The Sweetest Love (Love Conquers All Book 5) (20 page)

Tuesday Evening at Reba’s

Sitting across from her mother, a fit of nervous jitters was getting the best of Roxy. Her mind raced a hundreds ways of how she was going to break her news.

Sunday evening after she left her sister’s home, she went to the drugstore and purchased a pregnancy test. In denial, she pulled out her day planner, counted and re-counted several times the number of days it had been since her last menstrual. Thirty-eight days.
Thirty-eight days!

After letting the test sit in her bathroom cabinet overnight, she mustered up the courage to take the test Monday evening. When it confirmed she was pregnant, she walked in a daze over to the sofa. That nagging little voice came back to taunt her.
Girl,
I told you. You’re in big trouble.
Plopping down, she stared at her trembling hands until the tears began to fall. She was so scared. Her inner child wailed, “I want my mommy!” And then she thought about Adam. How was she going to tell him, especially when he had written her off? After crying over that for hours, she pulled herself together. She and her baby were going to be just fine. If her mother could make it with literally nothing and no one, then she was more than equipped to love, nurture and raise her baby with the support of her family.

“Mom.”

Reba looked up from the pork chop she was cutting on her plate. “Yes, baby?

Roxy dropped her gaze. She knew her mom was going to be disappointed with her. She remembered how Reba responded when she learned she had stayed the night at Adam’s place. But she couldn’t keep this a secret from her mom. “I have something to tell you.”

Placing her knife and fork on the side of her plate, Reba leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table, giving her daughter her full attention. “Alright. I’m listening.”

Roxy swallowed hard, dropping her gaze even farther. She didn’t want to see the look of disappointment on her mother’s face. Her voice quivered when she painfully admitted, “I messed up, Mommy.”

Reba felt an overwhelming sense of empathy for her child. She didn’t need her daughter to go any further. It was funny how things in life always seemed to come full circle. She remembered saying those same words to a heartless father and uncaring stepmother over twenty-seven years ago. She’d been so foolish to think they would forgive her and give her a helping hand. If it hadn’t been for the teen pregnancy shelter, she and her baby would have been on the streets.

She stood and went to her daughter. Taking her by the hand, she pulled her to her feet. Roxy had never felt so loved as her mom enfolded her in a warm embrace. “Everything is going to be fine. Having a baby isn’t the end of the world.”

Leaning back, tears glistened in Roxy’s eyes as she looked at her mom. “You’re not angry with me?”

Tenderly wiping away a tear, she told her daughter, “No, I’m not angry with you, baby. Before you were born, I made a promise that I would always be there for you no matter what.” Roxy burst out in tears when her mom placed her hand on her flat belly. “
I’m
here for you and my grandchild.”

She flung her arms around her mom and squeezed tight. “Thanks mom. I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.” Breaking the embrace Reba kissed Roxy’s forehead. “Now sit back down and try to eat something.”

Settling into her chair Reba asked, “Does Adam know?”

Roxy shook her head. “No.”

Her mom’s facial expression was one of concern. “You are going to tell him, aren’t you?”

Pushing food around on her plate, she let out defeated sigh. “Yes. I’m going to tell him.”
If he talks to me.

“You don’t sound too sure.” So far she’d been good with not meddling in Roxy’s affairs. But so help her God, if that man didn’t come to his senses and stop treating her child like she was some street tramp, his head was going to be stuffed and mounted on her wall.

She gave her mom a weak smile. “Don’t worry Mom. I’ll talk to him.”

Reba gave her an encouraging smile.
You better because you don’t want me to talk to him.
“Okay, but don’t you wait too long.”

After Nelson’s impromptu visit, Adam showered and shaved. Tomorrow he would give his barber a call to see if he could fit him in for a much needed cut. He gathered the dirty laundry strewn all over his bedroom floor and headed to the washroom. Sorting the laundry, he put a load in the wash.

Retracing his steps back to the bedroom, he stripped the sheets and replaced them with fresh linens. His dad coming by had been just the swift kick in the butt he needed. He’d been so wrapped up in his bruised ego that he hadn’t stopped brooding long enough to look at the situation from the angle of an adult.

