We held up our glasses and clicked them in his honor. “Congratulations.”
Although Omar seemed cool, I still had my reservations about him.
Charity walked Omar out to his car.
I stood at the window and watched them.
My dad patted me on the back. “See, Lovie, told you we didn’t have anything to worry about.”
I would drop the issue for now, but I still had my eye on Omar.
CHAPTER 81
Lexi
Lovie paced the floor. I jumped in front of him, and he stopped. “Lovie, stop stressing. Your sister’s going to be okay.”
In my opinion, Omar was a good man. I didn’t feel we had anything to worry about.
Charity returned to the living room with a huge smile on her face. “Isn’t he the greatest?”
Hope looked up from her seat. “I like him. He’s cool.”
Royce said, “He seems to be okay. Time will tell.”
Lovie remained quiet and took a seat.
I glanced at the faces of each one of them. I thought about the trials we’d gone through this past year. But through it all, we made it.
I sat on the arm of Royce’s chair. I gently rubbed his arm. I looked down at him and smiled.
Royce placed his hand on my leg. “Your mother and I have decided to renew our vows on our thirtieth anniversary.”
I looked at Charity. “So that means we have about a year to plan it. Charity, I’m going to trust you to handle it for us.”
“And me,” Hope said.
Charity said, “Yes, Hope’s my new event coordinator.”
“Congrats, baby.” I winked my eye at Hope.
“I’ll walk you down the aisle,” Lovie said.
“Of course, dear. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“The colors can be purple and gold,” Charity said out loud.
“Or red and white,” Hope added.
The doorbell rang. I looked at Royce. “Were you expecting someone?”
He responded, “No. I’ll go see who it is.”
Royce went to the front door. Curious, I followed behind him, but remained in the hallway.
I heard a voice say, “Are you Royce Jones?”
I walked closer to the doorway and saw two police officers standing in front of Royce.
“Yes,” Royce responded.
The officer pulled out a pair of handcuffs. “Royce Jones, you are under the arrest for the murder of Jason Milton.”
“No, don’t put those on my husband,” I screamed out. I ran up to Royce.
The kids rushed out of the living room.
Royce looked at Lovie. “Get your mom.”
Royce held his hands out, and I put my hands on top of his.
One of the officers said, “Ma’am, we need you to move.”
Royce looked down at me. “Baby, it’s okay.”
No, it wasn’t okay. “They can’t do this. You’re innocent.”
Lovie grabbed me and pulled me out of the way.
The officer read Royce his Miranda rights as he handcuffed him. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you…”
I cried out, “You’ve made a mistake. Royce didn’t kill anyone.”
Royce looked at me. “Call our attorney.”
I stood there feeling hopeless as the officers escorted Royce out to their police car.
“Daddy,” Hope shouted.
“I told you Omar couldn’t be trusted,” Lovie said.
“Omar had nothing to do with this,” Charity responded.
Lovie and Charity went back and forth. I did my best to tune them out as we stood in front of the house, and I watched the love of my life driven away in the back of a police car.
Now was not the time for me to fall apart. I had to pull myself together. Royce needed me. My kids needed me. I wiped my tear-stained face with the back of my hand.
I retrieved the cell phone from my pocket. “Mitch, Royce’s been arrested. They are charging him with Jason’s murder, but he didn’t do it.”
Mitch, our attorney, said from the other end of the phone, “I’m on my way to the station now.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
By now we’re all walking back inside of the house.
“No. You stay put. I’ll call you when I know something.”
I ended my call with Mitch.
Charity stared at me with fear in her eyes. “Mom, what are we going to do? Dad could go to jail for a long time.”
“If I have to spend every dime we have, Royce will not go to prison for a crime he did not commit.” I said it with conviction and meant it.
I started walking down the hallway, but stopped. I turned around and faced Lovie, Charity, and Hope. “Kids. There’s no need to look sad. We’re the Joneses. Together, we can and will get through this.”
Shelia M. Goss is a national bestselling author and a screenwriter The Joneses is her seventeenth book in print. She writes in multiple genres. USA Today says, “Goss has an easy, flowing style with her prose…” She’s received many accolades in her career, including being a finalist in the mystery category for the 2013 AA Literary Award Show and a 2012 Emma Award Finalist. Her books have been on several bestsellers lists, such as Essence magazine, Dallas Morning News and Black Expressions Book Club. Shelia loves to hear from readers so feel free to contact her via her website: www.sheliagoss.com or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sheliagoss or Twitter: www.twitter.com/sheliamgoss.
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
© 2013 by Shelia M. Goss
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ISBN 978-1-59309-522-2
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LCCN 2013950647
First Strebor Books trade paperback edition February 2014
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