Inside the Beauty

by Joan Fennell Carringer

  INSIDE THE

  BEAUTY

  ______________________________________________

  The Eyes of Love Series #3

  A touching Christian romance

  that’s a standalone in a series.

  INSIDE THE BEAUTY

  The Eyes of Love Series #3

  Inspirational Fiction by Joan Fennell Carringer

  ©2021 Joan Fennell Carringer

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  First Printing: February 2021

  ISBN: 9798712002023

  There are 3 books in THE EYES OF LOVE SERIES

  #1 – Beneath the Scars

  #2 – Above the Fear

  #3 – Inside the Beauty

  INSIDE THE BEAUTY

  Inspirational Fiction

  BY

  Joan Fennell Carringer

  ∞ ONE ∞

  HOW COULD AN ENTIRE YEAR have passed since her second sister had married and moved out? Although Sharris had no idea how time could have gone by so quickly, she had to admit she enjoyed her single life and had no intention of giving up her freedom to the demands of a husband. She had everything she could ever want – a great job that enabled her to enjoy a generous lifestyle, a large and beautiful home with a free and clear mortgage, and a lot of friends to provide companionship anytime she needed it.

  Standing in front of her mirror, she studied her reflection. She was twenty-six years old with a beautiful face with unblemished, flawless skin. Her long blonde hair was silky and wavy and her blue eyes sparkled, and she had a gorgeous figure. She wasn’t being vain in her thoughts. She was just thinking what others were always saying about her.

  The last thing she wanted to do was compare herself with her sister Marna but it happened anyway. Poor Marna. Her face was permanently scarred, as the result of the tragic fire that had taken the lives of their parents four years ago. Sharris had worried that she’d never get what she wanted the most, a husband and family, but Marna had now been married for almost two years to Devon, one of the best looking men Sharris had ever seen.

  She sighed. Shy, heavy-set Taryn, her other sister, had found a great looking husband, too. Taryn was pretty enough, but lacked an outward personality and carried a little too much extra weight for Sharris to believe she would wind up with someone who looked like John.

  She sighed again. She was glad her sisters had married well and seemed to be happy with their lives. But it was their lives, not hers.

  She looked around her, forcing her mind to return to her present situation. She had hired a live-in housekeeper/cook and she’d be coming any minute now. She never had enjoyed any of the domestic chores and could hardly wait until she no longer had to worry about them.

  Judy was a short and stocky, middle-aged black lady with a smile as big as her face. Sharris’ best friend, Jackie Carter, had highly recommended her when she found out Sharris was looking for someone. She’d known Judy for a long time and assured Sharris she would be a good worker, was a terrific cook, and most importantly, could be trusted. If it hadn’t been for Jackie’s referral, Sharris doubted she would have ever found anyone she’d feel comfortable enough with to allow her to actually move into her home with her.

  When the doorbell rang, she quickly went to answer.

  Judy stood there beside her tall, slender son. “Here we are, Miss Sharris. If you’ll just show me where my room is, Jess will bring in my luggage.”

  Sharris smiled at Judy and then at her son Jess. “It’s the last room down the hallway on the left. The door is open.” It had been Marna’s room and the thought of someone else taking it over was a little sad. But her sister didn’t need it anymore. It had been empty long enough. She still had Taryn’s empty room to use as a guest room if it was ever necessary. She rarely had anyone stay overnight, except for Jackie every once in a while. Mostly, she liked her solitude and didn’t want anyone else there to disturb it. She wasn’t worried about Judy. She’d be going about her duties and, according to Jackie, Sharris would hardly realize she was there.

  That evening at supper she was delighted that she’d hired Judy. She hadn’t had such a scrumptious home cooked meal for as long as she could remember. She had been surprised when Judy had set only one place at the table in the dining room and told her she would eat in the kitchen.

  “Oh, no!” Sharris said. “I think we should both eat in the kitchen. I’m not used to eating in here and I’ll never want to eat in here all by myself. I prefer the kitchen and I want us to eat together.”

  Had a tear oozed from the corner of Judy’s eye, even though she was smiling? “If you’re sure, Miss Sharris.”

  “Please, just call me Sharris. Okay?”

  Their first meal together was eaten mostly in silence, except for the times Sharris couldn’t help commenting on how delicious everything was. She felt a little guilty when she left Judy alone to clean everything up, but the maid quickly let her know she had been hired to do a job and she was going to do it. If she allowed Sharris to help her out, she’d have to ask for a reduction in pay and she needed the money.

  Sharris went to her room, smiling. Judy was going to work out just fine.

  She answered her phone on the first ring. It was Donovan Martin, wanting to know if she’d like to go see a movie. She’d been dating Donovan off and on for a couple years now, but had turned down his last few invitations because she was afraid he was getting too serious. She liked to go out with men and have some laughs with them – not to mention being pampered and flattered by them – but when they started wanting more than friendship, that’s where she drew the line and stopped seeing them. Tonight, knowing there was a light-hearted comedy playing at the theatre and because she was in the mood to get out of the house for a while, she accepted Donovan’s invitation.

