava about, but she didn’t quite know how to broach the subject. Janet wasn’t all that thrilled with her daughter going off to Georgetown for the summer to stay at Langston’s.

Janet was livid that evening Ava had come home to her and Dominic, devastated by Beatrice Warrington’s harsh words. As a mother she’d felt every agonizing, gut wrenching pain her child was experiencing. But as she held her child’s trembling body, there was something else Janet felt in her soul. Her daughter was in love with Langston.

Ava was a grown woman, capable of making her own decisions. If loving Langston made her happy, Janet wouldn’t get involved. However, if that boy or his momma hurt her child again Janet didn’t care if she had to walk to D.C., somebody was getting hurt.

Gently Janet asked, “Baby, do you know what you’re doing?”

Dropping a pair of shorts into the suitcase, Ava sat on the side of the bed.
I knew this was coming.
“Mommy, I’m just going to spend the summer with Zoe.”

“What about Langston?”

Ava let out a soft sigh. Yeah, what about Langston? Ava would be lying if she denied having feelings for him. She’d also be lying if she said she wasn’t looking forward to seeing him every day. Yes, she wanted to be with Zoe, but having Langston around would be a bonus.

“Yes, Mom, I want to be with Langston too.” Ava reached up and rubbed the locket Langston had given her for Mother’s Day. “It just feels so nice when the three of us are together,” Ava whispered into the phone.

Janet smiled. She had witnessed how Ava lit up when she, Zoe, and Langston were together. There was no doubt in Janet’s mind that having them in Ava’s life was mending her broken spirit.

“All right, baby, you just be careful.”

“I will, Mommy.”

“Promise?”

Ava smiled. “Promise.”

eee

“Oh, brother,” Charles mumbled under his breath as he stepped onto the elevator while holding the small child’s hand.

Zoe stared up at the older man with an inquisitive look. “Did you say something, Uncle Charles?”

Just as Charles was about to respond to Zoe, Beatrice stepped into the elevator, shooting daggers at Charles.

Ignoring Beatrice, Charles smiled down at Zoe. “Nothing, pumpkin. I didn’t say anything.”

Zoe’s mouth formed a perfect circle when she said, “Oh,” a bit confused. Turning to Beatrice, she said, “Hello, Grandmother. Are you coming to my dance recital on Saturday afternoon?”

Charles again smiled at the child holding his hand. She was such a precious little thing. Too bad she had the wicked witch of D.C. for a grandmother.

“Well, hello, Zoe. Grandmother just might come to your recital.” Beatrice beamed, which literally almost knocked Charles on the floor. Even Zoe was shocked as she stepped closer to Charles, leaning into his body and gazing at the older woman like she’d sprouted another head. Beatrice was up to something, and both Charles and Zoe knew it.

As soon as the elevator opened, Zoe released Charles’s hand and skipped over to the receptionist’s desk. “Hi, Miss Christina. Is my daddy here?”

Christina smiled at Zoe while trying not to make eye contact with Beatrice. “He sure is. Let me buzz him.” Picking up the phone, Christina intercomed Langston. “Mr. Warrington, you have a little lady by the name of Zoe Warrington here to see you.”

Christina’s traitorous body quivered when Langston let out a deep, baritone laugh. “Send her in.”

“Go ahead, Zoe. Your dad is waiting for you.”

“Thanks, Miss Christina,” Zoe yelled, running full speed into Langston’s office.

Turning the doorknob, Zoe barged into his office. “Daddy!”

Langston caught the little ball of fire as she leaped into his lap. “Hey, Love Bug, what you know good?” he asked as he kissed her forehead.

“I just invited Grandmother to my dance recital.”

Oh, Love Bug, that’s not good.
Langston groaned on the inside as he fought to keep his smile from turning into a frown. Just as he was about to explain to Zoe that Grandmother probably had something to do and couldn’t make the recital, his private line rang.

Looking at the caller ID, Langston grinned. “That’s your mommy calling. You want to answer?”

Zoe bobbed her head up and down. Picking up the telephone receiver, Zoe squealed, “Hi, Mommy! Are you still coming to spend the summer with me and Daddy?”

Taken aback by the pleasant surprise, Ava laughed. “Hey, my Zoe! Yes, I’m still coming. I’ll be there first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Yaaaay! I can’t wait!”

Langston tilted his head and looked at Zoe. Whatever Ava was saying to her had her bobbing her head up and down and grinning from ear to ear one minute, then giggling the next. “OK, Mommy. I love you too.” Handing Langston the phone, she said, “Here, Mommy wants to talk to you, Daddy.”

eee

After Zoe had skipped into her father’s office, Beatrice turned to Charles. “I need to see you in private,” she hissed between clenched teeth.

Charles followed her as she led the way to a conference room. Once inside she slammed the door so hard it rattled on its hinges.

“What would possess you to tell Langston about his father’s whore?” she yelled. This was all Charles’s fault! He had no right telling Langston anything! And of all people, it had to be Ava to let her know Langston had found out his father’s dirty little secret. Then Beatrice had lost control and said some ugly things to her son and Ava, things she wished she could take back. Although she’d been angry with Langston and Ava, the looks of horror and disbelief on their faces after she finished with them now haunted her day and night. And then there was the look her son gave her when he told her that she was no longer his mother. She would never forget that look.

Since that awful morning Langston had completely shut out Beatrice from his life. He wouldn’t take any of her calls, and during the firm’s Monday morning board meetings, he barely looked at her. And when he did, his eyes were cold, as if he were looking straight through her.

It had all backfired on Beatrice. She thought if she continued to taunt Ava, the younger woman would lunge at her again, and Langston would come to his mother’s rescue like always, causing a wedge to be driven between him and Ava. But it didn’t work. Something had shifted. Instead of her son coming to her defense, he had gone to Ava’s.

His betrayal fueled Beatrice’s anger even further. How dare he defend that whore and not his own mother? She should have stopped when she told Langston she had never wanted him. But no, she had to push the envelope even further and taunt Ava about how she’d directed the doctor and nurses not to allow Ava to hold her baby. After making that comment, something in Langston’s eyes told her she had finally crossed the line.

Initially when he told her she was no longer his mother, Beatrice brushed it off as his anger talking. He’d been angry with her before. She figured she would give him a day or two to lick his wounds and cool off. But that didn’t work this time. She had never been more devastated when she called him, attempting to clear the air, and he’d told her, “I don’t have a mother. Do not call here again,” before hanging up the phone.

Charles studied the tips of his highly polished wingtips, not the least bit moved by Beatrice’s outburst. If anything, he wanted to laugh in the woman’s face. For years he sat back and witnessed how she’d used and controlled her son for her own selfish purposes. He no longer felt any loyalty toward this woman.