Free Key To My Heart (Love Conquers All) by Victoria Wells Page A

trembling hands. “Ava, don’t do this. Zoe is going to accept you. She’s a sweet child just like you.”
    Ava let out an unlady-like snort as she pulled her hands free of Langston’s warm touch. “Ain’t nothing sweet about me.”
    Langston was about to tell her that at one time she was sweet. At least to him she was sweet. He wanted to tell her she had been the only girl that ever really liked him for who he was. He wanted to tell her how sorry he was for causing her so much pain. But before he could make his confession, Zoe came skipping into the kitchen in her pajamas.
    “Daddy, I need to get ready for—” Her words trailed off as she stared wide eyed at Ava. Zoe pointed her finger. “Daddy, who’s that? Is that my mommy?”
    Ava didn’t give Langston a chance to answer. Her hand trembled when she held it out to the small child. “Hi, Zoe, please come to me.”
    Although the pretty lady was smiling at her, Zoe nervously looked to her father. She remained planted in place until her daddy said it was OK to go to the lady. She wasn’t supposed to talk to strangers. She only moved when Langston smiled at her and said, “It’s OK, Love Bug.”
    When Zoe was within arms’ lengths, Ava pulled her up onto her lap. The familiar strangers gazed at each other for what seemed like a lifetime. Ava couldn’t believe it. This child, her daughter looked exactly like her with the exception of her coloring. Zoe was a beautiful shade of cinnamon, thanks to her daddy.
    Ava’s voice shook when she asked the child, “Can I give you a kiss and a hug?”
    Zoe answered by bobbing her head up and down. She liked this lady. She was nice and her lips were soft against her cheek like the ones kissing her last night in her dream. When Ava hugged her, she nestled against Ava’s bosom as if it were the most natural thing to do. Zoe sure hoped this lady was her mommy.
    As Ava drew her baby further into her embrace, Zoe wiggled closer to her. Ava’s hand stroked a soft, thick, long braid. For years she’d rubbed the small lock of hair in the plastic bag between her fingers. And for years she’d dreamed about holding her daughter in her arms, lovingly stroking her hair like she was doing now.
    Holding the braid under her nose, Ava inhaled to capture its scent, which smelled of lavender. There was a smile in her voice when she told Zoe, “Your hair smells pretty, like flowers.”
    Zoe giggled. “Thank you. That’s because Daddy takes me to the hair salon every week to get my hair washed.”
    Ava glanced over at Langston. For the first time since seeing him, she smiled at him like old times. He smiled back.
    Yeah, she was still struggling with accepting his reasoning for not telling her about Zoe until now. Sure, she was ticked off with him because of it. She’d missed out on being in Zoe’s life for so many years. But that was not where she needed to focus her energy right now. The fact that she could see that Langston loved Zoe and had taken excellent care of her made her years of absence a little easier to handle.
    Zoe wiggled free from the embrace. Easing back, she took a curious look at Ava as if she’d seen her somewhere before. “Daddy, she looks like that lady in the picture with you. The one you keep in your dresser drawer in your bedroom.”
    Ava gave Langston a puzzled look. “What picture?”
    Zoe put her arms out with her palms facing the ceiling. “The one in Daddy’s dresser drawer,” she said, letting out an exasperated sigh. “You want me to get it?”
    “Sure, why not.” Ava chuckled as Zoe jumped off her lap and ran upstairs. “I see she’s a dramatic little something,” Ava said to Langston.
    Langston chortled to break the tension he was feeling building in his shoulders. “Most definitely.” He should have put that picture somewhere else. Zoe had found him in his room one afternoon looking at the photo. When she’d asked who the lady in the photo was, he’d just told her she was a