Chapter 2

2

Iona Cambridge

“ T ell me whooooo, who’s getting all my love, who’s getting all my love…”

Summer Rose and I sang along to Chris Brown’s “Residuals.” If we did nothing else, we ran this song into the ground. Both of us sang at the top of our lungs like we were going through heartbreak and missing the man of our dreams. I had to laugh at myself. Tyrion was right. We were loud and sounded terrible on top of that. But my baby loved our morning routines as much as I did, so that made up for it. When her father told me long ago that she loved music, I made it my mission for it to be one of the things we bonded over.

“I just wanna see him in concert, Ms. Iona.”

“Me too, baby. I might just lose my mind.”

She laughed. “Daddy might get jealous of you fangirling over him.”

“He might. We’ll see if we can get him to take us if he goes on tour again soon.”

Summer gasped. “Oh my gosh! I would love you forever.”

I smiled. “Well, you’re gonna be stuck with me forever very soon.”

I really couldn’t wait to be Mrs. Tyrion Lewis. I loved that man so much. The first time I saw him, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Standing six feet three, 230 pounds, the man was a walking sex symbol. His smooth umber skin was blemish free. Those deep brown eyes and full lashes captivated me, and those thick, juicy lips and the panty wetting smile stole my heart.

He walked into the office to sign some papers at the same time as I went over to the time clock. I’d seen him a few times, but I could never figure out whose parent he was. Our eyes met briefly, and he smiled. I damn near tripped over my feet, staring so hard at him.

“Watch your step, girl,” said Tonya, the school nurse. “I know that man is fine, but don’t fall on your face trying to look at him.”

I smirked. “Maybe he’ll catch me.”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t mind letting him catch me. A man that fine was handcrafted by God himself. He took his time with that one.”

“Yes, He did.”

She left the office, and I walked behind the desk to my mailbox. As I sifted through my mail, I glanced back at him. I knew I should have been minding my business, but I just couldn’t help myself. I didn’t see a ring on his finger or an indent where a ring would have been.

“All right, Mr. Lewis,” Myra, the secretary, said. “I’ll get Summer Rose’s file updated.”

My ears perked up. “Wait, Summer Rose is your daughter?”

“Yeah,” he answered slowly.

“I’m sorry. I’m all in your business. Summer is such a beautiful, bright, and sweet little girl. You’re doing such a great job with her.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry, what’s your name? I don’t think we’ve met before.”

I extended my hand. “Iona Cambridge. I’m a counselor here.”

“Tyrion Lewis. Nice to meet you.”

That was the start of it all. I signed up for drop-off duty that day. For weeks, every morning he dropped Summer off, I waited outside to greet her and the other students. We had a few flirty exchanges. I could tell I made him slightly nervous, so I made the first move in asking for his number.

We were encouraged not to get involved with a student’s parent, but every woman with eyes at that school knew how fine that man was. It didn’t help that Summer Rose was absolutely the sweetest little girl. The love he had for her was so beautiful, and it showed all through her. Anybody would jump at a chance to be her stepmother.

Luckily for me, the attraction was mutual. Given the tragic demise of his wife, it took a little more work than I was used to in getting him to open up, but when he did, I got to know the most beautiful soul. I knew there was still a lot of pain dwelling within him over the loss of his wife, but it never hindered him from loving me.

I could admit that part of me felt a little insecure when I first walked into their home. I could feel her presence still there. Not like her spirit, but like it was still her home. Tyrion told me that his grandfather gifted them their home as a graduation present and that they did all the renovations themselves. Every piece of the place still had her special touch, and it felt like he was waiting for her to come home.

Many times, in the beginning of our relationship, I wondered if I was in over my head. What would become of trying to love a man who had technically promised his heart to another? Would he decide he didn’t want me? Would I end up heartbroken? Those thoughts haunted me for months.

But I was still here. Tyrion loved me, and he made that clear by asking me to be his wife. This time next year, we’d be celebrating our nuptials, and I couldn’t be happier.

“Are you and my daddy gonna have other kids?” Summer Rose asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Hopefully. Why? Do you want to be a big sister?”

She nodded. “I think it would be fun. They could be like my little dolls.”

I giggled. “Just don’t dress them in your doll clothes. I think you’d be a great big sister.”

She was quiet for a moment, and I could tell something was on her mind.

“What’s wrong, pud?”

“You think my mommy misses me?”

I reached out and grabbed her hand. “I think she misses you very much. But you do such a good job telling her about your days. I bet she feels like she’s right here with you. I know I didn’t know her, but I know she had to have loved you very much. You know why?”

“Why?”

“Because you are an awesome little girl. I bet your mommy was awesome too.”

She smiled and squeezed my hand. I tried my hardest to be the supportive wife and stepmother I would soon be. Even though she didn’t remember her mother, Tyrion kept pictures of her around the house and spoke to Summer about her mother often. He kept her memory alive, even if he wasn’t sure if she was.

We pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later. I grabbed my bag, and Summer threw on her backpack before we got out. Jersey was waiting at the entrance just as she promised, and so was her mother, Nina. While we spoke casually to each other, Nina and I weren’t exactly friends. We spoke to each other and celebrated things when it came to Summer, but we weren’t hanging out.

She wasn’t someone I’d call for advice or tell my biggest secrets to. We had a mutual respect and understanding. She and I shared a love of Tyrion and Summer Rose, but it was clear that her loyalty was with her former best friend. She was never disrespectful, but I knew we’d never be close, and I was okay with that.

They smiled and waved as we approached them.

“Hey, baby!” she exclaimed, scooping Summer Rose up into a hug. “You look so pretty!”

“Thank you, TiTi. Hey, Jersey.”

“Hey, Summer.”

I smiled as I extended my hand to Nina. “Good morning.”

She returned the smile. “Good morning. All right girls, give me a big hug and go on inside. I don’t want you to be late.”

They both gave her a tight squeeze before giving me one as well and hurrying inside.

“They grew up way too fast,” Nina commented.

“They did.”

She turned to me. “How was Tyrion this morning?”

“He cried before he woke her up.”

Nina shook her head. “I figured as much. I’ll call and check on him later.”

“Okay.”

“Have a good first day, Iona.”

She walked off to her car, leaving me on the sidewalk. It was the same old, slightly awkward exchange we had most every time we were face-to-face. Maybe one day she would get over it. I was marrying Tyrion, and she had to get used to it.