Hunching her shoulders, Ava set the water pitcher on the counter. Taking a glass from the cabinet, she poured herself some water. No sooner was she was about to put the glass to her lips when Zoe came tearing into the kitchen, happier than a piglet playing in mud.
Ava could not believe her eyes as she saw her child go to the pantry closet, open the door, and climb on the stepstool so she could reach the shelf with the cookies. Taking a sip of water, Ava sat the glass on the counter before crossing her arms over her chest to watch her daughter in action.
Zoe was happy. She knew her daddy would let her have some cookies. Standing on the tip of her toes, she reached up and grabbed the cookies. Stepping down off the stepstool, she closed the pantry door. Skipping to the table, Zoe sat the package of cookies down before climbing up in a chair. Just as she was about to open the package, it was snatched out of her little hands.
Ava was steaming mad. “Didn’t I tell you no more junk food tonight?” Ava asked her daughter with a firm tone.
Zoe’s bottom lip trembled. Her mommy had never talked to her like that before.
“I told her she could have the cookies.”
Both Ava’s and Zoe’s eyes swung to the doorway from where the masculine voice had come.
Oh, so this is how it’s going to be. Two against one, Ava thought. “And I told her she couldn’t have any.”
Langston stared at Ava. After dealing with Colin earlier in the day, and then having his motion to enter new evidence to clear his client denied, he was not in a good mood. All he wanted to do was come home, eat, take a shower, and chill. Now was not the time for Ava to be giving him attitude.
Loosening his necktie, he questioned Ava’s judgment. “Why? Didn’t she eat her dinner?”
Ava tilted her head, looking at Langston like he had lost his mind. Somebody please tell her this man was not standing here questioning her in front of their daughter. Somebody please tell her this wasn’t happening.
“Yes, she ate dinner,” Ava gritted out between clenched teeth.
“Then what’s the big deal?” Langston asked. He then walked over to Ava and took the cookies from her hands. Opening the package, he withdrew two cookies and handed them to Zoe. “Here you go, Love Bug. Take your cookies and go upstairs. After you eat them, get ready for your bath.”
Zoe looked from her daddy back to her mommy. She didn’t like the way they were looking at each other. Usually they were friendly toward one another. Suddenly she didn’t want the cookies anymore. Sliding off the chair, she stood. Setting the cookies on the table, she looked up at Langston with tears in her eyes. “Daddy, I don’t want them.”
Langston hissed an expletive under his breath as Zoe left the kitchen. “Do you see what you did?” Langston shouted at Ava.
“What I did!” Ava asked, incredulous. She could not believe he was blaming this on her. “You should have asked me why I told her she couldn’t have the cookies. She eats too much junk as it is, Langston!”
Sure, Zoe was a slim child now, but at the rate she was going, in a couple of years she might be overweight. Not only could the sweets be detrimental to her health, but they could also be devastating to her emotional wellbeing. Kids could be cruel. As a school nurse Ava had seen her share of obese children being bullied and teased. She didn’t want that for her little girl.
“I don’t have to ask your permission to give my daughter anything!” Langston yelled loud enough to make the windows shatter.
The sharp gasp of air Ava drew in pierced the atmosphere. His words had stung. Matter of fact, they had hurt. What did he mean by “my daughter”? Didn’t he consider Zoe her daughter too? Didn’t she have a right to make decisions where Zoe was concerned? Or did he expect her to sit back and not have a say in her own daughter’s life?
Again he hissed an expletive. He could tell by the expression on Ava’s face that he had hurt her. He didn’t mean to snap at her like that. It was just that Zoe had looked so pitiful that he did what he always did, give her whatever she wanted. When he tried to reach out to Ava, she pulled away.
“You’re right, Langston. You don’t have to ask my permission to give your daughter anything.” Putting the glass she used in the sink, and the water pitcher back in the fridge, Ava went up to her room.
Walking down the dark hallway, Ava heard the distinct sound of muffled sobs. Peering through the cracked bedroom door, she saw Zoe lying on her bed with her face in her favorite Teddy bear. Her little shoulders were trembling as she cried.
