The Sweetest Love (Love Conquers All Book 5) (3 page)

Adam sat in his black Lexus listening to a popular R & B radio station as he watched her walk up the gravel pavement. He wondered aloud, “Why does she have a shopping bag?” He probably wasn’t the only one who wondered why someone would bring a shopping bag to a cemetery.

Stepping out of the vehicle, Adam followed at a distance. Leaning against a wide tree trunk, he watched as she sat on the ground, tenderly touching the headstone and wiping away a tear.

A sad smile curved his lips when she propped the doll against the pink marble.
Abby sure loved her dolls.
On more than one occasion he’d threatened to behead every last one of them if she didn’t stay out of his business.

The heavy ache in his chest made it difficult for Adam to breathe. Although he viewed her as a brat that came along, bumping him out of an only child status, he really did love her. Guilt began to surge through him. He resented her when she became sick, taking their parents’ attention, seemingly leaving him in the background. At the time he was too young to understand the seriousness of her illness. All he cared about was shooting hoops with his friends, and chasing after girls like any red-blooded, testosterone-crazed teenage boy.

Initially he was glad when his sister met a new friend willing to play with her, not caring that she was sick. Finally, there’d be someone else to cater to his little sister. Maybe she would spend some nights with her new friend, giving him the respite he needed. All that changed, though, when Roxanna was always underfoot. It wasn’t that she was a bother, per se; she was just one more child all up in his space, getting his parents’ attention.

Over the years, he thought about tracking her down to apologize for his behavior all those years ago. He hadn’t fully understood how she was a ray of sunshine to his slowly dying sister. How Roxy had befriended her when all the other kids taunted Abby with, “You have the druggy disease.”

Roxy hadn’t cared what the other kids said about her friend. And it didn’t bother her one bit that the other children had shunned her for becoming Abby’s buddy.

Adam could feel his anger rising. He’d gotten into so many fights when the rumor started circulating that his mother was shooting up heroin during her pregnancy with Abby. The family knew the source of the ugly rumor. Kat – the heifer two doors down – told the lie after his father had rebuffed her advances.

True, Kat was a drop-dead gorgeous woman who was capable of snagging any man she wanted. Adam and every other boy in the neighborhood had a boyhood crush on the bombshell. He watched as men were hypnotized by the sway of her curvy hips. The lust in their eyes revealing their imaginations of just what one night with her would be like. And when she turned on that come-hither seductive smile, men fell at her feet, not caring about the destruction that would follow. Adam, however, noted that his father was different; he was immune to Kat’s charm, and that pissed her off.

His anger dissipated as his thoughts turned back to Abby. He remembered the day his parents had brought her home from the hospital. He didn’t know if he should be happy or sad about her arrival. But after taking one look at her tiny sleeping face, he fell in love with the newborn babe.

Everything was going just fine. He actually enjoyed being a big brother. Enjoyed how as a chubby toddler she would follow him around everywhere he went. And it didn’t hurt when he’d walk to the corner store with Abby riding high on his shoulders, and all the attention he got from the girls as they abandoned jump ropes and jacks to get a look at the little cherub. “Oh, Adam your baby sister is so cute,” they’d say. His favorite was, “Let me hold her,” as the budding breasts of one of Abby’s admirers brushed against him as they reached for the bubbly toddler.

Adam chuckled at the memory. Even at eleven years old, he appreciated the fairer sex.

Things changed shortly after Abby’s fifth birthday. Daily belly pains and nausea with occasional bouts of vomiting was cause for concern. The entire family was shocked when she was diagnosed with the Hepatitis C virus. After testing both parents, who were negative, the doctors came to the conclusion she had received tainted blood during the transfusion that saved her life. Although the medical community had been testing for the HIV virus in blood donors in 1988 when the accident occurred, they weren’t testing for the Hepatitis C virus. Testing for the virus didn’t start until 1992.

The Wests made the mistake of being honest with their family, friends and neighbors regarding Abby’s condition.

That was a
big
mistake.

Those same girls that found Abby so adorable as a toddler wouldn’t even look at her. The principal received calls and notes from parents voicing their concerns over the child being in the same classroom with their children. “What if she gets hurt and starts to bleed or cuts herself? Our children will be at risk of getting her disease.”

Suddenly Brenda and her little girl were no longer invited to play dates and birthday parties.

The illness wasn’t the only thing that dimmed Abby’s once exuberant, bubbly personality. She had pretty much spent kindergarten through third grade being snubbed by children she should have been playing with. The only thing she had to keep her company was her dolls. That is until fourth grade rolled around and something wonderful happened. A new girl had moved into the neighborhood.
Roxanna.

Roxanna and Abby had loved each other. The two were closer than many biological sisters. The sight of an inconsolable Roxy with her head buried in her mother’s bosom haunted Adam for years. Late at night when his mind wandered back to the gut-wrenching day of Abby’s funeral, he could still hear Roxy’s pitiful sobs and groans. He wished he had reached out to her then. He wished he had thanked her for all the times she made his little sister laugh, for how she played with her for hours, and how she had visited, bringing goodies and dollar store toys each time Abby was admitted to the hospital.

