Estelle jumped. She looked terrified, and Bobby wanted to cheer.
“There are no cults here. Just a town filled with people who heard how hard Bobby and Kelly were struggling and extended a hand. Yes, they live here, rent-free. They have a nice car, too. When was the last time you went out of your way to help someone change their life?”
Estelle looked decidedly uncomfortable.
“How long has the town existed, Ms. July?” asked the pastor.
“Since its founding in 1879.”
He sat back with surprise. “My lord. That’s remarkable. Where is it?”
Tamar supplied the answer.
“May Estelle and I accompany you into town, if it’s not too much to ask?”
“I’d love to show you around.”
Bobby Jr.’s cries announced he was awake, so Bobby went to get him. After changing his diaper, he brought him out and gently handed him to Estelle. “Say good morning to your grandmother.”
Estelle’s eyes rounded, and she looked up at him in shock. He ignored her and leaned down to place a kiss on Kiki’s cheek. “Going to work. I’ll call you later.”
Tiara threw her arms up. He lifted her and held her up over his head. Her giggles warmed his heart. He gave her a kiss, too. “Be nice to your mama today, missy, or we won’t play poker tonight.”
Handing her back, he nodded at the visitors and at Tamar. “You all have a good day.”
A short while later, Estelle and Pastor Garner squeezed into Olivia with Tamar. When they returned two hours later, Estelle said to Kiki, “I need to ask your forgiveness.”
Kiki glanced at Tamar. Pastor Garner looked pleased.
Estelle continued, “Pastor Garner came with me because he said he knew God had blessed you via the people here, but I didn’t believe him. In truth, I chose not to believe him because I didn’t want to admit I was wrong. But I was wrong. Everyone I talked to spoke so highly of Bobby.”
“He’s a good man, Mama. Yes, he got off track there for a while, but he’s always had a good heart. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had his babies, or still be with him.”
Estelle began to cry. “I so want to be in the lives of my grandchildren.”
“There’s nothing stopping you. In fact, Tamar, can my mama stay with you until after the wedding?”
Estelle looked up, surprised.
“Sure,” Tamar replied.
“The whole town is invited, so do you want to be the mother of the bride and give me away?”
Estelle dropped onto the sofa and wept.
Kiki said to Baby Bob, “I think that’s a yes.”
On New Year’s Day, Bobby watched his mother-in-law escort his bride down the aisle while Roni played Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.” The church was packed. Much to his delight, his mother had come too, and was seated in the front pew, holding the nattily dressed twins on her lap. He doubted he and Estelle would ever be best buds, but she would always be welcome in his home. Beside him stood his best man and, yes, friend, Trent July. No other man meant as much as the mayor to him. With his guidance and support, Bobby was looking forward to having an awesome life. In the last month he’d gone from a lowly valet who mattered to no one to a well-thought-of and respected member of a community he hadn’t even known existed until Crystal showed up at their door last fall. Crystal stood across from him with tears in her eyes while she waited on her BFF to reach them. She too had been changed by this place, and he couldn’t wait to see what the future held.
When Kiki reached him, the love in her eyes made him weak. They joined hands, and Reverend Paula began reading the words that would bind them together until death did them part.
The next day, Trent, Lily, and their sons took his mother and her family back to the airport. They’d had a fabulous time, and now it was time to part. He shared a strong hug with Paul and Val and then his mother. He looked down into Rita Lynn’s eyes. “Thank you again for your courage.”
She smiled. “We have a lot of years ahead of us, Trenton, Lord willing. You’re stuck with me, whether you like it or not.”
“And you’re stuck with me.”
She kissed Lily and then her grandsons. “Don’t forget you’re coming out for Easter.”
“Can’t wait,” Amari told her. “Aunt Val’s going to teach me how to surf.”
Val nodded.
Devon asked, “Is it okay if I Skype you, Gramma Rita?”
“Of course.”
He grinned.
She gave Trent one final hug. “Take care, my son, and take care of your wonderful family.”
“You, take care of yourself, too,” he whispered. And with a full heart, he watched her walk away and head to the gate.
Amari asked, “You okay, Dad?”
“Yeah, son. Your old man is okay. Let’s go home.” He took Lily’s hand and they all headed to the doors.
And on the drive back, he thought about all that had happened in the last two weeks, and how incredibly grateful and blessed he was.
Down on the beach in Key West, Malachi and Bernadine clinked their glasses in a toast. “To love,” she said.
“And happiness. Sounds like a segue to Al Green. Do we have to go back?”
She chuckled. “Eventually. Somebody has to turn the world, I suppose.”
Mal sipped his drink and watched the sunset. “I suppose. Can’t be me, though. I’d get fed up, the world would stop, and we’d all be thrown into space.”
She laughed. “Can’t have that, but how about we stay another week?”
“I vote yes.”
So they stayed another week to continue enjoying each other, the sunrises and sunsets, and being in love.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Dear Readers,
This has to be the most emotional trip to Henry Adams so far. We have my editor, Erika Tsang, to thank for her excellent suggestions on improving the first draft, which led to this excellent installment—and the use of many tissues to staunch the tears. Also, thanks to you, my readers, for the continuous outpouring of love for our favorite small town via your e-mails, letters, and posts to my Facebook page. You’ve told your family, friends, neighbors, church members, and everyone else on the planet about the Blessings series—or so it seems—and I’m extremely grateful. May you all be Blessed.
Until next time.
B
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author photograph by Greg Anthony
Beverly Jenkins is the author of thirty historical and contemporary novels, including five previous books in her beloved Blessings series. She has been featured in many national publications, including the Wall Street Journal, People, the Dallas Morning News, Vibe, and many other publications.
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ALSO BY BEVERLY JENKINS
HEART OF GOLD
A WISH AND A PRAYER
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
A SECOND HELPING
BRING ON THE BLESSINGS
DEADLY SEXY
SEXY/DANGEROUS
BLACK LACE
THE EDGE OF DAWN
THE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT
DESTINY’S CAPTIVE
DESTINY’S SURRENDER
DESTINY’S EMBRACE
NIGHT HAWK
MIDNIGHT
CAPTURED
JEWEL
WILD SWEET LOVE
WINDS OF A STORM
SOMETHING LIKE LOVE
A CHANCE AT LOVE
BEFORE THE DAWN
ALWAYS AND FOREVER
THE TAMING OF JESSI ROSE
TOPAZ
INDIGO
VIVID
THROUGH THE STORM
NIGHT SONG
CREDITS
Map of Henry Ada
ms by Valerie Miller
Cover illustration by Larry Rostant
COPYRIGHT
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
FOR YOUR LOVE. Copyright © 2015 by Beverly Jenkins. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
FIRST EDITION
ISBN 978-0-06-220799-9
EPub Edition APRIL 2015 ISBN: 9780062208002
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Beverly Jenkins, For Your Love
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