“Well, like I said to Marcus—”
“I heard what you said to Marcus,” he interrupted roughly. “Are you saying you don’t want her?”
“I’d love to have a little girl around, but this is different. I haven’t had a chance to get to know her first like I did with Marcus. With him the sequence of events was natural. Now I feel like it’s being forced on me, and it feels anything but. Of course, if he’d told me about her I would have included her, at least part of the time. Then there are the financial considerations. Caring for two kids is going to be somewhat of a stretch for me.”
“I’ll help you with the financial end. And I agree you shouldn’t feel forced into taking on a second child. Start by having her spend the weekends with you. Marcus can stay with Max and me if you want to have some time alone with her to get acquainted and do girl stuff. That child needs you, Ava.” She needs both of us.
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. “That is so incredibly sweet for you to offer to help me with the expense. No wonder I love you so much.”
He leaned forward to plant a kiss on her mouth. “As much as I’d love to sit here and kiss you, we’ve got to get this worked out first.”
She nodded. “I think having Marcus around will make Monet more comfortable. I’m a stranger to her, Hilton, and she’s pretty young to be around someone she doesn’t know.”
“I think she’s already comfortable, as comfortable as Max is with you. She might not have been around you a lot, but she’s been hearing about you for weeks. At the party I could tell how much the other kids envied Marcus. Monet barely took her eyes off you.”
Ava recalled the guilt she felt when she visited the senior Hudsons at the Avalon and both Monet and Gabrielle had silently pleaded with their eyes for her to get them out of there, but still she was confused. “She barely spoke to me, Hilton. She was much more interested in playing with Colleen.”
“Doesn’t matter. She was looking at you. Every kid is different, Ava. Take little Gabby. She might only be seven years old, but Neil said the minute he and Linda approached her she wanted to know which of the children were theirs. When they said none, she asked them if they didn’t like kids.” Hilton chuckled. “Monet is quiet and content to look. But I guess Gabby figured that if Marcus had found you, she’d see if she could find someone she and her brother could go live with among your friends.”
“I guess so. Linda told me Gabrielle asked her if she would be her new mommy. It just about broke her heart at the time, because she thought it was just an unhappy child asking for help, not someone she actually could take care of. But Hilton, you don’t suppose that the mother can return down the road and insist on getting the kids back, do you? That would kill Linda, and even Neil would be brokenhearted. They’re not looking to be foster parents; they want children who will belong to them forever.”
“Neil asked to see the letter Sandra wrote her parents. I read it, too. She clearly stated she wasn’t coming back and instructed that if they weren’t able to take care of the kids to put them in foster care and maybe someone would adopt them. I’m no lawyer, but that sounds like an acceptable power of attorney to me, and to Neil as well. But Neil has excellent counsel, and they’ll make sure it’s legal. Neil told me that if everything works out after the Hudson’s initial stay in West Palm, he’d like to have an official agreement drawn up for them to sign laying out an extended trial period that includes twice-a-month visits to Palmdale so the children can see their grandparents while he and Linda make sure it’s a good fit.”
“That makes sense. Adoption is a big step.”
“Yes. It might give the kids some anxiety, knowing that Neil and Linda can decide not to go through with it. And the kids’ mother can blow the lid off everything if she changes her mind and comes back for them.”
“But if everything works out and the private adoption is final?” Ava asked.
“Once that happens, there’s nothing she can do. I’m not sure an adoption will even be possible if she can’t be found to sign away her rights. That letter to her parents might not hold up for a permanent placement of the kids. And if she should come back at any time before everything is final, the courts usually favor the birth mother, even in cases of child abandonment. The Hudsons could carry some influence if they were willing to testify about their daughter’s character flaws, the drug use, her being mostly an absentee mother, stuff like that.” Hilton punctuated his words with a series of nods, silently underscoring the difficult situation Mr. and Mrs. Hudson could find themselves in. “It’s a tough call, but personally, I don’t think they’d hesitate if it came to that, no matter how much it would pain them to go against their own daughter. They care more about what’s best for their grandchildren than they do about hurting their daughter’s feelings, and they also know they won’t live forever.”
Ava sighed. “Sounds like it could get ugly. I’ll pray that everything works out between the kids and Neil and Linda, and that Sandra doesn’t come back and complicate things until the adoption is final.” Then another potential problem occurred to her. “Hilton, how long did you say the Hudsons will be down in West Palm Beach?”
“A couple of weeks at least, maybe a month. Neil and Linda are going to put them up in a residential hotel. Why?”
“What about their new apartment? The landlord might rent it to someone else if they don’t move in right away.”
“No, he won’t.”
“How do you know?”
Hilton’s gaze was firmly fixed on her face. “Because I’m the landlord.”
“You! I thought you just did the building maintenance for the owners.”
