Key To My Heart (Love Conquers All) (31 page)

Beatrice returned the hug, holding on to her son as if her very life depended on it. She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, son. Thank you.”

Two months later

Returning back to her life in Philly hadn’t been an easy feat for Ava. The first week she returned home, she was absolutely miserable. After spending two solid months with Zoe and Langston, talking to them every evening on the phone and weekend visits just weren’t enough. She wanted more.

Ava thought going back to work would improve her mood, but it didn’t. Being around children all day, five days a week made her miss her little girl even more. And going home to an empty house in the evenings was no better. Giving Zoe air kisses over the phone and watching television alone while holding a pillow at night was no substitute for the in-person Zoe and Langston.

It was simple really. Ava missed the life she had been living over the summer. Ava had been very content with her role over the summer of taking care of Zoe and Langston. Fixing meals, doing laundry, cleaning house, and chauffeuring Zoe and her friends to swim club every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning had become a routine she welcomed and enjoyed. If Langston asked her to give up her life in Philly and move to D.C. with him and Zoe, she’d do it without a moment’s hesitation. But Langston hadn’t asked. And each time she broached the subject, he conveniently changed the topic. What was up with that? Ava had her pride. She was not about to beg him to be a permanent fixture in his life.

Although she wasn’t about to beg Langston to make a solid commitment to her, his resistance did trouble her. Ava tried not to let her mind run away with crazy thoughts, but she couldn’t help wondering if his mother had anything to do with his sudden growing distance since they were somewhat back on speaking terms. Or had he lost interest since she wasn’t around all the time? Had Christina accomplished her original purpose for being at the firm?

Ava would chide herself when these thoughts plagued her. Langston had told her that although he was talking to his mother again, it would be awhile before he could trust her. And furthermore, Langston had never been the cheating type. So why was he so against her coming to D.C.?

eee

The older man stared at Langston for a long time. The look on his face held no emotion, making it impossible to read his thoughts. That, however, didn’t deter Langston from meeting the hard stare. He had come here with a purpose, with a goal, and he wasn’t leaving until he got the answer he wanted.

Dominic Peretti knew this day would eventually come. It seemed like only yesterday that she was his little girl. But yesterday was gone. Today his baby was a grown woman. Today a man had come to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. This was the same man that had nearly destroyed his baby, the same man he’d once dreamed about slowly torturing to death.

Picking up his mug of beer, Dominic took a swallow as he nodded his head at one of his buddies coming into the billiards hall. Langston turned his head to see whom the older man had greeted.
Damn, it’s like the Sopranos up in here,
Langston thought.

Setting down his mug, Dominic continued to study Langston. His baby did love this man. And Dominic couldn’t deny that Langston loved his daughter. He also couldn’t discount the fact that Langston had been one helluva father to his grandbaby. Ava may have been Dominic’s heart, but Zoe was his soul. “So you want me to give you my blessing to marry my little girl?”

Langston nodded, his eyes holding firm. “Yes, sir, that’s what I’m asking. I love Ava, and I want her to be my wife.”

“I know you love her, son.” Dominic paused for a second. He wanted his daughter happy, but this was the hardest thing for him to do. Taking a deep breath, he said, “I’m giving you my permission to marry my daughter.” Dominic made the sign of the cross over his chest. “But I swear to God and on a stack of Bibles, if you do anything to hurt my baby—”

Langston chuckled, cutting off Dominic. “I know, I know, you’ll kill me.”

Dominic slapped his large hand loudly on the table, causing those close by to turn and stare. A broad grin splitting his handsome, dark Italian features, he said, “That’s my boy! You got it!” Reaching across the table, he grabbed the younger man’s hand in a firm handshake. “Welcome to the family, son.”

“Thanks you, sir.” Langston let out a sigh of relief. Ava was going to be his wife.

October 22

Zoe’s Eighth Birthday

“Come on, baby. Blow out the candles,” Janet cooed as she stood next to Zoe.

