Delilah's Daughters

by Angela Benson

“You don’t have to decide now,” Morgan said. “Take your time.”

  “But don’t take a lot of time,” Junior said. “In this business, you have to strike while the iron is hot. In your case, that means while there’s still some memory of Delilah’s Daughters out there.”

  “A lot has changed with Delilah’s Daughters,” she told them. “The group is going on hiatus for a while.”

  Junior leaned forward. “That’s even better,” he said. “To be honest, I didn’t like the idea of your mother joining the group. After your sister Veronica left, it really was time to think about doing something different.”

  She looked at Morgan with a raised brow.

  He inclined his head toward his son. “I told him about your idea of revamping the group, and he didn’t share my opinion of it. It wasn’t the first time we’ve disagreed, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

  Junior chuckled. “Everything I know, I learned from him.”

  “Right,” Morgan said, his smirk evidence of his sarcasm.

  “It’s true, Dad, but that doesn’t mean I have to see things the way you see them.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Morgan said.

  Alisha smiled at the interaction between father and son. They were as relaxed and at ease with each other as she had been with Rocky. The love and respect they shared was obvious. She wondered if she’d ever have that with Morgan. She wondered if she even wanted it.

  “So, Alisha,” Morgan said, “what do you think?”

  She looked from her father to her half-brother. “What about your mother and sister?” she asked Junior.

  Junior sobered. “This is not an easy situation for them,” he said, “but they’re good people with good hearts. I know them, and I feel very sure that, given time, they’ll come around. They need time to get to know you. We all do.” He glanced at his dad. “They’ll make it work because they love this guy like I do. They’ll do it for him.”

  Alisha felt Junior’s love for his father, mother, and sister. And she marveled at how much they all loved Morgan, especially given what they’d recently learned. He must be a special husband and father, she thought, the kind of man she’d like to get to know. “Okay,” she said. “So when do you want to get started?”

  Chapter 58

  Veronica sat across from Dexter at breakfast drinking a glass of juice. He’d called last night and asked her to meet him at his hotel. She’d come because he was her husband and she loved him, but she still wasn’t sure what their future held, professionally or personally.

  “When are you coming back to Atlanta?” he asked her.

  She wished his first question had been about them personally rather than about Legends. “I don’t know,” she said.

  “You signed a contract,” he reminded her.

  She glanced down at her plate to keep him from seeing the disappointment she knew would be reflected in her eyes. She didn’t need him to talk to her about contracts. She needed to hear heart things from her husband, but he seemed to be on another page altogether.

  “If you don’t want to go back,” he continued, when she didn’t respond, “we need to schedule a meeting with the attorney.”

  She looked up at him. “The attorney?”

  He nodded. “We have to find a way to get out of the contract,” he said.

  “You’re okay with me not going back?” she asked, a flutter of hope in her heart.

  He reached for her hand. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about this over the last few days. And while I think Legends is a great opportunity for you, it has to be what you want. More than anything, I want you to be happy. If Legends doesn’t make you happy, then it’s not for us.”

  “But what about your book deal?”

  He lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. “It was one opportunity, and I was glad to get it, but I have to believe there will be others. We had always planned for me to go the traditional route to publishing anyway. I’ll get a commercial fiction agent and go from there, the way most authors do.”

  Tears of happiness welled in the back of Veronica’s eyes. This was the kind of support she’d wanted from her husband. “That won’t be necessary,” she said, feeling a hopefulness she hadn’t felt since she’d taken the Legends contract. “I’m going back. You know I’m going back.”

  He shook his head, his eyes sad. “I don’t know much of anything where you’re concerned these days. You’ve said some pretty confusing things to me.” He paused to clear his throat. “To be honest, I don’t even know where I stand. Do you still love me, Veronica? Do you want our marriage to work?”

  “Of course I love you,” she said, “and I very much want our marriage to work. I’ve just been unsure of so many other things that our relationship got caught up in the uncertainty. I’m sorry for that.”

  “What things?” he asked.

  She looked away, unsure how to tell him her fears.

  He tugged on her hand. “You have to talk to me, Veronica,” he said. “I can’t read your mind.”

  When she turned back to him, there were tears in her eyes. “I’m afraid, Dexter,” she said.

  “What are you afraid of?” he asked, reaching out to wipe away her tears with his fingers.

  “I don’t know,” she said as he pulled her close. “Everything.”

  “You shouldn’t be afraid,” he said, raining kisses along her brow.

  Her arms tightened around him. “But I am,” she said. “What if I’m not good enough? The folks at Legends practically told me that it’s not my voice they want. If not that, then what do they want from me? What will they want in the future? How much will I have to give up?”

  He pulled back, and she saw the love and confidence in his eyes. “You’re good enough,” he told her. “You’re more than good enough. Legends is lucky to have you. They sought you out; you didn’t seek them out. They want you.”

