When Love Comes Around (Love Conquers All) (10 page)

Back on speaking terms, after coming to a mutual understanding that their friendship wasn’t worth losing over words spoken out of misunderstanding and frustration, Ava was the first to comment.

“A date?”

“Uh-uh. Well, not really a date,” she mumbled, checking under her fingernails for dirt that didn’t exist.

“Baby sis, is it a date or not?”

Running her fingers through her freshly trimmed hair, she let out a sigh. “We’re getting together to talk about this whole sham of a marriage.”

“Do you think he wants to get it annulled?” Summer questioned as she got up going to the sink filling the teakettle with water. This was going to be a long night. Cups of nice steaming tea were in order.

“Hey, I thought you didn’t want tea, Miss Thing.”

Though Starr had been talking to Summer, it was Karen who teased, “It’s Mrs. Thing to you. Stop stalling and answer the question, Mrs. Dawson.”

Turning to Ava with a pitiful look, she pleaded, “Don’t let these heifers gang up on me.”

Ava laughed. “You might as well include me in the number. I’m heifer number three. Now answer the question.”

She, too, wondered if that’s what Kevin had in mind, an annulment. Why else was he blowing up her phone every day, leaving messages saying they needed to talk? Not realizing how sad she sounded, she truthfully admitted, “I think that’s what he wants to talk about. I just don’t see him as the marrying type anyway.”

Trying to invite some optimism into the atmosphere, Ava suggested, “Maybe that’s not it at all. You never know, he just might surprise you.”

“Then what else could it be? Y’all know I love Kevin. He’s Nick’s best friend and godfather to my children. But him, married…I have to agree with you Starr, I don’t think so.” Sucking her teeth, she went further to say, “Shoot, we all know that man changes women quicker than he changes his drawers.”

Karen felt bad for her sister. She didn’t miss how she cringed from Summer’s blunt, yet truthful assessment of Kevin. But she had never lied to her, and she wasn’t about to now, even if it meant hurting her feelings. “I don’t know him that well, but from what you guys say about him it doesn’t seem like he’s ready to settle down. Men like him rarely, if ever, settle down with one woman.”

With regret, even Ava had to cosign on what the others were saying. Everything that was said was the cold truth.

Kevin had had a long chain of women he dealt with over the years throughout the tri-state area. Listening to her sister and best friends comment on his womanizing ways, Starr felt like an idiot. She’d become another link in his chain. Another woman he would carelessly discard.

“Starr? Starr?” Karen gently called.

“Huh?”

“You okay, baby sis?”

“I’m all right. I was just thinking about something.”

“About?” Ava asked as she got up taking mugs from the cabinet filling them with water from the whistling teakettle.

Joining Ava at the counter, dropping an herbal tea bag in each mug, Starr cried, “Look at my life! It’s a mess! On top of already having drama, I had to go add drama on top of drama by getting pissy drunk and marrying the
Mack Daddy
of
Mack Daddies
! And to make matters worse, I wake up booty butt naked not knowing if I’d slept with
Mr. Mack Daddy
! How freakin’ pathetic!”

The sympathizing young women tried to contain the giggles that were hopelessly escalating into robust laughter. After dropping the tea bags in the mugs, Starr in her normal dramatic flair imitated a pimp stroll with a bounce each time she spat out
Mack Daddy
. Explosions of laughter filled the confines of the small kitchen as the posse watched her perform.

Fuming she didn’t understand what was so funny. Here she was pouring her heart out and they were laughing at her!

“What the heck is so funny?”

“You! That’s who! Mack Daddy of all Mack Daddies! That is so played out!”

“Oh shut up, Karen! You get on my nerves!”

“And what’s up with that little pimp bounce you got going on?” Ava ribbed, holding her stomach to keep it from bursting wide open from laughing so hard.

Fury curled her hands into tight fist as Summer snapped her fingers and sang, “Mmmm, Mack Daddy, Mack Daddy…mmmm, Mack Daddy, Mack Daddy.”

More laughter bounced off the walls as Summer’s petite body did the old school dance, the Whop, as she sang.

Oh, okay. I’ll fix these little immature heifers. I’m trying
to have a serious heart to heart about my sorry, pitiful life, and they got jokes.

Casually walking over to the sink, Starr turned on the cold water. Lifting the spray nozzle, she aimed her weapon… and fired. They never saw it coming. All clowning came to a screeching halt as laughter turned into screams and squeals.

The stampede of running feet in the direction of the narrow doorway, sounded like a heard of wild buffaloes. Starr sniggered at the comical sight of the women pushing, shoving, elbowing, and squeezing their way out of the space. Her kitchen would be a wet mess, but she didn’t care. It felt good playing the childish prank on them.

Starr’s face held a smug, satisfied smirk.
That’ll teach them to mess with a Queen Bee in her own hive!

Twenty minutes and three frizzy, wet heads later, Starr pleaded with the disgruntle young women, “Come on, y’all suppose to be my girls. Don’t do me like this. I was only playing.”

“Playing my foot! You got us looking like a bunch of wet rats!” Karen snapped, throwing her an evil glare as she touched her damp hair.

“Look, I said I was sorry.”

“Okay, okay, we forgive you.”

Summer rolled her eyes at Ava. “Speak for yourself, suck up. I just got my hair done today.”

Ava roughly nudged Summer in her side with her elbow.

“Ow! Girl! Your boney elbow hurts!” Summer hissed.