“I wasn’t completely honest with you, Ava, but I’m going to set it straight now. After I explain it, you’ll understand my reasons.” Hilton leaned forward with his forearms resting on his thighs and his hands clasped, then cleared his throat in preparation for a speech. “You see, about seventy years ago my mother’s father got hold of enough money where he was able to begin selling life insurance policies. Nothing grand, just enough to guarantee coverage of funeral and burial expenses, plus mourning clothes for the families. It cost something like a quarter a week. He covered most of the southeastern part of South Carolina and the northwestern part of Georgia while his wife answered the phone in their office and typed up premium statements and envelopes for people to mail in their payments.
“My grandfather was a brave man to go on the road in those days,” he continued. “It was a dangerous thing to do, especially in rural areas, because of the racial climate of the times. Black people weren’t supposed to have life insurance, because an inheritance meant they could become better off financially, which was a no-no as far as the white establishment was concerned. More than once he was threatened with death and run out of town. And this was with just offering burial insurance, which gave little to no extras beyond the costs for a funeral.”
Ava, mesmerized, nodded mute agreement. Spencer’s grandfather had been a brave man. It made her nervous just thinking about it.
“It was hard, but he persevered, and soon every day my grandmother was opening dozens of envelopes with quarters taped to the statements. After a few years they were able to offer better insurance, the kind that would provide for the survivors as well as get you buried. They began advertising in black newspapers, and eventually my grandparents became wealthy.
“Unfortunately, my grandmother died soon after. When she passed my grandfather threw himself into his work. He bought a funeral home, then another, and eventually he started a chain. The Tucker Corporation is still in business today, offering all kinds of insurance, annuities, you name it, as well as the funeral homes. My brother runs it. Even though I’ve never been involved, my grandfather left most of his estate to my brother and me, since my mother was his only child and he…” Hilton choked a little bit—“he outlived her. So you see, Ava, I’m a little more than the proprietor of a small home maintenance and repair business.”
She spoke slowly
. “So I guess it was silly for me to worry about what you were spending on dinners out, entertainment and flowers during your slow season.”
“That was sweet of you, but the truth is I’ll never have to worry about money the rest of my life, unless I go out and start acting the fool and spend like there’s no tomorrow. I believe in living simply and reserving my inheritance for big things…like the Hudson’s rent. Because I own the building, I’m able to charge them less, an amount that will allow them to live comfortably on their disability income.”
“That’s incredibly generous of you…but why didn’t you tell me before?” As quickly as she asked the question, Ava answered it herself. Janelle had seen Hilton as a cash register, and Max was her ticket to make sure the drawer would open again and again. He probably wanted to avoid a similar situation.
“I’ve been burned once, and I knew that the next time I wanted someone who would love me even if I were a carpenter, to quote a highly appropriate lyric.” He chuckled. “I’ll bet you wondered why Janelle wanted to put the squeeze on someone who only made a policeman’s salary instead of a hotshot surgeon or chemical engineer.”
“Now that you mention it, yes, I was curious about that. A piece of the puzzle seemed to be missing.”
“Now you know what it is. Too many people in Augusta knew who I was. I don’t think Janelle knew at first, but when she found out everything changed. That was the main reason I decided to move someplace else. I felt that if I was lucky enough to fall in love I should make sure the woman I wanted had no ulterior motives.” He smiled at her warmly. “I’m about as sure as I can be that she doesn’t, but she might be a little upset that I kept something so important secret from her.” He straightened his posture and reached for her hand. “Do you forgive me?”
She squeezed his hand. “There’s nothing to forgive. I understand perfectly. If our positions were reversed, I wouldn’t be going around telling everyone I met that I was rich, either.”
“I adore you,” he said fervently.
“I do love you, Hilton. I never thought I’d ever feel this way again. I can’t tell you how much you’ve changed my life, made it so much better.” They sat facing each other in a deeply intense moment. Facing him as she professed her feelings with her hand in his was oddly reminiscent of taking wedding vows; it felt that serious to her.
He slid over and gathered her in his arms. They held each other tightly, their emotions too deep for kisses.
“All I want,” Hilton said, “is to make a home with, and for, my son and for the woman I love. And as you already know, I’m very open to having more kids around.”
Ava closed her eyes and savored the moment. He’d all but said he wanted to marry her. She’d never been happier in her personal life, but she still worried about what the future held for Marcus’s sister and cousins. “I do hope it all works out with Gabby and Shane…and Monet.”
“They all seem to be sweet kids. Neil and Linda certainly have a lot of love to give. And as for Monet, as much as I love my two dudes, I’m looking forward to having a little dudette around to spoil.”
The familiar feelings of inadequacy washed over her, and she reluctantly pulled out of his embrace. “You won’t get one from me.”
“It’s probably best that I don’t get a daughter from anyone.”
She looked at him curiously. “What do you mean?”
“Ava, my grandmother died of ovarian cancer at forty-two. My mother died of the same disease at thirty-seven. I don’t think medical science has a full understanding of just how disease genes work, but I do believe that some conditions do run in families.”
“But just because one of your parents had a particular disease, it doesn’t mean you’ll get it, too.”
