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  McKenzie took his left hand in hers, and entwined their fingers. “As a matter of fact, yes.” She smiled. “He told me all about you. Were you the lady he met at the market about two months ago?”

  Kiki’s face turned a hue of red. “You ain’t shit anyways.” She turned and walked off.

  “Ain’t isn’t a word,” McKenzie clarified, and squeezed his fingers. “Come on, show me that dance.” She pulled him over to the others. James and his kids were line dancing and Albert and Monique joined in. He couldn’t help but laugh: this was what life was about, the happy memories with the people who loved you no matter what. McKenzie wasn’t a one-time fixture in his life, she was a forever.

  Chapter Eighteen

  McKenzie knocked on his office door.

  “You got this,” Monique said, encouraging her.

  She hadn’t mentioned to Toby that she was going to ask Wayne to sign the divorce papers. She wanted the process to go as smoothly as possible. If he wasn’t willing to cooperate, then she would take action, and it would get dirty. Everything he’d thrown in her face through the years would be coming back to him in full effect.

  “Come in.”

  She twisted the knob, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of her chest. McKenzie pushed the door open and as soon as he saw her, Wayne’s eyes widened. She hadn’t seen him in over two months. Everything that needed to be said was done through the police or her lawyers. A court-appointed social worker had been assigned to their case, and against her will, McKenzie had to drop Caleb off with the woman as Wayne spent a few hours a week with their son. Her stomach cringed every time she left the boy, but she knew he was safe. Wayne hadn’t been left alone with him at any point in his visitation.

  “McKenzie!” He rapidly stood and was about to walk up to her until he saw Monique standing behind her with her arms crossed over her chest, daring him to do something stupid. “Did you change your mind?” Wayne stared at her with determination in his eyes, and then he examined what she was wearing.

  “Monique.” She twisted around to make eye contact. “It’s okay.”

  “Are you sure?” Monique glared at Wayne and then back at her.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll be right outside.” She left the door open, and Wayne went to move.

  “Don’t take another step,” McKenzie ordered. “I only have a few words for you.”

  He raised his eyebrow, confused. “I’ve tried to come see you but no one seems to want to tell me where you’re staying. I forgive you for bringing that man into our house and attacking me. I miss you and Caleb. When are you coming back home?”

  McKenzie slipped off her sunglasses so he could look into her eyes when she answered. “Never. Whatever we had has been over for years. I’m here to personally ask you to sign the divorce papers. You can keep everything. I don’t want anything if you agree to the divorce.”

  “And what if I don’t?” Wayne leaned against his desk with a smirk.

  He would never change, he still thought he had control over her.

  “Then I will take you for all that you have.” McKenzie held her head up high. “You tracked my every move, and I kept a journal of all the time you caused me physical pain.”

  Wayne chuckled. “Really? That’s sweet. A journal will never hold up in court.”

  “You may be right.” McKenzie was the one to smirk now. “Although there are records of every time I visited my second home, Mercy Hospital. I believe the nurse wrote in her notes that she offered to take me to a shelter for abused women, after you dragged me out of the hospital without me being discharged. Do you remember that, Wayne?”

  His eyes went from being soft to dark with what she assumed was anger. Wayne stared at her left hand, clenching his jaw. “Where’s your wedding ring?”

  She wiggled her fingers. “You really just noticed that? It’s been off for over a year.”

  Wayne’s balled his fists at his sides, and without thinking, she inched back. “Just sign the divorce papers, and we can go our separate ways.”

  “You can go anywhere you want, but my son is staying with me.” He pushed away from the desk and sat in his leather chair. “I knew you weren’t shit before I met you and now you’re fucking trash.”

  “I’m so much more without you.” She was already used to his harsh words full of viciousness. McKenzie winked. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She slipped back on her sunglasses. “See you in court.”

  “You think you’re the big, bad wolf now?” He banged his fist on the desk.

