TEAM JASMINE or TEAM RACHEL?
Bestselling and award-winning novelists Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley bring their favorite heroines together in a novel that will delight their legions of fans.
Jasmine Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams are not your typical first ladies. But they’ve overcome their scandalous and drama-filled pasts to stand firmly by their husbands’ sides.
When a coveted position opens up—president of the American Baptist Coalition—both women think their husbands are perfect for the job. And winning the position may require both women to get down and dirty and revert to their old tricks. Just when Jasmine and Rachel think they’re going to have to fight to the finish, the current first lady of the coalition steps in … a woman bigger, badder, and more devious than either of them.
Double the fun with a message of faith, Sinners & Saints will delight readers with two of their favorite characters from two of their favorite authors.
PRAISE FOR THE AUTHORS
“Writing in an engaging and comfortable style, Murray creates believable women to whom readers will easily relate.” —Library Journal
“Faith-based fiction doesn’t get better than Billingsley’s entertaining soaps, notable for their humor, wonderful characters, and challenging life situations that many readers, Christian or not, can identify with.” —Publishers Weekly
© SIGRID ESTRADA
VICTORIA CHRISTOPHER MURRAY is the author of ten Essence bestselling novels, including The Ex Files; Too Little, Too Late; and Lady Jasmine. Winner of the African American Literary Award for Fiction and Author of the Year (Female), she splits her time between Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
© ROCHELLE SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
An award-winning television and radio journalist, RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY is the author of twenty-one books and has appeared on the Essence bestseller list more than twenty times. She is married with three small children and lives in Texas.
Visit the authors online at www.victoriachristophermurray.com
and www.reshondatatebillingsley.com.
MEET THE AUTHORS, WATCH VIDEOS AND MORE AT
SimonandSchuster.com
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COVER PHOTOGRAPHS: WOMAN: HOWARD HUANG; BACKGROUND: ALAMY
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ALSO BY RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY
A Good Man Is Hard to Find
Say Amen, Again
ALSO BY VICTORIA CHRISTOPHER MURRAY
The Deal, the Dance, and the Devil
Sins of the Mother
Touchstone
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
Copyright © 2012 by Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Touchstone Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Touchstone trade paperback edition January 2012
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Designed by Akasha Archer
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Murray, Victoria Christopher,
Sinners and saints / Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley.
p. cm.
“A Touchstone book.”
1. Bush, Jasmine Larson (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. African American women—Fiction. I. Billingsley, ReShonda Tate. II. Title.
PS3563.U795S59 2011
813′.54—dc22 2011006867
ISBN 978-1-4516-0815-1
ISBN 978-1-4516-0817-5 (ebook)
CONTENTS
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
Reading Group Guide
Forever an Ex Excerpt
A Note from
Victoria
This is the most difficult part of the writing process for me. Because now I have to talk about real people. My characters always do what I tell them to do (well, not always!). But real folks … whew; they get upset if you forget to mention their names. So in what has become my practice, I mention no one. If I love you, you already know it. If I like you, you know that, too. If I respect and admire you, I’m sure I’ve told you … and if I don’t like you … well, I would never mention you anyway. So there, now I’ve covered everyone.
Now, on to those who could care less if they are mentioned or not. This has been by far the most fun I’ve had writing in the fourteen years that I’ve been blessed to do this. And it is completely because of ReShonda Tate Billingsley. Whew; Rachel worked nerves I didn’t even know I had and ReShonda kept me on my toes. I took my game up because of her and I am so grateful that we fought for this project together. Thank you, ReShonda, for being such a great friend and writing partner. Can we just do this from now on? I am so glad that Trish Todd had the chance to edit this for us. Thank you, Trish, for believing in the project and for letting us know that you had a great time reading the story. Your edits stretched us and definitely made the story stronger. To Sulay Hernandez, I just didn’t get enough time. But at least I get the chance to say thank you for coming to us at such a good time and for helping ReShonda and me to take this book up to a higher level. I had visions of you working with me on my next one hundred titles, but the best thing that came out of this connection is our friendship. To Shida Carr—there is only one word for you: The Best! Okay, that’s two words, but you know what I mean. There is no one better in publicity. Period. Thank you for how you’ve helped build my career through the years. To the wonderful readers who stay with me year after year, novel after novel, we hope that you enjoy this one and will help ReShonda and me continue to pass the word. We write because of you!
