The Sweetest Love (Love Conquers All Book 5) Read online

  “Turn your head from side to side, like this…” Roxy swung her head imitating the hair models on the shampoo commercials.

  Reba profusely blushed, playing along. Rotating her slender neck and gracefully swinging her head from left to right, and back left again, she definitely could’ve been the next Pantene model.

  “So you like?” Reba beamed at her daughter’s reaction over her new look.

  “I don’t like it… I love it, Mom! People will really think we’re sisters now,” Roxy laughed. “Mom, I always thought you were beautiful… but wow!”

  Reba’s face flushed with the compliment. From the moment she stepped out of the salon, she’d been turning heads. Not only had her new stylist given her a well overdue haircut, she’d also given her a complimentary mini-makeover. “You have naturally pretty eyes,” the stylist had said. She continued to speak as she applied the makeup. “All you have to do is put on a little eye shadow in a neutral color and some black eyeliner, to make them pop. Add a little bit of a neutral lip gloss to your lips,” turning Reba in the chair toward the mirror, “and wa-la! You’ve accentuated your natural beauty.”

  It felt so good having just about every man she passed on the street earlier that afternoon take notice of her. Having so much attention showered on her touched an empty space in her heart and soul. Reba needed some male companionship.

  “Oh, cut it out, little girl.” Reba blushed again. She did have to admit, her new look did have her looking a lot younger than her forty-five years.

  And besides, she wanted to look good for dinner this evening with Donna and her family. One of the things she noticed about Donna that day she ran into her, was that the woman was well coiffed. Not a hair was out of place and her simple outfit of designer jeans and a pink blouse was flattering to her figure. The woman in no way had the appearance of a frumpy housewife and grandmother of six.

  She’d stay home barricaded in her bedroom before she’d go anywhere looking like a rag-a-muffin, embarrassing herself or her child. She’d taken a much needed day off, and was at the door when Stein Mart opened. It didn’t take her long to find the perfect outfit; a classic light-weight knit shell in tangerine, tan cuffed slacks and matching leather sandals. Next she was off to the hair salon in the strip mall down the road.

  Reba smoothed her delicate hands down the front of her slacks. With a little bit of sass, she informed her daughter, “You know I couldn’t go to this dinner looking any ole’ kind of way.”

  Laughing, Roxy agreed. “I know that’s right Mom.”

  Kissing Roxy’s cheek she asked, “You ready?”

  Roxy smiled. “Yup, I’m ready.”

  So this is what having a big family feels like. Donna and the rest of the family had made her and Reba feel welcome from the moment they crossed the threshold. She had been tense about meeting Donna, but when the older woman pulled her into a motherly embrace all of her nervous energy melted away.

  Patrick Wahl, Donna’s husband had given her a big bear hug and insisted on her calling him Poppa Patrick. Her eyes misted, when he boasted, “You’re one of my daughters now, too; can’t have you walking around calling me Mr. Patrick, when your sisters are calling me Poppa.”

  Kevin and Dom had given her hearty brotherly hugs, too.

  It didn’t go unnoticed how Reba and Donna greeted each other in a friendly embrace. Roxy was so pleased at how the other family members accepted her mother, especially her sisters. She gave Starr the thumbs up sign when she declared, “You’re even prettier than my mother described you.”

  After dinner and dessert, the men cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher. Alicia and Kyle pleaded to be excused to go upstairs in their grandparents’ bedroom to watch a movie. Although they’d been excited about meeting their new aunt, they found the adult discussion rather boring.

  The adults along with the toddlers moved into the living room where they comfortably lounged. The conversation was easy flowing as the families became acquainted. Eventually the conversation made its way around to Harold.

  “Have you decided when you’re going to meet our father?” Starr inquired as she wiped a chocolate smudge off Shayla’s chin.

  Roxy squeezed her mother’s hand when she felt her stiffen beside her. “I’ve been so busy I haven’t thought about it. But I guess I need to go ahead and get it over with.”

  “You won’t be meeting much,” Patrick all but hissed, angrier than a rattler.

