Letting Misery Go

by Michelle Larks

  The church members nodded and clapped their hands in appreciation.

  “Most of all, I’d like to give thanks to the late Eddie Duncan. Bishop has rescued us, it seems, from the grave, and has provided a cushion that should keep us financially secure for years to come. Unbeknownst to me, my father had taken out a life insurance policy for a million dollars, and Brother Duncan was the beneficiary. My father entrusted Brother Duncan to present the funds to the church when a financial crisis arose, and that’s exactly what Brother Duncan did. The monies were deposited into an interest-bearing account. I marvel at the power of God. He is awesome and supplies our every need. The committee and I decided the funds will be distributed on an as-needed basis.”

  After the service had concluded, Ruth returned to her office. Sitting on her desk was a vase of red roses. She smiled after she opened the card and read the note from Aron. She went into the bathroom adjoining her office and refreshed herself, and then went to the church dining room to have supper with her members.

  When she arrived in the dining room, the family, along with Aron, were seated at the family’s designated table. Sarah hugged her mother when Ruth came to the table.

  “I’m so proud of you, Momma. You are truly our family treasure,” Sarah said.

  Aron winked at Ruth. During the course of the meal, several members stopped by to tell Ruth that she had their support, and how proud Bishop would be of her.

  She said a silent prayer of thanks inside her heart. She knew Bishop and Ezra were smiling down at her from heaven, the two men who had greatly shaped and influenced her life.

  Chapter Forty-three

  A month later, the Wilcox family was seated in the auditorium of McDade Elementary School for Maggie’s eighth-grade graduation. Naomi and Montgomery had driven up from Edwardsville. Queen Esther, Alice, and Fred were there, along with Daniel and his sons. Fred’s family was in attendance too. DJ, Chelsea, and their son, D3, had flown in from Atlanta for the ceremony. All the men in the family stood up, cheered, and whistled when the principal presented Maggie with her diploma. She blushed as she returned to her seat. She had received several awards.

  Joshua took pictures of his sister and her friends, while Brian videotaped the ceremony. Sarah had a bouquet of roses in her lap to present to her daughter.

  Sarah decided to hold the family dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Oak Lawn in a private dining room. After the ceremony and photo session, the family piled into their cars, left the crowded parking lot, and headed west on Ninety-fifth Street. When they arrived at the hotel, Aron, Monet, Marcus, Faith, and the twins joined them.

  After the large party was seated, everyone congratulated Maggie again, and they presented her with envelopes. She eagerly tore them open.

  “Wow, I feel rich,” she exclaimed, riffling the dollars and checks. “Thank you, everyone. I love you!” she said, blowing kisses at her family.

  “That money is going into your bank account, to be used for college,” Sarah informed her daughter emphatically.

  “Aw, Mommy, can’t I buy a few things?” Maggie complained. She looked at her mother hopefully.

  “Sure, you can,” Alice told Maggie as Fred sat comfortably at her side. “If your mother won’t let you use that money, I’ll take you shopping.”

  “See, that’s what I mean, Aunt Alice. You spoil her rotten.” Sarah shook her head.

  The wait staff brought out glasses of water and warm bread, and placed them on the table.

  “That’s what grand-godmothers are for,” Alice told Sarah. “I swear, you sound like your mother. She used to say the same thing.”

  “My being like Momma is a good thing.” Sarah smiled at Ruth and Aron, whose heads were bent together as they talked.

  “Thank you, Aunt Alice. I’m so glad you feel better. I missed my cooking lessons,” Maggie said.

  “I missed them too, little girl. Cancer may have had me down, but not out,” Alice lovingly told Maggie. During her last medical appointment, she heard the news she was praying to hear: her cancer was in remission.

  “I feel so special. Everyone in the family is here, including Uncle DJ, Aunt Chelsea, and D3. Thank you for coming, Uncle DJ.”

  DJ smiled at his niece. “We wouldn’t have missed it for the world. You, Joshua, and D3 are growing up so fast. It’s good when we can get together as a family and celebrate happy events.”

  Queen Esther sat on Ruth’s left and Aron on her right side. The older woman leaned over to her daughter and whispered, “Who did you say those people are again?” She gestured her head toward Aron and the Caldwell family.

