A Woman’s Worth
Nikita Lynnette Nichols
www.urbanchristianonline.net
All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Acknowledgments
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
About the Author
Readers’ Group Guide Questions
UC His Glory Book Club!
Copyright Page
Acknowledgments
Father God, you are my first love. I acknowledge you as the true author of this book.
My parents, William and Victoria Nichols, I love you both for loving me first.
My brother, Raymond, and my sister, Theresa. You are my armor bearers.
Tabitha, Toiya, Ta’Shea, William II, and Kenneth. Auntie loves you.
My uncle, Kenneth Caridine, thanks for supporting all of my book signings and buying books at each and every one. Love ya!
My especially gifted and talented editor, Joylynn Jossel. You push me, poke me, nudge me, and won’t let me sleep. But I’m so grateful to have you in my corner. You’re the best.
My publicist, Denise Glesser. You rock, you rock, you rock. That’s all I can say.
Honey, I’m so glad you’re a chubby chaser. You really have me convinced that thick is the new thin. You’re my Adonis and you make me feel fabulous!
Dedication
I wish to dedicate this novel to all of my fans and the book clubs that have supported me throughout my writing career.
And to all of my sistas: Latricia Collins & Yolunda Cooper (both of whom are characters in this novel), Jamia Ray, Daphne Smith, Kara Perry, Cherritta Smith, Shlotta Gilbert, Felicia Hill, Latanya Hicks, Drusilla Lee, Anastasia Baker, Paulette Turner, Michellene Anderson, Ja’ Nae Garay, Audelia Alvarez, Ginger Gilbert, Taryn Maclin, Carmela Bailey, Tanya D. Bell, Keisha Pierce, Valerie Dansby, Kimberly Ivy, Kimberly Nelson, Michelle Vaughn, Latoya Davis, Saminta Harris, Latonya Davis, Phyore Montgomery, Denita Hill, Karen Williams, Karyn Muldrow, Cortney Rogers, Kimberly Johnson, Marlo Jean Mason, Linda O’Neal, Eve Pullum, and my “Amaryllis” book cover model, the beautiful Latoyia Jones.
Chapter 1
“Who is that?” Arykah Miles put special emphasis on the word ‘that’ as she leaned into her best friend, Monique Morrison, sitting next to her. Monique followed Arykah’s gaze to the front of the church. The musicians were assembling themselves behind the instruments next to the pulpit, in preparation for the sanctuary choir to march down the center aisle and into the choir stand. Because there was only one new member to the church band, Monique knew exactly who Arykah was speaking of.
“That’s the new keyboard player,” Monique answered.
Arykah’s mouth began to salivate. “Girl, he is foine with a capital F.”
Monique looked at her best friend of ten years with a shameful expression. “Your lustful horns are showing, Arykah. And your pupils are dilated. Sit back, calm down, and close your mouth because you’re drooling. He’s just a man.”
Arykah couldn’t avert her eyes from the very tall specimen at Morning Glory Church of God in Christ. She was mesmerized at his short, wavy cut, Black Caesar style. Looking at his hair reminded Arykah of the man advertised on the Duke hair products box. His well-groomed mustache melded with his goatee. Skin the color of caramel, with a soft touch of butterscotch, brought a certain song to Arykah’s mind.
“Just like candy. It’s no mistaken, I’m clearly taken.”
Surely, the R&B group, Cameo, was referring to this man, who sat no more than twenty feet away from Arykah. She watched as his long fingers pressed down on the keys. She imagined what it would feel like to have those fingers pressing on her body.
Monique knew Arykah well and could tell by her starry eyes what she was thinking. “Stop it, devil. You’re in church. Have some dignity about yourself.”
Arykah fanned her face with the church bulletin as she tried to defend herself. “Stop what? I’m only admiring him.”
“You are lusting after him,” Monique scolded. “I know you like the back of my hand.”
