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more about the need for propriety
than faith. Andrea had been mortified when she’d learned the circumstances
surrounding Jaxon’s father’s death, and she’d tried to convince Sela Jaxon was
likely cut from the same cloth.
    “I don’t want to discuss that with you,”
Sela warned. “I regret even telling you about that. I thought if you knew what
Jaxon had been through, you’d be more compassionate toward him, but you
couldn’t cut him any slack, could you? Even knowing what he’d been through?”
    “I’m a mother first and foremost,” Andrea
said. “My job is to protect my children, and when I see them setting themselves
up for hurt or disappointment, it’s my job to do something about it.” She
reached for Kiki and Sela’s hands. “You don’t understand this now, girls, but
you will when you have babies of your own to protect.”
    “But dating him was my decision to make,”
Sela said, withdrawing her hand from her mother’s grasp. Andrea’s heart was
usually in the right place, but forgiving or forgetting the way her parents had
treated Jaxon, especially since they considered Chad the son they’d always
wanted, was difficult for Sela. “I wanted to be with Jaxon. I loved him. Maybe
if you hadn’t been so judgmental, he would have made more of an effort to make
things work.” She wasn’t being fair, blaming her parents for the demise of
their relationship. Jaxon had made his own decisions and was rarely intimidated
by anyone, including her parents.
    Andrea sank back in her chair. “Oh, please.
Anyone could see that relationship wasn’t going anywhere. You may have loved
him, but any fool could tell he didn’t feel the same way about you.”
    Sela couldn’t remember the last time her
mother’s words had cut so deep. “You don’t know how he felt about me. You’re
making all kinds of assumptions.”
    “No, I’m not!” Andrea looked around before
lowering her voice. “You told me the things he said when he broke up with you.
He never loved you. He didn’t need you and no longer wanted you. What more can
a man say to get through to you, Sela?”
    Sela was mortified when she felt the hot
burn of tears stinging her eyes. How could her own mother be so cruel?
    “Mama,” Kiki said, “that’s enough. I don’t
think Sela needs to be reminded of the things Jaxon said to her that night. I’m
pretty sure they’re etched in her memory forever.”
    “If that were true, she wouldn’t be
inviting him back into her life.” Andrea’s posture was stiff as she looked down
her nose at Sela. “I didn’t raise you to be some man’s doormat. You’re a
beautiful, intelligent woman with the potential to do anything you set your
mind to. You have a good man now, one who honors and respects you. Let go of
the past.”
    Pain rendered Sela speechless as she got up
and stormed out of the restaurant. Her mother had the audacity to imply she was
some man’s doormat? It was time for Sela to show her parents who called the
shots in her life.

Chapter Five
     
    Jaxon felt a modicum of guilt for
eavesdropping on Sela’s phone conversation with her boyfriend, but when he
heard his name, he couldn’t resist finding out what she was saying.
    “I got into it with my mother over Jaxon
today,” Sela said. “She found out my sister invited him to the wedding, and she
was livid. No, she didn’t blame me. She knew it was Kiki’s decision, but my
little sister was trying to stir things up, and she told my mother I’m working
at High Rollers now. Needless to say, Mama wasn’t impressed.” Sela sighed. “I
know I shouldn’t let her get to me, but she had the nerve to imply I’d been
Jaxon’s doormat. Can you believe she actually said that? His doormat?”
    Jaxon fisted his hands as he skimmed the
menu he knew by heart. He had been hungry, but Andrea’s comments drove his
appetite away. How dare she claim Sela had been less than an equal partner in
their relationship? He may not have given her the