by Shana Burton
“Do you still want to fight for it?”
Charles reached for Sullivan’s hands. “I’m in it to win it, baby! You’re my wife. I’m not going anywhere.”
She smiled up at him. “Neither am I.”
“It won’t be easy, you know?” Charles warned her.
“I know, but you and Charity are worth fighting for.”
Charles drew Sullivan in and kissed her.
They both knew that their marriage might always be mired with complications, but they also knew neither one of them wanted to walk away from it.
Chapter 44
“You know, there are some things that are more important
than notoriety and money, like being able to look at
yourself in the mirror and not hate the person you see
reflected back.”
–Kina Battle
“This is brilliant!” declared Terrilyn after finishing the last of Desdemona’s manuscript. “This is absolutely brilliant! I smell a bestseller. Heck, I smell a Pulitzer Prize! Excellent work, Kina.”
“You can’t be serious,” cried Kina.
“I think The Devil and Her Advocates is Des’s best work to date. It’s dark. It draws you in right from the beginning. It’s juicy. It’s everything you want in a book.”
“But she ripped everything right from our real lives,” argued Kina. “She even goes into detail about how she played all of us.”
“I know! Isn’t it delicious?” gushed Terrilyn. “It’s got it all—the slutty first lady who’s a closet alcoholic, the self-righteous baby-killing choir director, the pill-popping nurse whose man can’t keep it in his pants, the stripping whore-turned-housewife, and the reality starlet who’s bedding her husband’s father. Honestly, how much drama can exist in one group of friends? And it’s all under the guise of Christianity! Honey, if the Christians are acting this way, I shudder to think what the rest of the world is doing!”
“Terrilyn, you can’t print this book. My friends would kill me!” Kina flipped through the manuscript. “Look at the characters’ names. Sally, Laura, Angela, Regina, and Tina. Any idiot could figure out that’s Sully, Lawson, Angel, Reginell, and me.”
“That’s what makes it all the more salacious! Don’t forget that we’re marketing it as a work of fiction,” explained Terrilyn. “Once we slap the sticker on it that says, ‘This is a work of fiction. Any similarity in names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental,’ we’re good to go.”
“Please don’t do this,” pleaded Kina. “These are real people with real lives. They didn’t sign on for this. Everything they said to me or Desdemona was done in confidence. They thought the book was supposed to be about me. They had no idea she was going to be writing about them.”
Terrilyn frowned. “That’s their problem. Des never told them anything that was off the record.”
“Desdemona also caused so much havoc in their lives. This would be adding insult to injury. They’d never forgive me for that.”
“They may be true, but think of how good it’ll feel to wipe those tears away with hundred-dollar bills!”
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” asked Kina.
“Will you cut out the dramatics? We need to get down to business. I can’t wait to get you out there on a media tour. We’ve got to start booking you on talk shows and blogs ASAP. You love attention, so I don’t anticipate you having a problem with that. I want there to be a lot of buzz about this novel so people will be salivating for it by the time it comes out,” Terrilyn said, plotting.
Kina vigorously shook her head. “I’m not comfortable with this at all. I don’t want my name associated with this book.”
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Kina. It’s a great book.”
“Great for business maybe, but not for my friends. Sullivan’s baby died and Lawson hurt her sister and Angel’s boyfriend was falsely accused of rape, and that’s all in there. I can’t profit off the things that caused them the most hurt.”
Terrilyn sighed and swung around in her chair. “Kina, we talked about this. You accepted the advance. You’re under contract. The book will be published with or without you. The difference is you can either make thousands off of it or pay the thousands back that we advanced you. The choice is yours.”
Kina thought it over. She didn’t have anywhere near the five figures they’d advanced her, and she could definitely use the money and the exposure. Besides, she and her friends weren’t even close anymore. What would it matter to her if they got upset? If she turned down the book, they wouldn’t even know how great a sacrifice she made for them.
Kina opened her mouth to tell Terrilyn to move forward with the book, then remembered a televised interview Sullivan had done two years prior. It was the perfect opportunity for Sullivan to get revenge for Kina trying to seduce Charles and telling him about the question of Charity’s paternity. Instead, she’d publicly praised Kina for being a true friend with principles and having the love of God in her heart.
“I can’t do it. I’m sorry. I’ll write another book if I have to or spend the rest of my life paying back that advance, but I can’t let that book go out with my name on it.”
“You’re a fool, Kina. Only an idiot would pass up the kind of opportunity that’s being presented to you. Do you have any idea what this book could do for your career? You could get that reality show you want out of the deal! Endorsements, book sequels,” said Terrilyn. “You’ll get to travel and be relevant again. You’re willing to walk away from all that for what? To keep some busybody women from being mad at you? That’s ludicrous!”
“It’s not just about that. I can’t betray them this way. The Bible says anything you know in your heart to be wrong is a sin. What’s the point of having all the money and success you mentioned if I’m not at peace with myself or my Father?”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Terrilyn said and faced her computer. “However, it’s your decision and, essentially, your loss. Expect to hear from our legal team if the advance is not repaid within the next thirty days. You may go.”
