Second Chance at Love (Love Conquers All) (25 page)

“Exactly how much is this trust fund worth?”

“A little over eight hundred thousand.”

Karen shot up off the sofa. Balling her hands into fist at her sides, she just wanted to hit somebody. “Those greedy bastards! My babies are nothing more to them than a couple of cash cows!”

The corner of Dom’s lips twitched, the beginnings of a smirk taking form. The sad, defeated look in Karen’s eyes was replaced by shooting white thunderbolts. Marching across the room into the connecting dining room, Karen snatched her purse off the table. Dom couldn’t make out what she was mumbling as she rummaged through the purse. A thick brow arched as he studied her snatching out the letter she’d been served. Next she yanked out her cell phone and start dialing.

“Baby, what are you doing?”

“I’m calling that damn lawyer,” she hissed as she continued to stab the touch screen on her phone.

Dom cocked his head to the side. He couldn’t help the grin that was slowly inching its way into becoming an outright hundred watt smile. She was so darn sexy when she was angry. “For what?” he asked, hoping the amusement in his voice didn’t show.

Karen stopped dialing and looked at Dom as if he’d sprouted another head. “I’m going to tell that rat bastard lawyer that he and his clients can kiss my natural, black—”

Before she could finish, Dom threw his head back and roared with laughter. He knew his woman could be feisty, but to call up a lawyer and cuss him out was just downright hilarious. He continued to laugh as he walked the short distance to stand in front of Karen. Taking the phone from her hand, he hit the red button to end the call and put the phone in the back pocket of his jeans.

“You’re quite the little momma lioness,” he teased as he wrapped his arms around her. “Girl, you can’t go around telling people to kiss your ba-dunka-dunk.”

“Get off me, Dom. This isn’t funny.” she fussed, trying not to laugh. Had she been ready to tell some man she didn’t know to kiss her butt? Well butt wasn’t the word she was going to use. All this drama on top of trying to plan a wedding in a few short weeks was driving her nuts. It was making her act out of character, but then again when someone messed with her babies that
did
make her act out of character.

Tightening his hold on her, he kissed her forehead. “Baby, it actually
was
funny.”

Feeling the warmth of his love, she wrapped her arms around his waist. She knew she could always count on Dom. “No it wasn’t,” she pouted.

Dom leaned back so he could look into her face. “Baby you called the kids cash cows. If anything they’re cash calves.”

“Don’t give up your day job. A comedian you are not,” she sarcastically sneered while rolling her eyes. “Cash cows, cash calves,” Karen waved her hand in the air, “whatever. Those idiots are not getting their filthy hands on Ashley and Kyle.”

Dom playfully tapped her on the chin with his fist. Chuckling, he said, “That’s the spirit, sport.”

Karen nodded her head, folding her arms across her chest in a defiant pose. “You damn straight.”

This time they both laughed and hugged each other. Right then and there Karen let go of all of her fears and trusted her heart. Her heart told her Dom would do what he promised. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her or the children.

The following day detective Bass contacted Karen and Dom. He had further information which he thought was pertinent to their case. Dom held the door, his hand at the small of her back as he guided her through the door of the Irish Pub on Walnut Street. Crossing the threshold, he took her hand and led her to the back of the restaurant. As they approached a table in the corner, a very cute man with a medium build, just clearing six feet, stood.

He waited for Karen to remove her leather gloves before he stretched out his hand. “Hi Karen, I’m Detective Bass.”

Smiling, Karen accepted the proffered hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Detective Bass. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“All good I hope,” he chuckled as he released her hand to shake Dom’s as the men introduced themselves.

Karen removed her coat and slid into the hard, wooden chair. “Of course. Nick says you’re the best.”

“I do my best,” he said as he and Dom took a seat. Getting straight to the point, he pulled out a legal size envelope from the briefcase on the chair beside him.

“After digging around and finding the information on the trust fund, I ran a credit report on your former in-laws and got a hold of their banking account information.” Sliding the envelope over to the couple, he said, “It looks like the Johnstons are in some serious financial trouble. Their home has been mortgaged to the hilt, they have several outstanding loans, and they have barely a thousand dollars in their bank account.”

“You’re kidding,” Karen said incredulously, opening the envelope and shuffling through the documents. But it was no joke. Everything the detective said was right there in black and white. Disgusted, she shoved the papers to Dom.

Dom hissed an expletive under his breath, his dark eyes glancing over the information. He knew his instincts were on point the first time Karen told him Gregory’s parents came sniffing around.

“How in the world did they get into this mess?” Karen wondered aloud. Gregory’s parents had always put on the pretense that they were so financially stable.

“I’m glad you asked,” Bass said, his green eyes gleaming. “It seems Mr. Johnston invested a few hundred thousand dollars as start up money for his daughter’s business.”

Karen eyes nearly rolled in the back of her head. “Let me guess. She opened a flower shop,” Karen said, shaking her head in disbelief. Her former sister-in-law was as dumb as a doornail. And her parents weren’t too far behind her. Who in the world would open a tropical flower shop in Philadelphia? Who did she think she was going to sell them too? And to make matters worse, the chick was a plant killer! If she couldn’t keep a plant alive that could live for years with proper care, how in the world was she going to care for delicate flowers? Karen felt sorry for the poor flowers that met their demise at the hands of that simple woman. She didn’t have a green thumb. She had a killing thumb!

Dom’s eyebrow knitted together in a frown. “What the hell?”

