Valentine's Fantasy: When Valentines Collide\To Love Again by Adrianne Byrd

Author:Adrianne Byrd
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Kimani Press
Published: 2013-01-27T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

True to her word, the very next day, Chanté filed for divorce. A few hours later, she packed her things, grabbed Buddy and took a flight back home to Texas. Yes, she was running away from a problem—mainly Page Six of the New York Post—but she needed a break and she needed family.

Years ago, when Chanté “married up,” as her mother called it, she bought her mom and dad a nice western ranch home—which was a considerable step up from the dilapidated shotgun house Chanté had grown up in.

The moment Chanté pulled her rented Camry into the driveway and saw her mother relaxing on the front porch swing, tears she hadn’t known had built up poured down her face.

Within minutes, she was folded snugly in her mother’s arms and recounting every detail of the past year.

Alice Morris listened to her only child with a loving patience only a mother had. When Chanté was through, she just continued to hold her until the tears ran dry.

Hours later, at sunset, Leonard Morris pulled his old Chevy pickup truck behind the Camry and found the women still on the porch swing with Buddy curled at their feet.

He lumbered up the stairs with a wide smile. “Is that my baby girl?” After a close-up look at Chanté’s red, swollen eyes, his mood took a one hundred and eighty degree turn. “I’ll kill him.”

“Ain’t nobody gonna kill nobody,” Alice declared, and gave her daughter’s shoulders an encouraging squeeze. “What you’re going to do is get Chanté’s bags out of the car and take them to the guest room. Chanté, go lie down for a spell while I get supper started.” She kissed her daughter’s temple and helped her up.

Leonard remained rooted on the porch while he watched the women enter the house. When it became clear that he wasn’t going to be filled in on what was going on, he glanced down at the strange dog. “And who the hell are you?”

Buddy barked.

“Well, I guess that’s about the only answer I’m going to get tonight.” He turned and meandered back down the steps to get his daughter’s luggage.

* * *

Matthew and the staff had just completed taping. He knew he’d made a mistake in calling into Chanté’s radio show. Numerous staffers had recognized his voice and noticed Chanté’s emotional response to the caller. The set hummed with rumors and speculation.

Though none of that mattered once he received a call from Chanté’s attorney.

Divorce. To separate, divide—permanently.

“All right.” Seth breezed into the room. “I just finished the meeting with the producers and I think you’re going to like their offer for another five-year contract.” He stopped and looked over at Matthew. “Are you all right? You don’t look so good.”

Matthew gave him a half-chuckle, half-groan response.

“You need to go to a doctor or something?”

“Chanté’s attorney called.”

Seth straightened.

“She filed.”

The small dressing room fell silent while Matthew studied his reflection in the mirror.

“I’m sorry, Matt.” Seth placed a hand on his shoulder. “I was really hoping you two would work it out.

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