“Yeah, well, it feels good to know that I have a few scruples left.” Kina stood up to leave. “There is just no way I can sell my soul to the devil in order to sell out the people I love. You know, there are some things that are more important than notoriety and money, like being able to look at yourself in the mirror and not hate the person you see reflected back.”
“Well, Kina, I hope that mirror hangs up nice and pretty in the homeless shelter you’ll probably find yourself in. Consider yourself dismissed.”
Kina walked out with her pride and principles intact. They might not pay the bills, but they made for an excellent night’s sleep. She would do what she could and trust God for the rest.
Chapter 45
“It was way more comfortable for me to play the victim
than to own up to the fact that I’ve been unfaithful to
you and to us too.”
–Angel King
“I didn’t expect you to come,” said Duke when Angel followed them home after Morgan’s recital.
“As hard as Morgan has been working on that violin of hers, I wouldn’t have missed it!” contended Angel.
“It was nice of you to come. I know it meant a lot to the girls. They keep asking why you haven’t been around as much. I told them you’ve been working more hours lately. I can tell they miss you.”
“I miss them. I miss you too.” An awkward silence passed between them. “How is everything going with you?”
“Great . . . great. They, uh, dropped the charges a couple of days ago.”
Angel’s face lit up. “Really? Duke, that’s wonderful!”
“It’s definitely a relief. It turns out that Miss Mya has a history of pulling stunts like this and blackmailing men to make the charges go away.”
“I knew you didn’t attack her,” declared Angel.
“Did you?” Duke’s glower d
immed her enthusiasm.
“Duke, I’ve always said that.”
“But you doubted that I was faithful to you.”
Angel couldn’t deny his claim. “You’re an attractive man. She’s a pretty girl. You were thousands of miles away, in a hotel, alone with her. Considering our history and the fact that she knew about the tattoo, it didn’t seem like the possibility was out of the question.”
“Angel, I love you enough to be faithful, and I respect you enough to be honest if I stray. You’ve got to trust in me enough to believe that. She knew about the tattoo because she saw me swimming in the hotel pool. Heck, everybody who was out there knows I have a tattoo on my chest.”
She felt foolish. “Why didn’t you just tell me that, Duke?”
“I didn’t think I had to.”
Angel breathed deeply. “I think it’s pretty obvious that we have some major trust issues between us.”
Duke nodded.
Angel sighed. “I’m not blaming you for all of it. I’ve done my part to screw up our relationship too.”
“That’s true, Angel. You’ve dished out as much hurt as I have.”
She agreed. “I’ve had to face the truth about that. It was way more comfortable for me to play the victim than to own up to the fact that I’ve been unfaithful to you and to us too. I was wrong to put it all on your shoulders.”
“Then again, most people would say you were right not to trust me. I’ve broken your heart more times than the law allows. You shouldn’t put your trust in me any more than I should put mine in you. Whether or not we want to admit it, I think it’s pretty obvious that if we go on like this, we’re going to keep hurting each other, so I say we stop putting all this pressure on each other.”
Angel acquiesced. It was another harsh reality she had to face, but this one was almost more than she could bear. Angel had already lost the closest thing she had to sisters. Now she was also losing the only man she’d ever loved.
Duke went on. “Let’s stop putting our faith in this relationship and start putting our faith in God. If we keep Him first, one of two things will happen. Either He will help us to be sensitive to each other’s needs and will show us not to hurt one another. Or when we do screw up, He’ll make our hearts big enough to forgive. We’re covered either way.”
Angel raised her head. “So what are you saying, Duke?”
“I’m . . . I’m staking my claiming, Angel!” asserted Duke. “I won’t let you go like this, not without a fight.”
“But I thought—”
“Look, just hear me out, okay? I was upset that you believed Mya over me. I was hurt. Now I see that nothing would hurt me more than losing you again. Baby, we’ve been through the fire together—to hell and back, like you said. We can’t just give up now. I love you. You and the girls are my whole world. I can’t do this thing called life without you. I need you. The girls need you. I don’t care what it takes, but we’ve got to find a way to work this out.”
Angel rushed into his arms. “There’s nothing to figure out. I’m yours now and forever. Always have been, always will be.”
Duke pulled her in for a kiss. “I love you, Angel. You’re the only woman for me. I don’t want you to ever forget that.”
She shook her head. “I won’t.”
“Baby, will you put me out of my misery and just marry me already?”
Angel’s heart stopped. “What?”
“Wait! Don’t answer that! I want to do this right.”
He scampered up the stairs and returned a few minutes later flanked by Miley and Morgan, a bouquet of plastic flowers snatched from the bathroom, and a wrapped Ring Pop from Morgan’s candy stash.
Duke cleared his throat. “Okay, now I’m ready.” He kneeled down in front of Angel and extended the flowers to her. “Angelique Renee Preston King, my beautiful angel and the love of my life, will you marry me?”
“And me!” added Morgan.
Miley giggled. “And me.”
Angel beamed from the inside out. “Yes, yes, yes! Of course I’ll marry you—all of you!” Angel kissed Duke, then hugged and kissed the girls.