Both the detective and Karen laughed. Hunching her shoulders, she said, “One day she was watching some wedding show on cable and got this crazy idea in her head she wanted to open a flower shop. She begged her parents for years for the money. I suppose they finally gave in.”

Bass leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “The sad thing is, the business didn’t even survive a year. I can tell you now the Johnstons want to get their hands on that trust fund money.”

Letting out a deep breath, Karen agreed. “We figured as much. They can have the money, but they can’t have my babies.”

Taking her hand in his, Dom assured her. “Baby, they’re not getting our kids. They can’t take care of themselves, let alone two children. Any judge in his or her right mind will see what they’re really after.”

“Dom you’re absolutely right. Karen, although you’re a single mom, you’re financially stable, making you the better provider.”

Momentarily stunned, Karen stared at Bass. Laughing she exclaimed, “You investigated me? I feel so violated.”

Bass chuckled. “They don’t call me the best for nothing. When I do an investigation I dig into all sides.” Nodding his head at Dom, he winked. “Your man here is super financially solid. Once the adoption goes through, the Johnstons will be laughed right out of court. As Dom said, I can’t see a judge granting them custody.”

Turning to Dom, she teased, “Honey, don’t you feel violated?”

“Nah, your man is on the up and up. Ain’t nothing shady about me.”

Playfully rolling her eyes, she turned to Bass. “So where do we go from here?”

“I’ll send a report to your attorney and he can take it from there. My guess is he’ll present what’s in the report to the Johnstons’ attorney and suggest they go about their business and leave you alone.”

Karen smiled and said, “Sounds like a plan to me.” Her level of confidence was boosted a hundred fold. Gregory’s parents weren’t going to know what hit them when they learned the covers had been pulled off their dirty little ploy.

After meeting with Bass, Karen and Dom went their separate ways. Dom had plans to spend the rest of the afternoon with Ashley and Kyle. Karen headed down South Philly to meet up with Janet to go over final details for the wedding, which was just two short weeks away. Her future mother-in-law was such a big help. Janet had somehow worked a miracle by finding a wedding planner at the very last minute, which Karen appreciated since she had her hands full with work, the kids and rearranging her current living space to accommodate Dom’s things when he moved in.

Maneuvering her Honda into a tight space, she turned the engine off. She picked up her gloves on the passenger seat and she slid her hands into them before picking up her purse. Stepping out of the vehicle, she made her way to the marble steps leading to the front door. Just as she was about to ring the bell, the heavy wooden door swung open.

“Well hello there!” Dominic greeted Karen, pulling her into a tight bear hug. “How’s my favorite soon-to-be daughter-in-law?” he teased as he released her and stepped aside so she could come in out the cold.

Karen laughed, dramatically rolling her eyes. Taking off her coat, she sassed back, “Mr. Dominic, I’m you’re only soon-to-be daughter-in-law.”

Reaching for her coat, Dominic’s thick salt and pepper eyebrows bunched in a frown. “I wish you would stop this Mr. Dominic stuff. We’re family now. If the kids can call me Grandpop, you
can
call me Pops.”

Karen didn’t pay Dominic’s gruff fussing any attention. The place he was coming from was a place of love. Standing on her tippy-toes, she planted a soft kiss on his check. “Okay, Pops it is.”

He firmly nodded his head. “That’s more like it.”

Breezing into the room, Janet’s face lit up. She was just as excited about the upcoming nuptials as the bride and groom. “Oh there you are, sweetheart.” The women exchanged a warm hug. “Come on, everyone’s waiting for you,” she sang as she ushered Karen into the kitchen.

Following Janet, Karen was a bit curious as to who else was here. She’d only been aware of the wedding planner meeting with her and Janet.

“Oh my God!” Karen squealed in delight. Rushing to the kitchen table where the two other women sat, she nearly tripped over her booted feet.

Donna stood, opening her arms. “Hi baby,” she smiled as she embraced her daughter.

Breaking the embrace, Karen kissed her mother’s soft cheek. “I thought you couldn’t make it until the wedding.”

Donna sat back down, as did Karen. “Patrick and I came back from New Orleans a little earlier than expected.” Winking at Janet, she teased, “Besides, your mother-in-law insisted I get my fanny up here.”

Janet laughed, taking a seat. “I certainly did. I didn’t want to be the only one having fun.” Karen’s heart melted when her mother and Janet reached across the table to take the other’s hand.

It was Donna who said, “This is the last time we’ll be planning a wedding for our children.” She couldn’t help the tear that slid down her cheek. She was happy for her daughter, yet a twinge of guilt tugged at her. Wallowing in her own self pity, she hadn’t been there the first time Karen got married. Though she apologized for her absence in her daughters’ lives, she couldn’t help thinking that if she had been there, been a mother, she could have kept them from making the same mistake in loving the wrong man as she had done.

Just as she was about to open her mouth again to apologize, Janet gently squeezed her hand. Though Donna had become friends and trusted the other women, Janet was the one she was the closest to. She had shared things with Janet she hadn’t shared with the others. Janet hadn’t judged her, she simply held her as she cried and encouraged her to let the past go and embrace her new life with her children and grandchildren. The tender look in Janet’s eyes was a reminder that this was a new day.

Donna read the message in her friend’s eyes. Nodding her head, she returned the squeeze. Disengaging their hands, she cleared her throat. “Karen, baby, this is Gayle Jackson, the wedding planner.”