His thoughts became consumed with the conversation he had with his dad.
“You know son, what Roxy and her girlfriends did is no different from us guys.”
Had he been too hard on her? His bullheaded stubbornness told him his actions were justified. Yet that part of him that was reasonable accused him of being unfair.
You said you loved her but you wouldn’t hear her out.

And when his dad in so many words called him a hypocrite for having a double standard attitude, he felt pretty low. At that moment he wasn’t very proud of himself. Too many times he was one of those guys his dad talked about. In his mind he always rationalized it as male bonding and locker room talk. He never took into consideration the feelings of those women he so carelessly boasted about to his boys. Even when he was at the height of his brooding it never crossed his mind how those same women would feel if they’d learned he objectified them at the expense of
brotherhood
. Yeah, his dad had done a good thing calling him out.

Weeks had passed and Roxy hadn’t tried to call him. And what did he expect? He had ruined her birthday, boxed up her belongings and shipped them to her, effectively cutting her completely out of his life. And for what? All because he had acted like a hot-headed jerk.

Adam had some major cleaning up to do. And it wasn’t his home that needed it; it was his life. It was time for him to stop sulking like an eight year-old brat. It was time for him to take his dad’s advice. It was time for him to get Roxy back.

Roxy ignored the cell phone vibrating on her desk. She didn’t have to look at the display to know it was Adam calling again. Every voicemail message was the same. “Roxy, I need to talk to you. Please call me back.”

The calls had started coming in Tuesday evening after she left her mom’s. It was Friday and she hadn’t returned any of them. Although she promised her mom she would talk to Adam, she couldn’t bring herself to return his calls. Not now, not yet. She needed time to get herself together before she faced him.

In all honesty, she didn’t know what to say to him. It had been weeks since there’d been any contact. She wondered if he was
finally
ready to hear her side. If that was the case, what difference would it make? He had already formed his opinion of her. And it wasn’t a good one. She was not in the mood to cry and beg for his forgiveness for something she hadn’t done. And on top of all of this, she had to tell him he was going to be a father.

The knocking on the door captured her attention. It was just the distraction she needed.

She glanced up at her brother-in-law. Coat on and briefcase in hand, he was heading home for the weekend. Before he could tell her to get going, she blurted out, “I’m leaving now, just as soon as I save this document.”

Kevin grinned at her. “Good. You work too hard.” He had taken a few steps away and then pivoted on his heels. “You want to come over for some Friday night takeout? Starr wouldn’t mind.”

“No thanks. I have plans.”

“Alrighty. I’m sure I’ll see you some time this weekend.”

Roxy laughed. Her sister insisted on a Saturday or Sunday visit. “See you later.”

Taking a deep breath, she slouched in her chair. Bringing up her plans for the evening gave her a headache. Ms. Brenda had the tenacity of a bulldog! The woman had called her every morning at ten forty-five on the dot – even though Roxy said she would call her – with the goal of pinning Roxy down for a dinner date. Each time she called Roxy gave her the same excuse of working late. “It’s really hectic this time of year. I can’t make it tonight.”

Earlier in the day Roxy’s luck at evading Ms. Brenda ran out. “Miss Roxanna, I expect to see you at my house tonight for dinner. I don’t care what time you get off.”

When she broke down and confessed, “I’m not ready to see Adam.” The older woman’s tone softened. “It’ll just be us girls.”

Putting her coat on, she grabbed her purse off the desk and shut the lights off. With slumped shoulders, she shuffled to the elevator.
I just want to go home.

Roxy had become violently ill the second she crossed the threshold of the Wests’ home. The thick smell of fried chicken permeating the air set off a wicked wave of nausea. Bolting past Brenda, she ran like lightening up the stairs to the bathroom.

Embarrassed, Roxy apologized to Brenda, who was waiting outside the bathroom door. “Sorry. I’m not feeling too well.”