Duke ripped the plastic wrapper off the candy ring and slipped it on Angel’s finger. “You know this is temporary, right?”
“No, this time it’s forever,” said Angel, looking down at her edible ruby.
“When are you going to get married?” asked Miley.
“Tonight, if she wants to,” answered Duke.
Angel started laughing. “I don’t see why not!”
Duke was taken aback. “Are you serious?”
Angel nodded. “I don’t want to wait. Shoot, it’s been fifteen years! Let’s go ahead and start happily ever after now.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Duke drew her in for another kiss.
Instinctively, Angel wanted to call her friends and share her good news, but she resisted the urge and reveled in the moment with her new family instead. Even though she’d lost one family, gaining a new one helped to lessen the pain considerably.
Chapter 46
“Oh, you’ll be surprised at how much can be accomplished
over a bowl of ice cream and a bottle of wine!”
–Sullivan Webb
It took Vera’s death to resurrect a friendship that had been buried for five years. Vera’s funeral was the first time Lawson, Sullivan, Reginell, Kina, and Angel had all been in the same room together since parting ways at Kina’s town house. The irony of the moment was that the person responsible for so much contention in her daughter’s life was the catalyst for bringing them all together again.
Sullivan found her four long-lost friends waiting for her in the foyer of Mount Zion Ministries following Vera’s burial and repast. She turned to Charles. “Baby, can you take Charity on to the car? I’d like to talk to the girls for a minute.”
“Of course.” Charles kissed Sullivan on the forehead before taking the time to hug each of the ladies. “It was so nice of you all to come out, and it’s so good to see you again!”
Kina squeezed his hand. “Thank you for getting in touch with all of us.”
“Yeah, it’s been a long time,” acknowledged Lawson.
“Too long,” said Charles before leaving with his daughter. “Take your time, Sullivan. We’ll be waiting.”
They all stared at one another, as if trying to recognize the new women standing before them.
Angel was the first to step forward and speak. “How long has it been since we all occupied the same space at the same time?”
“Feels like forever,” said Sullivan.
Lawson offered her sympathy. “I’m so sorry to hear about your mother’s passing, Sully. It’s never easy to lose a parent.”
“It was a beautiful service,” noted Kina. “It was very fitting for her.”
Sullivan nodded. “Thank you. Vera was crass and loud and always inappropriate, but I’m going to miss her.”
Angel agreed. “Vera was definitely in a league of her own.”
“You wouldn’t believe how much she changed in the last few years. She finally apologized and acknowledged the role she played in my being abused as a child, and she actually accepted Christ into her life two years ago. She and Charity got baptized at the same time. I feel so blessed that I was able to witness that. She really made an effort to be a better mother and grandmother. I was proud of her. She gave cancer a good fight too.”
“She loved you, Sullivan,” said Lawson. “I know she didn’t always show it, but she did. She loved Charity too.”
“I know.” Sullivan smiled.
“Speaking of Charity, I can’t believe how grown up she is!” exclaimed Kina. “She’s a little lady. Where did the time go?”
“She’s in third grade now. Can you believe it? And every bit the diva her mother is!” boasted Sullivan.
“You seem like a little less of a diva, though,” said Angel, noting that Sullivan’s over-the-top look had morphed into a softer, more sophisticated and subdued presence. �
��You cut your hair.”
Sullivan laughed a little. “I didn’t cut my hair. I just stopped buying it.”
“Well, you look good!” Lawson said, praising her friend.
“I’m actually feeling good these days,” bragged Sullivan. “Now that Charity is a little older, I’m finally putting that art degree to use. I teach painting classes to kids down at the children’s museum. It’s very rewarding. It makes me feel like I’m making a difference in a young person’s life.”
Angel was shocked. “Sully, you hate children!”
“Admittedly, I used to, but it’s a new day. I found that the best way to honor Christian is to put a smile on as many kids’ faces as possible.”
“That’s so beautiful,” gushed Angel. “People really do change, I see.”
“Hey, I’m living proof of that!” attested Reginell.
Sullivan turned to Reginell. “Yes, you are! Look at you. I never thought I’d see the day when you were a regular ole housewife. What happened to the sky-high heels and short skirts?”
“I had to put them out to pasture—unless, of course, it’s Mark’s birthday! It’s kind of hard to chase after two kids wearing that,” joked Reginell.
“I heard that Mark got a coaching job up at his old alma mater.”
“Yeah, we’re living in Virginia now. The kids love it up there.”
Sullivan smiled with approval. “I’m glad you finally found a reason to settle down.”
“And speaking of settling down, Duke and I finally did it—again!” revealed Angel, flashing her ring finger. “It’ll be five years in the spring.”
“I’m so happy for you!” Sullivan gave Angel a hug. “How are the girls?”
“Miley is graduating from high school this year, and Morgan is a freshman. We have a son now too!” Angel told them. She flashed pictures from her phone. “Donavan is three and has us completely wrapped around his finger, especially Duke. He’s so proud of his mini me.”