“Bleu Montclair—”
Bleu looked behind her and her eyes fell on Saviour, Ms. Monica, Eddie, Marta, and Iman. She smiled and blew them a kiss as she walked gracefully across the stage to receive her degree.
She sat through the rest of the ceremony on cloud nine and when it was over she rushed to hug her baby.
He was four years old and sharp as a whip. She picked him up. “Did you see Mommy?” she asked in excitement.
“Uh-huh. You wore a funny hat,” he said, causing a big grin to spread across her face.
“I did all of this for you!” Bleu exclaimed as she kissed his cheek. “Give me a big hug.”
His little arms around her neck felt so good. He had been through so much. Two surgeries in the first two years of his life and countless hours of therapy. All of his milestones had been delayed for the first two years of his life, but he was strong and with time, patience, and God’s will he caught up just fine. He was a healthy and happy little boy Bleu was so grateful for. He had truly changed her life.
“I’m so proud of you, Bleu,” Ms. Monica said.
“Thank you. Thank you so much. I love you,” Bleu said.
“Oh, baby girl, I love you too,” Ms. Monica replied, hugging her tightly. “Come on to Grandma,” Ms. Monica said as she held out her hands for Saviour.
Iman stepped up to Bleu last and held out a large bouquet of peach roses for her. “Thank you,” she said.
“You did good, ma,” he affectionately said. “I’m proud of you. As a woman, a mother, you’re amazing. You’ve always been amazing.”
They had never gotten back together, although if Bleu allowed him to he would marry her without thinking twice. He already spent half of his time in Michigan visiting Saviour but would gladly move if it meant that Bleu would give their family a chance. She always turned Iman down, however. They were good co-parents to Saviour and great friends, but Bleu would never allow herself to open the door that she had shut with him all those years ago.
“Can I take you to lunch? To celebrate?” he asked.
“Um, rain check?” she asked. “I kind of have somewhere I need to be.”
“Yeah, sure,” Iman said.
Bleu kissed his cheek and gave his hand a squeeze before she hurried off. She turned on her heels. “Don’t keep Saviour out too late. He has pre-school in the morning.”
“You’re the boss, ma,” Iman said, giving her a wink as he watched her disappear in the crowd.
* * *
Bleu pulled up to the graveyard and kicked off her shoes as she walked over to Noah’s grave. “You see me?” she asked as she looked at his headstone, her eyes filling with tears. “I did it. You always said I could.” She lay down right on top of his grave and let her fingers glide through the grass. She came there every week to just talk to the love of her life. “I miss you so much. I wish you were here with me. I’m so lucky to have been loved by you, Noah. You saved my life. You pulled me off the streets and you believed in me. You are and will always be my priority. You are first in my heart. Always and forever. Rest peacefully, my love.” She wiped her eyes and kissed his name before taking off her cap and hanging it from the corner of his headstone. “I’ll see you on the other side. I know you’re watching and I know you’re waiting. I’ll live for both of us, until we meet again.”
Bleu felt a breeze on her face and she knew that it was Noah. Bleu could feel him smiling down on her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed his essence until the breeze passed. God had sent so many people into her life. Iman had been for a season, but Noah had been sent for a reason and when he had taught her the lesson that God had intended God had called him home. She understood that everything had happened as it was supposed to and she was no longer embarrassed by her journey. It was her story, it was her test, and now she had the ultimate testimony. Bleu turned proudly with her head held high and walked out of the cemetery, knowing that she was a lucky girl because she had been loved by the best.
ALSO BY ASHLEY ANTOINETTE
Luxe
About the Author
Ashley Antoinette is one of the most successful female writers of her time. The feminine half of the popular married duo Ashley and JaQuavis, she has cowritten more than forty novels. Several of her titles have hit The New York Times bestsellers list, but she is most widely regarded for her racy four-book saga, The Prada Plan. Born in Flint, Michigan, she was bred with an innate street sense that she uses as inspiration in her crime-filled writings. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Final Chapter
Also by Ashley Antoinette
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
LUXE TWO. Copyright © 2016 by Ashley Antoinette. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Oddball Dsgn
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-06698-5 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-4668-7489-3 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466874893
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
First Edition: October 2016
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