“I agree that it’s more of a propensity, not an absolute given. All the same, I’m glad I have a brother instead of a sister, and a son instead of a daughter. Even when my sister-in-law was pregnant we were all scared to death she would have a girl who’d be doomed to the same fate. Fortunately, she had twin boys, but years later she and my brother decided they wanted a daughter as well. Of course, it might have been fine because the tragedy of my mother and grandmother’s early deaths only makes up an eighth or less of this generation’s family history, but because no one really knows how these things work it was a frightening prospect for them, and that’s why they adopted.”
“Oh. I didn’t know.”
“It’s not what you can’t do, Ava. It’s what you can do. Always remember that.”
She nodded. That was possibly the best advice anyone had ever given her, and she knew she’d never forget it. She touched her fingertips to his cheek. “You miss your mother terribly, don’t you, Hilton?”
“Every day. I wasn’t much older than Marcus is now when she died.” He took her hand by the wrist and tenderly kissed the back of it. “I wish I could tell her that at the rather advanced age of forty-one and after making a couple of near-mistakes, I think I finally met The One.” His arm tightened around her, and eventually their sitting so close stirred their passions. When they finally did kiss it was a brief touch of lips, for they both knew intimacy was not an option for them so soon after Ava’s surgery.
“Hi!”
They pulled back from each other just enough so they could look up. Marcus and Max stood in the arched doorway, giggling.
“I told ya they’re all lovey-dovey,” Marcus said to Max.
“Are you gonna get married?” Max asked Hilton.
Hilton looked at Ava, then at his son. “Do you think we should?”
Neither boy hesitated. “Yeah!”
“They think we should,” he said to Ava, cocking his head in their direction. “So how about it?”
Chapter 26
In the master bedroom, Ava smoothed down the soft sleeves of Monet’s navy satin and velvet dress with white trim. “You look just precious, sweetie.”
“Thank you.” The six-year-old looked at her face in the lit mirror of Ava’s vanity table. “I’ve never been in a flower girl before. It’s fun. I like getting all pretty.”
She was everything Ava had ever dreamed of in a little girl.
“Can you put some lipstick on me?” she asked.
“Well…just a little.” Ava applied some dark pink color to Monet’s lips. She shared Marcus’s large, expressive eyes. One day she would be a knockout.
“Can I go downstairs and see if Gabby’s here yet, Aunt Ava?”
“All right, go on. But don’t get dirty.”
Ava turned her attention to her own appearance. It took her less than five minutes to apply her makeup, after which she walked to her bed, where a red gown lay, waiting to adorn her body.
She had just stepped into it when someone knocked on the closed door. “It’s us, Ava.”
“Good,” she said as she opened the door for Vicky and Kendall. “You can help me button this up.”
“Ooh, aren’t you lovely!” Vicky exclaimed, taking in the form-fitting gown with a modestly cut cowl neckline in the front and a deep drape in the back. “This is one Thanksgiving weekend no one will ever forget.”
“It’ll take all weekend just to get these buttons done,” Kendall grumbled. “Ava, there must be fifteen buttons on this dress!”
“But it’s beautiful,” Vicky added with a scowl Kendall’s way. The dress had small silk buttons going from Ava’s mid-back to her hips.
“That it is.”
Ava laughed at Kendall’s awkward recovery from her trademark bluntness. “I’ve been working out for months to make sure this dress would look good on me. Hilton didn’t even want to wait this long to get married, but he knew how symbolic the holiday season is for me, so he agreed to it.”
“What a guy,” Vicky said, her voice ringing with admiration.
“Are you nervous, Ava?” Kendall asked.
“No, not at all.” It was the truth. She hadn’t the slightest doubt. Ava knew that marrying Hilton was the right thing to do.
“I can�
��t believe you’re getting married in a red dress,” Kendall added. “The whole town is going to be scandalized. Catherine Moore will probably pass out. You know how she believes in protocol.”
“I gave her a little forewarning, along with my mother. Everyone else will just have to be surprised, maybe even shocked. But I’m thirty-six years old and the mother of two…sort of.” Mr. and Mrs. Hudson had spoken to their incarcerated daughter about granting legal guardianship of Marcus and Monet to Ava with the plan for subsequent adoption once she and Hilton were married, but while Glenda Hudson had granted the guardianship, unlike her sister Sandra, she staunchly refused to consent for adoption.
The thought that she and Hilton would be unable to formalize the situation with Marcus and Money cast a pall over her mood that her friends quickly sought to alleviate.
“Try not to worry about it, Ava,” Vicky said. “It’s hard to ask a woman to give up her children. But from what you’ve told me, she’s going to be in prison for quite some time yet. Those kids are yours in every sense but the legal one, while they’re hers only in the legal sense but not in any other way.”
“She’s a vindictive witch,” Kendall muttered. “By the time she gets sprung they won’t even remember her.”
“Monet doesn’t remember her now,” Ava remarked. “She was just two when Glenda went to prison.”
“Marcus and Monet already consider you and Hilton to be their parents. Besides, how much time did she really spend with them before she got locked up?”
A Love of Her Own Page 29
