“Well Ryker is still working on getting me probation. He’s confident that he will. And what I’m about to share with you all cannot go out of this room,” Peyton emphasized, “I’ll have to pay a pretty hefty fine. You know he’s the one who arranged my in-house alcohol treatment. But the thing is we’ve already made an undisclosed out of court settlement to both officers. Girls, I tell you, that Ryker is something else,” added Peyton.
“Yep, he is.” Avery beamed with pride.
“Aaand he set up college funds for both officers’ minor children, reimbursed them for time off of their jobs, and paid them substantial lump sums for their personal injuries. How he was able to settle this part already is beyond me.” Peyton did a Wendy Williams throw of the hands. “I don’t question him. Whatever he does to keep me from going to jail and satisfy the courts I’m grateful. That’s all I can say.” Peyton smiled and shook her head then picked up her fruity drink and took a sip.
“If anyone can do it, Ryker can,” Avery said.
“Thank God for money,” Eva added.
“You said it,” Peyton agreed. “It may not be able to buy some things, but it sure can buy a lot.”
The girls all laughed.
“It still amazes me what having money and knowing the right people, with the right connections can do,” Meesha commented.
“Yep, and Ryker deserves every penny he gets. He’s definitely earned every right to be the highly sought after attorney that he is in Adverse City and in Miami Beach, Florida,” said Peyton as the other ladies nodded in agreement.
Silence penetrated their banter and the ladies enjoyed the remainder of their food and drinks.
The ladies ended Ladies Day Out with reminding Eva that she should start putting her own life in her hands and enroll in school.
As they got ready to leave, Meesha said, “I hope I see all of you at church this coming Sunday. I don’t remember the last time we were all there at the same time. No matter what we’ve been through, we owe God some of our time because through everything, he’s never left our sides.”
“I can’t deny that,” Avery said.
“I plan to be there. That’s one place Harper insists on going you know. The church house but he won’t come to this house.” Eva laughed lightly.
Peyton rolled herself to the front door and then stopped to wait on help from her friends the remainder of the way. She said, “I can’t promise you that I’ll be there, but I’m sure going to make an effort, because when I think of how differently things could have panned out for me, I know it was nothing but God who brought me through.”
“Well, looks like Sunday is our next date,” Meesha said and the housewives began to embrace one another as they left.
Chapter 27
“Life has many ways of testing a person's will, either by having nothing happen at all or by having everything happen all at once.” Paulo Coelho
Today was Avery’s official wedding day. Ryker went all out by chartering a private plane to fly them to Las Vegas. Avery hadn’t experienced this side of Ryker since before their first daughter, Lexie, was born.
A limousine was waiting at the private airport when the plane landed and they were whisked off to the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel on the iconic Las Vegas strip.
Avery didn’t have much time to settle into the room before Ryker told her it was time for his second surprise, a “Time for Two” Couples Spa treatment that included a three hour couple’s massage, couple’s facial, chocolate covered strawberries and champagne for two. It was the best experience ever for Avery.
The weekend continued to get better and better because after a night of passionate and intense lovemaking, despite her big belly, she woke up to the most beautiful sunrise and 360 degree panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip, a huge perk of the twenty two hundred square feet Presidential Strip-View Suite. After a shower together, they enjoyed breakfast in their room.
“Ryker, I’m absolutely floored,” she said, kissing him as they walked downstairs to the front of the hotel to a limousine waiting to take them to the courthouse to get their marriage license and then to The Primrose Courtyard at the Wynn Hotel for an intimate, just for two, wedding ceremony.
At the Wynn, Ryker had arranged a minister to officiate the ceremony. He had spared no expense and
covered every detail with the help of a wedding consultant at the hotel. Red roses lined the courtyard.
“You deserve it, Avery. You’re the mother of my children.”
“Is that the only reason you made me your wife? Because of our children.”
“Of course not. I love you Avery. I know I haven’t always shown it, but I do. I should have done this a long time ago.”
I don’t want to think about shoulda, woulda, coulda. I only want to bask in the memories we’re making now. This weekend couldn’t be more perfect.”
Ω
Meesha walked along the beach and watched the majestic waves as they kissed the shore. The coolness of the sand between her toes mixed with the foamy water was tranquil.
Strolling along the beach, all alone, she felt one with God. Moments like this helped to calm her spirit. So much had happened over the past year that had troubled her. It hadn’t exactly made her question her faith in God, but she did feel as if she had somehow let God down. She hadn’t sought him as much as she once did because she allowed the circumstances she was going through in her marriage to take precedence over her relationship with God.
She stopped momentarily, her maxi dress swaying against the wind, and her weaved hair blowing like the sails on the sailboats she viewed out on the ocean.
“God, I’m sorry,” she said as she studied the waves and realized their power. She caressed her swelling belly as she continued to gaze out in the ocean. Far as her eyes could see there was water. She likened that to faith. Looking out, though she could not see a speck of land, of life, only the vast ocean, she knew that somewhere beyond her visible sight there was life. Faith was believing in that which the eye cannot see.
Father God, give me the strength I need, the faith I once had to know that you are in full control,” she prayed. “Bless my family, this baby inside of me, my sons, and my husband. Help me to make the right decisions and help him to do the same.
Heal my friend, Peyton, and give direction to Avery and Eva.” Meesha smiled as she felt the slightest movement of her belly. She took it as a sign from God that he was yet by her side. The child inside tapped lightly against her tummy again. Just that tiny movement gave Meesha a reassurance that everything would be all right.
Chapter 28
“The marks humans leave are too often scars.” John Green
“Welcome this morning, people of God,” Carlton said in a booming voice. “If you know that God is good, let me hear you say Praise the Lord.”