  “That’s my friend, Aron, and his family. You remember, you met them a few months ago. Aron came with me to visit you last week,” Ruth said.

  “Oh, I forgot.” Queen Esther looked thoughtfully at Aron’s family.

  The waiters returned to the table, carrying soups and salads. They quickly distributed them among the family.

  Conversation flowed smoothly among the guests. Daniel and DJ spoke more cordially than they had in years. Daniel’s oldest son sat on his left, while his youngest sons were on his right. Daniel had settled into the new house; and at Sarah’s urging, Daniel had begun calling his oldest son on the weekends. They were on the way to mending their relationship. Ruth urged her son to bury the hatchet, since his father had taken the first step. DJ decided to heed her advice.

  In thirty minutes, the entrées were placed on the table. Ruth blessed the food, while the family joined hands. “Father above, thank you for bringing my family together again as we celebrate Maggie’s graduation. As Maggie’s daddy said, we hope it’s the first of what will be at least two or three more graduations. Continue to bless my grandbaby as she enters into yet another phase of life. Bless all of us gathered here today. Bless the cooks. Amen.”

  The clink of forks and knives made music upon the plates as the family partook in the scrumptious steak and seafood meals.

  “So, Nay, when are you getting married? Have you and Montgomery set a date?” DJ asked. “Your ring is blinding me.”

  “We’re thinking June of next year. That should give us enough time to plan everything.” Naomi grabbed Montgomery’s hand. “I like the sound of having a June wedding.”

  “Are you going to get married here or in Edwardsville?” Chelsea asked.

  “We haven’t quite decided, and I need to start making plans soon. Momma suggested we have the wedding in the garden at our house, and I’m kind of partial to that idea. We won’t have to spend time on finding a venue. That would be one thing I could scratch off our list.”

  “Can I be in your wedding?” Maggie shyly asked Naomi.

  “Of course, you can. I have you penciled in as my junior bridesmaid. And I hope you and D3 will be ushers, Joshua.”

  Joshua smiled and bobbed his head, while D3 nodded excitedly and said, “I’ve never been in a wedding before.”

  “I’d also like to break with tradition and have Momma and Daddy give me away, if that’s okay with you, Daddy?” Naomi asked Daniel.

  “Times have sure changed. I guess I have no choice but to go along with the program. That’s fine,” Daniel replied affably.

  “How long are you going to be here?” Daniel asked his oldest son.

  “Chelsea and I have a week leave. We’re close to the end of our tour, and we’re considering moving back to Chicago to be close to the family. But I don’t know, I’ve kind of gotten used to those mild winters in the South.”

  “I hear you on that. Well, I hope you will consider moving back to Chicago. It would be nice having you back here,” Daniel told his son.

  At the other end of the table, Sarah informed Naomi, “You know Monet coordinates weddings when she has time. You might want to get some pointers from her.”

  “Sure, I’m going to need all the help I can get. Make sure you give me your information before we leave,” Naomi told Monet.

  “I sure will. I worked as a nurse, but after my little ones were born, I decided
to coordinate weddings, and, of course, volunteer at the church. My brother is getting married in the fall, and I’m working with him and his fiancee.”

  “That’s sounds like fun. I know it must have been hard to leave nursing.”

  Monet pushed her hair back off her shoulder. “It was, and I miss it, but I’m truly enjoying my new job as a mother. When the boys start school, I may return to work.”

  “Great. I just began working as an actuary for the state, and so far, I’m enjoying my new job,” Naomi told Monet.

  Daniel held up his hand to get everyone’s attention. He announced that he would retain custody of the boys, after conferring with his spiritual advisor. He looked at Ruth and smiled. “I decided that would be the best course to take. My finances have improved. It helps when your ex marries money, so I can relax a bit. We moved into the new house a few weeks ago.”

  “How did Lenora’s boyfriend react about finding out that Darnell is his son?” Naomi whispered to her father, who was sitting on her left side.

  “At first he was shocked and then he talked to me, man-to-man. He pays child support for all the boys for Lenora. We plan to tell Darnell the truth when he’s older.”