Arykah smiled seductively. “Is that right? Well, since you know me, tell me what I’m thinkin’ now.” There was never any shame in Arykah’s game. Whenever her eyes set on a handsome man, she couldn’t stop herself from blurting out the first thing that came to her mind.
Monique frowned at the sinful sneer on Arykah’s face and shook her head from side to side, in disappointment, as she watched her best friend mentally undress the man. “You know what? I’m not going there with you today. He could be married or engaged for all you know.”
“I’ve already peeped that. There is no ring on his finger.”
“So? That doesn’t mean anything. He could be dating someone.”
“A man that foine should be handcuffed to his woman.” Arykah thought for a minute. “Find out if he’s dating anyone for me.”
“And how do you suppose I do that?” Monique asked.
“Boris is your man and the head musician. You can easily find out if the new kid on the block is spoken for.”
Monique released a knowing snicker. Truth be told, she already knew the mystery man’s name and marital status. “Uh, uh. No way, Arykah. The last two guys I hooked you up with were perfect gentlemen and you dogged them out. I happen to know that this guy is saved and sanctified. He’s respectful, and he’s serious about God.”
“And how do you know so much about him?” Arykah asked.
“Because he’s Boris’s cousin. And your trifling behind will detour him in a hot second.”
Arykah’s head quickly snapped backward. She looked at Monique with a shocked expression on her face. “How can you say something like that about me?”
Monique exhaled. This wasn’t the first time she had to take Arykah on a stroll down memory lane. “Arykah, didn’t you cheat on Tyrone Jackson? And did you not cheat on Demetrius Wellsby as well?”
Arykah waved her hand to dismiss both of Monique’s questions because according to her, they had nothing to do with who was in her vision today. “That’s ancient history. You’re always bringing up the past.”
“It was only two months ago that Demetrius saw you downtown enjoying a horse and carriage ride while snuggling up to someone other than himself.”
“Whatever, Monique. Just tell me this new guy’s name.”
“Nope. ‘Cause if you dog this one, I’ll have to deal with Boris. You’re on your own this time, girlfriend.”
The congregation stood as the sanctuary choir made their entrance into the church. Arykah’s eyes never left the mystery man. He and Boris Cortland sat side-by-side, one on the keyboard, and the other on the organ. Boris spoke to him and the mystery man smiled in agreement. Looking at his bright, sparkling teeth was like staring directly at the sun. Arykah had to squint her eyes and blink a few times to keep from going blind.
Before the choir rendered in song, Boris removed himself from the organ and stepped to the podium. “Good morning, saints. First and foremost, I give all glory to God. It is truly a privilege to be back in the house of prayer one more time. I stand before you to introduce our newest member to the musician staff.”
Arykah’s mouth salivated again. Monique saw her scoot forward on the pew, hanging on to Boris’s every word.
“He’s twenty-six years old and fresh out of music school. And if I do say so myself, the boy is bad on the keys. And I’m not just saying that because he’s my cousin.”
The congregation chuckled.
“He’s gonna accompany the sanctuary choir with ‘The Lord’s Prayer.’ I introduce to you all, Chicago’s own, Mr. Adonis Cortland Jr.,” Boris announced proudly.
Arykah was in another world as she spoke dreamily, but loud enough for Monique to hear. “Adonis. Boris, you sho ain’t lying there.”
“You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” Monique said.
“Well, I ain’t. Do you even know what an Adonis is?”
“You act like he’s a piece of candy.”
There goes that word again, Arykah thought. Just like candy. “You took the words right out of my mouth, Monique. He’s church candy and I can lick him like a lollipop.”
At that moment, Monique felt embarrassed. She looked all around them, hoping and praying that the mothers of the church, who were seated on the pew directly in front of them, hadn’t heard Arykah’s comment.
After the benediction, Monique sat in the back of the church to wait for Boris. An usher greeted her as she was leaving the sanctuary. “Hey, Monique.”
“How are you doing, Sister Daniels?”
“Tired. I got my praise on today.”
