Hope Is Love

by Hubbard, Sylvia

  James knew karma was a bitch, but he didn't know it was going to bit him on his ass so damn hard. To tell the truth meant he could possibly lose her again and this time forever.

  How could she possibly forgive him for what he'd done?

  Chapter 37

  James moved to Jona and started to touch her, but drew his hand away. "Jona, that wasn't the whole thing. I hid that car and I wasn't supposed to."

  "Oh!" she said realizing she'd forgotten about that part. "You were hiding evidence from the police for him."

  There was still no anger in her eyes and James knew she still didn't understand. The innocence he loved so much about her filled his heart with love and he knew telling her truth was going to hurt even more.

  "Do you have your case, Jona?" he questioned. "Can I see it?"

  She, of course, did and pulled out the ratty case out from her purse to hand to him.

  James remembered the article he'd found in the case and handed it to her. "Your mother was killed by a sixty-eight blue diamond Lincoln vehicle with suicide doors."

  Each word made her eyes go larger and larger. She covered her mouth to muffle the hurt scream that came from her lips and soon after the tears welling up in her eyes.

  "L-Lawton killed my mother?!" she asked.

  James looked away too ashamed of what he had done to her. "Yes, Jona, and I helped hide the evidence."

  Now it was her turn to sit down in shock. "He killed my mother... he did it on purpose, didn't he?" She looked at Onyx who she figured most likely knew everything already.

  Onyx nodded and picked up Sheriff’s digital recorder, turned it off and tossed the device to her cousin.

  “But Jona, you still didn’t answer Sheriff’s question about if you’re staying around. I will tell you that as long as you are around here, King Heart won’t be tempted to find you, because he’ll think we’ll be watching you.”

  “Will you?” Jona questioned a little thwarted in her thoughts of her mother by the mention of King Heart.

  “Oh I definitely will,” Onyx promised. “And I will eventually find out what you know about everything.”

  Jona knew that was another promise, but she was sure her loyalty to her street friends would never fade.

  Looking up at James, she said, "Do you know why you were such a bad person, James?"

  He knelt at her feet and she saw a remorseful tear run down his cheek. "Because I didn't know how to even love myself until I met you."

  She reached up and cupped his face. "Are you going to help them get that car they need to get Lawton?"

  "Yes! Yes, Hope! Whether you stay or not, I'll do anything to bring justice for your mother." He buried his face in her lap and held on to her legs. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for anything and everything I've done, especially what I've done to hurt you longer. Please stay, Hope. Please."

  She knew that question really didn't need to be asked, but hearing it from his lips was just so nice. Running her fingers through his soft hairs, loving the feel of them on her skin and wanting to be able to touch him forever. “Yes,” she said. “I will stay.”

  James smiled, getting up and situating her into his lap as he sat in the nearest chair. “Thank you,” he whispered to her as Sheriff and Onyx left them alone.

  “For what?” she asked confused.

  “For choosing me. For saving me.” Pulling her lips to him, James gave her the sweetest softest kiss. “It means everything, Hope, that I have you.”

  He easily picked her up and carried her over to the bed. No words were needed as he joined her in the bed after he undressed, locked the bedroom door and turned off the lights. Her eyes delighted at his wonderfully sculptured muscular body before the darkness prevented her from seeing anything.

  Jona was grateful to lie in the bed next to James again, cleaned and refreshed from the whole adventure they’d just endured.

  “I’m sorry,” she apologized as they held each other close.

  “For what?” he sounded confused this time.

  “For not trusting my heart enough to trust you,” she said. “I shouldn’t have left. I should have told you what she had threatened, but I swear no more secrets James. No more.”

  “Good because tomorrow we’re going to find out about your past and find out why your father’s last wishes were not honored.”

  “Why James? I don’t want-“

  He put a finger over her lips. “Your mother wanted you to be ignorant to shield you from the cruelty of people. She must have known how greedy and selfish your father’s people were and she never wanted you to suffer their presence because she didn’t know how else to protect you, Hope. You have me now and that's all you need." His tone of voice was firm and protective.

  Jona found herself instantly aroused and moved over him to straddle his hips, despite the long arduous day they'd had his words heated up her loins and soul. Leaning down, she reciprocated his very tender kiss from earlier that had brought them over to the bed. “Promise we'll spend some time in my world every once in a while,” she said.

  “Fine,” he said simply.

  Skeptically she asked, “You won't mind sleeping under the stars some nights and not in a comfortable bed, James.”

  “As long as I'm with you, Hope, I'm comfortable. That shouldn’t be hard to believe considering even when I was living on the streets with you, I was at my most happiest in my life. And giving in to your request will be easy.” He moved his hands to her robe and opened it. “I’ve told you I sleep on my jobs sometimes in abandoned structures. You're not asking me to give up my entire life or my wealth. You’re asking me to compromise. That means a lot.”