  As the family continued to talk, Aron took Ruth’s hand under the table and held it. Ruth looked out and took stock of her family. There were new faces and familiar old faces, but, most of all, the family unit had been preserved. All that really mattered in the long run was family members being there for each other, and supporting one another, in good times and in bad.

  Little did Aron know, but Ruth had a rose of her own to present to him. Her color selection would be red.

  God had revealed to Ruth what Aron’s role in her life would be. Ruth decided she might buck tradition and ask Aron to marry her.

  She took heart in knowing that Sarah, Brian, DJ, and Chelsea would become overseers of the family, when the time came, along with Naomi. She felt secure in knowing the family would be in good hands.

  Thank You, Father, for the blessing you have bestowed on my family. Ruth looked upward, closed her eyes, and smiled beautifully.

  Readers’ Group Guide Questions

  1. Do you feel Ruth had grown both spiritually and emotionally since reading about her in Keeping Misery Company?

  2. How did you feel about Ruth putting Queen in a nursing home? Should she have allowed Queen to live with her? Did she make the correct decision, given her lifestyle?

  3. Were you surprised that Alice and Fred had become a couple?

  4. Should Ruth have developed a relationship with Aron, given his background?

  5. Did Daniel deserve what happened with him and Lenora?

  6. Should Ruth have reconciled with Daniel?

  7. How did you feel about Naomi and her fiancee, Montgomery? Was she remiss in her relationship with her family?

  8. Do you think Queen was lonely? Did the family do a good job with visiting her?

  9. Did you feel Fred had matured? What about Daniel?

  10. Should Naomi have acknowledged Sarah and Brian as her parents?

  11. Should Ruth have allowed Sarah and Naomi room to develop a mother-daughter relationship?

  12. What did you think about Lenora leaving Daniel for a younger man? Was that in character for her?

  13. Would Daniel have been justified in allowing Felicia and Reggie to raise his children? Was he too old?

  14. Did you feel Daniel had genuine feelings for Ruth? Or was he looking for financial help?

  15. Were you pleased with the sequel to Keeping Misery Company? Why or why not?

  UC HIS GLORY BOOK CLUB!

  www.uchisglorybookclub.net

  UC His Glory Book Club is the spirit-inspired brainchild of Joylynn Jossel, Author and Acquisitions Editor of Urban Christian, and Kendra Norman-Bellamy, Author for Urban Christian. This is an online book club that hosts authors of Urban Christian. We welcome as members all men and women who have a passion for reading Christian-based fiction.

  UC His Glory Book Club pledges our commitment to provide support, positive feedback, encouragement, and a forum whereby members can openly discuss and review the literary works of Urban Christian authors.

  There is no membership fee associated with UC His Glory Book Club; however, we do ask that you support the authors through purchasing, encouraging, providing book reviews, and of course, your prayers. We also ask that you respect our beliefs and follow the guidelines of the book club. We hope to receive your valuable input, opinions, and reviews that build up, rather than tear down our authors.

  Urban Christian His Glory Book Club

  WHAT WE BELIEVE

  —We believe that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God.

  —We believe the Bible is the true, living Word of God.

  —We believe all Urban Christian authors should use their God-given writing abilities to honor God and share the message of the written word God has given to each of them uniquely.

  —We believe in supporting Urban Christian authors in their literary endeavors by reading, purchasing and sharing their titles with our online community.

  —We believe that in everything we do in our literary arena should be done in a manner that will lead to God being glorified and honored.

  —We look forward to the online fellowship with you. Please visit us often at www.uchisglorybookclub.net.

  Many Blessing to You!

  Shelia E. Lipsey,

  President, UC His Glory Book Club

  Urban Books, LLC

  78 East Industry Court

  Deer Park, NY 11729

  Letting Misery Go Copyright © 2011 Michelle Larks

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  ISBN: 978-1-5998-3245-6

  ISBN 10: 1-60162-811-0

  This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living, or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.

  Distributed by Kensington Corp.

  Submit Wholesale Orders to:

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  C/O Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  Attention: Order Processing

  405 Murray Hill Parkway

  East Rutherford, NJ 07073-2316

  Phone: 1-800-526-0275

  Fax: 1-800-227-9604