The sanctuary full of people repeated, “Praise the Lord.”
“It’s good to be in the house of the Lord. I want you to open your Bibles or pull up on your phones and tablets to Romans twelve verse two. The King James Version reads, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. That word transformed means ‘changed’. There are many verses and accounts about change in the Bible. I’ve heard it said on many occasions that the only way to deal with change is when you are the one doing the changing. Change is inevitable. The more you live the more things are subject to change,” Carlton preached. “But it can be hard to change. Many times, we become comfortable with the way things are, and we kick and fight against change like a kid having a temper tantrum.”
Carlton looked out in the filled sanctuary at the face of his First Lady and his four sons lined on their reserved second row pew. He looked directly behind them and there sat Avery, Ryker and their two daughters. Next to them sat Liam and Derek with Peyton’s chair parked in the aisle. And next there was Eva and Harper.
“I thank the good Lord for chang
e. Change can help you grow. Change can help you become all that God has designed for you to become. Change can help you step into your life’s destiny. You may say, Pastor Porter I don’t want things to change. Everything is fine just the way it is. I understand you because you see oftentimes change disrupts, stirs up, and coughs up things and situations that we don’t care to face or want to face.”
Carlton continued, becoming more fired up as he spoke. “Did you know that in order to receive salvation, you have to make a change? You have to repent. Repent means to change your mind. To stop doing what you were doing or living the way you were living and ask God to come into your heart and change you.
I must confess,” Carlton said, looking in Avery’s direction then at Meesha, “I had to do some serious changing myself. I was headed down a path of destruction and I was taking people down that destructive path with me. I thank God that He changed my way of thinking before it was too late.”
Avery nodded in agreement.
Carlton preached for the next twenty minutes. He saw Avery’s swelling belly and thoughts of the child she carried inside filled his mind in the midst of his sermon. That baby could very well be his yet he’d made Avery swear that she would not reveal what they’d done in the dark.
He closed his sermon by saying, “I’m asking you to forgive me. Forgive me for my sins, oh, Lord.” He looked out at Avery once again. “Forgive me for hidden secrets and wrong doings.” He thought of Breyonna and the mess she’d made of her life….and his. He thought of the harm that had come to her in the form of drugs and even her tragic death.
“Forgive me, Lord for the harm I brought against others, some intentional and others unintentional,” he confessed before his flock. “Change me, Father God. Restore a renewed spirit within me. Give me a clean heart,” he spoke as he became increasingly emotional.
Clinging to every word Carlton spoke, Avery rubbed her belly in a circular motion as Ryker placed his arm around her.
Meesha allowed pinned up tears to cascade down her cheeks.
Peyton cried softly and Liam’s hand gently patted his mother’s hand.
Eva felt Harper’s hand swallow hers inside of his and she gently pulled back, thinking about the next phase of her life and the change she was now ready to make.
So much more lies ahead for The Real Housewives of Adverse City. So much more is left of their stories. Only time will tell where their lives lead them next.
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Coming 2018 The Real Housewives of Adverse City 3
Words from the Author
What can I say other than once again it is evident that money, even when you have lots of it, cannot buy happiness, peace of mind, and love. At least not real happiness, peace of mind, and love. Shucks, as you’ve read here money can’t even buy faithfulness and commitment.
The fact remains, we are all flawed. We all have issues. We all have something we are dealing with and it makes no difference what our bank account states. Life is so unpredictable. Things can change on the drop of a dime (no pun intended.) Life happens whether we have fat bank accounts or whether our bank accounts are in the negative. Blessings rain down on the just as well as the unjust.
The women (and the men) in this series experience it all. They are put to the test and their money and prestige cannot bring them what they long for. Those intangible things like the love of family and friends. It can’t bring trust and integrity. It can’t induce good character.
I tend to believe that whatever type of person you are, and I mean really and truly are, then having money only magnifies it. If you’re mean and evil when you have nothing, then guess what? You’re more times than not going to be mean and evil with a lot of money. If you’re sneaky and of low character and morals, then guess what? You’re going to be even sneakier with low character and morals. On the other hand, if you’re kind, generous, and loving, then more than likely you will be the same if you have millions of dollars like the characters in this series.
To thy own self be true. Be true to who you are. Learn to treat others with love, kindness, and respect. Always go about trying your best to do what is right, what is pure, what is lovely, what is of good report.
Adversity comes in all of our lives. How will you handle it?
Thanks again, Readers for supporting me by purchasing and reading my books. There is no me without YOU and there is no US without HIM!
Love ya,
Shelia
God’s Amazing Girl
More Titles by Shelia Bell
*Some titles are written under former name of Shelia Lipsey
YA/Teen Titles
House of Cars
The Life of Payne
The Lollipop Girl
Standalone Novels
Show A Little Love (out of print)
Always Now and Forever Love Hurts
Into Each Life
Sinsatiable
What’s Blood Got To Do With It?
Only In My Dreams
Series Books
Beautiful Ugly
True Beauty (sequel to Beautiful Ugly)
My Son’s Wife Series
My Son’s Wife
My Son’s Ex-Wife: The Aftermath
My Son’s Next Wife
My Sister My Momma My Wife
My Wife My Baby…And Him
The McCoys of Holy Rock
Dem McCoy Boys
Adverse City Series
The Real Housewives of Adverse City
The Real Housewives of Adverse City 2
The Real Housewives of Adverse City 3
Anthologies
Bended Knees
Weary to Will
Learning to Love Me
Nonfiction
A Christian’s Perspective: Journey Through Grief
Contact information
www.sheliaebell.net
www.sheliawritesbooks.com
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Thanks for choosing to read my work!
The Real Housewives of Adverse City 2 Page 15