  “Then why do they want me to have this surgery?” she asked, unable to keep the pain out of her voice. “Why do you want me to have it? Why am I not good enough without having this surgery?”

  He studied her face. “Is that what you think? That Legends doesn’t think you’re good enough as you are? That I don’t think you’re good enough?”

  She lowered her eyes, taking small comfort in hearing her fears voiced aloud. “What else could I think?”

  He tilted her face up to his. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I never meant to give you that impression, because that’s not what I think. It’s not even close.” He cupped her face in his hands. “You’re more than good enough, Veronica, so get those ideas out of your head. You have no reason to doubt yourself or your talent.”

  “If you believe that, then why do you want me to have the surgery?” she asked, finally having the courage to ask the question that had always nagged at her.

  He closed his eyes briefly, as though the question pained him. When he opened them, he said, “Because I’m selfish. I only wanted you to do it because Legends wanted you to do it. I just wanted to stay on their good side. We have such a good setup with them that I was fearful of blowing it. I was only trying to go along to get along. I was wrong, Veronica, very wrong.”

  “So you don’t think I should do the surgery?”

  He shook his head. “You shouldn’t do it if you don’t want to do it. You have talent, Veronica. Legends is not going to drop you because you decide against the surgery, regardless of what Mr. Washington or Tia has said. We can take a stand on this.”

  “But what if they do drop me?”

  “That contract goes both ways,” he said. “You have an obligation to Legends, and they have an obligation to you. We have that entertainment lawyer, but maybe we need someone like Delilah as our advocate as well. I’ll bet she’d be willing to act as your manager again. She handled Mr. Washington pretty well before you signed the contract. I’m sure she can handle him now. There’s no reason for either of us to be walking around in fear of what Legends will and won’t do. Delilah will make sure we
don’t have to.”

  Veronica felt the weight of the last few weeks slip away. “Are you really okay with bringing Momma back on board?” she asked.

  He kissed her fingers. “Delilah came to see me the other day, and we cleared the air between us. It’s like you tried to tell me. You need to be surrounded by folks who love and care for Veronica Monroe Timmons, not only folks who are concerned with the Veronica Y brand. I finally get it. I’m just sorry it took me so long to understand.”

  Veronica smiled into his eyes. “I love you, Dexter,” she said. She made a mental note to thank her mother later for whatever she’d said to him.

  He kissed her softly on her lips. “I love you more.”

  “Impossible.”

  “I can prove it,” he said. Then he reached into his pocket, pulled out a square, white jeweler’s box, and handed it to her.

  “For me?” she said, taking the box. The last gift he’d given her had been the sterling silver choker with their names engraved on it.

  He kissed her softly on her lips. “There’s nobody for me but you.”

  She opened the box and pulled out a beautiful gold charm bracelet with six gemstone charms. “What’s this?” she asked.

  He took the bracelet from her and clasped it around her wrist. “It’s a family charm bracelet,” he said. “It has a birthstone charm for each member of your family.”

  She studied the bracelet, tears of happiness flowing down her cheeks.

  “I guess that means you like it,” he said.

  She looked up at him. “I love it almost as much as I love you,” she said. This charm bracelet was a tribute to the family they shared because he’d included a charm for himself. “But there’s an extra charm. Are you trying to tell me you want a baby?”

  He smiled down at her. “We need more than one charm for the babies we’re going to have, but that’ll be a separate bracelet.”

  Her heart bubbled over with joy at the prospect of the children they would someday have. “Then who’s this one for?” she asked.

  “It’s Mr. Tommy’s,” he said, fingering the extra charm. “I figured he deserved a charm since he asked me to be his best man. I see it as my duty to welcome the next man into the Monroe family.”

  Epilogue

  Rocky Monroe wished Roxanne had stayed home today instead of trekking out to Gospelfest. Though her due date was more than a month away, he thought it was better to be safe than sorry. Babies were unpredictable, and he much preferred having his first grandchild born in a hospital, not in a pavilion at Gospelfest.

  “Are you sure you’re comfortable?” he heard her friend Judd ask her.

  Of course she’s not comfortable, Judd! Rocky shouted to no avail. She’s as big as a house. She won’t be comfortable again until after she has the baby.

  “I’m fine,” Roxanne said, patting Judd’s hand. “You worry too much.”

  “I’m not sure you should have come today,” he said.

  Rocky agreed with him. He wished his daughters had found men who would make them toe the line. Instead, they seemed to have found men who indulged their every whim. It had taken nothing for Veronica to persuade Dexter to drop everything and follow her to Europe, where she was one of the opening acts for Beyoncé. Poor Jeff had taken a leave of absence from his job so he could spend a month with Alisha in Los Angeles, where she was working on a demo with Junior while she dealt with Morgan’s death. And here was Judd Thompson, one of the three heirs to the impressive Thompson real estate portfolio, actually believing a heavily pregnant woman when she told him she was comfortable. The boy might have business smarts, Rocky thought, but he obviously doesn’t have much common sense. He should have kept Roxanne at home with her feet up. As her father, he would have demanded that she stay home.