“Yeah, I saw you back here in the corner cuttin’ a rug.”
“Bishop wore me out, then it took us forever to count the tithes and offerings.”
“Speaking of that, is Arykah still in the finance room?” Monique asked.
“Yes, but she’ll be out in a minute. You’re waiting on Boris again?” Sister Daniels asked.
“You know it. Every Sunday, he’s the last to leave the church.”
“He’s a musician. You know how they are about their equipment. Everything has to be secured.” As Sister Daniels walked away, Monique saw Arykah practically running toward her.
“Girl, he wrote a check to the church for four hundred fifty dollars,” she announced excitedly.
“Who?” Monique asked.
Arykah gave Monique a dumb look as if she should’ve known who she was speaking of. “Adonis Cortland. Duh. He put a check mark in the tithes box on the front of the envelope.”
Monique shrugged her shoulders, wondering what the big deal was. “So? The man pays his tithes. That’s a good thing. I told you he was serious about God.”
Arykah rolled her eyes while thinking that sometimes her best friend could be so slow. “I’m not talking about that, Monique. Please flow with me. I’m talking about the amount of money he gave. Four hundred fifty is ten percent of forty-five hundred. That means he’s making a lot of loot.”
For the second time in one day, Monique looked at her best friend shamefully. “Arykah, you have stooped to an all time low. First of all, as a member of the finance committee, you have no business telling me or anyone else what the people are tithing because it’s personal information. How much did you tithe today?”
“We ain’t talking about me,” Arykah answered.
“How much did you put in the offering basket?”
“We still ain’t talkin’ about me. What does Adonis Cortland do for a living?”
“I ain’t telling you.” Monique folded her arms across her chest.
“Why?”
“Because, you’re foaming at the mouth,” Monique said disgustingly.
“Please, Monique,” Arykah whined. Monique knew that Arykah could play the detective role real well. In only a few days she would have had the answer to her own question.
“He’s an electrician, like Boris. They work together,” she relented.
Kaching. Kaching. Arykah looked toward the front of the church and saw a huge dollar sign, in the shape of a man sitting behind the keyboard.
If Monique hadn’t known any better, she’d swear that at that moment the heavens had opened up and shown a ray of light down on Arykah. She stood up and snapped her fingers in Arykah’s face to bring her back from dreamland. “You ain’t nothing but the devil.”
“Why do I have to be the devil? Just because I see an attractive man and want to get to know him doesn’t make me a bad person.”
“No, it doesn’t. But undressing him with your eyes, while in church, and focusing on his money makes you a bonafide hoochie.”
Arykah placed her right hand on her hip. “Excuse you. I am not a hoochie. You got me confused with Kita. She and Cherry left the club and came straight to Sunday School this morning.”
“The only way you’d know something like that is if you were with them,” Monique said.
“I don’t get down like that with those two. I could look at their faces and tell. Cherry’s eye shadow was faded; needed to be retouched badly. And Kita’s lipstick bled past the line of her lower lip. Trust me, Monique, fresh make-up doesn’t look like that.”
Monique laughed. “Kita and Cherry have been club hopping for years. But they’re always the first to enter the choir stand on Sunday morning. I know you’re cool with them, Arykah, but you need to watch your step with those two. Everywhere they go, trouble isn’t too far behind. Boris told me that Cherry was peeping Adonis in choir rehearsal this past Wednesday night.”
Arykah’s eyebrows rose and so did the octave in her voice. “My Adonis?”
“He’s not your Adonis. But you should know that you’re not the only one who’s mesmerized by him.”
They both sat down. Arykah watched Adonis. His eyes, along with the other musicians’, were focused on Boris as he filled them in on what songs they would be working on in choir rehearsal Wednesday night. Boris made one last statement, and the musicians nodded in agreement, then they were dismissed.
After the drums, horns, tambourines, and keyboards had all been secured in a locked room behind the pulpit, Boris and Adonis came to the back of the church where Monique and Arykah sat.
