by D. Camille
Jameka shook her head. “No, I wanted to sign up for the Firearms Class…to learn…how to protect myself and my kids.”
Simone went to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Did something happen?” she asked, concerned.
“I left Ja’Traveon,” Jameka told her softly, and Nick listened from his spot. “I don’t think I would’ve been alive after the seventh time.”
Simone rubbed her shoulder gently.
“I was in the hospital for several weeks, after the last assault. My grandmother ran and took the kids away from Atlanta for a while, after she left your Center. I was glad that she got them away from Ja’Traveon, JP, and all that drama.” Jameka explained. “I saw what it was doing to them.”
Jameka sighed. “Then, I finally saw what it was doing to me…”
Simone embraced her. “How can I help you?”
“You already have,” Jameka returned her hug. “All I remembered was your words to me…”
They parted and looked at one another.
“When I got out of the hospital, Ja’Traveon was in jail. I wasn’t able to bail him out and eventually, I didn’t want to…My grandmother told me what you did, getting her and my kids out.” She shook her head. “I had to make some kind of change. I couldn’t let my children watch me die. It’s not fair to them…or me.”
“Both JP and Ja’Traveon will get out again,” Jameka said angrily. “Somehow they always do, but I want to be prepared. I don’t want to live in fear.”
Simone took her hand. “We’re here for you. You won’t regret this decision.”
“I’d like to take the gun class and come back to the Women’s Center for some counseling,” Jameka told her. “If you’ll let me…”
“Of course,” Simone said immediately. “I only want what’s best for you.”
Jameka looked away. “You were tough.”
“Because your life was on the line, and I didn’t know how many opportunities I would get, to try to make you understand. I’m glad that last time wasn’t the end.” Simone looked into her face. “Now, you have a new beginning.”
Jameka glanced over at Nick. “I wanted to thank you too,”
Nick nodded with his arms folded. “Just seeing you healed and healthy is enough for me.”
“JP and Ja’Traveon think you’re the devil,” Jameka told him with a soft smile.
“To them, I am…”
Simone felt her usual heated rush at his words until Jameka turned back to her. “I’m not going back, no matter how many times he apologizes. I’m twenty-three and I have my whole life ahead of me. I’m not going to spend it with someone who only wants to control and hurt me.”
Simone smiled at her. “I’m so proud of you. It took a lot of courage to act on your decisions and I’m here to help you, in any way that I can,” she promised.
Nick watched the women and admired this beautiful woman that he’d come to love more than life. Simone had bravely faced her issues and even with the bumps and bruises along the way, she’d emerged victorious.
He’d witnessed her growth in trusting both him and herself. He was looking forward to spending the rest of his life with her. Nick wanted to sleep in bed with her every night and wake up to breakfast with their children.
One thing that he wasn’t going to do was rush or push her. Nick knew that Simone’s progress depended upon her being able to make her own choices, voluntarily. In the past, her choice had been taken away, and it had left her scarred for a very long time. He was content to be in her life and grow along with her.
Nick took care of clearing away the remnants of the ceremony while Simone sat quietly talking with Jameka, after the attendees had departed. When Simone looked up again, everything was gone and Nick was nowhere in sight.
“I’m going to be away for two weeks, but when I get back I’ll check in with you,” Simone told Jameka, while getting to her feet.
“Thank you Ms. Jenkins,” Jameka said, standing.
“If you need anything while I’m gone, call the Center. The staff can help you,”
Jameka nodded. “I will, thank you again.”
Simone walked the woman to her car, then went in search of her man. She looked inside and found him taking target practice, alone. His concentration and skill always amazed her as he focused on his target.
Standing back, she waited until he was done. After he removed his headset and goggles, Simone approached.
“I see you’re still showing off.”
He smiled. “I always want to impress you,”
Sliding her arms around his neck, she stared up at him. “You’ve never had a problem in that area.”
“How’s Mrs. Polk?” Nick asked.
“I hope she stays strong. I know that she can do it…but I also know the statistics show that it’s highly possible for her to go back, as soon as he’s released again,” Simone said plainly.