  She received a lot of envious stares when she was with Donovan. The tall, blonde-haired man was so handsome he was often referred to as being god-like, and she couldn’t help being proud to be seen with him. He was a happy person, too. Several years before, he’d lost his wife to a ravaging disease, but he’d overcome his sorrow and heartbreak and managed to bounce back. She liked that about him. She didn’t believe anyone should hold onto the anguish of the past and allow it to stand in the way of the future. She’d perked up after her own terrible tragedy when her parents died and Marna was so badly injured. If she could do it – if Donovan could do it – anyone could.

  Her phone rang again.

  “So what do you think of Judy?” Jackie wanted to know.

  Sharris pictured her best friend in her mind. Short, curvy, with very short dark hair and never without her large hoop earrings and red lipstick. Jackie wasn’t what you’d call a raving beauty, but she was one of the women you’d call extremely cute. They’d been best friends for nearly all their lives. Sharris laughed. “I’m too full of good food at the moment to answer that question.”

  Jackie laughed, too. “Not surprising. What are you doing tonight?”

  “I just got off the phone with Donovan. He’s taking me to a movie.”

  “Thought you weren’t going to see him anymore. I was hoping you’d toss him my way.”

  They talked for a few minutes and Sharris hung up the phone. She couldn’t help wishing she could get Donovan interested in Jacki
e. Jackie had been half in love with him since the first time she’d seen him, but Donovan never seemed to have eyes for anyone other than Sharris. He’d liked her sister Marna at first, despite Marna’s scars, but Marna only wanted Devon. What a circle life formed. All it did was go around and around and around.

  And love? Love was a funny thing. She frowned, even as she thought it. It wasn’t funny, it was unpredictable and often heartbreaking. She was happy the way she was, with no one except herself to make her own choices and decisions. One thing she did not need, or want, was someone else doing it for her.

  Her mind was made up. She was never going to get married.

  ∞ TWO ∞

  “I WANT TO HAVE A PARTY,” Sharris told Judy the first day of June. “It’ll be a birthday celebration for Marna and Taryn both, since their birthdays are only two weeks apart.”

  Her housekeeper smiled broadly. For the entire month she’d been there, she’d never been without her beautiful, trademark smile. Not once, did Sharris regret hiring her. If anything, she wished she’d done it sooner.

  “How many guests do you plan on, Sharris?” Judy asked. “Tell me what you need me to do and I’ll take care of it.”

  “There won’t be that many. Just my two sisters and their husbands, along with Taryn and John’s son and daughter, and Jackie and Josie …….” She stopped to think and then continued. “About ten or twelve people total. Oh, I want to invite Conrad. I wonder if Ottie can make it. And it doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Just some finger food and, of course, a cake. That might be a problem, though. Taryn likes coconut and Marna prefers chocolate.”

  Judy laughed. “So we’ll make one that’s half and half, or one of each.”

  Sharris laughed as well. “Sounds perfect. Can we plan it for next week? I’ll call everybody I want to come. You won’t have to worry about that.”

  It was the most excited Sharris had been for a while. Although she would’ve loved to try to surprise her sisters, she didn’t see how she’d get them there at the same time to do it. They’d probably guess anyway. Even as they were growing up together, none of them could surprise any of the others.

  It was a beautiful evening. Standing by the window as she waited for everyone to arrive, Sharris laughed. Who would’ve thought doing something special for her sisters would make her so happy?

  Her thoughts were disturbed by her friend Jackie’s laughter joining her own. “That laugh’s contagious, you know. So how many guests did you wind up with?”

  “A few more than I thought. Ottie’s coming! You’ll finally get to meet him.”

  “It’s about time. I’ve heard so much about this old man in the wheelchair. He’s a psychic, a miracle man, a story teller……”

  “….and a 92 year old man that can still laugh. Wait til him and Conrad get together!” Conrad was Marna’s husband Devon’s 92 year old grandfather. He and Ottie had been best friends when they were young and always had stories to share that created rip-roaring laughter. “Now, Conrad doesn’t know that I rented a keyboard for the evening and he’s going to be asked to play it. I never heard him play, but Marna says he’s amazing. Taught himself, too.”

  “Must be nice. I took lessons for four years and I still can’t play.”

  “I invited Donovan.”

  Jackie’s eyes lit up. “You mentioned it.”

  “Maybe he’ll notice you this evening.”

  “I doubt it. He seems to like blondes.”

  “Flirt with him a little. I don’t mind if you ask him out, Jackie. He’s a great guy. I like him, but I’m not in love with him and he isn’t in love with me, so I don’t feel bad about trying to get the two of you together.”

  “You really wouldn’t care if I asked him out?”

  “No.”

  Jackie laughed.

  They stopped talking to look outside at the line of vehicles pulling into the driveway. “Marna and Devon are the first ones,” Sharris said. “Look at those cars! Did I invite that many people? I hope Judy doesn’t end up being overwhelmed.”