And finally to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Whenever I think I’m too weary to walk this road anymore, you send a shining star. I just want to please you in all ways and I pray that my writing will c
ontinue to do just that. Thank you for guiding me as you see fit and for gifting me with a career that is my passion!
Peace,
Victoria
A Note from
ReShonda
As an avid reader, I was enthralled with the character Jasmine Larson Bush in Victoria Christopher Murray’s Jasmine series. Not just because she was an intriguing, scandalous character, but because this little voice in my head kept saying, “Oh, I could so take that chick down.”
That little voice belonged to one of my most popular characters—Rachel Jackson Adams from my Amen series. Rachel kept demanding that she and Jasmine meet.
That’s why I was thrilled when Simon & Schuster gave us the go-ahead to make that meeting happen.
To say I loved writing this book with Victoria would be a serious understatement. This is the most fun I’ve ever had writing a book. Victoria is such a talented writer and I never knew what she would have Jasmine do next. That’s the beauty of this collaboration. I’d write my chapter, and then sit back and wait to see how Miss Jasmine would work her way out of it. I literally would drop whatever I was doing when Victoria sent her chapters to me because I couldn’t wait to see the story unfold.
I am thoroughly pleased with the result. So I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as we enjoyed writing it.
But before you get to reading about these two outrageous first ladies, please allow me a moment to thank those that made this journey possible. Of course, thank you, God, for your favor in allowing me to realize my writing dreams. Much love to my writing partner herself, Victoria Christopher Murray. You made this entire experience one I’ll never forget.
To my family, who understood when I wanted to drop everything and write—my husband, Miron; mother, Nancy; sister, Tanisha; and my three beautiful kids. I appreciate your love and support. To my girl, Pat Tucker, thank you so much for not only allowing me to bounce scandalous scenarios off of you, but for always having my back.
As always, thanks to my agent, Sara Camilli, and to my team at Gallery Books: editor extraordinaire Brigitte Smith, my publicist Melissa Gramstad, and Louise Burke. Thank you to Trish Todd, Sulay Hernandez, and Shida Carr at Touchstone for all your hard work on shaping this into a final product that readers will love.
Thanks to the best literary assistant in the world! Kym Fisher, what would I do without you????
To my other literary friends, thanks for all of your support. You prove that we can all work together for a common goal—to get people reading: Nina Foxx, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Eric Jerome Dickey, Zane, Al Frazier, Dee Stewart, Tiffany Warren, Trice Hickman, Pat G’orge-Walker, J. D. Mason, and Rhonda McKnight.
Thank you to all the wonderful libraries, book clubs, churches, and schools that have supported my work. A big shout-out to my Facebook and Twitter families.
And finally thank you … yeah you, holding the book. Your support of this endeavor means the world to me. I hope you enjoy and we’d love to hear your feedback! Hit me up at www.reshondatatebillingsley.com.
Now … let’s get ready to rumble!!
Much Love,
ReShonda
Chapter
ONE
How in the world was Jasmine going to keep her promise to God now?
Two years ago, she had promised Him that if He saved her daughter when she was kidnapped, if He brought her home safely, then she was going to live a life devoted just to Him. Jasmine had vowed that with Jacqueline’s return, she was going to live the life that God had for her as Hosea’s wife, as Jacqueline and Zaya’s mother. She wasn’t going to want for anything more than what God had given her, because surely, He had supplied her with enough.
God had done His part.
And for the last two years, Jasmine had done her part, too.
She’d lived a low-key life, thrilled that her greatest dramas were debates about fashion choices every morning with her seven-year-old daughter.
But how was she supposed to keep her promise to God now? After what her husband had just told her?
“So, hold up,” Jasmine said, slipping into the chair across from Hosea. “I thought you were just going to the convention as the keynote speaker.”
Hosea nodded.
“So, explain this to me again.”
With a sigh, Hosea folded the newspaper he’d been reading and placed it on the table. He stuffed his mouth with a forkful of pancake, chewed for a moment, then said, “The call came in from a friend of Pop’s, Pastor Earl Griffith. He thinks I need to submit my resume.”
“To be the head of the American Baptist Coalition?”
Hosea nodded.
“But we’re not Baptist.”
His eyes danced with his amusement. “Get out of here.”
“You know what I mean,” Jasmine said, waving one hand. “I just don’t get it. Why would they call you?”