  McKenzie smiled and made to leave. He wasn’t going to intimidate her. “Actually, yes.” She pivoted to face him. “ARH- WOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” she howled. “Watch out, little piggy, I’m coming for you.” McKenzie chuckled, leaving him with his eyes widened in surprise at her behavior. He must have thought she’d lost it. She smirked as she left his office. She was done playing games with Wayne.

  Wayne glared at her through narrowed eyes. “See you in court, bitch!”

  She chuckled. “Now who is mad?” McKenzie slowly closed the door, feeling so proud of herself. She’d handled herself with class. “Monique, let’s go eat some lunch!”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Three months later, McKenzie had her new routine down. She woke up, made herself a cup of coffee and breakfast, got Caleb ready for daycare, and they both walked out her apartment at seven thirty. Today marked the second month of her and Caleb living on their own. The apartment was just the right size for her and her son. Caleb was about to turn one next month. Every day, he looked less like her and more like his father. Mrs. Carmela wanted to have his birthday celebration at her home, but McKenzie declined. Instead, she invited her mother-in-law to a simple birthday at the playground in the back of the building. Just a cake and ice cream. Caleb was too young to care.

  Her mother flew down for moral support. Her dad was also supposed to come, but he fell sick days before they were to fly out of Guam. McKenzie was relieved to think that this chapter in her life would finally be over. Her mom was right beside her as her lawyer told them that divorce hearing had been pushed back, and once again, Wayne got his way. McKenzie had signed the divorce papers months ago, and Wayne kept fighting it.

  “I don’t like him always being around you,” McKenzie’s mom declared, washing dishes. “Why is he always here?”

  “He’s not always here.” McKenzie watched as Toby pushed Caleb on the swings in the back of the complex. Caleb giggled, kicking his chunky legs. Toby visited on his way home after work. “He’s been a very good friend. I like him being around.”

  She reminded herself they hadn’t crossed the line yet. He’d respected her decision not to act on their feelings. Toby had asked her if she wanted him to step back a little, and she hadn’t hesitated to answer no. She was finally finding herself again.

  He mother dried her hands on the kitchen towel, and turned, looking at her. “You are going to confuse Caleb.”

  “What do you mean, confuse him?” McKenzie stared back at her mother.

  “I hate the fact that Wayne is my grandson’s father. However, he does have rights to his son.” She pulled out a chair and sat. “Your little boy is going to think Toby is a permanent fixture in his life. He’s too young to remember what his father did to destroy his family, but he is getting older, and I don’t think he should be looking up at Toby as a role model.”

  “Why would you say something like that?” McKenzie raised a brow. “Toby is someone any child would be fortunate to look up to, Mother. He stepped up without really knowing me. That guy risked his own safety for mine.” Her nose began to flare.

  “And I’m thankful for that, but enough is enough. Be grateful, and let him move on with his life.” She grabbed a bottle of water. “Your father and brother are whom your son should strive to be like, not some trailer trash. Someone who has nothing to offer you. You have so much to give. Don’t get involved with another man who will only use you. Did he even graduate from high school?”

  There it was: her mother finally said what she was feeling.

  McKenzie took a deep breath, staring at her mother. She was trying really hard not to be disrespectful. “You taught me to treat others, no matter who they were, with respect, and treat them the way I want to be treated. Those words that just came out of your mouth were hurtful and so wrong, on so many levels.” McKenzie glared at her mother in sadness. “Why don’t you like Toby? He has been a gentleman to you.”

  “So was Wayne,” her mother responded.

  “Did you just compare him to Wayne?”

  “You don’t know him. He might be worse than your soon-to-be ex.” Her mom took a sip of water.

  “Wayne was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” McKenzie’s chest heaved, her temple throbbed. She knew her mother meant well, although she was attacking the wrong person. Imagine if she found out how she’d met him: she would think both of them were crazy. “Is it because he isn’t an African American man?”