  “She’s fine, Judd,” Delilah said, sitting on the other side of Roxanne. “Don’t worry so.”

  Tommy, seated on the other side of Delilah, leaned forward so he could look down the row at Judd. “Give it up, son. She’s here now. We just have to go with it.”

  Rocky took some comfort in the uncertainty on Judd’s face. Maybe the boy wasn’t as ignorant about pregnancies as he’d first thought.

  Roxanne pressed a kiss against Judd’s cheek. “I appreciate your concern,” she said, “but it’s not necessary. I’ve never missed a Gospelfest, and I wasn’t about to let this pregnancy make me miss it this year.”

  Judd looked into her eyes. “I know it’s important to you,” he said, “but your father could have visited you at home.”

  She shook her head. “No, Gospelfest is where I feel his presence strongest. And I need to feel it today. I want the baby to feel his grandfather.”

  Some of Rocky’s ire faded when he heard his daughter’s words. He leaned close and gave her a whispered I love you, a kiss on the cheek, and a soft caress of her tummy. Roxanne didn’t have to worry about his grandchild feeling his presence, because he would make sure she did. That was one of the benefits of being dead that he appreciated.

  “I feel him,” she whispered to Judd, her hands rubbing her tummy. “I knew he’d be here. He’s always here.”

  Judd’s expression said he wasn’t sure, but he was wise enough to keep his thoughts to himself.

  Rocky moved from his daughter to his wife, who was now Tommy’s wife. Good-bye for now, he whispered to Delilah. She had chosen well in Tommy, so he had no complaints. As he watched them take in the performance of Tommy’s newest boy band, he knew they belonged together. Though they had never discussed it, Rocky had always known of Tommy’s feelings for Delilah. Being the friend he was, Tommy had never crossed the line, content to love Delilah from afar.

  As he watched Delilah whisper in Tommy’s ear, Rocky knew this would be his last Gospelfest for a while. He no longer needed these annual visits with his family, and they no longer needed him hovering over them. He marveled at how far they had come in the four years since his death. Delilah had Tommy. Veronica had Dexter and her music career. Alisha had Jeff and a new brother and sister as well as a new career. Roxanne had Judd and soon she would have a new baby.

  Yes, his four girls were moving on with their lives, and he had to move on with the new life he had in death. There were families other than his own who needed someone watching out for them. He’d take on one of those families and leave his to one of his fellow angels. He already had somebody picked out for the job.

  “Uh-oh,” he heard Roxanne say.

  “What is it?” Judd asked.

  She peered over at him, a shaky smile on her face. “I think it’s the baby.”

  Mor-gan! Rocky yelled for Morgan Sampson, the newly minted angel who would take over the care of his family. You’d better get here quick. If you allow my grandchild to be born in this pavilion, I’ll—

  About the Author

  ANGELA BENSON is a graduate of Spelman College and the author of thirteen novels, including the Christy Award–nominated Awakening Mercy, the Essence best-seller The Amen Sisters, as well as Up Pops the Devil and Sins of the Father. She is currently an associate professor at the University of Alabama and lives in Tuscaloosa.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

  Also by Angela Benson

  Sins of the Father

  Up Pops the Devil

  Credits

  Cover design by Karen Horton

  Cover photographs: Woman by Peter Dressel/Getty Images; Sisters by Siri Stafford/Getty Images; Frame by Gwendolyn Plath/Plainpicture

  Author photograph by Olan Mills, Inc.

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. References to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity, and are used fictitiously. All other characters, and all incidents and dialogue, are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

  DELILAH’S DAUGHTERS. Copyright © 2014 by Angela Benson. All rights reserved u
nder International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  FIRST EDITION

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Benson, Angela.

  Delilah’s daughters : a novel / Angela Benson.

  pages cm

  Summary: “Delilah Monroe and her husband Rocky always dreamed of their three daughters making it big in show business as a musical trio. After Rocky’s death, Delilah’s determination is even stronger. However, her daughters—Roxanne, Veronica, and Alisha—aren’t so sure. Roxanne is a cruiseline entertainer, while Alisha writes jingles for an ad agency by day and secretly composes her own songs at night. Veronica, whose dancing is better than her singing, is the one with the biggest opportunity due to her husband Dexter’s grand plans—plans that are at the expense of her sisters’. Delilah wants to keep her daughters together, but they have minds of their own. Soon Roxanne, Veronica, and Alisha embark on their own paths, only to find that the price of fame might be more than they’re willing to give. An inspirational family drama, DELILAH’S DAUGHTERS showcases Angela Benson as one of the strongest voices in African-American women’s fiction today.” —Provided by publisher.

  ISBN 978-0-06-200271-6 (pbk.)

  1. African American women—Fiction. 2. Mothers and daughters—Fiction. 3. Sisters—Fiction. 4. Performing arts—Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3552.E5476585D45 2014