  “Now Patrick, you stop that,” Donna gently chided. “If Roxy wants to meet Harold she should meet him.”

  Speaking up, Reba came to Patrick’s defense. “I know Harold is up to something. He never wanted any parts of Roxy until now.”

  Starr and Karen cracked up when Patrick looked both Roxy and Reba in the face, gruffly imploring, “Sugah, you stay away from that scoundrel. That devil’s probably dying and wants one of your kidneys or something. I don’t trust him.”

  “A kidney!” Roxy screeched.

  Chuckling, Kevin said, “Poppa Patrick cut it out. You’re scaring poor Roxy.”

  And she was scared too! These people knew more about her father than she did. Maybe he did want to see her because he was sick and needed an organ.

  “Nah, Kevin. Pop Patrick may have a point. After all, he did have to pay the man to give Mom Donna a divorce.”

  “Whaaaaat?” Roxy screeched again, gawking at Donna and Patrick for confirmation. What kind of a man was her biological father?

  Donna nodded her head, confirming what her son-in-law had just revealed. It was Patrick who further confirmed, “I paid that son-of-b—”

  “Poppa!” Karen shrieked pointing to the toddlers crawling around on the floor.

  Flushing a shade of red, he mumbled an apology. “Sorry, daughter.” Clearing his throat he focused again on Reba and Roxy. “I paid that… man, and I use that term lightly, a quarter million dollars to sign divorce papers so I could marry my love.”

  Roxy dropped her face in her hands. This just kept getting worse and worse. Lifting her head, she again gazed at Patrick and Donna who were sitting side by side. They were so much in love. And Harold had put a price on them being able to share that love as husband and wife. Did she really want to know someone like that?

  In disbelief, Reba cut in, “You mean to tell me you had to pay him to sign divorce papers?” Clucking her tongue, she stated, “That man is just evil. Sorry, no offense,” she added, looking over at Starr and Karen.

  Karen put her hands up. “Hey, none taken.”

  “Lord, have mercy… I have a headache,” Roxy murmured, rubbing her temples. “Let’s talk about something else.”

  The best part of the evening was meeting her nieces and nephews. Alicia and Kyle were sweethearts. She had promised that they could have a movie night at her place as long as it was okay with their mom and dad.

  And she couldn’t stop kissing Sydney’s, Shayla’s, Kalvin’s and Noah’s chubby little cheeks. She wanted to box them up and take them home with her. Maybe Jen and Sonia’s pact wasn’t so coo-ca-loo. Being around all these babies was stirring every one of her maternal yearnings.

  “You know you can always babysit,” Starr teased as Roxy made herself comfortable on the floor, playing with the toddlers.

  Bouncing Kalvin on her lap, she smiled up at her sister. “Anytime. Right, little man?” she said in a baby talk before tickling his tummy. She was rewarded with a fit of baby giggles.

  Reba was no more immune to the children than Roxy had been. Bending down, she picked up Noah as he crawled across the floor. Burying her nose in his chunky neck, she inhaled his sweet baby scent. “And if she can’t, just let me know. I’ll babysit for you.”

  Donna’s lip curled into a mischievous smile. “Do you really mean that?”

  “I sure do,” Reba said as she bent down to scoop up Sydney, who was holding onto her leg.

  “Good. You can help me babysit this Saturday while the girls go down to D.C. for the day to visit Ava, Dom’s sister.”
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br />   “I can help babysit, too,” Roxy offered.

  “Oh no, you can’t. You’re coming with us,” Starr informed her as she began picking up toys off the floor.

  “That’s right. Unless you have other plans,” Karen added with a wink.

  She had hoped she and Adam would be getting together over the weekend. But he would be going out of town Friday morning to attend a week-long conference. Shaking her head in the negative, “I don’t have any plans. I’d love to go with you to D.C.”

  “Cool. I can’t wait for you to meet Ava and Summer. Summer’s taking the train down with us,” Starr said as she picked up a stuffed animal and stuffed it in one of the diaper bags.

  “I’m looking forward to meeting them, too.”

