When Love Comes Around (Love Conquers All) Read online

  “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 abou
t 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?

  Fighting to hold back the tears, Starr couldn’t believe Ava was coming at her like this. She of all people knew how much she loved children and wanted to one day be a mom. “Of course I would want to know the father of my child and have him involved in my child’s life. But that may not be possible if I want to have a baby within the next two years. I have to face the fact I’m not getting any younger and the longer I wait to get pregnant the more difficult it may be. And, I don’t even want to think about this endometriosis situation…”

  Neither Ava nor Summer had a clue as what to say as her voice trailed off. Emotions were too raw. Ava hadn’t heeded Summer’s warning and now Starr was on the verge of tears suddenly unsure of what she was considering. Earlier, she had been so sure, almost resolved she could go through with having a baby by artificial means. But if Ava felt this way, how would her mom and sister feel?

  Needing and wanting to be alone, she decided to end the call. “Look y’all, I’m gonna go now.”

  Concerned, Summer wanted to know, “You gonna be all right?”

  Starr let out a weary sigh. “I guess so. I just want to be alone. I have a lot to work out right now.”

  “Listen, Starr I didn’t mean to upset you.” Ava apologized, suddenly feeling bad for bluntly voicing her opinion. She realized she always pushed further than need be at times. It was a good thing her friends loved her unconditionally.

  Hunching her shoulders as if they could see her. “Don’t worry about it. You were only being honest with me.”

  Awkward silence filled the phone lines as Starr’s words hung in the air. She sensed her friends were at a loss for words. Wanting to put an end to everyone’s discomfort she, finally ended the conversation. “I’ll talk to you guys later.”

  Not waiting for a response, the next sound her friends heard was that of a dial tone.

  Chapter 4

  Beverly Dawson eagerly waited with gleeful anticipation. Today was her birthday, and she was ready for a celebration. And what a celebration it would be. Beverly had an abundance to be thankful for and to celebrate. God had been good to her for eighty-three years. She was relatively healthy for a woman her age, blessed with two sons who absolutely adored her, and had been fortunate to spend over fifty years with the love of her life, her late husband, Richard Sr.

  The day began with the delivery of a beautiful bouquet of gardenias, her favorite flowers from her eldest son, Richard Jr. and his wife, Audrey. Before she could get to the phone to dial their number to thank them, her phone was ringing. Grinning from ear to ear, she gloried in the off-key musical treat of their rendition of happy birthday.

  After an hour-long conversation, Beverly ended the call. “I have to get off this phone. I’m going to be late for my date.”

  The rest of the morning, she busied herself getting ready. She wanted to look her absolute best. When all her priming and primping was completed, she was pleasingly satisfied with how she looked. Dressed fashionably to the nines in a powder blue Chanel pantsuit, a single strand of pearls gracing her elegant neck, matching earrings adorning her lobes, and a white gardenia in her sparkling silver hair, Beverly Dawson was a classic beauty. Tilting her head to the side and smiling, Beverly admired her reflection. I look good for an old lady.

  As Beverly gently touched the delicate flower, another smile curved her lips as she remembered the first time she wore one in her hair. Richard Dawson, a young, handsome military man had arrived at her parents’ home for their first date. In his hand, he held the prettiest white gardenia she’d ever seen. Beverly fell in love with him that night as he gingerly placed the delicate flower in her shoulder length, dark brown hair.

  Caught up in reliving the past, she never heard the unannounced visitor entering through the front door.

  Kevin let out a low whistle. Even at her age, he found his mother beautiful. He had often wondered if it was good genes, healthy living, or the fact that his mother didn’t smoke or drink, which kept her looking so youthful. Whatever the secret was, Beverly Dawson didn’t look anywhere near her eighty-three years. Nor did she act like it.

  Kevin chuckled as Beverly put her hands on slender hips and did a little cha-cha move. “Watch out now, you might hurt somebody with your fine self.” Kevin teased, winking at his mother.

  “Come here boy and give your momma a hug and some sugar.” Beverly lovingly held her arms open to her youngest son. Richard Jr. had been the child of her youth, whereas Kevin had been her miracle baby. After Richard Jr. came along, she and her husband unsuccessfully tried to have other children. Their plan was to have a house full of babies and show them the world as they traveled around the world from army base to army base. Coming to terms that Richard Jr. would be an only child, Beverly became content with nurturing her son and being a good military wife.