“Monique, you ready?” Boris asked.
She took note of Boris’s rude greeting. He completely ignored Arykah seated next to her. Monique stood up. “Hello to you too, Boris, and yes, I’m ready.” She then turned her attention to his cousin. “How are you doing, Adonis?”
Adonis stepped to Monique and kissed her cheek. “I’m good, Monique. How did I sound on the keys?”
She smiled and gave a short wave of her hand, dismissing his ridiculous question. “Adonis, please, you know you’re the bomb.”
“Don’t tell this Negro nothin’ like that. It’ll go straight to his head,” Boris joked.
Feeling left out of the loop, Arykah stood and nudged Monique’s side with her elbow.
Monique saw a silly grin on Arykah’s face, nodding her head toward Adonis. “Oh, uh, Adonis, this is my very best girlfriend, Arykah Miles.”
Adonis extended his hand to Arykah and smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Arykah.”
She got a close-up of the whitest teeth she’d ever seen in her life. According to Arykah, Adonis missed his true calling. It’s his mouth that millions of viewers should see in the Dentyne and Colgate commercials. Arykah became self conscious of the gap between her teeth.
Monique and Boris looked at Arykah, who seemed a billion miles away. Monique grabbed her best friend’s right hand and placed it into Adonis’s left hand. Arykah’s eyes roamed from his pearly teeth, to his perfect nose, up to his starry eyes. “My name is Arykah.”
“I just told him that,” Monique said.
Adonis became uncomfortable with the way Arykah’s eyes gazed at him. As he attempted to withdraw his hand from her tight grip, she held on. “The pleasure is all mine, I promise,” she said. “Your name fits you and you wear it extremely well.”
At her compliment, all thirty-two of Adonis’s pearly whites became even more visible.
Monique took Arykah’s hand out of Adonis’s. “Okay, that’s enough of that. Let’s go eat.”
“Where are we going?” Boris asked.
Monique looked at him as though he were c
razy. “Where were you when I baked a honey ham, macaroni and cheese, and cooked mustard and turnip greens this morning?”
Arykah rubbed her stomach. “Ooh, Monique, you got down like that, girl?”
“She sure did. That’s all I kept thinking about in church today,” Adonis confessed.
Boris turned his nose up at Monique’s menu. “Well, I don’t want that. I got a taste for pizza.”
A deacon turned off the lights in the sanctuary.
“What are you doing, Deacon Brown?” Arykah asked.
“Y’all ain’t got to go home, but you got to get out of here.” The deacon then ushered them out of the sanctuary.
The four of them walked out of the church, and Monique whispered to Boris. “I know you’re not going to order a pizza when I cooked Sunday dinner.”
“I told you I don’t want that today.”
Monique exhaled a sigh of frustration. She couldn’t believe Boris’s gall. “Well, why didn’t you tell me that before I put the ham in the oven? You saw me making the macaroni and cheese this morning.”
Boris didn’t respond as he walked down the church’s steps toward his Lincoln Navigator. Adonis and Arykah came and stood next to Monique. They witnessed her and Boris’s exchanged words and knew by the expression on Monique’s face that she was upset.
“What was that about?” Arykah asked.
Monique was on the verge of tears. “I am so sick of his crap. Are you coming over to eat?”
“Girl, yeah. When have you known me to pass up your famous mac and cheese?”
“I can’t believe Boris would rather get pizza than eat what I cooked.”
Adonis kissed Monique’s cheek again. “Don’t get upset over that. If Boris doesn’t want to eat, that’s his loss. The way I look at it, he’s leaving more for me. You know I love everything you cook. That sausage omelet you made this morning was off the chain.”
Though Adonis’s comment was meant to make Monique feel better, it didn’t pacify her one bit. She was fed up with Boris’s disrespect and ungratefulness. But she couldn’t blame anyone but herself. She’d made a conscious decision to move in and play house with a man who wasn’t her husband. So she had to deal with the consequences.
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