  Her mom gave a bit of a smirk.

  “I’m proud of being a black woman,” said McKenzie, “and I will always love and back up my strong, black brothers, but that doesn’t mean I can’t love another race. Toby has become a permanent fixture in my pathetic life.”

  “You’re not pathetic!” Her mother slammed her hand on the table, startling her. “I want what’s best for you!”

  “And why isn’t he the best for me?”

  “This has nothing to do with the color of that boy’s skin, it has to do with that fact that you just walked out of a dangerous marriage.” Her mother stood. “Toby doesn’t have anything to offer you.”

  “He has so much than you’ll ever know, and he has offered it to me over and over. My marriage has been over for years, so tech
nically I don’t have to wait to fall in love again.” McKenzie glanced out the window. Toby and Caleb were no longer in the back.

  “Are you telling me you’re in love with him?” Her mother’s bottom lip dropped. “McKenzie, he was just a distraction to your awful reality.”

  “God sent him to me.” McKenzie’s lips curled up into a smile. “We were meant to cross paths.”

  Toby pushed open the door, and Caleb ran into the apartment. The sparkle in Toby’s eyes was missing, and he didn’t walk over the threshold. “Lil’ man, see you later.”

  “Bye bye, Tee Tee!” Caleb waved, running over to her mom.

  Had he overheard their conversation? She strolled up to the door. “Are you leaving?”

  “I have something to take care of.” He went to walk away, and she grabbed his wrist.

  “My mother is wrong about you.” She caressed his jaw, feeling his five-o’clock shadow. “She doesn’t know you like I do.” McKenzie raised her voice so her mother could hear what she had to say. “She doesn’t know that you graduated from high school top of your class, she doesn’t know that you have a freaking degree in Environmental Science because you wanted to help the environment in which we live. She doesn’t know that you are a supervisor at the water plant—no, she doesn’t know those things because she never cared to ask.” McKenzie glanced at her mother and then back at him. “I know the sacrifice you made for me when you came and lifted me up at my lowest.” She caressed the side of his cheek. “My mother doesn’t know that I fell for you before I even knew what you looked like.” She smiled. “You are enough for me—”

  Toby took her hand in his and kissed it. “You are more than enough for me.” He stepped back. “Ma’am, have a great day.” He waved and went down the hall.

  He pulled his cell phone out of his front pocket. “Where do I sign? I’m in,” she heard him say as he went down the stairs.

  She slowly closed the door, praying her mother hadn’t run him off. Toby was more than a friend; he’d become her gift from God.

  Her mom had Caleb in her lap, feeding him. “I’m sorry, McKenzie. Last time I did mind my own business, someone hurt you. I’m just looking out for you.”

  “I understand, Mom.” She sat next to her. “You’re my mommy and you will always worry about me, but the only way Toby would hurt me is if he walked out of my life.”

  “You do love him…” Her mom placed her hand over hers and squeezed. “If you ever need someone to talk to, darling, I’m just a phone call away.” Tears rolled down her mother’s lovely face. “My heart broke in pieces when I found out what that man had done to you all these years, and I blamed myself, wondering why you didn’t feel like you could tell me. So many times I visited you and I never saw the signs. Why didn’t I see the signs?”

  “Mom, you’re not to blame for the misery Wayne inflicted. It was because of my upbringing, believing in God, that I am still here. Every time I even thought about hurting myself, I heard your voice in the back of my head saying ‘this too shall pass, child…’” McKenzie leaned forward and wiped her tears. “I love you for caring.”

  “I’m sorry!” She sobbed and Caleb twisted in her lap to kiss her on the chin, making her smile.

  “All I ask is for you to give Toby a chance.”

  “For you, I will dear.”

