Key To My Heart (Love Conquers All)

by Wells, Victoria

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  “Should we use your key or ring the doorbell?” Summer asked Starr as they stood on Ava’s front stoop. This was the second Sunday in a row Ava hadn’t shown up to church. After learning their friend had a secret baby, they had given her space, and hadn’t pestered her when she didn’t return their calls right away or cancelled on them Tuesday and Thursday nights. When she called last night saying she needed to talk to them at her place after church, they had assumed she’d be at church that morning, but they were wrong.

  Starr contemplated her friend’s question. After she moved in to Kevin’s house in Mt. Airy, Ava had gladly moved into Starr’s home, taking over the mortgage payments which were considerably less than the loft Ava was renting in Center City. Neither of them felt it was necessary to change the locks.

  Not wanting to invade Ava’s privacy, Starr said, “Let’s ring the bell first. If she doesn’t come to the door in a few minutes, then I’ll use my key.”

  Summer nodded. “All right.”

  Hearing the doorbell, Zoe’s tiny feet swiftly padded toward Ava’s bedroom. “Mommy, someone’s at the door,” she called out.

  Coming out of the bedroom, Ava bumped into Zoe. Reaching out, she grabbed her before she tumbled into the wall. Both giggled at the same time. “Sorry, my Zoe. I didn’t know you were so close.”

  “It’s OK, Mommy. Somebody’s at the door. You think it’s my daddy?”

  Taking the child’s hand, she smiled down at her. Zoe’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect that her father was on the other side of the door. Although she had a wonderful time getting to know her new family, Ava sensed that Zoe missed Langston.

  “Yup, I think it’s him.”

  As soon as Ava swung open the door, Summer’s and Starr’s eyes went to the little girl holding her hand.

  Ava lifted a perfectly arched brow. Summer and Starr weren’t supposed to be here for another thirty minutes. Church didn’t let out until one o’clock. “Did church let out early or something? You’re early.”

  Both of her friends ignored her as they marched past her, stopping briefly to give her a quick peck on the cheek before closing the door. “No, we left early,” Starr finally answered. “Had to come see what was up with you. But now we see.”

  “Zoe, sweetie, these are your aunties, Starr and Summer,” Ava said, pointing to each woman.

  “Hi Auntie Starr and Auntie Summer,” Zoe greeted shyly, tightly holding on to Ava’s hand.

  “Oh, Ava, she looks just like you,” Summer commented, bending down to give Zoe a tight but gentle squeeze. “It’s so nice to meet you, Zoe.”

  Starr gave Zoe the same greeting. Zoe wrapped her arms around her new aunties’ necks, giving them big hugs right back.

  Just as Ava was about to tell them to come back to the kitchen so Zoe could finish her lunch, the doorbell rang. “That’s probably your daddy now. You want to get the door?”

  “Uh-huh!” was all Zoe said before she ran to the door. “Daddy!”

  “Hey, Love Bug!” Langston boomed as he picked up Zoe, swinging her around. “You’ve been a good girl for your mother?”

  Zoe giggled at the playful, serious tone his voice had taken on as his thick eyebrows became furrowed.

  Both Summer and Starr noted the demure smile on their friend’s face when she spoke up for Zoe. “Of course she was a good girl. Right, my Zoe?

  Zoe’s head bobbed up and down. “I was a good girl all weekend.”

  Zoe giggled when Langston tweaked her nose. “I knew you would be.”

  Langston’s attention then went to Ava. Starr discreetly elbowed Summer, who was standing beside her when Langston flashed their friend a brilliant smile. “Hey, Ava.”

  “Hey, Langston,” Ava said, trying to sound nonchalant as butterflies began to flutter in her belly.

  Being the gentleman that he was, Langston then turned his attention to Starr and Summer, offering them a warm smile. “Hello, how are you?” he asked.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. Langston, these are my best friends, Summer Stiles and Starr Dawson. Summer and Starr, this is Zoe’s father, Langston Warrington.”

  “And my aunties!” Zoe proudly beamed, which made all the adults in the room laugh.