  Stupid bitch! Harold seethed as he sat watching the two women enter the home. Stepping out of his vehicle, he slammed the door shut, rattling the windows. For weeks he called, only to have Reba either hang up on him or let the call roll over to voice mail. The last time he called she threatened to have him arrested for harassment.

  It probably was that damn bitter Donna who filled Reba’s head with poison against him. Matter of fact, that’s where she probably got that harassment talk from. She had threatened him with the same when he tried to get their family back together.

  Threats or not, he was going to see his daughter. He’d been patient long enough. How long did she think he was supposed to wait? Until he had one foot in the grave? After all, he was her father and deserved her love, too. He needed her love.

  And with those thoughts, Harold Avery made his way to Reba’s front door.

  “Mom, are you expecting anyone?” Roxy yelled up the stairs to her mother.

  Kicking off her shoes in her bedroom, Reba headed back downstairs. “No, I’m not.” Going over to the door, curious to see who would be stopping by so late, she looked out the peephole.

  Roxy didn’t know what was going on, but whoever was on the other side of the door was not a welcomed visitor. Her mom’s face turned deep crimson and her hands balled up into fists.

  Tonight had been a great evening. She and her baby had met their newly blended family. And she and Donna had managed to spend some one-on-one time together as Roxy became better acquainted with her sisters, brothers-in-law and Patrick.

  Surprisingly, they had a number of things in common. They both enjoyed romantic comedies, old school music, crocheting, and shopping. “We probably would’ve been the best of friends if we’d met under different circumstances,” Donna joked.

  If she had known Beelzebub was going to show up at her door, she would have begged them not to mention his dreaded name. Reba didn’t even bother to use brain energy to connect the dots, he found out where she lived from the internet.

  He was creative to find her now, but the bastard had managed to never find her as she struggled to feed and clothe their child.

  In less than zero-point-two seconds, Reba had disengaged the locks and wildly swung the door open. “What do you want Harold? I’ve already told you to leave me alone!”

  Well damn! Did she have to come out with her claws fully extended and swinging? “You know what I want, Reba. I want to meet my daughter,” Harold gritted out between clenched teeth.

  Reba put a fisted hand on her hip. Who in the world did this Negro think he was trying to intimidate? He had a nerve to be standing there like she was the one who kept him away from his child.

  Standing rooted to the floor, Roxy didn’t know if she should step around her mom and say something. Or should she stay out of sight and let the two of them continue to go at it. Her mood was so high. The last thing she wanted to do was spoil it by seeing a father she was teetering on the fence about whether she wanted to meet or not.

  She decided on the latter as her parents argued back and forth. Reba had taken the stance that Harold didn’t have any rights to know her daughter while Harold demanded he did have rights as Roxy’s biological father.

  “The only right you have is to get your raggedy ass off my porch! Maybe your daughter doesn’t want to know you! Lord knows you’ve never done a damn thing for her!” Reba shrieked at the top of her lungs, her arms wildly flaying in the air.

  Her angry, brutally honest words hit a nerve with Harold. Why did she keep throwing this up in his face? Both Reba and Roxy jumped when he banged his fist against the wooded door. “Bitch! I will come in that house and snap your neck in half!”

  That did it for Roxy. Stepping around her mother she came face to face with the man who called himself her father.

  Chapter 24

  Despite the anger welling up in her chest, causing it to burn out of control, Roxy couldn’t keep the look of surprise from showing on her face. She had expected her father to be some raggedy-looking dude as her mom had just referred to him. The man was anything but raggedy. He was tall, well-built and actually quite handsome with salt and pepper hair concentrated at his temples and sparsely scattered throughout. His complexion was a deep golden brown and the only flaw he had on his face was crow’s feet, which made him even more devilishly handsome.

  She immediately saw the mirrored features on his face that matched her own and that of her sister Karen. Just for a split second, she wondered if her mom ever felt a twinge of pain when she looked at her. She wondered if when her mother looked at her, if she was ever reminded of the man who had abandoned her.