Ava’s heart went out to small child. She and Langston hadn’t acted like adults in front of her. They had been irresponsible by growling and shouting at each other. Ava was certain Zoe had heard them once she’d left kitchen.
It wasn’t that Ava was necessarily upset with Zoe. All children did what she had done—pit one parent against the other. Shoot, growing up as a daddy’s girl, Ava had been guilty of doing it more times than she could count. However, her parents always stood as a united front. And that was all she wanted from Langston—to back her up whenever she made a parenting decision. But, no, he had to act like a jackass.
Easing open the door, Ava went over to the bed and sat down. Touching Zoe’s shoulder, she turned her over. When Zoe looked up at her with puffy, red, swollen eyes, all Ava could think was my poor baby.
Leaning down, Ava gently kissed Zoe’s forehead. “Why are you crying?” she asked.
Stuttering, Zoe choked out, “B-because . . . y-you don’t . . . l-love me . . . a-anymore. I-I don’t . . . w-want y-you to l-leave me.” Zoe turned away from Ava, burying her face back into her Teddy bear.
Reaching down, Ava pulled Zoe’s tiny body onto her lap. Immediately Zoe nestled her face in Ava’s bosom and wrapped her arms around her middle. Kissing the top of Zoe’s head, Ava rubbed her back. “Oh, baby, I’m going to always love you no matter what. I could never stop loving you in a million years. And I’m never going to leave you as long as I live.” Gently she lifted the little girl’s chin. Smiling at her, she said, “OK?”
Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, Zoe nodded. “OK.”
“But I am disappointed in you, my Zoe. You went behind my back and asked your daddy for cookies after I told you no.” When Zoe dropped her head in shame, Ava tilted her chin back up so the child could look at her.
“I thought you understood when we had our little talk the other day about how all the junk food you eat isn’t good for you.” Ava smoothed her thumb over Zoe’s eyebrow. “Remember we talked about you eating healthy snacks that were good for you and tasted good too?”
Again Zoe nodded. “Yes, Mommy, I remember,” she whispered, dropping her gaze.
This time Ava didn’t make Zoe look at her as she continued to talk. “Did you tell your daddy I offered you cherries instead of the cookies for your after-dinner snack?”
Lifting her head, Zoe gazed pitifully at her mommy. Shaking her head, her bottom lip trembled when she whispered, “No, Mommy, I didn’t tell Daddy.”
Langston had heard enough as he stood listening in the doorway. He felt like an idiot for jumping all over Ava. He hadn’t even given her the benefit of the doubt. Instead he’d behaved as if Ava had mistreated Zoe in some way, and not as if she was concerned about the child’s health. Coming into the room, he walked over to the bed. Kneeling down so that he was eye level with Zoe, he gently reprimanded her. “Zoe, you didn’t tell me your mother said you could have something else other than the cookies. You know that was wrong.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
When he looked up at Ava, she looked away, rolling her eyes. I deserve that, he thought. Turning his attention back to Zoe, he said, “Love Bug, we both owe your mother an apology.”
“I’m sorry, Mommy,” Zoe said, shaking her head. “I won’t do it again.”
Kissing Zoe’s forehead, Ava said, “Apology accepted.”
“I’m sorry too, Ava,” Langston said. “I should have talked to you first before giving in to Zoe.”
Yeah…
whatever. Plastering a fake smile on her face for Zoe’s sake, Ava said, “Apology accepted.”
Langston grinned and asked, “Don’t I get a kiss on the forehead?”
Ava’s lip curled into a snarl as she clipped out, “No.”
Langston chuckled. After kissing Zoe on the forehead, he stood to his full height. “Good night, Love Bug. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Once Langston left the room, Ava gave Zoe a tight squeeze. “I love you, my Zoe.” Pulling down the sheet, she said, “Come on, it’s time to go nighty-night.”
Crawling under the sheet, Zoe let out a big yawn. “Nighty-night, Mommy. I love you too.”