  Langston shook Summer’s hand and then Starr’s. “Nice to meet you both.”

  “Same here,” both women said in unison.

  “Well, we better get going,” Summer suggested, making her way to the front door.

  Following her lead, Starr said, “Yes, we better. We’ll see you on Tuesday or Thursday night?”

  “I promise I’ll see you guys on Thursday. I’m almost finished doing the vision screenings at school.”

  “OK, it’s a date,” Starr confirmed.

  “I’ll be right back. I’m going to walk them out,” Ava told Langston as she ushered her friends out the door.

  “Bye, Auntie Starr, Auntie Summer,” Zoe said and waved.

  Bye, Zoe,” both the aunties sang in unison, blowing Zoe kisses.

  Once the screen door was closed, Ava looked over her shoulder to make sure that neither Zoe nor Langston were looking. “So what you think?” she asked.

  “I think you’re still in love with him,” Summer admitted easily as she dug in her purse, searching for her car keys.

  “Mmm-hmm. And he’s still in love with you too,” Starr added.

  Ava stared at the both of them like they’d been smoking crack in church. “What the hell is wrong with y’all? I’m talking about Zoe,” she snapped.

  “Stop cursing on Sunday, Av. We think she’s adorable. Wish you had told us she was here all weekend, though,” Starr chided. She didn’t try to censor her annoyance with her best friend. Ava didn’t have to wait until the last minute to have them come over to meet their niece.

  “She sure is adorable. Looking like a mini you,” Summer said and giggled. “And the next time she’s in town, let’s throw her a little party to meet NJ, Autumn, Ashley, Kyle, and the three K’s.”

  Starr’s annoyance quickly faded. “Yeah, good idea, Summer. We can give her a birthday party for all the birthdays she’s didn’t have with you, Av.”

  “OK, OK, I like this,” Summer said, nodding. “We can get a clown, an artist to come in and do face painting, and one of those big things the kids can jump up and down and bounce around in.” Summer eyes became wide with excitement. “Ooh, and ponies! The kids will love pony rides!”

  “Ponies! Girl, I know we’re having it at your house then,” Starr said and laughed.

  Ava tried to swallow the lump forming in her throat as she listened to Starr and Summer chatter on and on about whether they should order one large birthday cake or seven small ones. Should they invite other children, or just keep it strictly for family? Would they have the party before school let out in a couple of months, or in the summer?

  She was completely touched by her friends stepping in and being real aunts to her baby. The love and support her friends and family were showering on her was overwhelming. Not once had any of them made her feel bad about the choices she’d made.

  “What’s wrong, Av?” Summer asked as she noticed Ava’s eyes tearing up.

  Her voice quivered when she spoke. “Nothing. I better get back inside. I’ll see you guys on Thursday.” Hugging them both at the same time, she whispered, “Thank you. I love you both so much.”

  “OK, honey. We love you too. Now get back inside to your family,” Summer told Ava as she turned her toward her front door, giving her a gentle nudge.

  Now get back inside to your family. A family. I have a family.

  Chapter 16

  Beatrice was beside herself. What was wrong with that son of hers? First he forbade her to come to his home without calling or being invited, simply because she wouldn’t allow that dreaded child to behave like a savage. And now, even worse, that common whore Ava Peretti had wormed her way back into their lives.

  She knew the day Ava reappeared at Warrington and Warrington that she
’d find a way to worm herself back into their lives. That slut may have fooled Langston with her phony tears, but not Beatrice. She may have tricked him into believing Zoe was her reason for slithering from out of whatever cesspool she’d been in for the last seven years, but Beatrice knew differently. Ava was back to stake a claim on the Warrington name and fortune, just like that home wrecker Lydia. And Beatrice wasn’t having it.

  “How’s your tea, dear?” Beatrice asked the young woman sitting across from her in the brightly lit sunroom of her Alexandria home.

  Removing the delicate china teacup from her full lips, Christina smiled at the older woman. “It’s delicious. Thank you.”