  ***

  Toby sat in the small coffee shop, waiting for Mrs. Strong to arrive. She’d called him a few hours after he’d left McKenzie’s apartment, and she’d asked to meet the next day for breakfast. He didn’t have anything much to say to her, but he would never disrespect McKenzie’s mother. His parents loved McKenzie they never once said anything negative about her, instead they encouraged him not to give up on her. His mother and father received McKenzie with open arms, when they visited a couple of months ago, and now when it seemed everything was starting to fall in to place, her mother has issues with him. He sipped on a foamy vanilla latte. Toby didn’t really like coffee, but when he did indulge, it was in a vanilla latte. Was I really just a distraction?

  He stood as soon as he saw Mrs. Strong walk into the shop, and pulled out the chair in front of him. “Good morning, ma’am.”

  “Good morning,” she said, slipping of her designer sunglasses and taking a seat. “Thank you. First, I would like to apologize for the things you overheard me say yesterday. I have nothing against you, Toby, but McKenzie’s been through a lot in the last years.”

  He just stared at her.

  “Do you have any children?” she asked, entwining her fingers together.

  “No.” He leaned back in his seat.

  “Imagine if you did.” Mrs. Strong inhaled, holding back her tears. “Imagine thinking that your daughter was being loved and cherished, and then later discover that she’d been treated like trash. McKenzie is one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. She didn’t deserve the things he did to her,” she raised her voice. Toby could see and feel her pain. “I don’t want to ever see my child hurt again. She needs time to heal, time to find the woman he slowly took apart piece by piece. She’s going through an emotional rollercoaster.”

  Toby swallowed. Everything she said was the truth. McKenzie had suffered in silence for so long that she didn’t know any other way. “I love your daughter.”

  Her eyes widened. “You what?”

  “I love McKenzie, and I would never hurt her.” Toby glanced away. That was the first time he’d said how he felt about her out loud. “I understand where you’re coming from, but ma’am, you don’t know me. You’re judging me based off what you see on the outside or hear about me. Why don’t you get to know me first?” He kept his tone stern. “I haven’t told your daughter how I feel because honestly I don’t think she’s ready to hear those three words. However, I will wait until she does. I may not have all the fancy things her husband has, but I would always put her and Caleb’s happiness first. If you think she needs some time to reflect on herself then I will step away, not because I don’t have anything to offer her, but because its what’s best for her, even though it will tear me apart inside.”

  “Toby.” She placed her soft hands on his. “I’m so sorry for my harsh words yesterday. I can see it in your eyes that you do love my girl.”

  “Apology accepted, Mrs. Strong.” He tapped her hand. “If someone hurt my daughter, I would react worse than you if another man came into her life and tried to step in.”

  “Thank you for helping her out of that hellhole.” Tears rolled down her face. “I saw the pictures and my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. How could a man that promised to love my princess viciously attack her, for no fucking reason?”

  “Because he was a coward.” Toby squeezed her palm. “He thrived on her weakness, used their son to control her, in the end. He had all the power until he pushed McKenzie to the point of no return. You don’t mess with a mama bear.”

  “No, you don’t…” Mrs. Strong smiled, exposing the tiny gap between her front teeth. “I like you, Toby. I want you being my son-in-law—in the far future.” They both laughed and enjoyed their breakfast.

  Toby thought about what he’d overheard the day before. “We might have started out as a distraction to each other, but it’s going to end in forever.”

  “Give her some space first.” Mrs. Strong advised, taking a sip of her coffee, and then set the cup down. “Let her choose you.”

  Chapter Twenty

  McKenzie smiled when she saw a text from Toby.

  Good afternoon, beautiful. How’s your day going?

  Crazy!

  Why?

  They moved up the hearing it’s in less than an hour.

  I prayed for you this morning, and I feel things are going to go your way. I’ll meet you there.

  What about your job?

  They’ll survive. Eric went home early, so if you need him to watch lil man. I’ll ask him if he could keep him.

  Yes, because I won’t make it back in time before the daycare closes.

  McKenzie grabbed her purse, and headed out of her office, texting clumsily as she walked.