  “Well if you gave up your life and wealth, I wouldn't be able to have an address so I can get my college degree,” she said obvious.

  “You really mean that, Hope?” He asked surprised. In one sweep, James rolled her on her back and lay between her legs. She could feel his hardened member pressing up against the right area.

  “You'd go back to school just like that?” he asked.

  “I've wanted to and I know deep in my heart my father wanted me too, but was only respecting the wishes of my mother even after her death. It'd be a waste not to go with this perfect opportunity you've provided.”

  James kissed her in reward. “I'll be there for you every step of the way. Hope. I promise,” he assured her

  Jona fully believed him and she was honest about this perfect opportunity. Finally, she had the perfect life and the perfect soul mate and the perfect love.

  Epilogue

  TWO WEEKS LATER

  Jona didn’t know she was nervous until she felt her stomach clenched and she ran to the bathroom to throw up. Coming back in, she looked at the bed where the pure white silk dress laid. There were no special adornments. – Just a simple white dress. Nicole was good at following instructions when it came to clothes and this is what Jona had asked for. She brushed her teeth before coming out of the bathroom and drowned her mouth with mouthwash hoping she wouldn’t throw up again.

  Cami peeked her head in the door. Her big green eyes against her earth toned face was always a sunshine to anyone and Jona couldn’t help to smile as she watched the little girl determine it was okay to come in and move towards Jona.

  She looked at Jona’s arm where her friendship bracelet was on and smiled, before putting her arms out indicating she wanted Jona to pick her up.

  Jona relished the distraction and pulled the little girl in her lap. Cami laid her head on Jona’s chest and closed her eyes relaxing. Minutes later, Cami’s deep breathing indicated she was asleep. Unfortunately at the same time, Jona could feel her stomach wanting to unleash everything eaten in the last twenty four hours.

  This was the first time she had ever been sick with James and sharing her problems on this momentous weekend didn’t seem important to her. She was used to keeping things to herself and sharing her life with this man was one thing, but a little bit of nausea that seemed to be lasting all day was another th
ing.

  Just as promised, James had protected her from everything, but kept her informed. The new law firm over James business also took over Jona’s inheritance issue and in less than four days, Jona was going down to the probate courts to properly claim what her father wanted her to have included all the inheritance he had left. The total amount would have been over seven million dollars, but his relatives had whittled that down easily to half a million with a net worth of ten million. She put the money in a trust for the future with James' consult.

  Monica and Lawton were sentenced to life in prison for several charges included attempted murder, plus after an extensive audit of her husband’s firm, there were several financial discrepancies found with other clients. The Bergs were stripped of everything valuable and still owed a lot of money to a lot of people. Lawton was also convicted of a hit and run once the police extracted the vehicle and found hairs and blood of her mother's, Annelle Hope Pane, still embedded in the front part of the radiator and engine.

  Life had become a little busy for Jona as she started school, helped out at James’ office and spent some nights on the sites with him. He was wildly turned on by making love under the stars with her and she enjoyed him so much whether they were in bed or out of bed.

  With Cami firmly planted in her lap, Jona had to swallow her bile and sit quietly with the child. The smell of her newness sparked a deep seated desire to hold her own child in her arms and now she really could understand why her mother felt the need to lie to her so much. With James love, Jona understood her father’s need to keep her mother’s wishes granted.

  “I’m sorry Ms. Jona, I didn’t know Ms Cami had slipped out of bed,” Mitch apologized, coming into her room completely after knocking.

  “I don’t mind,” she said as Mitch took Cami off of her hands.

  He looked at her state of undress and frowned. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the party? Master James is very much excited about the dinner tonight and the wedding tomorrow.”

  “Yes, I should be,” she said. “I’m just a little apprehensive about meeting all of his friends and clients. I mean what if they think I’m stupid, Mitch?”

  “Who cares? It’s not up to them. It’s Master James you are to please, isn’t it?”

  That was just an obvious question and if Jona hadn’t been so nervous, she would have thought about that as well. “Thank you Mitch.”

  “You’re welcome Ms. Jona. It looks like even Cami knows you’re going to be a perfect edition to the family.” He nodded before leaving.

  Jona sighed and ran to the bathroom to throw up. Nicole came into the bathroom and helped Jona hold her hair back.

  “How long you been doing that?” Nicole asked as Jona cleaned her mouth yet again with toothpaste and mouthwash.

  “All day. Right after breakfast,” Jona said.

  “And how long has James been going without protection?” Nicole asked suspiciously.

  “Protection?” she asked innocently.

  Nicole rolled her eyes heavenwards. “You poor thing. Does he know you’ve been sick?”

  “I didn’t want him to worry.”

  “James needs to worry about something and you keep him occupied and out of trouble, Jona. Please never think anything you have will bother that man. He loves you too much and wants to make you happy.”

