Letting Misery Go

by Michelle Larks

  Letting Misery Go

  Michelle Larks

  www.urbanchristianonline.com

  All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-one

  Chapter Forty-two

  Chapter Forty-three

  Readers’ Group Guide Questions

  UC HIS GLORY BOOK CLUB!

  WHAT WE BELIEVE

  Copyright Page

  This book is dedicated to the memory of my friend

  Mary LaFran Flanders; she was truly a warm, caring,

  classy, beautiful lady.

  I’m going to miss you, RIP.

  The book is also dedicated to the readers who bought

  and enjoyed Keeping Misery Company.

  You asked for a sequel, and here it is! I hope you enjoy

  it... .

  Acknowledgments

  First, and foremost, I have to give thanks to my Father above. He continues to make a way out of no way and directs my path. Most of all, He gives me strength to keep going when I don’t think I could take another step. I thank my Father for the many blessings He’s bestowed upon me.

  I’d like to send a big shout-out to my mothers: Mary and Jean. You have nurtured me and provided an ear when I needed someone to talk to. My mothers have been there for me emotionally, much like a safe haven during life’s storms. I thank God for mothers who are able to love their children unconditionally.

  My father and stepmother, I.H. and Carole, I love you.

  To my daughters, Keisha and Genesse, I try to emulate my mothers and love you unconditionally. Know that I love you.

  My sisters, Patrice, Sabrina, Adrienne, Donna, Catherine, and Rolanda—there’s nothing like sister love, and I love all of you very much!

  My brothers, Jackie, Marcus, Darryl, Wayne, Michael, and Rodney—I am so proud to be your sister. Much love to you!

  Brothers Roland and Trey, I miss you so much, RIP.

  To all my nieces and nephews: I’m proud of you all.

  To my friends Kelley, Mina, and both Cynthia’s, I’ve been MIA. You are always in my thoughts, even if we don’t talk as much as we used to.

  A special shout-out to my sister/friend authors: Sheila P. Miller, Dr. Linda Beed, Nikita Nichols, Dyanne Davis, Nicole Rouse, and Pat Simmons. Thank you, ladies, for the help you’ve provided to me over the years, and checking on me from time to time.

  Special thanks to Joylnn Jossel, my editor, and Tee C. Royal, my agent. I don’t know where I would be without either of you. You are both phenomenal women. Thank you for all your support and guidance.

  Marina Woods, thank you for always stepping in and helping a sista out, when I need it.

  Tera’ Carter and Shelia Ross, thank you for encouraging me when times became crazy at school; and I didn’t know how I was going to make it. Your words of encouragement were greatly appreciated. Can’t wait to walk across that stage together.

  A heartfelt shout-out to Greta Brown, owner of Paradise Web and Digital Designs. Thank you for revamping my Web site. I appreciate and needed it. Check her out. Thank you, Ghostwriter Extraordinaire, for the wonderful book trailers you’ve created over the years.

  Kudos to the wonderful book reviewers for taking time out of their busy schedules to read and review my books. I appreciate it; you know who you are. I don’t want to leave any one out.

  I appreciate the book clubs, which have supported me over the years, and invited me to their meetings. I had a blast. I also want to thank the librarians who have invited me to their book fairs, and the bookstore managers and owners who allowed me to sign at their establishments.

  Most of all, I have to thank the readers, old and new, who have purchased my books, and sent me encouraging e-mails. You’ve given me incentive to continue writing.

  Last but not least, much love to my husband, Fredrick, who has walked beside me during this literary journey. I may not say it all the time, but I love and appreciate all your effort. Much love and thanks to my #1 fan.

  Peace & Blessings!

  Michelle Larks

  Chapter One

  Reverend Ruth Wilcox was in the throes of a deep sleep, tucked inside the master bedroom of her seven-room apartment. She resided in the Chatham Community, on the South Side of Chicago. She lay in the middle of a dark wood four-poster bed, wearing a sleeveless white cotton nightgown, trimmed with red eyelets. The garment was bunched over her thighs, and her left arm was tucked neatly under her head.

  At five o’clock, the silver cordless telephone on the nightstand next to the bed sounded loudly. Ruth shuddered as she swam into consciousness. She turned toward the nightstand, squinted at the clock, and groped for the phone before voice mail kicked in.

  “Hi, Momma,” her youngest daughter, Naomi, whispered. Naomi was conversing quietly like she was inside the room too. “Are you awake?”

  “Hello, Naomi. I wasn’t awake, but I am now. Is something wrong?” Ruth asked fearfully. She clutched the telephone so tightly, her knuckles swelled and whitened.

  “Well, Sarah called me late last night, to tell me some news about Daddy. I couldn’t sleep a wink and apologize for calling you so early. I want to share it with you... .” Naomi’s voice trailed off then. Wearing a peach-colored nightgown and bathrobe, with matching slippers on her feet, Naomi paced the airy bedroom of her three-bedroom town house in Edwardsville, Illinois. It was located on the outskirts of Southern Illinois University. Naomi had transferred to the Edwardsville campus following her freshman year at the Carbondale campus.