Taking a deep breath, Adam made his way across the gravel road to the one person who understood his pain. The closer he got to her, guilt began gnawing at his insides. He didn’t know what he would say to her after all this time. But he did know that he had to make things right with her. He had to let her know that she didn’t have to be alone with her pain.

Startled, Roxanna’s eyes flew open and her heart began to thunder in her chest from the hand now resting on her shoulder. Spinning around, she reflexively was ready to put up a fight. When her eyes collided with the dark ones boring into hers, every ounce of fight fled as her heart continued to thunder for another reason.

Adam.

She wished she hadn’t gazed into his eyes. The pain she saw shining in their dark depths was achingly palpable. She attempted to take a deep breath to ease the tight squeeze in her chest. It didn’t help. Just looking at him made her heart hurt even more for the loss of her friend.

Even though Abby drove Adam crazy, he loved his baby sister. There were those rare times when he playfully teased Abby, sending her into fits of laughter. Another time he patiently helped them build a volcano for the science fair. They had come in second place. Then there was that time he jacked up Bobby Pierce, the overgrown bully who terrorized them for three days, demanding goodies from their lunch boxes.

Yes, Roxy knew he had loved Abby, too. As these memories assaulted her mind they allowed her to empathize with his pain. And it was excruciating.

Before she knew it, her bottom lip began to tremble; fresh tears welled up in her eyes. She wanted to say something, but each time she attempted, nothing would come out. What does one say to someone you haven’t spoken to in over sixteen years about the loss of a loved one? Saying “I’m sorry” just felt so insignificant. So instead of saying anything, Roxy did what came to her naturally.

Without giving it a second thought, Adam welcomed Roxy into a protective embrace. His hands rubbed her back in comforting strokes as her body shook violently from the heart-wrenching sobs threatening to break her into a million pieces. His heart twisted with each pitiful sob. God how he wish he could take the pain away.

Wrapping her arms around his waist, Roxy held onto Adam as if her very life depended on it. The tender stroking of his large, strong hands told her it was okay to bury her face in the wall of his muscular chest. Her body further melted into his as he began a gentle sway, whispering words of comfort.

“That’s it Roxy, let it out. I know you’re hurting. I’m hurting, too.” Tightening his hold on her he promised, “I’m here for you. Baby, I’m here for you.”

And he would be there for her, just like she had been there for Abby.

Nodding her head against his chest, believing his every word, she nestled even farther in his arms as if being there was the most natural place in the world. For the first time since losing her friend, Roxy truly felt comforted.

This Tuesday evening was no different than any other. Mother and daughter would have dinner and watch a movie together. It was Roxy’s week to make dinner at her place. If it were up to her she would be the one preparing dinner every week they got together. Seeing her mom work her fingers to the bone to give her the things she needed growing up made Roxy want to take care of her mother in any little way she could. She remembered the nights her mom would drink a cup of instant coffee for dinner because there wasn’t enough food for the both of them. She would never forget how her mom bought her Septa tokens so she could take the bus to school while she walked the three miles to the supermarket where she worked for barely minimum wage slicing lunchmeat at the deli counter. And she would always love her mom for making every Christmas and birthday growing up special with what little she had.

Granted, Reba had gone back to school and earned an associate degree and her certification as a Registered Medical Transcriptionist while Roxy was in high school. She now made a decent living working for a busy, thriving oncology practice in Elkin’s Park and no longer needed to work two jobs to make ends meet. But still, Roxy felt she worked too hard and deserved occasional pampering.
Maybe I’ll treat Mommy to a manicure and pedicure.

Roxy set the dishtowel down on the miniature countertop as she jogged the short distance to the door. “Hi Mommy,” she beamed as she pulled her mother in for a big hug.

“Hi baby,” Reba laughed as she returned the hug, kissing Roxy’s cheek. “Did you miss me?”

Roxy threw her head back and laughed. They had just gone to church and dinner on Sunday. “Of course I missed you, my favorite mother in the whole wide world,” she teased as she led her mom over to the lumpy futon.

Settling on one of the lumps, she clucked her tongue, reminding her daughter, “I’m your only mother.”

“And you’re the best one, too,” she agreed before going back to the oven to take out the garlic bread to go with the spaghetti and meatballs.

“Sweetie, you’ve been really quiet tonight.” Reba commented as she looked at her daughter over the tiny table for two.

Giving her mom a tiny smile, Roxy picked up the salad bowl with one hand and the tongs with the other, placing a second helping of spring greens on her plate. Setting the bowl and tongs down, she shrugged her shoulder. “No reason.”

Roxy lowered her eyes as she picked up her fork and speared a cherry tomato. She didn’t like lying to her mother, but she wasn’t about to bring up her run-in with Adam. It had been almost three weeks since he held her close, whispering words of comfort to her wounded soul. And each time she thought about how she ended up in his arms, waves of embarrassment would wash over her.