Descending the stairs, Ava made her way into the family room. Now I’m going to have to get on her about cleaning up after herself, she thought. Stooping down she began to gather crayons, putting them back in the box. Gathering the coloring books in one hand and the crayons in the other, Ava let out a loud shriek when she felt large hands encircling her waist. The items she’d been holding flew out of her hands, tumbling in the air before landing on the floor.
Swirling around, she pounded on Langston’s broad chest with curled fists. “What’s wrong with you, creeping up on me like that!” Ava yelled.
Pulling her into a bear hug and crushing her against his chest, Langston whispered in her ear, “Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” When she tried to push out of his arms, Langston pulled her closer.
“Let me go. I’m mad at you and don’t want you touching me,” Ava snapped, still annoyed. Although he’d apologized, and she was sure he meant it, Ava had only accepted the apology because Zoe had been present.
Balling her hands into fists, she pressed against his chest to put some distance between them. She was dead serious. She did not want this man touching her. Hissing like a cornered cat, she said, “Where do you get off—” Before Ava could finish her sentence, Langston had leaned down and captured her mouth in a kiss. The moment she gasped in surprise, Langston used that as his opportunity to deepen the kiss.
Ava tried to fight it, tried to resist it, honest to goodness she did. But Langston’s mouth and his tongue were working overtime, drawing her into his web. Her stiff body gave up the struggle as his tongue stroked every inch of her sweet mouth. Ava moaned deep in her throat when Langston began to suckle her tongue, driving her crazy. All of the fight went out of her, and Ava stood on tiptoes, wrapping her arms around his neck. Pressing her soft curves into his mass of muscles, she reveled in the way he was torturing her mouth.
He didn’t want to break the kiss, but he knew he had to let her up for air. Easing back from her mouth, Langston rested his forehead against Ava’s. “Baby, I am sorry. I need to learn that Zoe can’t have everything she asks for.” Letting out a deep sigh, he said, “I got used to giving Zoe her way because she’s such a good kid and I felt guilty because she didn’t have a mother around.”
Ava nodded in understanding. “I hear you, Lang. Zoe is a very sweet child, but that doesn’t mean she deserves to get everything she asks for. You need to let that guilt about her not having a mother around go. I’m here now.”
When Langston opened his mouth to say something, Ava held up her hand to silence him. Taking a step back, she put her hands on her hips. If he thought because he had just kissed her senseless and had her hot in the tail that she wasn’t go to have her say, he had another think coming. “And where do you get off saying to me that ‘my daughter’ crap? Last I remember I was the one who carried her for nine months and pushed out her big head.”
She slapped his hand away when he reached out to grab her waist. “I’m not finished.”
Langston rolled his shoulders and let out a deep breath. Here we go.
Reading his mind and rolling her eyes, Ava said, “Yeah, here we go. That’s right. I don’t appreciate you saying that to me.” Fighting back tears, her voice quivered when she said, “You had no right talking to me like that just because you raised Zoe. I’ve always wanted our daughter.”
When he reached for her this time, Ava didn’t slap him away. Folding her in his arms, Langston held her tightly as he admitted, “I didn’t mean to hurt you, baby. Honestly, I didn’t mean it like that. It won’t happen again.”
It better not, was what she wanted to tell him, but decided against it. From the rapid thundering in his chest, and the way he was holding her, she knew he hadn’t meant to be so curt with her earlier. Most likely he had had a trying day at work and decided to unleash his frustrations on her. She wouldn’t be too hard on him. Lord knew that in the past she had lashed out on those closest to her when her day had gone haywire.
“You want to talk about it?” she asked him.
Langston smiled. With all of her sass, Ava had a caring heart. Here she was concerned about him, even after he had totally pissed her off. He had never known her not to offer him a listening ear whenever he was troubled. He wanted to tell her about his visit from Colin, but he didn’t want to send her off the deep end. On the other hand, he didn’t want to hide or lie to her about anything. Taking a deep breath, he said, “No, baby, I really don’t want to get into it now.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Yeah, baby, it’s that bad.”
Ava didn’t push. Whenever he was ready to talk, he would come to her and tell her what had his boxers all in a bunch. Besides, if it was that bad, perhaps she didn’t need to know about it. Because Lord knew she didn’t need to hear another tale about how his evil mother had tried her best to destroy her.
