Read Online Love Redeemed, Book 4 by Love Belvin - Free Book Online Page A

my life,” Samantha interrupts him, speaking matter of factly. “He gave me a second chance. If he never gave me his business card ‘dat day, only gawd know where I be today.” She shrugs her frail shoulders. “Could be dead.”
    Although I ha ve more questions, the picture is becoming clearer to me. Azmir secretly assisted my mother into sobriety. I’m not immediately sure how I feel about it, but what I do know is that I need to get out of here before my emotions take over. I’m not prepared to become undone in front of them. So I offer, “Is there anything that I can do for you? Have you gotten any doctors out here?” I can’t help my professional tone. I’m not familiar with mother/daughter etiquette.
    Samantha cracks a toothless grin, “Nah, baby. Azmir here done set me up real nice. I got doctors and a dentist. I’m going to get my teef on Monday,” she says directly to Azmir who nods, still in fear of me feeling that he’s intruded.
    “ I got me a job interview at the grocery store on Tuesday. He got me some nice clothes so I’ll look halfway decent,” she giggles.
    Azmir gives her a soft , polite smile. I can’t help but feel a little jealous. Azmir has technically set me up in a new life myself. He’s given me a car, bought me new clothes, helped me ‘ keep ’ my job, and gave me a nice place to stay, too. My thoughts are running wild. This is too much for me.
    Clearly, I’m visibly uncomfortable. Azmir tightens his warm hand on me and at the same time Samantha utters, “Now I ain’t mean to upset you. Your boyfriend here thought it could be nice if we talked,” she pauses. “I can go back if you want me to, but I wanna stay and start all over with you. I done missed out on so much,” her voice chokes more at each word.
    I gasp and grab my mouth. Azmir lunges slightly, grabbing my one shoulder while still gripping my hand.
    I take a moment to consider her offer, but there’s no time to evaluate what having her here would mean to me. The last thing I expected when I awakened this morning was seeing my mother here in L.A.
    “No. I don’t want you to go back. If you want change, I can certainly understand. I got it out here, too,” I murmur, looking over to Azmir as I use my left hand to caress his hand that has been attached to my right since we’ve left the truck. 
    Samantha must catch a glimpse of my ring. I notice as she sits, fixated on it for a few seconds. It gives me the same self-consciousness I’ve come to develop when it draws attention from others. I shift it with my thumb and slowly withdraw my arm from the table.
    But before I’ m done, she gestures to the ring with her head and asks, “Is ‘dat a...”
    I don’ t know why, but I look down at the ring. “Ummm...yes,” I glance over to Azmir, who’s wearing an impassive expression. “An engagement ring,” I answer, a little embarrassed—more or less uncomfortable. I don’t know how I feel discussing this with my mother after the fact.
    She tears up again . “Oooooh! Y’all getting married?” she cries, slowly trying to mask her emotions. I nod my head. With her eyes to the table, she whispers, “I’m gon’ have some grandbabies.”
    My body free zes. Grandbabies? Let’s just take it one step at a time. I’m still adjusting to living with a man and then consenting to be his wife! The thought of so much responsibility is overwhelming. 
    Azmir breaks the awkward moment and seemingly on cue. I ’ve needed to go for a while already. This is all too much. “It’s getting late. I think this was a nice...ice-breaker. Maybe you two can arrange to become reacquainted...in the near future?” he poses more as a question than a suggestion. 
    “ Okay. I’ll be here. Ain’t got much to do, but wait on you,” Samantha supplies with a forced smile.
    “ Are you going to be okay alone?” I ask, not wanting to be rude. No matter my total disarray from the shock of learning she’s here, I can register the fact