When Love Comes Around (Love Conquers All) (4 page)

Shrugging broad shoulders, he called their bluff. “Fine, you’ll have my resignation first thing in the morning.”

Several weeks later the head partner offered Kevin back his old position. “Dawson we need you back on the team.” Kevin wanted to laugh in the man’s face. The partner hadn’t disclosed that a number of Kevin’s big corporate accounts were threatening to walk if he was no longer handling their accounts. In fact, every one of them personally contacted him wanting to know where he had set up shop. This is how Dawson Investments was created.

Starr was impressed as he shared with her why and how he decided to branch out on his own. Having had financial troubles in the past, she admired his commitment to bring financial stability to everyday folks. Without thinking, she had placed a delicate hand on his massive bicep. “That’s great Kevin. I wish you much success.”

Kevin momentarily was thrown off kilter by Starr’s soft touch. He hadn’t expected to feel the jolt that shuddered throughout his large frame. For some inexplicable reason, he wanted to take her in his arms and hold her.
Where did that come from?

Slightly stepping back before he did something crazy to embarrass himself, he simply said, “Thanks that means a lot.”

Looking at her watch, she decided it was time to get going. She’d spent too much time with Mr. Sexy. Talking to him was becoming
too
comfortable.
“Well, it was nice running into you, but I have to get going.”

Kevin nodded his head in understanding. Yeah, it was time to go. His thoughts were running places they had no business going. Handing her the bag, he gave her a lopsided grin, his intense gaze caressing her. “It was good seeing you again, Starr.”

“You too, Kevin.” Starr said as she reached for the outstretched bag, butterflies fluttering in her belly from the warmth of his stare. When their fingers grazed, she nearly dropped the bag from the surge of electricity. The tingling sensation dispersed from her fingertips traveling throughout her body. Turning quickly hiding heated, flushed cheeks, she began walking in the opposite direction not quite sure where she was going. One thing for sure, though, she was getting as far away from Kevin Dawson as possible. The man was too virile for his own good.

She wasn’t alone in feeling the electrical current. He felt it too. So much so, he wanted to run after her, begging her to stay just a little longer. Instead he called out, “Hey Starr.”

Squeezing her eyes shut, she prayed for strength as she stopped in her tracks at the sound of the deep, sexy rumbling voice behind her. Why did he have to call her name like that? Slowly she looked over her left shoulder. The sexy grin he wore made her knees slightly buckle.

Man, why’d she have to be so fine? And off limits?
“Are we friends yet?”

Smiling, her trademark dimples came out to play. “I’ll let you know the next time I see you, Mr. Dawson.”

And with that, Kevin watched as Starr sashayed away putting a little extra sway in her hips, until he could see her no more.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Starr called out to the unidentified caller in a singsong voice as she jingled the keys in the front door of her Manayunk home. Kicking off her shoes, she hurried to the phone, the smile she wore all afternoon remaining in place. Running into Kevin had taken her mind off her troubles for the moment. Dr. Neal had laid some heavy stuff on her. Stuff she didn’t want to face let alone deal with. Spending the short amount of time she had with Kevin had lightened her mood.

“Hello?”

“Hey girl, you ready for Vegas?” The upbeat voice questioned.

“Hey Summer. Yeah girl, I’m more than ready. I was thinking about staying a few days longer.” Starr’s voice was flat, lacking energy. Suddenly, her good mood evaporated and her heart became heavy as she thought of her future. Staying a few days longer in Vegas amongst the flashing lights and nightly shows would give her a passage of escapism.

Summer didn’t miss the melancholy tone. She’d thought Starr would have sounded a little more excited, since she had decided on staying a few extra days. Something wasn’t right. Summer could feel it. Just as she was about to ask her what was up, Starr’s other line clicked.

“Hold on a minute, Summer.”

“All right.”

Starr clicked over the other line. “Hello?”

“What’s up, Chica?”

“Hey Av.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Girl…” Starr, swallowed hard as her voice began to quiver.
This is so hard
. Her friends and sister knew her well. Earlier she had been able steer clear of Karen and her probing questions. This time, she wouldn’t be so lucky.

“Oh sweetie, you want me to come over?”

Starr smiled sadly, as she clutched the cordless phone hearing the concern in her friend’s voice. “No, Av. Besides, I have Summer on the other line.”

“Oh, Okay. I’ll let you get back to her then.”

“Hey, why don’t you hang up and I’ll three-way you in.” Now was as good a time as ever to tell them what was bothering her. Eventually, she would have to tell them.

“All right, hurry up, I’ll be waiting.”

Clicking back over to Summer, she said, “Hold on a second while I bring Ava in on three-way. I have something to tell y’all.” Summer patiently waited as she connected Ava to the call.

Ava picked up the phone on the first ring. “Starr?”

“Yeah, it’s me and Summer on the line.”

“Hey, Summer.”

“Hey, Av what’s going on?”

“Nothing much. Just worried about our girl.”

Silence hung in the air as Summer and Ava waited. They were patient as Starr gathered her thoughts. They sensed something was serious, but what? Their friend never had difficulty telling them anything. However, this time she was clearly struggling with her emotions.

Letting out a deep breath, Starr began to speak as she tried to keep her voice from shaking.
Oh God, this is so hard.
“I have endometriosis.” She blurted out.