“OK,” Ava said. Freeing herself from his embrace, she took his hand in hers. “Come to my room with me. I have something to show you.” After running into Carol Wexler at Target, Ava had been busting at the seams to talk to Langston. She wasn’t going to let the little rift they’d just had keep her from telling him about the angel that had helped her hold on to her sanity.
Nope, I don’t need to hear anything that’s going to steal my joy, she thought. Running into Ms. Carol had been a blessing.
Entering the room where she slept, Ava motioned for Langston to sit on the bed as she went to the dresser. Retrieving the small plastic bags she’d had since the day Zoe was born, she sat next to Langston. Her hands didn’t tremble as badly as they used to when she removed the tiny undershirt. Placing the delicate fabric in his large hands, she smiled at him before saying, “Lang, do I have a story to tell you.”
Chapter 34
He must have read the same line three times on the report sitting on his desk. It was only Thursday, and Langston was missing his girls something fierce. Friday evening couldn’t come fast enough. The house was too quiet without Zoe and Ava. He missed waking up and coming down for breakfast to see Ava moving around in his kitchen, preparing breakfast as if she belonged there. Coming home yesterday evening was downright depressing. Opening the door, there was no Zoe barreling full speed toward him, jumping into his arms. Nor was there the fragrant aroma of some mouthwatering meal tickling his nostrils, leading him to the kitchen with Zoe in his arms.
Giving up on getting any reading done, Langston pushed the file away. Rubbing a large hand down his face, he thought, Get a grip, man. They haven’t been gone for more than forty-eight hours. Standing, Langston went to the window and stared out at nothing in particular. The weather outside left a lot to be desired, it was a muggy, humid day with non-stop thunderstorms. The outdoor atmosphere added to his melancholy mood. If he was missing Ava this much, how much more was he going to miss her once she went back to her life in Philly at the end of the summer? How am I going to keep her here with me?
After Ava had shared with him the story behind the tiny undershirt and lock of hair, Langston held her for what seemed like forever. He knew he couldn’t change the past, but what he could do was make sure she had a secure future. And he wanted to be the one to give her that future.
Langston realized the most important task he must achieve was to get Ava to fully trust him. She had opened up and let him into a very sacred place
in her heart. Whether she was conscious of it or not, she had allowed a part of herself to trust him. Because of her trust, he had felt compelled to tell her about his visit from the hospital administrator. Even though he was concerned with how the information might affect her, Langston knew in his heart he couldn’t withhold it from her. God forbid if by chance she learned of it from another source, what little trust Ava did have in him would be ruined.
Holding Ava in his arms, he told his own story. The entire time he told his story, he prayed God would show him what to do if she couldn’t handle the information.
Her reaction was not what he had expected. “Just because Colin was a slimy jackass, Lang, don’t punish the hospital by withdrawing your financial support.”
“I don’t know, Av, I’m still mad as hell. The only thing that’s keeping me from going to the district attorney’s office about his conduct is the fact that you and Zoe might be dragged into a legal nightmare. It would be like reliving the past, and Zoe would learn some things she’s not ready to know just yet.”
Ava nodded in understanding. She definitely did not want to expose her child to the legal nightmare Langston alluded to. She and Langston had already discussed when and how they were going to go about telling Zoe the truth. She was glad Langston wasn’t so bent on revenge that Zoe might be devastated in the process. She did care about Zoe’s well-being, but she didn’t care about herself. It would have given her great pleasure to see the covers pulled off those bastards. But what went around came around. Ava had faith that one day everyone who had a hand in trying to destroy her would be dealt with by the Almighty himself. As her deceased grandmother used to say, “Ain’t nothing like a whupping the Lord can put on you for doing wrong.”
Gently stroking the side of his jaw with her fingertips, Ava reminded him, “Zoe and I are going to be just fine. We have each other now.” Kissing his lips, she added, “Rethink your position on the donation you make every year. I’m sure the money in some way helps the community that the hospital serves.”
Key To My Heart (Love Conquers All) Page 19