  Ruth couldn’t breathe for a moment as she forced out, “Is Danny, I mean, Daniel okay? What’s wrong?”

  Naomi’s voice rose conspiratorially. “Lenora has finally left Daddy,” she announced triumphantly, a smile touching her lips.

  Sitting up straight, Ruth pulled the wrap scarf off her head, ran her fingers through her hair, and sighed heavily. “You don’t think this call could’ve waited until later in the day?” she asked, chiding her child.

  “Momma,” Naomi replied, eyes widening, “I thought you’d want to be the first to know. Come on, you might put on a content façade for the rest of the world, but trust me, I know that you still love Daddy. I assumed the news would be the answer to your prayers,” she added smugly.

  “Well, you’re wrong, Nay,” Ruth replied grumpily after stifling a yawn. “I can
’t say that I’ve spent a lot of time praying for the demise of your father’s marriage. Matrimony is a holy ritual, and as a Christian, you should feel a sense of sadness when any union comes to an end. Anyway, Lenora has left your father more than a few times over the past years. Why is this time any different?” she asked intently as she lay back down in the bed.

  “You must not have talked to Sarah yesterday,” Naomi remarked as she sat on the edge of the bed, pulled her robe down over her thighs, and crossed her shapely legs. “What’s different this time is that Lenora served Daddy with divorce papers the day after she left. She left him five days ago.” Her voice and eyebrows rose dramatically. “And guess what? She left the boys with Daddy. Stepmother Dearest has flown the coop, and left the chicks with the rooster. Daddy should’ve left her years ago,” Naomi stated with a snort. “I’m surprised the marriage lasted as long as it did. All I have to say is that both of them got what was coming.”

  “That wasn’t a nice thing to say. I’m sure your father must be devastated. Poor Daniel.” Ruth’s heartbeat accelerated. Then she mentally berated herself. It seemed like she’d been trying to justify Daniel’s actions to his children and grandchildren since their divorce seven years ago, and even years before that. Unbeknowst to Ruth, Lenora was pregnant before the Wilcox’s divorce was finalized. Daniel married Lenora before the ink was dry on the decree, just days later. Ruth’s best friend, Alice, warned her about breaking away from old habits. Alice also reminded Ruth that her children were more than old enough to form their own opinions of their father.

  “I never understood why you insist on defending him,” Naomi complained, as if reading her mother’s mind. “If the shoe was on the other foot, I doubt that he’d do the same for you,” she remarked candidly. She wasn’t shy about speaking her mind.

  Ruth stifled a chuckle. “I’m not concerned about Daniel Wilcox. My focus is on being the best person that I can be. He’s still your father, though,” she said forcefully.

  “You mean my grandfather,” Naomi threw in snidely. Then she felt a twinge of shame. “I’m sorry, Momma. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

  Seven years had elapsed since the truth of Naomi’s biological parents had been divulged. Naomi found out in the worst way that her older sister, Sarah, and Sarah’s husband, Brian, were her biological parents. To the rest of the world, the Wilcox family had maintained the status quo that Ruth and Daniel were her parents. Naomi had not taken the news well, causing Ruth and Daniel to spend a pretty penny for the services of a Christian psychologist for Naomi. Naomi was now twenty-seven years old and had adjusted well from her tumultuous teen years. Sarah was forty-three, and DJ, Ruth and Daniel’s son, was forty-one.

  Lenora was not happy about Naomi’s counseling expense coming out of her household budget. Spending money for anything concerning the offspring from her husband’s first wife had been a bone of contention between the married pair.

  “I know,” Ruth replied. “It’s all right. Maybe we need to do something about that. Perhaps it’s time for us to come clean to the world, or at least to the church and our immediate family and friends, about what really happened years ago. I know you said before that you weren’t ready. Have you changed your mind?” She held her breath in anticipation of Naomi’s answer.

  “I don’t know. Sometimes I think I’m ready, and other times, I just want to be Daddy’s and your baby,” Naomi admitted wistfully.

  Clad in pajamas, Naomi’s boyfriend, Montgomery, walked into the bedroom after he adjusted the thermostat in the living room. He eased his tall, gangly frame into bed. He lay on his back, with his hands clasped behind his head, and watched Naomi as she talked to her mother.

  He admired her beautiful caramel face and curvaceous body. Naomi was at the peak of her beauty. Her legs were very shapely, and they supported her plus-size body. She was amazed at the rush of love that spurted from her heart when she beheld Montgomery’s chiseled, dimpled chin. Locks of unruly brown hair covered his forehead, along with longer hair on the sides. Montgomery’s eyes were cornflower blue, and the silver wire-framed glasses he wore, giving him a nerdy look, belied his thirty-five years of age. Those bright colored orbs endeared him to Naomi.

  “Well, that’s something we can discuss the next time you come to Chicago. When do you think you’ll come home?” Ruth felt a keen longing to see her youngest daughter’s face.