She didn’t look too well either. Her normal vibrant coloring was pale. Concerned, the older woman ushered Roxy to Abby’s old bedroom. “Come on, and lay down on the bed until you feel better.”

Obediently, Roxy followed. When Brenda clicked on the light, a wave of emotions hit Roxy all at once and she began sob. Although the room had been converted to a guest room, it still brought back memories of she and Abby as little girls. They’d had so many good times in this room. Why couldn’t she always be happy like she was back then as a child? Why did life have to be so complicated?

“Chile, are you okay?” Brenda asked, sitting next to her on the bed. Roxy freely went into her arms as the older woman folded her in a motherly embrace.

“No, Ms. Brenda I’m not okay. I feel so lost.”

“Oh, honey, why don’t you call Adam and tell him he didn’t hear everything?”

She began to sob even harder. “I already told you I tried that night to tell him. But all he kept doing was throwing his money at me like I was some hooker!”

Brenda wanted to wring her boy’s neck. She wanted to call him herself and tell him that he had been mistaken. She wanted to fuss him out and tell him if he was going to listen in on someone’s conversation he needed to listen to everything and not jump to assumptions! But Nelson had told her to stay out of it; he had assured her Roxy and Adam would work it out.

She was tired of waiting. It’s been weeks and they hadn’t worked a darn thing out! That’s why she’d wanted Roxy to come to dinner; to help her get things back on track with Adam. Her son was too stubborn to reason with. She believed she would have a chance with Roxy.

The plan had been for her to convince Roxy to go to Adam. If he knew the full story then all would be forgiven and they could get back to the business of being in love.

If it was the last thing Brenda did, she was going to see Roxy and Adam as husband and wife.

Rocking Roxy, she smoothed down her hair. “I know Adam can be bullheaded, but I think if he knows you and your friends were only joking around he’d understand.”

Roxy miserably shook her head. Her voice came out in a pitiful moan. “He’s not going to believe me. He’s going to think I’m lying if I tell him he didn’t overhear the part about me loving him. And he’s definitely not going to want to hear the part about my friends telling me they were happy I found a decent guy.”

“Yes he will,” Brenda gently countered.

“No, he won’t. If he didn’t hear it for himself he’s not going to believe me.” Her voice really quivered when she added, “The only thing he believes is that I wanted to use him.”

Brenda was stuck. Roxy did have a point. She knew better than anyone else that the lawyer in her son made him look for the evidence in everything. She was bordering on desperation. She had to get them back together and soon! “Well, maybe you should just try to talk to him anyway.”

“I can’t… I can’t talk to him.”

She gingerly lifted Roxy’s chin so she could look her in the face. If Roxy’s eyes hadn’t been downcast she would’ve seen the angelic smile setting Brenda’s face aglow. “Honey, you’re going to have to talk to him sooner or later.” She paused to dip her head so she could lock eyes with Roxy. “Don’t you think my son should know he’s going to be a daddy?”

“I guess your mother must be upstairs,” Nelson said to his son as they entered the kitchen through the back door.

Adam glanced over at the kitchen table set for two.
That’s strange. Mom knew Dad & I were going out for dinner.
“I’m gonna go upstairs to say hi to Mom.”

“Good idea. Your mother will be glad to see you,” Nelson encouraged as he took a golden drumstick off the platter. Sinking his teeth into the juicy meat he groaned in satisfaction. This was much tastier than the dinner he’d eaten.

Laughing, Adam said, “Don’t eat all the chicken. I’d like a piece, too.”

Making his way up the carpeted stairs, he stopped at the top when he heard voices coming from the guest room.
That sounds like Roxy.

He got a little closer.
That is Roxy.
Things couldn’t have fallen in place any better. She was literally a few feet away.

Over cheesesteaks and fries, he told his dad he was giving Roxy another day to respond to his calls before he showed up on her doorstep. He’d become extremely nervous when she hadn’t returned any of his calls by Thursday. He wanted his woman back, and would do anything to make it happen.

Adam took purposeful steps only to come to an abrupt halt. Even from standing on the outside of the room her hurt was painfully palpable as she tearfully voiced his distrust in her. Distrust that wasn’t warranted because she hadn’t done those ugly things he’d accused her of doing.

