Key To My Heart (Love Conquers All) (32 page)

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Karen went in search of Dom before she gathered her kids to head home. She didn’t know what he’d said to Kyle, but whatever it was, her son had come back inside to join the party with a new attitude.

“Oh, there you are,” Karen said as she stepped outside.

Dominic turned around from where he stood on the curb to gaze up at Karen standing on the top step. His dark eyes appreciated what he saw. Karen was a very attractive woman. He was itching at a chance to take her out, but every time he asked her out on a date, she shot him down cold. It was OK, though. Dom was a patient man. Sooner or later he’d wear down her resistance. “What’s up, Karen?” he asked.

Suddenly Karen became nervous as she made her way down the steps to stand next to Dom. He was the only man who could make her heart flutter since her deceased husband. He had asked her out three times since meeting her a few months ago at Zoe’s celebration party. Each time she turned him down, telling herself she was too old to date a man six years her junior.

“I just wanted to thank you for talking to my son. Whatever you said to him worked for the time being.”

Dom shrugged. “No problem. He’s a good kid.”

He used to be a good kid.
“Well, I better get back inside and get my kids.”

“All right, see you later.”

As Karen turned to go, he called out, “I told Kyle I’d spend some time with him. I hope that’s OK with you.”

Karen looked perplexed. Didn’t Dom live in California?

Reading her expression, he told her, “The engineering firm I work for is opening an office in Philly, and they want me to head it up. I’ll be moving back home.”

Karen swallowed hard.
He’s moving back home, and he wants to spend time with my son.
Karen gave him a weak smile.

“We’ll see.”
Yes, we will,
Dom thought as he watched Karen disappear back inside the house.

“Well, what was I supposed to do?” Ava hissed under her breath at Summer and Starr in the confines of the tiny dressing room. She didn’t want the older women beyond the door to hear her.

Yeah, what was she supposed to do? Tell the woman she couldn’t come? Ever since the night of Zoe’s birthday party, Beatrice had become Ava’s new best friend. Before heading back home to Alexandria, she sought out Ava out to have a word with her in private. You could have knocked Ava over with a feather when the woman tearfully apologized for her years of cruel behavior. She even went so far as to confess that once Ava and Langston were married, she was afraid there wouldn’t be a place for her in their lives, and that she would be all alone.

Ava had been dumbstruck. Although Langston had accepted his mother’s apology, Ava wasn’t quite sure if he had forgiven her and was willing to let her be a part of their lives once they were married. But not wanting anything to burst her bubble that day, Ava had hugged the woman and assured her that she wouldn’t be alone. But Ava had never envisioned that the woman would accompany her to look for wedding gowns.

“Stay still,” Starr fussed as her fingers worked to fasten the buttons on the back of Ava’s silk gown. “We’re not saying you shouldn’t have invited her to come along. We’re just surprised, that’s all.”

Standing on her toes, Summer pulled back Ava’s hair, twisting it into a chignon. Holding hairpins between her lips, she mumbled, “She’s just trying to be nice.”

There was no denying that. Ava wanted to believe the woman was putting on airs, that she had only said those things because Langston was close by. But to Ava’s surprise, Beatrice had called her at least five times since that night. Although the conversations were brief, Beatrice was pleasant, not a hint of phoniness in her voice. When Beatrice asked if she could come along with Ava and Janet to pick out Ava’s wedding dress, Ava didn’t have the heart to tell her no.

Letting out a deep breath, Ava sighed. “I know. Bless her little reformed evil heart.”

Starr slapped her hand over her mouth. Summer nearly swallowed a hairpin in an attempt to muffle her laughter. It was Starr who said, “Girl, stop it before I knock you out.”

Ava laughed. “Just be quiet and hurry up. I want to see how I look.”

After Summer put the last hairpin in and Starr fastened the last button, Ava turned around.

“What?” Ava asked nervously as her friends stared at her in silence. With every other dress she’d tried on, they immediately had snap critiques as to why the dress wasn’t for her. This was the fifth bridal shop today. She was tired of trying on dresses. All she wanted to do was go home and have dinner with Zoe and Langston.

Shaking her head, Starr whispered, “Nothing. Just go out there and let your mom see you.” She and Summer continued to block the mirror so Ava couldn’t see her reflection.

Ava frowned. Out of all the dresses, she loved this one the best. It was similar to the one her paternal great-grandmother wore on her wedding day. Ava had seen the wedding photo in her great uncle’s home in Italy years ago. She never forgot how beautiful the bride looked.

Just as Ava was about to tell her friends to move so she could see herself, Janet knocked loudly on the door. “Ava Gianni Peretti, get your behind out here right now.”

Janet stepped back as the door opened. The scowl she wore evaporated immediately. Tears suddenly filled her eyes. “Oh, baby, you look so beautiful.” Walking around Ava, Janet gently touched the ball of hair at the back of neck. “I love your hair pulled back like this.”

