Second Chance at Love (Love Conquers All) (6 page)

Karen lifted a perfectly arched brow. “Don’t hold back little sis. Tell me what you really think.” She knew her sister was about to start in on her about the whole spanking bit. It wasn’t that Karen didn’t believe in spanking, it’s just that she didn’t think spanking was the first line of defense when raising children.

“Well… I just meant…”

Rolling her eyes, Karen waved her hands. “Cut out all that stuttering. I know my boy was a mess. I’m glad I took Ava’s advice and took him to see a child therapist.” Swirling the straw in the thick milkshake, Karen let out a sad sigh. “My poor baby was hurting in so many ways because he didn’t have a father. Dom spending time with Kyle has been good for him.”

Summer nodded her head. “Yeah, come to think of it, Kyle has been a lot better since Dom has been taking him out. I guess he’s like the father he never knew.”

“Mmm-hmm. That boy sure loves himself some Mr. Dom. He called me Thursday night before he went to bed all excited about how he went to work with Dom. He went on and on about how cool it was to see how the welders put pipes and stuff together.” Starr laughed. “I didn’t think the boy would ever get off the phone.”

“Oh, how cute.” Summer said, propping her elbow on the table as she cradled her chin in her palm. “Dom must be making a big impact on him.”

“Yeah, he is,” Karen admitted, still stirring her milkshake.

“And how does that make you feel?” Starr wanted to know as she took another bite from her sandwich, her eyes never leaving Karen.

Karen tilted her head as she considered her sister’s question. How did she really feel about Dom playing the role of daddy to not only Kyle, but Ashley as well? She must admit that things have been running much more smoothly around the house since Dom had been spending time with the children. Not only that, but she’s been having some much needed free time for herself. Of course she loved her children dearly, but it was oh so nice to have a few hours all to herself where she could just sit and not have to worry about the kids. She had even started knitting again. Karen supposed that this is how things would be all the time if she had a husband to help with raising Ashley and Kyle.

“Honestly, I’m okay with Dom spending time with the kids. They really adore him and like having him around. And he seems to like being with them. The only thing I’m concerned about is what happens when he doesn’t have time for them anymore.”
Or me,
she wanted to say.

Starr frowned. “Why would you say that? Dom doesn’t strike me as the type that would suddenly for no reason leave those babies high and dry.” If Starr didn’t know anything, she knew men. Particularly men who were no-good, scum of the earth creatures. Dom was nowhere close to being in that category. He genuinely cared for her niece and nephew. And each time Starr was in their presence at different family functions she saw how his eyes followed Karen wherever she went. She saw the attraction and desire for her sister in his eyes. That man was not leaving those kids or Karen high and dry. If she didn’t know any better she’d swear Dom was falling for Karen.

“Yeah, until he starts seeing someone. Then he
will
leave my babies high and dry.” Karen tried to push aside feelings of jealousy as she sipped her milkshake. Dom was a good looking man and could have his pick of women. Sure, he was attracted to her…for now. But when he got tired of being a substitute daddy he would move on to a woman who was children-free.

Summer sucked her teeth. “Girl, please. The way that man was all over you at Tony Luke’s, he ain’t hardly interested in seeing anybody but
you
.”

Summer and Starr reached across the table and gave each other a high-five. “I know that’s right. Big sis, you better listen to our girl Summer. And don’t think we didn’t notice how y’all were dancing like two love birds at the wedding.” Starr started swaying from side to side in the booth as if she was listening to a slow romantic ballad.

Clapping her hands, Summer let out a noise that was a cross between a squeak and a laugh. “I thought Dom was going to do a smack-down on the DJ when he switched from the slow jam to the Mississippi stomp.” Summer clapped her hands again. “Karen, girl you should have seen the way he looked at that DJ. And ooh, girl when you all but jumped out of his arms and started line dancing, he was M-A-D.”

Karen covered her face with a napkin and laughed when Starr and Summer started singing, “Right foot stomp, and left foot stomp, you cha-cha with the right…”

Still laughing, Karen took the napkin from her face and waved it like a flag of surrender. “Stop it, stop it, pleaaaase stop it!”

Wiping the tears from her eyes, all Karen could do was shake her head. She couldn’t get upset with their teasing. Because although she had enjoyed being in Dom’s arms, being held so close, smelling his clean masculine scent, she knew she had to get away from him and quick. If that DJ had played another slow song she would have stayed right there in his arms with all kinds of crazy thoughts running around in her head. Like thoughts of him being hers forever. So when the DJ played the line dance song, Karen had taken the opportunity to get away from him. Too bad she hadn’t seen the look on his face. A little tingle of excitement ran up her spine. Was he really that into her?

“Stop what?” Summer waved her hand at her friend. “Girl, that man isn’t only interested in your kids. He’s interested in
you
too. And I think
you’re
interested in him.”

Karen tucked a stray hair behind her ear. The blushing over her face told her sister and friend everything they wanted to know. There was no denying it. She was definitely interested in Dominic Peretti, Jr. “I am very interested.”

Starr raised her soda glass up in the air. Karen and Summer followed suit. “A toast to my big sister. May Dom be the one.”

“I’ll drink to that!” Karen and Summer agreed, giggling like teenage school girls as they clicked glasses with Starr.

Starr flashed her dimpled smile. “And if he isn’t the one we’ll just have to cut him off at the knees.”