Taking a big breath, Zoe blew with all her might, attempting to blow out the eight candles on the cake that was shaped like a tiara. The little girl gasped in disbelief when the flames on the trick candles reignited. “Hey! What’s going on?” Zoe squealed, amazed that the candles were burning brightly again.

Everyone around the dining room table roared with laughter. “Who put trick candles on my grandbaby’s cake?” Dominic asked, laughter in his voice and merriment dancing in his eyes.

Starr, Karen, and Summer pointed at their friend like a bunch of five-year-old, tattle-tellers. “Ava!” the young women yelled out in unison.

Zoe smacked her hand dramatically against her forehead. “Mommy, why you do that? You’re going to make the cake burn up.”

“No, she’s not, stupid!” Kyle said, causing the room to go from laughter to uncomfortable silence.

Karen was mortified. All eyes turned to her, waiting for her reaction to her son’s rude outburst. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Karen gritted out between clenched teeth, “Kyle, apologize right now.”

Defiant, the boy crossed his arms over his chest, staring right through his mother. Karen glared at her son. “I’m going to count to three. One…two…”

“I’m sorry, Zoe,” Kyle mumbled under his breath.

Karen looked apologetically at Ava and Langston. “I’m sorry. Come on, Kyle and Ashley, let’s go.” Although Karen didn’t believe in spanking, Kyle had gone too far. She was sick and tired of his behavior. This was the last straw. He had embarrassed her for the last time. When she got him home she was going to tear up his little mean tail. Obviously talking to him and punishing hadn’t worked. It was time for some old fashion corporal punishment.

“Mommy! I didn’t do anything! Why do I have to leave the party and miss all the fun?” Ashley whined.

Karen let out a frustrated sigh. This was not happening to her. Before she could snap at Ashley, Dom, Ava’s brother, walked up to Kyle. “Come on, buddy, let’s take a walk.” Looking at Karen, he asked, “Do you mind?”

Relief washed over Karen. “No.” If somebody didn’t get that child out of her face, she was going to be on the eleven o’clock news.

Dom put his hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “Come on, buddy, let’s go.”

After the trick candles were taken off the cake, Ava helped Zoe cut it. Zoe smiled at Ashley. “Here, Ashley, you can have the first piece of cake.”

Smiling, Ashley said, “Thanks, Zoe.”

“You’re welcome. And I want Autumn to have the next piece, and then NJ,” she told her mother as they continued to cut the cake.

Initially Beatrice felt out of place around Ava’s family and friends. The only reason she had agreed to come to the party was because Zoe invited her. She didn’t know which made her more uncomfortable—driving for almost two hours alone with Charles in the car, or being in Janet Peretti’s home.

Beatrice’s discomfort was somewhat eased when Ava introduced Beatrice to her family and friends. Although they weren’t overly friendly, they weren’t rude, nor did they ignore her presence. And her heart actually melted when Zoe smiled at her, holding out a slice of cake. “Grandmother, this piece is for you.”

She didn’t care if the others in the room could see the tears glistening in her eyes when she accepted the cake with trembling hands. “Thank you, sweetheart.” For once Beatrice felt like she belonged.

After the cake and ice cream had been eaten, Zoe opened her presents. She had so many gifts it was like Christmas in October. When she finally got to the last gift, she held a small box in her hand. “Mommy, this last present is for you.”

Ava lifted an arched brow. “For me?”

Zoe bobbed her head up and down. “Uh-huh. For you.” Smiling, she looked at Langston, who was standing next to Ava. “Daddy let me help him pick it out.”

Langston put his hand on the small of Ava’s back as she unwrapped the box. Her hands trembled and her heart raced when she realized it was a ring box. As she slowly opened the box, tears came to her eyes when she saw the three-carat, emerald cut, flawless diamond engagement ring set in platinum.

Climbing down from her birthday throne, Zoe stood in front of her parents. Looking up at Ava with wide, expressive eyes, Zoe asked, “Mommy, will you marry my Daddy?”