The sharp intake of her friends’ breath at her confession pierced the quiet space surrounding her. This quickly prompted her to say, “It’s not an advanced case…yet.”

“That’s good, Starr. Right?” Ava softly commented, not really knowing what to say. Being in the medical profession, they were aware an advanced case could mean infertility, which would devastate Starr.

“Yeah, it’s not a
huge
concern just yet.” She heard herself saying in an attempt to soothe her own fears. “Dr. Neil said I shouldn’t have a problem conceiving at this stage. According to him, I need to start thinking about having a baby soon. Like within the next year or so.”

“Oh, Boo. What are you going to do?” Summer inquired, fully realizing Starr’s dilemma.

“Don’t know. Ain’t like I got a man hanging around.”

Both Ava and Summer fell silent. The sadness floating through the phone lines was painfully palpable. Neither knew what to say to their hurting friend. What could Summer say to comfort her? She had two beautiful babies? And Ava had been telling them since the day they met that she had no desire to be a mother.

Grasping at anything to make her feel better, Ava said, “Maybe you’ll meet someone soon.”

“Yeah, that could happen, you never know. People meet, fall in love and marry within a few months all the time.” Summer added trying to add hope to the situation.

“Mmm-hmm, by the time you’re thirty-four and a half, you’ll be married with a baby and another one on the way.” Ava predicted, trying to lift her spirits.

Starr softly chuckled. In her heart, she knew they meant well. But where in the world was she going to find a man? The only men around were at work. And messing around where you made your dough was a no-no. She learned this lesson the hard way when she casually dated a research assistant for a few weeks. The maniac turned out to be a stalker, showing up at the hospice unit whenever he felt like it, sitting in the back pew at church, or walking his dog in the park around the corner from Starr’s house. One evening he went so far as to follow her to Karen’s home. Though he called himself trying to be slick, he hadn’t counted on Summer showing up to keep her company as she babysat Alicia and Kyle.

“Starr, I think somebody’s outside in the bushes.” Summer whispered as if the person outside could hear her.

Sucking her teeth, she huffed over to the bay window peeping out into the dark. “I don’t see anything, but I think it’s that jackass Todd, with his drunk self. Whoever heard of a drunken research assistant?”

“What you gonna do? He’s been following you since you told him you just wanted to be friends. I told you not to go out with him. He always gave me the creeps.” Summer said as she crunched up her face.

Starr was about to tell Summer to shut up when she let out a high-pitched scream.

“What? What is it?” Summer yelled, startled by Starr’s outburst.

“That son of a gun is in my sister’s bushes! I just saw him right over there!” She shouted pointing to the window.

“Come on! Let’s get that stalking rat bastard!” Summer yelled as she ran to the kitchen grabbing a frying pan, while Starr grabbed a poker from the fireplace.

Before Todd knew what hit him, Starr and Summer were in the bushes raining down blows that were being blocked by long arms and legs. When he finally got his bearings, he pushed Summer to the ground and shoved Starr, sending her toppling over on top of her petite friend.

Jumping up, she pulled Summer to her feet. Taking off they ran down the block like two banshees on his heels shouting and screaming, “You better run…you nasty, low-life nothin’!”

If she hadn’t been so depressed with her current situation, she would’ve been doubled over laughing hysterically, as she allowed her mind to roam down memory lane.

“You guys know I don’t need a man to have a baby?”

Come again?
Ava thought not getting where Starr was going with this. “What are you talking about you don’t need a man?”

“Dr. Neil proposed artificial insemination.”

Just as she thought, silence greeted her as they processed what she’d just said.

Stunned, Ava incredulously questioned, “What? Is
he
for real? Are
you
for real?”

Immediately, Starr became defensive. “Well, what’s wrong with that?”

Oh boy,
Summer thought. Ava was about to get Starr hot up under the collar. She figured she’d better say something quick to diffuse the impending argument.

With a tender inflection in her voice, she addressed Starr as if she were talking to one of her patients. “Is this something you have considered? I mean really considered? Having a baby without a father?” No matter what her friend decided, she would support her decision. However, she hoped Starr fully understood how the emotional turmoil of being alone and pregnant might have on her.

Starr let out a deep sigh. “Summer, I’ve been doing nothing but thinking about this whole situation. I really want to have a baby. With or without a man.”
What other choice do I have?

She wished she could give her girl a big hug. The longing in her voice for a child was so heart wrenching. “Then honey that’s what you should do. You know we’ll be here to support you one hundred percent.”

Ava couldn’t hold it in any longer. What were they thinking? A frozen pop? For a daddy? And how dare Summer encourage her to have a baby on her own. She had a freakin’ millionaire for a husband for goodness sake! She didn’t have to worry about a thing. “Come on y’all, this is so not right.”

“What? The fact that I want to have a baby before it’s too late for me?” Starr was steaming. Ava could really work her nerves at times.

“No, the fact that you won’t know who your child’s father is. Not to mention if you fall on hard times financially, who’s going to help you take care of that child?”

Coming to Starr’s defense, “Ava, that’s enough,” Summer firmly warned. She could shake Ava. Sometimes her mouth was out of control.

Sucking her teeth, Ava reiterated, “All I’m saying is the father should be in the picture. At least to help financially support the kid.” She didn’t understand it. What was it they weren’t getting? How many times have they all heard single mothers crying about how difficult it is raising kids on their own?