  “But-“

  Nicole held her hand up. “This is the last time we’ll speak of this, but you need to tell James you’ve been nauseous all day.”

  “She’s pregnant?!” Ethan asked coming in the bathroom looking horrified.

  “Shut up, Ethan,” Nicole said.

  “I’m what?” Jona asked horrified.

  Nicole acted as if Jona had not asked anything and questioned her husband coolly. “Have the guest started arriving, Ethan?”

  “Not yet, love. I was coming to find my wife to see if could get some special attention since I haven’t seen you alone in about a month,” he said. “But this is almost as interesting as what I was planning for you.”

  Nicole blushed. “You are either almost drunk or just too happy and need someone to play with.”

  “T’would be the latter, love,” he said.

  “Go find your brother and tell him his soon to be wife needs him and then I’ll join you in our quarters.”

  When he was gone, Jona asked, “He really is quite funny sometimes when he’s not pissed off all the time. Does he always joke around like that?”

  “Ethan’s an insatiable flirt,” Nicole said still blushing. “Now back to you. Don’t you ever think you’re a bother to James. This is very important to know. Tell him everything and let him share in this moment.”

  The words from Ethan just suddenly hit Jona. “HE WAS SERIOUS? I’M PREGNANT?!”

  James walked in at that moment with a look of concern and then shock.

  Nicole sighed. “I didn’t think he wanted to find out like that, Jona.”

  “Leave,” James grumbled. “And thank you, Nicole.”

  “She just found out James. Be nice to her,” Nicole said.

  Jona shivered. “I’m sorry James. I’ve been sick all day and I-“

  The big hug he delivered seemed to almost knock the air out of her body. “We’re having a baby, Hope?”

  She nodded a little worried. “Yes, James, I think.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Just sick to my stomach, but otherwise, fine.”

  “I mean, are you fine with having a baby? My baby. I mean the first baby…” He seemed frustrated and lost for words.

  “Oh James, I’m fine. I’m happy. I can’t wait to share this moment with you,” she said earnestly. “Although we won’t be able to spend so many nights at the sites anymore.”

  “Hell, I’ll build a bedroom outside we can use. I’ll do anything to be with you, Jona.”

  She knew as he kissed her in gratefulness. “I love you James. I do.”

  “Good, because I need a lot of loving and I have so much to give you, Hope.” He kissed her and then knelt down to open her robe and kiss her stomach. “I can’t wait for our family to come. I’m going to be there with you all the way. You’re mine. You’re my Hope and you’re loved.”

  As James began to kiss more than just her stomach, Jona knew she would never be lonely again.

  The End

  1109272358

  About Author

  AUTHOR, BLOGGER, MOTHER, SPEAKER, JOURNALIST, RADIO HOST,

  EMPOWERMENT COACH, CONSULTANT & MORE!

  Sylvia Hubbard knew she wanted to be a writer of romance long before she knew there were African-American writers in the world. Weaving stories magically as a summer past time to writing stories to get through the humdrum of school, she was able to create something from nothing.

  Today, she has independently published over 28 books, is the founder of Motown Writers Network and The AA Electronic Literary Network, CEO of HubBooks Literary Services, runs over five blogs on a variety of subjects, host The Michigan Literary Network Radio Show and is a happily divorced mother of three children in Detroit, Michigan.

  “I’m no superwoman,” she states with a smile that seems infinite on her lips. “I’m just being an asset in the world instead of a liability.”

  Considered an addicted blogger by HoneyTechblog.com, nominated and recognized for her literary work in the Metro Detroit area, referred to as “A Literary Diva” by Detroit City Council and donned “Cliffhanger Queen” by her readers, she finds solace in speaking and educating on a variety of topics.

  Her subjects range from Social Media, Internet Marketing, Creative Intimacy, Single Parenting, Blogging, E-Books, Publishing (all aspects i.e.: writing, publishing, marketing & promoting online & offline), and personal triumphs with inspiration mixed in.

  Never a disappointment, Sylvia Hubbard, has spoken in front of thousands all over the United States and Canada.

  www.SylviaHubbard.com

  More of this author’s works can be purchased on her website at:
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  http://sylviahubbard.com/fictionbooks

  Other books related to this book are as follows:

  • Love Like This

  • His Substitute Wife… My Sister *

  • King’s Paradise *

  • The Mysterious Mr. Black*

  * not yet printed at the time of this book’s release.

  Author's Note: Onyx Heart can be found in various books as well and her book is due to come out only after her brother’s book. Sheriff Heart can be found in BabyDoll. Blacque, King and other Hearts can be found also throughout various books by this author. Subscribe for updates to be alerted for more books to come from the Hearts of Detroit & The Black Family Series.

  Thank you in advance for your support.

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