What had possessed her to literally propel herself into the arms of the man who had treated her like crap as a child? She had sworn never to speak to Adam West for the rest of her life. She had pretty much accomplished that sworn oath. After that night he exploded on her, hurting her beyond anything she had ever felt in her ten little years, she had refused to step foot in the West home.

But after two weeks of not seeing or playing with her best friend she was absolutely miserable. To elude her tormentor, Abby came up with the bright idea to blindfold Roxy and lead her to Abby’s bedroom like a seeing-eye dog to keep from looking at his ugly face. This little arrangement worked until Abby became severely ill and had to be hospitalized.

The first time her mother had taken her to see Abby on the pediatric unit, her stomach was a mess of tied up knots at the fear of seeing Adam. Fortunately for her, Adam was at some afterschool sports activity. The angels must have been watching over her because each time she’d gone for a visit he wasn’t there. It wasn’t until the most dreadful day of her life that she had seen Adam. And even then she was too consumed with grief to give him a second thought.

Fast forward sixteen years and out of nowhere Adam West is the lone person to ever come close to truly empathizing with her pain. Sure her mom and Abby’s parents had held her and provided a measure of comfort. But it was Adam who she truly felt understood her grief.

She had pondered that perhaps it was because they both had a sibling connection with Abby. Or it could have been that they both were way too young to experience such a devastating loss. Or maybe it was that they both felt guilty because they had grown into adulthood and Abby never had a chance.

Roxy had tossed and turned every night remembering the warmth and safety of his arms. She had stayed there for what seemed like forever just soaking up and drawing healing from his strength. Once contact was broken, it was the strangest thing… whatever ill feelings she had toward him were suddenly insignificant. Why was she holding on to this grudge anyway? Wasn’t it time to let all of that old baggage go? After all, they were adults and just needed to move on.

Reba studied her child. Letting out a soft sigh, she thought,
she is such a bad liar.
She wouldn’t push Roxy to tell her what was on her mind. This time of the year was always tough on her daughter. She had never fully gotten over the death of her childhood friend. But she had learned not to let the loss totally consume her life.

Those early years after Abby’s death had been nerve wracking. Watching her child go into a deep depression at such a young age was heartbreaking. She should have been playing with children her age and not sitting alone in a dark room crying inconsolably. Reba had no idea what to do until the school counselor suggested counseling. The counselor explained that a traumatic experience at such a young age could potentially have a negative effect on the child.

As a single mom struggling to make it, there never was extra money for anything, not even emergencies. Taking the school counselor’s advice she pleaded with her boss for a few extra hours a week to be able to afford the weekly sessions. Making that sacrifice was well worth every penny.

With therapy Roxy had been able to meet new friends and go on to high school and do things normal kids did. And when she became college bound, she hadn’t let it get her down that it would take her six years to finish her degree in accounting because she opted to work and pay for classes to supplement partial scholarships to avoid a mountain of debt in student loans. And now her baby was a CPA working for an investment firm.

Reba was smiling at Roxy when she lifted her head from her plate. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”

Returning the smile, Roxy said, “Thanks Mom.” She knew if and when she was ready to talk her mom would be there like always.

Getting her mind off of Adam she asked her mom, “Are you busy this weekend?”

Reba shook her head no as she swallowed a sip of iced tea. She hadn’t planned on doing anything other than the routine household chores of cleaning and laundry. “So far I don’t have any plans.”

Roxy couldn’t help the grin spreading across her face. Friday was payday and she had been really good about banking the first month and a half of her salary, not spending a cent on any frivolous stuff. With this check she’d be able to do a little splurging. And she had big plans, too, the first being to treat her momma to something really nice. “Good. We’ll spend all day Saturday together.”

When she responded to her daughter, her eyes twinkled.
That Roxy is up to something.
Deciding to toy with her, Reba teased, “Now hold on, missy, who said I want to spend my Saturday with you?”

Leaning back in her chair, Roxy wrinkled her nose up at her mom. She feigned being offended when she answered. “Me, that’s who! I’m your daughter. Your
only
child, therefore you should
want
to spend the day with me.”

Clucking her tongue, Reba rolled her eyes. “Child, you spent nine months in my womb—”

Cutting her off, Roxy laughed, finishing her mother’s diatribe. “
First
making you sick as a dog for the first three months and
then
sitting on your bladder, having you pee every twenty minutes and
then
when you went into labor it took me twenty-eight hours before I decided I wanted to come out.”

Both mother and daughter laughed. If Roxy had a dollar for each time her mother ribbed her about the trials of her pregnancy, which by the way were all true, she’d have a nice little nest egg.

“I guess that story’s getting kinda old, huh?”

Roxy nodded her head. “Uh… yeah Mom,” she chuckled, “real old.”

Standing, she picked up her empty plate to take it to the sink. On her way she bent down and gave her momma a kiss on the cheek. “But I still love you anyway.”

Reba smiled. “I love you too, baby.”