Langston turned Ava to face him. Taking the box from her trembling hand, he removed the ring. Placing it on her finger, he looked deep into her eyes. Everything and everyone ceased to exist as he concentrated all his attention on his woman. “Ava, I fell in love with you that day you came up to me asking me to help you find your class. I never stopped loving you. I never gave up hope that one day we’d be together again. I promise you if you’ll have me as your husband, I’ll always cherish you. And no one, I mean no one will ever come before you. Not even our children.” Reaching up, Langston wiped away the tear that slid down her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “I’ve already asked your father for your hand in marriage. Now I’m asking you. Ava, will you be my wife?”

“Yes! Yes! I’ll marry you!” Ava said as she threw her arms around Langston’s neck. The room erupted in loud cheers and whistles.

Zoe and the other children didn’t protest when Joan and Donna lovingly shooed them out of the room. “Go ’head, babies, go in the other room and play,” Joan said as Donna ushered them out. The children hurried out of the room, eager to play with all the toys Zoe had gotten for her birthday.

“Ooh! Let me see! Let me see!” Summer said, charging toward Ava and Langston, wanting to get a look at the rock on her best friend’s hand.

Everyone fell out laughing when Nick stepped up behind his petite wife, snaking an arm around her waist and lifting her off her feet. “Woman, get back over here.”

“Put me down, Nicholas Stiles!” Summer snapped.

“Aw, hell, I’m in trouble now,” Nick said. Summer only called her husband by his full name when he got on her nerves.

“It’s all good, man,” Langston told Nick as he released Ava, who wasted no time scurrying over to the women in the room to show them her engagement ring.

“Oh, baby, that ring is beautiful.” Janet beamed at Ava as she hugged her in a tight embrace.

Beatrice nodded in agreement. “It is a gorgeous ring.” With pride in her voice, she said, “My son did very well.”

Ava was so happy that she was finally going to be Mrs. Langston Warrington III that when she smiled at his mother, it was genuine. “Yes, Ms. Beatrice, your son did very well.”

Starr grabbed Ava’s hand, tilting and turning it. “Girl, look at how that diamond sparkles.”

“I know, right? Bling-bling,” Summer chimed in, moving real close to Starr to get a good look.

Nita Jackson shielded her eyes as if outside on a bright, sunny day. “Baby, I’m going to need sunglasses just to look at you.”

Ava laughed along with the other women, enjoying each and every one of them as they shared in her happiness.

As the women fawned over Ava, congratulating her, the men gathered around Langston, giving him firm slaps on the back. “Welcome to the club, my brotha,” Kevin said, pounding fists with Langston. Winking at Dom, he teased, “You’re next.”

“OK…whatever,” Dom said, shaking his head. No way was he getting married anytime soon. Six months ago he dumped Leslie, who was trying desperately to push, drag, and shove him to the altar.

“You need to settle down,” Dominic said to his son. What was wrong with these men today? Whatever happened to getting married in your twenties? These men today waited until they were nearly senior citizens before settling down and starting a family. At thirty-one his son was following the herd.

“Yeah, Pop. Whatever you say.”

“Young man, listen to your daddy. He knows what he’s talking about,” Henry Stiles advised. “Marriage is a good thing.”

James Jackson took a sip of ginger ale from the pink princess paper cup. Leaning in, the older man whispered, “And you get all the booty you can handle.”

“And then some,” Patrick added, clinking paper cups with James.

Dom rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. Looking like he just stepped off the cover of a
GQ
magazine, getting women wasn’t an issue for him. “I have no problems getting all the
booty
I want.” Turning to Langston, he shook his future brother-in-law’s hand. “Welcome to the family. I know you’re going to take care of my sister.”

Charles, who was a quiet observer, grinned and shook his head. He was really enjoying being in the company of these men. He was pleased that Langston would be marrying into a family who accepted him as one of their own.

Nick chuckled as Dom excused himself to go outside and get some fresh air. Ava’s brother reminded Nick so much of himself at that age.
He’ll be straight once the right woman comes along.