Karen threw her head back and laughed. “Girl you are absolutely without a doubt craaazy.” Reaching into her purse she pulled out a twenty and placed it on the table. “I’d love to stay longer, but I have to get going. Dom should be back with the kids in a little bit.”

“I thought the show was over at seven.” Summer commented while looking at her watch. “It’s only six-thirty.”

“I know. I have to swing back by the supermarket. I’m making a red velvet cake.”

Starr sat straight up in the booth. “Uh-oh, red velvet cake? Girl, what’s going on?” The only time Karen made this dessert was for special occasions and holidays.

Scooting out of the booth Karen stood, putting on her leather jacket. “Dom’s mother invited me and the kids for Sunday dinner. I offered to bring dessert.”

“Well alright! I ain’t mad atcha’ girlfriend.” Summer teased, snapping her fingers.

Karen laughed as she walked toward the exit, wiggling her fingers. “Bye. I’ll see y’all later.”

“Later.” Her sister and friend called out as they watched Karen practically float out the door.

“Girl, should we be doing this?” Summer asked in between the ringing of the phone on the conference call they were on.

“Don’t you think Ava would want to know?” Starr answered, suddenly unsure of what they were about to do.

Whether they had made the right decision to bother their friend on her honeymoon was a moot point. Someone had picked up the phone.

“Hello.” The feminine voice came across the phone line in a light, airy, melodious tone.

“Ava?” Both Summer and Starr queried. They had never heard their friend sound so…so dreamy. When the woman let out a throaty laugh, they perhaps thought they may have dialed the wrong number. “I’m sorry, I think we have the wrong number.”

Ava laughed again. “No, you have the right number. Langston and I were just—”

“Oh God! We don’t want to know! Do you want us to call you back?” Starr rushed out as she folded pink, blue and yellow undershirts in her laundry room.

“Calm down and get your mind out of the gutter. I was about to say Langston and I just finished having dinner in our suite.”

“Oh, do you want us to call you back later?” Summer asked while bending down to pick up a toy off the living room floor.

Going into the master bedroom of the opulent honeymoon suite, Ava opened the French doors and stepped out onto the balcony. Sitting in a comfy lounge chair, she stretched out, crossing her bare feet at the ankles. Looking off into the horizon, Ava smiled. Belize had the most beautiful sunset. “No, no, no. Langston just stepped out for a few minutes. I can talk until he gets back.”

Starr and Summer both started chattering off at the mouth in excitement at the same time. Laughing Summer said, “Starr, why don’t you tell her since it’s your sister and her brother.”

That caught Ava’s attention real fast. Sitting up, she swung her feet over the side of the lounge chair. “What’s going on?”

“Well, actually I think Summer should be the one to tell you what she saw last weekend.”

“Listen, I don’t care who tells me what. But somebody better start talking before my man gets back here.” Ava fussed, irritated with her friends. All this “you tell her, no you tell her” was getting on her nerves.

“Alright already, you ain’t gotta get all huffy because you’re married now.” Summer playfully snapped.

“I’s married now.” Starr said, imitating Shug Avery from
The Color Purple.

The three friends laughed at their silliness. True, Ava had been gone on her honeymoon only a week, but they missed her like crazy. They definitely were not looking forward to her moving away. Summer and Starr were going to miss her something terrible when she moved to Georgetown to be with her new husband and daughter.

“Listen, you two silly birds better spit out whatever you have to say. I’ve already told you once that when that fine man of mine gets back here I’m off this phone.”

Getting serious, Summer said “Okay, Okay.” Ava listened as Summer told her about seeing Dom and Karen at Tony Luke’s. When she finished, Starr picked up and told her about their dinner with Karen and how she all but confessed to having feelings for Dom.

“Is that it?” Ava casually asked.

“Is that it?” Summer and Starr yelled. Hadn’t she heard anything they said? Her older brother had the hots for Karen.

Ava laughed at her friends. “Please. Y’all are soooooo behind the eight ball. My brother has been sniffing after Karen since Zoe’s birthday party.”

Starr was out done. “You knew all this time and you didn’t say anything?”

“Chile, please. I was going through my own drama. I didn’t have time to be worried about Dom’s love life or anybody else’s for that matter.”

It was Summer who asked, “So what do you think about Dom and Karen?”

“I think they would make a cute couple. I know my brother is crazy about her kids. Do you think Karen is ready for a relationship?” Ava was concerned. For years Karen had said she wouldn’t date until her kids got older. Now she’s suddenly interested in her brother. True, her brother was a grown man. But that didn’t mean she wanted to see him hurt like the last time.

“I think my sister is ready to start dating again. Her whole life revolves around Ashley and Kyle. It’s time she had some happiness in her life.”

Ava smiled. She didn’t know what she was worried about. Karen was like a sister to her and she was good people. She would never do to her brother what that nasty behind Gina Tucci did to him. “I agree with you Starr. Karen deserves some happiness and I know my brother can make that happen.”

Langston walked out onto the balcony while Ava was talking. Her eyes lit up in mischief as he smiled, walking towards her, shaking a can of whipped cream. “Umm…girls…I gotta go.”

The next sound Summer and Starr heard was the disconnecting of Ava’s cell phone.

Starr let out an exaggerated gasp. “Well, ooookay then. Just hang up on your two best friends.”

Walking into the kitchen where she’d left NJ and Autumn at their toddler table with a snack, Summer chatted away with Starr. Starr couldn’t help put to crack up laughing at what happened next. On the other end of the line, Summer, horrified, yelled, “Autumn! What are you doing to your brother’s hair?”