  “Very good.” Setting her teacup gently on the bistro table, Beatrice returned the smile. Studying the young woman, she had to admit that she wasn’t the most gorgeous girl. It wasn’t that she was bad looking, but rather pretty in a plain sort of a way. Tilting her head to the side, she wondered if the young woman had what it would take to capture if not her son’s heart, his attention. Christina maintained a reserved composure despite the fact that she was nervous and trembling on the inside. She had no idea why Mrs. Warrington had summoned her to have tea. After all these years it couldn’t be to blast her for treating her son so cruelly. She would never forget the look in his eyes that night he overheard her talking to her mother.

  “Dear, I’m so sorry to hear about your engagement,” Beatrice told the younger woman as she lifted her cup to her lips, hiding a small smirk while taking a sip of tea.

  Christina’s light brown complexion tinged a shade of pink from embarrassment. It seemed as if all of the Washington, Virginia, and Maryland area had heard of her being jilted three days before her wedding. That was two years ago, and Christina was just as mortified now as she was then.

  “Thank you,” she mumbled, totally humiliated.

  Beatrice gently patted Christina’s hand. “Come, come now, dear, no need to be embarrassed. Since you’re no longer attached, I’d like you to come have dinner with me and Langston tomorrow night.”

  Christina’s hands did a jittery dance in her lap. Could this be her second chance? She wasn’t getting any younger. All of her friends had married successful men and were having children while she was stuck in a miserable existence. Her once well-to-do family had nearly lost everything when her father’s alcoholism ran his law practice into the ground. When her father ran through all of his money, he began dipping into Christina’s trust fund that she was to inherit upon her marriage. The last of the trust was spent on her lavish wedding that never came to fruition.

  A spoiled child, she hadn’t had many boundaries. By the time she went off to college, her parents couldn’t do a thing with her. Christina never took her studies seriously. Hanging out and partying was what she lived for. It didn’t faze her when she was put on academic probation and then later kicked out of one of the most prestigious historical black colleges in the country. Her punishment had been to work in her father’s firm.

  Several years later, here she was, still working in her father’s struggling practice. Getting reacquainted with Langston wasn’t a bad idea. With any luck, within the next year she’d be the other Mrs. Warrington. All she had to do was convince him that she could love him.

  “I’d like that very much, Mrs. Warrington,” Christina said graciously, accepting the older woman’s offer.

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  Langston was fuming. He should have known his mother was up to no good when she invited him and Zoe over for dinner. Why did he even try? His mother was beyond the point of reasoning. Didn’t she realize he was a grown man and her matchmaking days for him were over? And of all people, Christina Williamson was the woman with whom his mother was trying to hook him up.

  When he and Zoe walked in and Christina was perched on the sofa with her legs crossed at the ankles, he started to turn around and walk out. When their eyes connected, her cruel words came rushing back like a lightning bolt, hitting him deep and smacking him in the center of his chest.

  “What’s wrong, Daddy?” Zoe whispered as she peered up at Langston’s stony expression.

  “Nothing, Love Bug. Come on, let’s go wash our hands before sitting down to dinner,” he answered.

  Christina couldn’t eat a thing. All during dinner she pushed her food from one end of the plate to the other. This was a bad idea. The moment Langston looked at her, she could tell he remembered the cruel young girl she had been. Although he wasn’t rude to her, he wasn’t exactly happy to see her. Most of his attention was focused on his daughter, who kept looking at her with curiosity. At least when she engaged Langston in small talk, he had been gracious enough to indulge her.

  Beatrice’s face began to ache from the plastic smile she wore every time she looked at Zoe. She wanted to scream when the little clumsy brat knocked over her water glass. Then she wanted to strangle the child when she announced, “Grandmother, I’m a big girl. My grandmom showed me how to clean up when I have an accident.”

  It was worse than she thought. Langston was intermingling with Ava’s people. The child talked incessantly about Grandmom and Grandpop, and how much fun she had when she went to their house. Grandmom baked cookies with her and Grandpop let her play with his train set, blah, blah, blah.

  If Christina hadn’t seemed so interested in what the child had to say, and if Langston wasn’t there, Beatrice would have told her to shut up and not say another word. As irritated as Zoe was making her, she was pleased Christina had taken to the child, engaging her in conversation all night. This was a good thing. Perhaps if the young woman couldn’t win her son over on her own merits, she could do so using the child.