  “Judy’s great, isn’t she? My aunt loved her when she worked for her. I was worried about Judy when Aunt Mary passed. Your needing a housekeeper at this exact time was an answer to prayer.”

  “She’s better than great. She’s a God-Send to me.”

  “She’s wonderful, all the way around. You know her husband died several years ago, and she mostly raised Jess and Crew by herself.”

  “She told me. I’ve never met Crew. How could I when he’s overseas right now? Jess brought Judy the day she moved in and he’s been by a few times to visit her. I always wondered why neither of the boys took care of her, without her having to keep working.”

  Jackie chuckled. “Judy would die if she couldn’t work. Don’t you know that yet? She’s been living with Jess since Aunt Mary died and she’s thrilled to be on her own again. Like you said, Crew’s overseas with the army, so he couldn’t do anything if he wanted to. Did I ever tell you that Crew……..”

  Her words were interrupted by the opening of the door.

  “I’ll tell you later.”

  Both girls ran to meet Marna, Devon and Conrad.

  Sharris’ eyes lit up when she saw little Evie, the two and a half year old daughter of John and Taryn with them.

  Before anyone could say a word, Evie ran over to Sharris and held out her arms. Sharris picked her up and hugged her.

  “Guess what!” The little girl’s dark eyes were flashing with excitement. Then she lowered her voice. “I’m not ‘sposed to tell you, Aunt Shares.” She was still learning to put her words together and stopped for a minute to think. Then she laughed. “But – anyway – Mama’s gonna have a baby!”

  Sharris gasped and looked at Marna. “Did you know?”

  Marna laughed. “Not until Evie told me on the way here. I think it was supposed to be the highlight of the evening, when Taryn told everybody, so we need to be prepared to act surprised.”

  Devon laughed and smiled at his wife. “One of these days, it’ll be our turn. When it happens, I’ll be just like Evie. I’ll tell everybody.”

  Jackie sighed, unable to suppress her envy at the adoring expression in Devon’s eyes. Someday, she wanted that kind of love. She couldn’t understand why Sharris was so adamant about not wanting to ever marry.

  Sharris set the little girl down and hugged Marna. “This is going to give her and John three, sis. You better get on the ball.”

  Everyone came in then and the house was filled with laughter, conversation and bustling activity. The minute Evie’s nine year old brother Ricky walked in, Evie hugged him like she hadn’t seen him in a long time.

  Sharris couldn’t get over how much the boy looked like his father John. He was certainly going to be a handsome man one of these days. As she thought it, she was approached by her neighbors, Suzi and Josie. Josie was John’s sister and Suzi was Josie’s daughter. All of them looked remarkably alike.

  Ottie was the last one to arrive and everyone spread out to make room for his wheelchair. The minute he and Conrad laid eyes on each other, they laughed.

  “You’re just as old as you ever were!” Conrad said teasingly, as he patted his friend on the shoulder.

  “At least I still have my looks,” Ottie joked back.

  The two went back and forth as everyone else mingled. Judy was in and out with trays of food and drinks, but other than that, no one even knew she was there.

  After the cake was served, Sharris went to the kitchen to take a little breather, only to find Judy standing by the sink crying.

  She put her hand on her shoulder and Judy jumped, quickly wiping her face with her hands. “Oh, Sharris, I didn’t hear you coming.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Immediately, Judy smiled. “Just memories. Nothing to worry about.”

  “You miss your family.”

  “I think of Jimmy more at times like these. He loved to be with people. He was always the main attraction, the fun of the party.�
�

  Another reason Sharris didn’t want to get married. It was too sad and lonely if your mate died. It was better to get used to being by yourself from the beginning.

  “And I miss Crew. He’s on his way home, though. Did I tell you? It won’t be long and I’ll see him again.”

  Music from the other room distracted them. “Conrad’s discovered the keyboard,” Sharris grinned.

  “He’d have to be blind not to, since you put it right out in plain sight of everybody.”

  For a few moments, the two stood there quietly, listening and smiling and tapping their feet. Conrad really was good!

  Finally, Judy said, “Do you they need more coffee?”

  Sharris sniffed. “Oh, it smells wonderful! You made that big potful and I’ll bet there won’t be any left. Let me help you.”

  “Oh, no! This is my job!”

  “But….

  “Scat, missy!”

  Sharris laughed. “Okay, I think I’ll slip out onto the porch and take a little breather. It’s warm with all these people, even in the air conditioning. Come out and join me after you take in the coffee.”

  Judy grinned. “I just might do that, but you better not stay too long. You’ll be missed. And your sister hasn’t had a chance to make her surprise announcement yet.”

  They both laughed. “The surprise that Evie told everybody. Of course, she made everybody promise they wouldn’t tell. Poor Taryn.”

  Walking across the room, Sharris opened the back door and went outside. What a beautiful, perfect evening! There was even a gorgeous sunset to set it off. Leaning on the railing, she stared into the night sky, darkened except for the red and orange glows.

  Life is great, she couldn’t help thinking. She was truly blessed. She had everything she wanted – more than she deserved – and she was contented and happy. Why would she ever be silly enough to give it all up for a man?