Serendipitous Love 3: Fall in Love Again by Christina C Jones

Author:Christina C Jones [Jones, Christina C]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: United States, Romance, African American, Women's Fiction, Literature & Fiction
Amazon: B00SGDKK6C
Published: 2015-01-18T05:00:00+00:00

— present —

“You know Charlie called to wish me a happy birthday this morning?”

I gave my mother a sober smile as she sat back, taking a sip from her mimosa. “Is that right?”

She nodded. “Mmhmm. Every year, she calls, even though I’m just her almost mama in law. Such a sweet girl.”

I snorted, then stuffed my mouth full of bacon.

Every year, on her birthday, I made the two hour drive to the coast, where my mother lived, to take her to brunch. She often told me it was her favorite part of the day, even though I’m sure whatever lavish thing her husband had planned for her easily topped it.

That was my favorite part of her birthday, knowing that even though my own father had been a shitty husband, she was being pampered by someone who appreciated her.

As a kid, and even into adulthood, my view of my parent’s marriage was skewed by the way my dad was quick to blame the problems of their relationship on the fact that they’d taken vows. It wasn’t until my mom smacked me upside the head after she learned the details of my breakup with Charlie, and sat me down to tell me the real deal that I understood what was really happening.

My dad was a damned drunk.

It started shortly after their wedding, when he was hurt in an accident on his job. He didn’t believe in taking prescription pain management, so he drank his way into numbness instead. He was what they call a “functioning” alcoholic, but of course his personality, priorities, and whole demeanor changed. He would pick fights with my mother as an excuse to hit the bar, wouldn’t keep a job, wouldn’t help at home. If they hadn’t gotten married the weekend they did, he wouldn’t have been working overtime to catch up, and therefore wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

I don’t think I closed my mouth for a full minute after my mother revealed that as his twisted ass logic. Marriage made him a trash-ass husband and provider.

Right.

It was hard not to resent him for that, especially when he was a large part of why I had the views I did on marriage. If I hadn’t been listening to him, I would have married Charlie probably a year in, fancy ring be damned, and could be happily wed right now. But… that was twisted logic too. I was a grown assed man, and when it came down to it, I was the one who had to be accountable for my own decisions.

“I wish you hadn’t let that crazy daddy of yours mess up your head. I could have had two or three little pretty grandbabies by now. She told me she’s back in town… back at the restaurant with you. You weren’t gonna say anything about that?”

I shrugged. “What is there to say? Charlie is back, and she’s not trying to have anything to do with me.”

“Oh, baby,” my mother waved her hand in the air, brushing away my words. “The girl just needs time.

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