“Whateva.” Ignoring Summer, Ava shifted her hips to face Starr. She was given another chance to be there for her friend. This time around, she wouldn’t mess up by saying something that was insensitive. If anything, she learned from her recent ordeal with Starr that ill spoken words hurt, and had the potential to kill a friendship. Getting back to the purpose of their meeting, she asked, “So what is it you really want?”

Hunching her shoulders, Starr didn’t know what to tell them. Should she be completely honest and tell them she’s been attracted to Kevin since NJ’s christening? Should she tell them how he made her feel attractive, sexy and desirable? Something a man hadn’t done in years. Or how being in his presence for that short period of time made her forget all about her worries, simply because he was there?

In spite of his womanizing ways, Starr was honest about her feelings for Kevin. If they didn’t like it, that was their problem. She was grown and any decisions she made she ultimately had to live with them. “I really want to get to know him.”

Taking a few deep breaths and counting to ten, Karen was trying to get her thoughts together. No way was Starr serious. Getting involved with Kevin was asking for trouble…big time. She had seen her sister go through enough heartache behind a man. “Starr, are you sure about this? What if―”

“What if what?” Starr interrupted a little on the unnerved side. She wasn’t about to let Karen pull her big sister act on her.

Quickly wanting to diffuse the tension before it had a chance to build; Ava gently rested her hand on Starr’s thigh. “Honey, please don’t get upset. Your sister is only concerned for you, just as we are.” As she spoke Ava looked to Summer, who nodded her head in agreement.

“I appreciate your concern, really I do. But none of you know or understand what I’m going through.” Turning an unshed tearful gaze to Karen and Summer, she pointedly accused, “Both of you have children.” She let out a pent up breath of frustration. “And Ava, you’re always talking about you don’t care one way or another if you ever have any.”

Before she could go on, her sister challenged, “You’re right. I don’t understand how getting to know Kevin has anything to do with having a baby.” Yes, her sister was grown and had a right to make her own decisions. But she could not, and would not, see her go back to that place after Marcus walked all over her, ruining her emotionally and financially.

Not able to hold the tears back that were stinging her eyes, Starr spoke straight from her heart. “Because Karen, when I’m with him he makes me forget just how messed up my life is. He makes me feel beautiful every time he looks at me like I’m the only woman in the room. He makes me laugh; something a man hasn’t done in a longtime. And yes, he may be a womanizer, but if staying married to him and possibly getting my heart broken may be my only chance of becoming a mother, then I’m willing to take that risk.” At least this time around, she’d have something of value from a broken heart. This time she wouldn’t walk away empty and alone.

Each woman in the room felt the raw pain that seeped from Starr’s soul. Circling her in an embrace, cocooned in love, each vowed their devoted and unwavering support. Each also prayed the journey would be one of healing and not desolation.

Standing back, she studied her handiwork. Wanting to make a good impression, she dressed the table with a freshly starched white linen tablecloth. White bone china trimmed in silver, polished silverware, crystal wine goblets, and long stemmed white candles held in sterling holders, beautifully adorned the table.

A small smile played at the corner of Starr’s lips as she appreciated how elegant her table looked. If she didn’t know any better, she’d swear she was standing in one of a five star restaurant. “I ain’t neva, I mean neva go through all this trouble for a man. Shoot, I got it lookin’ like the Four Seasons up in here.” She openly praised herself, proud of her domestic skills.

Earlier in the day, Starr had called her dinner date,
husband
, for suggestions on dinner. Rattling off a list of foods he enjoyed, which was everything, she was pleased he wasn’t a finicky eater. When he mentioned seafood, she had the perfect meal in mind.

Buzz…Buzz

Hurrying from the dining room, Starr briefly stopped at the mirror hanging on the wall in the cozy vestibule. Checking her reflection, everything looked good, not a hair was out of place and what little makeup she had on was flawless.

Opening the door, she stared up at the gorgeous man towering over her.
Whew! Lord! This man is too fine for his own good!

Kevin was leisurely dressed in a navy short sleeve polo shirt, well-worn jeans, that weren’t too baggy or too tight, and dark brown leather casual loafers. Her eyes lazily traveled the length of him. She appreciated how his broad shoulders and chest tapered into a slim waist that flowed into a pair of muscular, sturdy legs.

What have I gotten myself into again?
Starr mused as she literally salivated.

“I brought this for dinner…Can I come in now?” Kevin requested as the corners of his mouth twitched halfway between a smirk and a smile. The unmistakable attraction that jumped off every time they were near each other was magnetizing. How could he not feel it? Starr was mouth watering in a soft pink, just above the knee sundress, hugging every luscious curve. As usual, the hair was fierce. He wondered what it would feel like between his fingers as he made love to her.

The extended muscular arm snapped Starr out of her momentary stupor. Reaching for the bottle of wine, she apologized. “Oh, I’m so sorry Kevin. I don’t know where my manners are.” Waving her free hand, beckoning him, she stepped aside to allow him entry. “Come on in.”

The tight cozy confines of the vestibule made her dizzy. The heat from his solid body and woodsy sent of his aftershave caused Starr to swoon as their bodies, breasts to chest almost made intimate contact as he walked past her the short distance into the living room.

Nice.
Kevin surveyed his new surroundings
.
The walls throughout were painted soft beige, with the baseboards and crown molding painted in an off white. Each window was adorned with wood shutters the same off white color giving the space an exquisite, airy appearance.