Page 12 of The Secret to a Southern Wedding

“He’s the first man to pique my interest in a long time. And he’s a gentleman. He makes me laugh. He’s kind and supportive.” Her mom’s eyes lit up and her smile went dreamy. “Not to mention the way he makes love.”

Imani held up a hand. “Mom! Please, stop! Okay, I get it. You’re...ready to start over.”

Linda laughed and patted Imani’s shoulder. “I am. So please, be happy for me and get to know him and Cyril before the wedding.”

Imani couldn’t believe her father would contact her mom, but then again, if the man was anything it was audacious. He was controlling and knew how to press the buttons of people around him to get what he wanted. As a kid she’d trusted her dad completely. Trusted him to keep her safe and love her for the rest of her life. Now, she could barely trust anyone. How could she, after wicked raised her with a warm hug and a kiss on the forehead before bed each night?

She looked at the happiness on her mother’s face. Wary, and a bit hesitant, but it was there. Imani still didn’t believe her mom’s feelings about men and relationships would change so drastically, but she could see how this news about her ex-husband finding love after everything that happened might make her mom reevaluate everything.

“I will, if you let me do a background check on him.”

Her mom shook her head. “We said we wouldn’t pry.”

Imani didn’t care about any promises he may have coerced out of her mom. Knowing everything was more important. “And I’m saying I want you to be happy, but I don’t know him. Let me do the background check. And in the meantime,” she sighed. “I’ll be nice to him and his son and help you plan this wedding.”

Linda’s eyes narrowed for a second before she nodded and smiled. “Fine. Do the check, but you won’t find anything. Now fix yourself a plate and eat.”

Imani didn’t argue. For her mom’s sake, she hoped she didn’t find anything. But if she did, then neither Preston nor his son Cyril would get away with trying to deceive her mother.

six

Imani woke to the smell of coffee and pancakes. She smiled and stretched in the same twin-sized bed she’d slept in as a child. One of the reasons she told her mom she didn’t like spending the night was because the twin bed at her mom’s house was much smaller than the queen bed she had in her apartment. Despite the size difference she always slept like a baby whenever she came home. Not only was the bed the same but so was the room, from the posters of Destiny’s Child, Foxy Brown and Lil’ Kim on the pale pink walls to her old diary hidden beneath the mattress.

Her room was like walking through a time capsule to when her world was perfect. Her dad was still the loving husband and father everyone in town assumed him to be. Her mom was still a successful business owner, wife and mother people admired. Imani was the popular and smart captain of the Peachtree Cove high school science club and cheerleading team. She liked that her room was a memory of happier times, before her world was turned upside down and everything changed.

Pushing the unpleasant thoughts out of her mind, Imani slid out of the bed and focused on the delicious breakfast awaiting her. Her mom always cooked when she came home. One much-appreciated bright side of this impromptu trip.

She quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth in the bathroom. Back in her room her cell phone chimed. She checked the messages and immediately wished she hadn’t as she read the text from her boss, Dr. Jaillet.

I hope you made it safe. Take your time but let us know if you can remote in for Monday’s board meeting.

Imani texted back a quick thanks and I’ll try. The hospital agreed to her absence if she continued to try and do as much work as she could remotely. As doctor of the year, she had an ex officio seat on the board to give input from staff in decisions. The seat was something that looked good, but she knew what it was. She may have a seat at the table, but she didn’t have a voice in decisions.

Imani threw her phone on the bed before heading down the hall to the kitchen. If she was going to figure out the best way to slow down the plans for this wedding, then she couldn’t be distracted by texts and emails from the hospital. The enticing aromas grew stronger, and her stomach rumbled in anticipation as she neared the kitchen.

“Mom, you didn’t have to cook but I am so glad you did,” she said as she entered the kitchen.

Preston Dash turned away from the stove and grinned at her. Imani froze in her tracks, jaw slack. He wore a light green robe that stopped right above his knees and opened enough at the top to reveal a gold chain nestled in dark chest hair. He appeared completely at ease barely dressed in her mother’s kitchen.

Which meant he was at ease. Probably because he’d been there before. Multiple times. The reason for him to be so comfortable in her mom’s kitchen at...her eyes slid to the clock on the microwave...eight thirty in the morning...meant he either came very early or stayed the night.

“What are you doing here?” she blurted out before the reason why Preston Dash would be spending the night at her mom’s house could take hold.

Undeterred by her obvious shock, Preston turned back to the stove. “I’m making breakfast. Your mom doesn’t like making breakfast, so I do it for her. Don’t worry, I made enough for you, too.”

“What? Why?” She was at a loss for words. She didn’t want him to make breakfast. She didn’t even want to see him this early.

He chuckled and flipped the pancakes. “So, you can eat, too. That’s why.”

Imani placed a hand to her temple. “I know so I can eat. What I mean is...why are you here. In a bathrobe?”

Her mom came up from behind. “He spent the night, and that’s his robe. I told him I’d buy him a new one.”

Linda gave Imani a quick hug before hurrying past her into the kitchen. Imani watched, shocked, as her mom leaned up to meet Preston’s quick kiss.

“Did you add blueberries?” Linda asked.

“You know I did,” was Preston’s happy reply.

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