  At the age of forty-two when she missed three consecutive periods she hadn’t given it much thought. All the women in her family had gone through the change in their early forties. Never in her wildest dreams would she have guessed she might be pregnant. Fifteen years had gone by since she’d last carried a child. An inkling of suspicion toyed with her as she begin to pay closer attention to her body. Suddenly she noticed her breasts were heavier, fuller, and more tender than usual, accompanied by vague waves of nausea that would come at the oddest of times.

  The woman nearly fell off the examine table when the doctor informed her she was in family way and not menopause. To Beverly’s delight six months later, a bouncing baby boy, weighing in at nine pounds, three ounces came bursting on the scene.

  Obediently, Kevin enveloped his momma in a snug embrace as he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. Releasing his mother, Kevin pulled out two tickets from the inside pocket of his sport’s jacket. After going to a number of department stores and boutiques, he had yet to find the perfect gift. Rounding the corner onto Walnut Street after his search on Jeweler’s Row came up empty, he proceeded to walk past the Walnut Street Theater. That’s when it him. Broadway!

  His mother hadn’t been to Broadway in years. His parents would take weekend getaways to New York City when he became a teenager. Kevin never minded his parents’ weekend excursions because he was always left in the care of the Stiles’. During those weekends, he and Nick would find all kinds of devilment to get into.

  “Happy birthday, Momma.”

  Taking the tickets in her hands, she held them to her chest. “Oh, baby… The Color Purple on Broadway. Mmm, the last time I saw a play on Broadway your daddy was living.”

  Briefly, a sad expression crossed her beautiful features. The last ten years without Richard Sr. at certain times was unbearable. But God was good. Every time she became blue, a ray of sunshine would come shining through in the form of her children, reminding her she still a part of her beloved husband. Although Richard Jr. followed in the footsteps of his father, becoming a three star general and traveling the world, he always made time to call her twice a week. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear her boys orchestrated their schedules. When Richard Jr. wasn’t calling, Kevin was popping up for impromptu visits.

  The sad expression wasn’t missed. Concerned, he pressed, “Momma, you all right?”


  “Yes, baby. I was just missing your daddy, that’s all.” Lightly patting Kevin on the chest, she smiled up at her son. “You look so much like him. You know he was a ladies man much like yourself.” Winking a bit flirtatiously, Beverly added, “Until I came along and set him straight. Had him hooked the first time he looked into these here dreamy eyes of mine.”

  Kevin chuckled as his momma batted her lashes. Hooking his arm through hers, he said, “Come on foxy Momma, your chariot awaits you.”

  Leading Beverly to the waiting limo her words danced around in his head. “You know he was a ladies’ man much like yourself…until I came along and set him straight.” Kevin wanted to laugh out loud. Is there a woman out there who can do that? Set me straight? Kevin pushed the absurd question from his mind. Beverly Dawson was one of a kind. Only she could tame a wild, worldly man like Richard Dawson. I love you Daddy, but I ain’t going out like you did. Nah, there ain’t a babe out there who can tame me.

  After making such a boastful statement to himself, Kevin frowned. Why was Starr Avery prancing to the forefront of his mind flashing her thousand watt dimpled smile?

  Beverly Dawson wore a faint smile as she spied the frown her son wore. He was thinking about what she just said. Richard Jr. had settled down and married twelve years ago. He and his wife Audrey couldn’t have children because of a childhood injury Audrey had suffered. Kevin was her last hope of her becoming a grandmother. All he needed to do was stand still long enough to find a nice girl.

  Beverly shook her head remembering some gal calling herself Trina had showed up knocking on her door looking for her boy. She was a mess! The child’s skirt was so short, if she had bent over Beverly would’ve seen where the good Lord had spilt her!

  Beverly had given Kevin a good tongue-lashing. “You tell that half-naked tail gal to put some clothes on before she come tipping up here at my front door again. Boy, what’s wrong with you? Your father and I didn’t raise you to chase after everything in a skirt. You need to find yourself a nice, decent girl. And not one looking like she’s been walking the streets all night.”