  Naomi wrinkled her nose and tugged at the ends of her hair, which had escaped the scarf, along the back of her neck. Naomi like her mother wore a scarf during the night, to keep her hairdo do fresh.

  “Sarah wants me to come home this weekend. She thinks Daddy is incapable of taking care of the boys. She thinks we should have a family meeting to discuss what can be done to help him. Sarah stayed at Daddy’s house last night. Daddy finally broke down and told her what was going on. She says the boys are a mess. When Sarah called, she said the twins had almost been crying nonstop since Lenora left,” Naomi said.

  Daniel and Lenora’s oldest son, Damon, was eight years old, and the twins would be seven years old later that year.

  Ruth thought it was strange that Sarah hadn’t called her yesterday. Mother and daughter talked regularly several times a day, and now she knew the reason for the silence.

  “Sarah is doing the right thing. In times like this, one must look to family for help. So I hope you’ll do all you can to help your father during his trying time,” Ruth said.

  “Mom, do you have to be so sanctimonious all the time? If you were any other ex-wife, you’d be crowing how your rival is finally out of the love of your life’s life. Instead, you sound like Reverend Ruth instead of the former Mrs. Daniel Wilcox.”

  Ruth’s cheeks reddened as she opened and closed her mouth. “Your father and I were over and done with a long time ago. We’ve gone our separate ways, Naomi. I know most kids, despite their age, hope their parents will get back together one day. But that won’t be the case for your father and me. That’s a reality you’ll have to face, if you’re harboring that misconception,” she told Naomi, in no uncertain terms.

  Naomi shook her head, as if admonishing an unruly child. Then she replied loftily, “If thinking that helps you make it through the day, Momma, then you’re deceiving yourself.”

  “Let’s continue this discussion another time,” Ruth suggested. She felt like she was on treacherous water. “It’s early, I’m tired, and I need to get up soon to wake up Alice.” She glanced at the blue LED display on her alarm clock, which illuminated the room.

  “You’re right,” Naomi said contritely. She sat on the edge of the bed and appeared unsettled. Montgomery scooted behind her and began massaging her tight shoulders. “I’m sorry, Momma. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Apology accepted, and I wasn’t trying to minimize your feelings either. We’ll talk later today. I promise. I’ll talk to Sarah and see what’s going on with Daniel and Lenora.”

  “Okay, Momma. Have a good day. Tell Aunt Alice I said hello. Love you, Momma.”

  “I love you too,” Ruth replied as she relaxed her body against the headboard.

  The women said good-bye and hung up the phones.

  Though Ruth had a matter-of-fact demeanor when she was talking to Naomi, learning that Daniel was going to be a free man caused her heart rate to accelerate. Growing up a preacher’s kid, she had always been taught that marriage was a till-death-do-us-part proposition. And when she stood at the altar at The Temple and married Daniel Wilcox, there was no doubt their marriage would be one of those long-lasting partnerships.

  Still, she was old and wise enough to realize that life threw curveballs from time to time, and that life didn’t always go according to script. Ruth lay back against the pillows and felt incredulous; she couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that Daniel and Lenora were breaking up. Her mind shied away from the possibility that the couple’s breakup would affect her life in any way.

  Ruth readjusted her head wrap and stretched out her body o
n the bed. She pulled the sheet around her waist. Within a few minutes, she fell back asleep.

  Montgomery smiled at Naomi after she lay in the bed when she hung up the phone. She snuggled close to him. “There always seems to be a high level of tension that surrounds you when you talk to your mother and other family members,” he observed. “The tension fills the room like a pumped can of air freshener.”

  “Lately that’s been the case,” Naomi replied, with a faraway look in her eyes. “It wasn’t always like that. Momma has changed so much since the divorce, and after she was ordained as a minister. I remember when my siblings and, most of all, my father were the center of her life, and I ran a close second. Now all that has changed.” She shrugged her shoulders.

  “You know what I think? It’s time I met your family,” Montgomery said casually. “I know that you said we needed to give our relationship time, and I think we’ve survived the test of time. We’ve been together for four years. What’s the problem? Are you ashamed of me or something?”

  Naomi leaned over and hugged Montgomery. “Never that,” she said fiercely. Then she kissed him. She shifted her body and laid her head on her pillow. “The timing has just been lousy. There always seems to be some drama going on in my family.”

  “I know, or at least that’s what you tell me, Naomi.” Montgomery’s deep bass voice, with his English accent, sent chills down her spine. “I love you and we’re engaged. Not having met your family in all this time bothers me.”

  A chill of fear crisscrossed Naomi’s body. She looked into Montgomery’s blue eyes and put her hand on her heart. “I promise you that I’ll talk to the family. Just give me a little more time,” she said solemnly. Then she took his hand in her own. “I agree with you; I’ve been remiss in not saying anything to the family about you before now. I promise you that by my graduation, you will meet the Wilcox family, en masse, and that’s only a few months away.”

  “Okay, Ms. Wilcox, you have two months to get it together.” He got out of the bed and headed to the adjoining bathroom.