“She’s lucky to have you and the Women’s Center,” Nick said softly. “Hopefully, she won’t take that for granted.”
Simone agreed, then lifted her face to kiss his firm lips. “I know one thing that I’ll never take for granted…”
“What’s that?”
“Someone who came into my life and showed me what a real love is,” she whispered, moving closer. “A man who’s strength doesn’t suffocate me, but makes me feel even stronger.”
Simone touched his face. “The man that I love, and trust with my heart.”
“I love you Simone, this woman right here. Everything about her, makes me love her.”
She laughed. “You must be a glutton for punishment.”
Nick shook his head. “No, I simply found the woman that understands me, and isn’t afraid of who I am.”
“I love who you are,” Simone whispered sexily. “Your danger is my trigger.”
“And your love makes me whole,” Nick said quietly.
Simone pressed against him. “Let’s go get some dinner, and then I want to climb in bed and lick your neck.”
Nick stared down at her. “That’s where we’ll start…”
******
On the day of her departure to meet Nick’s parents, Simone sat at her desk, shutting down her computer. She checked over her list to make sure she’d put everything in place for her absence. This was the first vacation, she’d taken as the Manager, and it felt like leaving her child for the first time.
She sat back and sighed. Seeing Mrs. Polk had restored Simone’s faith in her mission. Some days it was a grind, with domestic violence hotlines across the country receiving more than 20,000 phone calls on a typical day.
Mrs. Polk had fit the criteria for a domestic violence victim. A woman between the ages of 18-24, a victim of some type of previous abuse, a spouse that abused substances and a low income household.
Simone was relieved that the woman was going to learn to protect herself, because on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. She’d been even more concerned for the grandmother, since twenty percent of intimate partner homicides were deaths of a family member, friend or neighbor, who tried to intervene in the volatile situation.
Simone looked around her office and thought about her own life, and how almost half of rapes in the U.S. were perpetrated by an acquaintance. Knowing that 1 in 5 women, in the US have been raped in their lifetime, made Simone even more determined in her work.
She was a survivor and she would help others, not only survive but come out a champion. In addition, she would do everything in her power to prevent the next woman from having to become a survivor, if she could. Simone would continue to put her knowledge and experience into action, even though she was no longer a Diamond.
This was her life now, here in Atlanta, in her Center and with her love…
Shaking her head, she smiled. Simone had never imagined herself in love, but what a wonderful thing it was. She no longer existed in this world, she was alive and present in the moment, enjoying ever
y second.
Her phone buzzed and she checked the screen, before grabbing her purse and walking through the building.
“You ladies take care of my Center,” she told the staff.
“Have fun!”
“We’ll miss you,”
She smiled. “I’ll miss you too.”
Walking out of the building, she spotted the tall, handsome man in the dark suit and glasses, standing beside the black SUV. He smiled at her and she ran to him.
Nick caught her in his arms and kissed her softly. “Are you ready?” he asked.
“One thing,”
He looked at her in question as she lifted on her toes, and whispered in his ear. “Nick Webster, will you marry me?”
Nick lifted her in the air and stared up into her face. With a beautiful smile, he announced, “Now, we’re even.”
Simone lowered her head and kissed him, with all of the love she had for him. This man was her mantle, with his solid foundation and blistering heat. He’d help form her into a woman free to love, and free to trust herself. Nick had made her his life, his woman…His Diamond.
-The End-
Hotep reader fam!
I hope that you enjoyed Simone’s journey to self and love. Many times, the trauma that we’ve suffered can be stifling and overwhelming. Simone was able to work through her pain, fears, and anger, to emerge as a woman who could trust herself and the man she loved.
This subject was very touching and important, which is why this book was delayed for release, until I could give Simone’s story the justice that I felt it deserved. A story of a woman’s journey, not just to love, but back to life…the life she deserved.
I have a lot of great books lined up for 2018 and I felt it was fitting to begin with this one...
Thank you to all the readers who support me and I hope that you will continue to enjoy the stories from my heart!
Ase’
D. Camille
Check my website for information on upcoming releases!
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WEBSITE: www.dcamille.com
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