Page 32 of Do Me
“Hmm, I see.”
“See what?”
“That you’ve fallen in love with Braxton. I can see it in your face. You look more relaxed and there’s a peace there that hasn’t been in a long time.”
Why did mothers know everything?All her life Londyn wondered how her mother could look at her and know every detail of her heart. She lowered her head and continued scrolling through the pictures.
Her mother patted her hand. “It’s okay to fall in love, sweetheart. You never shared with us the details of why you ended your engagement with Antoine, but I know he hurt you. You’ve kept your heart locked away and your father and I have been worried you’d never open it again. I’m happy that you’ve found someone who makes you happy.”
Londyn slowly lifted her head. She had been too ashamed to tell them what happened, and afraid her father, who had always protected her, would do Antoine bodily harm. She’d only told Felicia and Monique and, even then, Londyn hadn’t shared the full extent of her trauma with them. They were her best friends and had cried with her and stayed with her when she’d taken off a week from work because she’d become so depressed she couldn’t get out of bed. But Braxton was different. “Mom, Braxton is incredible, and he always makes me feel like I’m special, Like I’m an important part of his life.”
“That’s how it should always be, Londyn. Even if you have a disagreement. Have you told him how you feel?”
“No. I don’t know if he feels the same way, and I’d rather not put my heart out there just yet.” In her relationships, she had always been the first one to acknowledge her feelings and, each time, it had backfired. She knew Braxton cared for her, his actions said so. He’d even mentioned her being the woman he’d been waiting for falling for her. But until she was absolutely sure he felt the same, she planned to keep her mouth closed.
“Love carries a risk, and as a psychologist, you know that better than most. Don’t let your past and what you hear every day from those struggling in their relationships determine how you live your life.”
“I thought I was the psychologist,” she said with a laugh.
Paulette waved a hand. “I’m a mom. It’s the same thing.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Londyn muttered. They both laughed.
“Seriously, baby, your heart will know whether or not Braxton is the one for you. Just promise me you won’t close your heart to love.”
“I’m trying, Mom.”
“Good. I hope we have a chance to meet him soon.” She stood. “Let your father know dinner is ready.”
Londyn left to deliver the message and to wash her hands before joining her parents at the dining room table. “This smells so good, Mom.” Although they had flown home the previous evening, her mother had prepared a meal of barbecue chicken, potato salad, green beans and her light-as-air biscuits.
Dwight blessed the food. “Baby, you’ve outdone yourself. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed our vacation, but there’s nothing like coming home to one of your meals.”
Her mother blushed and giggled like a schoolgirl. “Thank you, honey. I just thought a nice, home-cooked meal would be nice after eating in restaurants for a month.”
Londyn held up a chicken wing. “And any time I don’t have to cook, is good for me.” Laughter flowed around the table.
Halfway through dinner, her father asked, “When are we going to meet this young man you’re dating?”
She shot a quick glance at her mother. “I don’t know yet. We’ve only known each other a couple of months.”
“I’d only known your father six weeks before he proposed,” her mother said sweetly.
Londyn had heard more than once about their whirlwind romance when they’d met during their residency, her father in his fourth and her mother in her first. Though they married right away, it wasn’t until they’d begun their careers did they have Londyn. “That’s not how things work these days.”
“That’s because you young people approach relationships with your minds and not your hearts,” Paulette countered. “You’re all so busy wondering if it’s the right time in your careers, reading these newfangled books on finding the right mate and dating two and three people at a time, talking about you need to see which one is best, all the while ignoring blaring red flags,” she ranted, shaking her head. She pinned Londyn with a stare. “All you need to do is use some common sense and trust your heart.”
She couldn’t dispute one word her mother said because she’d agonized over the timing with her career and her biological clock. And she finally admitted to herself that she had ignored several red flags with Antoine, particularly when it came to intimacy. Once they became engaged, he started demanding sex more often, and whenever she didn’t want it, he turned into someone she didn’t know. Londyn pushed down the ugly memories and let the image of Braxton’s heated, but tender, kisses all over her body fill her mind and her heart instead. She just prayed he didn’t change.
* * *
“You sure I can’t convince you to come with me to my parent’s house for dinner this afternoon?” Braxton asked Londyn. His mother had called him that morning with a reminder to ask Londyn to Sunday dinner.
“Aw, that’s so sweet of your mom to offer. I’d love to, but I promised my friend I’d help her finish putting together the care totes her non-profit organization will be giving out next weekend.”
“What kind of organization?”
“They focus on providing resources for the low-income and homeless populations. These bags will have toiletries, blankets, socks, snacks and a few other things.”