The thick lump in his throat was threatening to cut off his air supply. He needed to get to her, to hold her in his arms. He needed to tell her that although he had been angry he had never stopped loving her. Oh God… he needed to fix this.

Before he could step across the threshold his mother’s question to Roxy buckled his knees.
Roxy’s having a baby?

It took all of his strength to keep from hitting the floor. Oh God. He really had to make this thing right between them.

He took a tentative step into the room. She looked so fragile with her slumped shoulders and red, swollen eyes. “Roxy?”

Roxy eased out of Brenda’s arms and gave her a glare that screamed, “Traitor!”
She set me up!

Brenda blurted out, “I didn’t know Adam was coming over tonight.”

Adam came to her defense. “Mom didn’t know. I was out with my Dad and decided to drop in to say hi. I heard you talking when I came upstairs.”

Roxy protectively wrapped her arms around her waist. He looked so good, even with the dark, hollow circles under his eyes. She wanted to run, jump in his arms and plant butterfly kisses all over his face. But instead she snipped, “I guess you hung around long enough to hear the
whole
conversation.”

That was Brenda’s cue. Standing, she said, “I’m going to leave you two alone.” She gently closed the door behind her.

Adam went over to bed and kneeled down in front of Roxy. His heart began to break into a million pieces with each tear that streamed down her face. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I should have heard you out.”

“You hurt me, Adam,” she sobbed.

“I know baby, and I’m sorry,” he apologized, taking her hands in his and kissing the back of them.

She pulled her hands free of his grip. “You promised you wouldn’t hurt me.”

He sat on the bed next to her. “I know I did and I was wrong. I should have had more faith in your love for me.”

“But you didn’t Adam. You were so ready to believe the worst of me.”

Adam lifted her chin with his finger. Looking deeply into her eyes, he said, “Baby I love you and I never meant to hurt you. I swear if I could take this all back I would.” When she didn’t say anything, he let out a shaky breath. “Roxy baby, tell me what to do to make this right and I’ll do it.”

Roxy began sobbing and pounding on his chest. “You weren’t supposed to abandon me, Adam! You left me! You left me! You left me!”

After she was finally spent, he cradled her exhausted body. “Baby, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“Yes, you will!” she wailed, near the point of hysteria.

He held her tight, rocking her. Kissing her temple, he begged her, “Please calm down. This can’t be good for the baby.”

The mention of a possible threat to her unborn child seemed to work. Roxy’s wailing turned into a quiet sob. He held her, whispering promises to love her forever.

Roxy desperately wanted to believe him. But could she? She didn’t want to be one of those couples who had a crazy, volatile relationship. The past weeks had been a living hell. If this is what being with Adam is destined to be, then no thanks. She loved him, but she couldn’t and she wouldn’t live her life on an emotional rollercoaster.

“Adam, I can’t go through this again. I can’t take you cutting me out of your life every time something goes wrong.”

“Baby, I swear it’s not going to happen again. I won’t ever doubt your love again.”

She didn’t resist when he cupped her face between his large hands and kissed her. Breaking the kiss, she gazed deeply into his eyes. Her words were controlled and measured. “Adam, if you ever hurt me like this again, I will
never
come back to you.”

He let out a breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding. “It won’t happen again.” He felt a huge weight lift from him. He was going to do everything in his power to never let this happen again. There was too much at stake for him to lose.

Squeezing her tight, he kissed the tip of her nose. “Are you happy about the baby?”

She smiled her first genuine smile in weeks. “Yes, I’m happy. Are you happy?”

He smiled at her, too. “I can’t wait to see our child.”

“Oh, Adam. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, baby.”

The couple sat in comfortable silence, enjoying just being together. It was Adam who finally broke the silence.

“So, do you want to get married before or after the baby is born?”

Roxy let out a loud lyrical laugh as she seized her chance to place those butterfly kisses all over his handsome face. In between kisses she sang, “Before, before, before…”