Love Don't Live Here Anymore (The Love Collection Book 3) by Vy Antenette Read Free Book Online Page B

you thanking me for? Everybody needs somebody,” he said.
    Summer smiled. As down as she was, she took heed to what he’d said. He was right; everybody did need somebody and at that moment, Vincent was her everything when she felt she had nothing and was at a point where she was beginning to crave anything. There were so many things about him that she could verbally compliment but she just opted to caress his face. She felt it. A weird sensation. An emotion she would describe as a cross between melancholy and optimism. Out of nowhere, she felt guilty on both ends of the spectrum. In one way, her love for AJ had her thinking she was wrong for fraternizing with Vincent. But her admiration for Vincent made her feel guilty for thinking about how much she loved AJ. Summer needed to have a long talk with herself. She had to rationalize all that had taken place and come to grips with the fact that no matter how much she loved AJ, she would never be with him again. Forcing their reunion would bring about more heartache than not, so she had to be strong.
    Vincent was the perfect gentleman. He followed her home and offered to stay with her as long as she needed, just so she wouldn’t have to be alone. Of course, she declined. She wasn’t ready to invite another man into a home that she and AJ had shared, no matter how brief. Summer thanked Vincent for a wonderful evening and kissed him on the cheek. He hugged her and waited until he heard her lock the doors before turning to walk away. She walked to the nearby window and watched Vincent as he climbed into his car and pulled off. She turned around with her hand over her heart and inhaled deeply. Is this what healing feels like? she wondered as she headed into the master suite to shower and then go to bed.

Chapter Ten
    The workday went by in a blur. Before Summer knew it, she was walking out of her building, heading toward her car. The court date had finally arrived and her emotions were all over the place. The drive from Atlanta to Virginia would be thirteen hours and she wanted time to think without having to focus on driving, so she decided to fly there and catch the train back. That way, she would have extra time to process everything. As much as she wanted to think that this was a big misunderstanding, she couldn’t ignore the constant feeling that it would turn out to be the contrary.
    When Summer arrived, Mrs. Heyward was in the courtroom waiting area, sitting on a bench, clutching her Bible.
    “Hi, Mrs. Heyward,” Summer said to greet her.
    “Oh Summer, honey, how are you?” She stood and gave Summer a tight and warm hug.
    “I’ve had better days and I’ve also had worse,” Summer replied.
    Mrs. Heyward sat down on the further end of the bench to give Summer room to sit as well.
    “Do you think she’s here?” Summer whispered to Mrs. Heyward.
    Mrs. Heyward leaned over and whispered back, “I’m not sure. I don’t even know what this child looks like.”
    Just then, a tall, slender, brown-skinned woman carrying a small child walked in. Mrs. Heyward was talking to Summer when she spotted the two of them making their entrance. She sucked in a quick breath. Summer followed her eyes and instinctively did the same. That can’t be. Oh my, how could it not be , Summer thought. The little girl looked to be between one and two years of age and was a spitting image of Ajamaal.
    “That’s her. It has to be,” Summer whispered. Summer couldn’t believe that she’d just come face to face with the child of her deceased fiancé. “Mrs. Heyward, that has to be her.”
    “I know, baby. I think that’s my grandchild. In fact, I know it is. I don’t need no test to prove it. That little girl looks just like AJ did when he was a child.”
    The security officer at the desk announced, “Jessica Mullins vs. Ajamaal Heyward.”
    Sure enough, the slender woman with the child got up and headed into the courtroom. Summer and Mrs. Heyward were right behind them. After going