“They didn’t call me. Only Pastor Griffith. Seems like there’re a couple of men in the running, though according to Griffith, the front-runner is Pastor Adams, Lester Adams from the Southern region.”
Jasmine frowned. “I’ve never heard of him.”
“Out of Houston. But Pastor Griffith doesn’t think Adams is the man. Seems that the last four presidents have been from the South and Griffith and a couple of other pastors on the board think that the Coalition needs someone from the North, someone more progressive, to really move the organization forward.”
“And they think that can be you?”
“Not they, darlin’. I told you—Griffith called me.”
“But you said there were others who agreed with him.”
Hosea nodded. “Apparently, they don’t have anyone from the North who they think can go up against Adams. I guess they think my name could win this.”
“That makes sense to me.”
“It doesn’t matter how much sense it makes, darlin’. I told Pastor Griffith that I’m not interested.”
As if she didn’t hear any of Hosea’s last words, Jasmine whispered, “Wow.” Old thoughts, familiar desires came to her mind—of power and prestige and money. How much money would a president receive?
She didn’t know a lot about the American Baptist Coalition, but she knew enough. Like the fact that they were the largest African American religious organization, and wielded major political clout. And as much as black folks loved religion, the head of the ABC would have a boatload of power—and so would his wife.
Talk about being the first lady!
“Jasmine?”
I’d be the first lady of like … the world!
“Jasmine?”
“Huh?” Her eyes were glassy with images of her future and it took her a moment to focus on Hosea.
His admonishment came before he even said a word. It was in the way his eyes narrowed and the way he’d already begun shaking his head. “Don’t even think about it.”
“What?”
“You know what. I’m not gonna do it,” he said slowly, as if he was speaking to one of their children. “I’m gonna go to the convention and speak, just like they asked. But I’m not gonna run for that office. The little I know about Lester Adams, he’s a good man. They’ll be fine with him.”
“How could he be the one if I’ve never even heard of him?”
“Like you know every pastor in the country.”
“I’m not talking about knowing every pastor. I’m thinking that Pastor Griffith is right. The head of the ABC should be someone who’s known and who can add to the Coalition. Think about what you bring as the pastor of one of the largest churches in the country. Then, there’s your show.” She nodded. “Pastor Griffith is right,” she repeated. “It has to be you.”
His head was still shaking. “No. I don’t want the drama.”
“Who said anything about drama?”
“Any type of election—political or religious—is always about drama.” He stood and placed his plate in the sink. “And then there’s you, my wonderful wife. As much as I love you, darlin’, anytime you�
��re involved in anything, drama makes its way into our lives. No, I don’t want any part of it.”
“So, you’re just gonna let this huge opportunity pass us—I mean, pass you by?”
“Yup, because it’s not an opportunity that interests me. The church, the show, and most importantly you and the children are enough for me.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Speaking of the church, I’m gonna get dressed and head over there. I have a meeting in a couple of hours.”
“Okay,” she said, dismissing him with words, though she’d already dismissed him in her mind. Jasmine stayed as Hosea left her alone in the kitchen.
You and the children are enough for me.
Until a few minutes ago, she would’ve agreed with her husband. But this conversation was a game changer.
Hosea was right—their lives were without drama, but it had gotten kind of boring. Every day it was the same thing—getting the children off to school, then working on the women’s committees at the church, then coming home to meet the children, then helping Mrs. Sloss with dinner, then … then … then …
Not that she had complaints; she loved her life, her family. But she would still love everyone, and maybe even a little bit more if Hosea were the head of the ABC.
Oh, no. She wasn’t going to sit back and let this opportunity pass Hosea. He needed this position, even if he didn’t know it.
Standing, she moved toward their bedroom, the conniving wheels of her brain already churning. She stood outside the door of their master bathroom, listening to her husband praise God, the spray of the shower, his accompanying music.
“I trust you, Lord!” He sang the words to one of Donnie McClurkin’s songs.
“Babe,” she said, interrupting his praise time. “I’m gonna run over to Mae Frances’s apartment, okay?”
“Don’t you have a meeting at the church?”
“Yeah, but it’s not till this afternoon and Mae Frances just called and she really needs me to help her with something.” Jasmine paused. It had been a long time since she’d manipulated the truth to get something she wanted. But it wasn’t like she was going back to being a total liar again—she just needed to get this done and after Hosea was in his rightful place, she’d go back to being on the side of righteousness.
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