  Looking at his watch, Langston announced, “I’ve got to get going. Zoe has school in the morning.” Standing, he went over to his mother, and as a dutiful son he kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see you later, Mother.” Then he approached Christina. “Goodnight, Christina.”

  “Goodnight, Langston.” At least he had wished her a good night. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad idea for her to come to dinner. The evening was most likely somewhat awkward because they hadn’t seen each other in years. Christina was sure the next time they saw each other things would be different. Maybe he’d be a little warmer.

  “Come on, Love Bug, say goodnight so we can go.” Ava would be waiting for Zoe to call her before going to bed. He wanted to get Zoe home before it got too late.

  Hopping down from the dining room chair, Zoe said, “Goodnight, Grandmother. Goodnight, Miss Christina.”

  Christina smiled at Zoe. She had heard through the grapevine years ago that Langston had a child he was raising as a single parent. She liked Zoe. The child was polite and well mannered. If things worked out, she’d be stepmother to the adorable little girl. “Goodnight, Zoe.”

  As Zoe took her father’s hand and they started for the door, Beatrice called out, “Doesn’t Grandmother get a hug?”

  Terrified, Zoe’s grip tightened on her father’s hand as she stood rooted to the spot where she stood. She didn’t want to kiss Grandmother. She scared Zoe. Her smiles weren’t pretty like Grandmom Janet’s smiles. Grandmother looked like the Grinch who stole Christmas whenever she smiled.

  “Mother, we have to get going.” Langston felt the tension leave Zoe’s little body as they walked out of the house and to his car in the driveway. He didn’t care that he’d probably embarrassed Beatrice. Mother or not, if she thought he was going to stand by and let her use his daughter like some piece on a chess board, then she was more batty than he thought.

  Opening the car’s back door, Langston helped Zoe climb into the backseat and get settled in her booster seat. As he fastened her in, Zoe asked, “Daddy, is Miss Christina going to be your girlfriend?”

  Shutting the rear passenger door, he came around and got in the car. Adjusting the rearview mirror so he could look at Zoe, he answered, “No, Love Bug.”

  Zoe smiled. “Good. Because I want Mommy to be your girlfriend.”

  Langston didn�
�t say anything. He just smiled and readjusted the mirror. From your lips to God’s ears, Love Bug.

  Chapter 17

  Langston wasn’t surprised when the phone was picked up on the first ring. He could tell Ava had been sitting by it waiting for Zoe’s call. He hoped she wouldn’t be too disappointed he was the one calling and not Zoe.

  He and Zoe returned home much later than expected. Traffic had almost come to a standstill because of an accident on the Beltway. By the time they’d reached home it was well past Zoe’s bedtime. She had fallen asleep and didn’t stir when he carried her from the car to her bed. He was tempted to wake her because she looked forward to talking with her mommy every night. But Langston decided against it. Zoe could call Ava in the morning before she went to school.

  “What happened, Langston? I’ve been calling all night,” Ava said, her voice strained with concern.

  Noting the worry in her voice, he explained their whereabouts, hoping it would alleviate her worry. “Nothing happened. My mother invited me and Zoe over for dinner. And then on the way home we were stuck in traffic on the Beltway because of an accident.”

  Ava let out a frustrated sigh as she lay in her bed. Looking at the clock on the nightstand table, she saw that the time was ten thirty. She should have talked to her baby three hours ago. “I swear, Langston, you know they have this new invention called a cell phone? You could have let her call me on that. I’ve been sitting here waiting for hours.” Ava made no attempt to conceal the irritation dripping from her voice. She wanted to talk to her daughter when she wanted to talk to her.

  “Why you always gotta come at my neck like that?” he asked between clenched teeth.

  Yeah, he could have let Zoe call Ava on his cell phone. But the child was asleep within the first five minutes of being in the car. Usually Zoe was chatty on rides and would talk nonstop from one destination to the other. He didn’t see the point of waking her up when it was evident that she had a long day and was tired.