  Harold’s angry visage dissolved the moment his eyes locked with Roxy’s. Although she was the younger image of her mother, he could see where his genes were passed on to her. His chest swelled with pride as he gazed at his youngest daughter – his baby girl, as the look of recognition crossed her features. She can see me in her.

  Without thinking, Harold reached out to touch Roxy.

  Snapping out of her daze, Roxy drew back from his touch. Even though her mother was giving him hell, he had no business threatening to do her physical harm. “Don’t you even try touching me after you just threatened to put your hands on my mother,” she growled in a low, shaky voice. At that very moment she knew she could never like, let alone love him.

  “I didn’t—” Harold started, but was immediately cut off by Roxy.

  “Yes… you did mean it. Don’t get mad at my mom. She told me you wanted to meet me. She even gave me your number.” Pointing to her chest she made it clear, “It was my decision not to contact you.”

  The sucker had a nerve to look pitiful when he spoke. “But why not? I’m your father and you’re my daughter.”

  Reba sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “He has got to be kidding,” she hissed under her breath.

  Cutting her eyes at her mother, the expression she wore said, “Mommy, I got this.”

  But did she really have this? Turning her gaze back to Harold, all the years of hurt and feelings of rejection came rushing in on her. She couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in her eyes. How in the world could he be standing here, some twenty-six years later, acknowledging her? He stood there acting all innocent as if he never walked out of her life, long before she was born.

  Roxy stubbornly dashed away the tear that slid down her cheek. She didn’t bother to answer him because she had a question of her own she needed answering. And he was going answer her. “When I was a little girl I asked my mom to find you. And when she did find you, you never came to see about me.” Her bottom lip trembled when she demanded in a quiet voice, “How come you never wanted me?”

  Harold had no idea this would be so hard. It was harder than giving up the booze that had begun to damage his liver. Shifting from foot to foot, his eyes nervously darted between Roxy and Reba. Yeah, he remembered Reba tracking him down through child support court. He also remembered lying to the judge about not knowing Reba so his wages wouldn’t be garnished to take care of another child he didn’t want. Yeah, he remembered a young, tearful Reba admitting to the judge the only reason she tracked him down was to give him a letter Roxy had written him. And God help him, he even remembered
reading the letter and looking at the picture of a sweet, innocent eight- year-old little girl.

  How could he explain to her that he had messed over and hurt people his entire life? That he had taken everyone who loved him for granted? He really didn’t have a reason for his actions, other than he thought the world and everyone in it owed him something. He wouldn’t even blame his mother, God rest her soul, who doted on him and thought he could do no wrong until the day she closed her eyes in death.

  And now at fifty-six-years old and sober, he realized that his selfishness had alienated everyone who ever loved him. And as a result he was a lonely, middle-aged man.

  Harold’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Every angry rebuttal he practiced wouldn’t form on his tongue as he watched his daughter dash away another tear. The hurt in her eyes said it all… it was too late. Any hope he had of having one of his children love him was gone.

  He opened and closed his mouth, making several attempts to say something. Standing there feeling completely exposed, he silently admitted to himself that he went about this the wrong way. He’d thought he would be able to charm Reba to get to Roxy. And when that hadn’t worked, he became belligerent, just widening the gap he was trying to close.

  For once in his miserable life, he told the truth. “I didn’t want to be tied down with another child.”

  All of the air rushed out of her lungs from his heartless honesty, making her dizzy. Her mother placed a firm, but loving hand at her waist to steady her. It was one thing to speculate that her father didn’t want her, but to actually hear him confess it. Wow, that really hurt.

  Reba wanted to slam the door in his face. But knew she had to let Roxy journey down this path to bring closure to this chapter in her life. Taking a few deep breaths, she rubbed her baby’s back, encouraging her to speak her piece.

  “What about me and what I wanted? How do you think I felt when all the other kids would make Father’s Day cards and laughed at me when I said I didn’t have a daddy? How do you think I felt when I didn’t have a father to take me to the Spring Father and Daughter dances? Or how there was no man around to protect me and my mom when someone broke in our apartment, taking what little we had?”