“It shows off your pretty face,” Beatrice added as she looked approvingly at Ava.

“Come on, baby,” Janet said, taking Ava by the hand and leading her to a full-length mirror. Beatrice, Summer, and Starr followed, but stayed behind a respectable distance.

Ava blinked at her reflection. “Wow.” Everyone thought she was crazy when she’d described the gown she wanted to wear. No one came out and said it, but she knew they were all thinking it would be too old fashioned. Old fashioned or not, this gown was made for her.

Janet placed her hands on Ava’s shoulders. Leaning in, she kissed her on the cheek. “Wow is right. Langston is going to love you in this dress.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Turning to her best friends and future mother-in-law, Ava beamed. “So what do you say?”

They didn’t say anything. The loud applause spoke for them.

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“Is she asleep?” Langston asked as Ava came into the kitchen and sat on his lap. Ava laid her head on his shoulder.

“Drifted off in mid-sentence.” Ava purred as Langston’s large hand began to massage her neck.

“You tired, baby?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Langston hands felt so good. If he kept this up, she was going to fall asleep just as quickly as Zoe.

Langston let out a deep chuckle. The woman had left at nine thirty that morning and hadn’t returned home until eight that evening. All day he’d been worried about how things were going, mainly because his mother had requested to go with Ava, Janet, and Ava’s friends to find the perfect dress. He hadn’t wanted Ava to feel obligated to include his mother.

“How was my mother?” he asked.

Lifting her head, Ava looked at Langston and smiled. “You’re full of questions tonight, aren’t you?”

When he didn’t return the smile, she cupped his cheek with her palm. Her touch was warm. “Lang, your mother was fine. There wasn’t a problem at all.”

“Cool. I’m just not sure about her,” Langston admitted, a frown creasing his brow.

“Baby, don’t think the worst. Summer and Starr have me convinced that she’s really trying.” Leaning in, she kissed the frown from his brow. “I think they may be right.”

The same brow that was frowned was now arched in suspicion. “OK, where is the real Ava Peretti, and what have you done with her?”

Playfully Ava pounded on his solid chest. “Boy! Shut up!”

Langston chuckled. Squeezing Ava in a tight hug, he kissed her forehead. Ava was a good a woman. If the shoe was on the other foot and her mother had treated him so badly, he didn’t know if he would be as accommodating as Ava. He was blessed to have Ava in his life. And in less than three weeks, she was going to be his wife. “I can’t wait until you’re my wife.”

Kissing his lips, Ava agreed. “Me too.”

“You know we can always elope and go to Vegas like Kevin and Starr,” Langston teased.

“Now I know you’re tripping. Those nuts were pissy drunk and didn’t even remember getting married.” Langston chuckled when Ava rolled her eyes. “No, thank you. Besides, my parents would have a heart attack.”

Langston pouted like a five-year-old. Shaking his head, he asked, “No eloping?”

Wrapping her arms around Langston’s neck, and leaning her forehead against his, Ava answered, “No eloping.”

Softly touching her lips to his, Ava gently kissed her man. Three weeks couldn’t come fast enough. She was so ready to be Mrs. Langston Warrington III.

Saturday afternoon

Mid-December

Nervous excitement coursed through Ava as she looped her arm through Dominic’s while they waited for the wedding coordinator to give them their cue to walk down the aisle.

Dominic gazed over at his daughter. She was a beautiful vision in a vintage ivory satin wedding gown. Ava looked as if she’d stepped out of a 1930s Hollywood movie set. She was pure glamour and sophistication.

Dominic settled his hand on top of Ava’s. A single tear slid down his cheek as he continued to stare at her. “Just because you’re getting married doesn’t mean you’re no longer my little girl.”

Ava’s heart trembled. This was only the second time she’d ever seen her father cry. The first time was when she told her parents about the pregnancy she hid from them that resulted in her giving up their first grandchild for adoption. Back then his eyes held hurt and disappointment. Today they held love and tenderness. Ava stood on her tiptoes, gently kissing her father’s cheek. “I know, Daddy. I’m always going to be your little girl.”

Leaning over, Dominic kissed Ava’s forehead just as the coordinator gave them the signal that it was time to go. As she made her way down the aisle, Ava saw no one but Langston. He was so handsome in his black tux. It took everything in Ava not to run down the aisle to him. She had waited so long for this, and had gone through so many trials and tribulations to arrive at this place. Right at that very moment Ava knew in her heart it was well worth it. Their love had been tested through the fire and had come out stronger than ever.

Langston’s breath caught in his throat as he locked eyes with his bride. So many nights he’d prayed for this day to come, prayed to be given a second chance to recapture the heart of his first love. And now it was finally happening. Ava was going to be his to love—forever.