Lindsay's Legacy
Page 22
In the eight months since the whole ordeal started, Lindsay’s entire family decided to stand behind her and show her their love by giving their love to Sha’Ron just as she had done.
Kevin, who did marry Brooke and was now the proud father of a baby daughter named Shyanne Renee Westbrook, became an uncle to Sha’Ron, teaching him things completely contrary to what he had learned from his uncle Bobby. Sherrie, who always expressed that she was not trying to replace Patricia, became his surrogate grandmother. Keva became his aunt and allowed him to spend a lot of time at her home with Kevaun and her husband, Cheval. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy became another set of extended grandparents to him.
After witnessing the love and support of Lindsay’s family who were all Christians, the Taylor family decided they too wanted to give their lives to Christ. Francine and her children, Tameeka, and Sha’Ron all joined Tribe of Judah Baptist Church. As a family, they began special counseling with Pastor Adams. Sha’Ron also started attending family counseling with Shauntae and Shaun with Dr. Hooper, paid for completely by Cody and Lindsay.
Uncle Bobby was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. His entire drug organization collapsed under the weight of the local, federal, and international indictments. Everyone from his street soldiers to his lieutenants were arrested, charged, and sentenced in accordance with their crimes.
“I would like to especially thank Cody, my attorney, my friend, my mentor. I love you, and I thank you for loving me and for deeming me worthy of another chance. And Nay-Nay, I spent more than two years hating you more than I could ever truly express. That hate consumed all of my thoughts. It actually consumed my whole family.
“But you countered our hate with forgiveness and love. By you doing that for us, you taught us how to do it also. You are my hero. You have inspired me in ways unimaginable. I hear and see the skepticism of the people who hear our story, and it doesn’t even faze me. I am living this love out with you every day. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is real. You are my hero. I don’t think you even realize it, but I believe you saved my life.
“Pastor Adams, I want to announce to you that when I graduate from high school, I will be attending college in pursuit of some sort of degree in religious studies. I will then go on to seminary school. I am announcing my call to ministry here at the end of my trial and the end of my criminal life.”
At the end of his written speech, there wasn’t a dry eye in the courtroom, including Sha’Ron’s or the judge’s.
Through her tears, the judge asked, “Are you done, young man?”
Sha’Ron nodded through his own tears that he was.
“Bailiff, please escort the defendant to where he needs to go to complete his paperwork. This case is adjourned.”
Cody shook Sha’Ron’s hand before he was led off by the bailiff. Tameeka and Francine walked with him to complete the paperwork that would begin his suspended sentence and probation. Lindsay followed them in her motorized wheelchair.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. I didn’t realize that this novel had an overall theme to it until the very end. What do you think the theme is? Do you feel it is realistic?
2. Cody convinced Lindsay to allow Shauntae and Shaun to spend time with Sha’Ron, knowing he was selling drugs. Would you have allowed your children to spend time with a sibling or half sibling under the same conditions?
3. Pastor Adams really gave Cody what-for regarding his attitude toward Lindsay keeping the abortion secret from him. Do you believe that Cody was equally responsible, if not more, for Lindsay doing what she did?
4. Should Cody feel responsible in any way for Lindsay being shot by Sha’Ron since he was the one who insisted she allow him to reunite with the kids?
5. I know that many of you who read His Woman, His Wife, His Widow felt that Lindsay got off too easy for killing Shaun and Rhonda. Do you think she deserved what happened to her at the hands of Sha’Ron for what she did to his parents?
6. Lindsay was blessed with a great friend in Shyanne in His Woman, His Wife, His Widow. How do you feel about Keva and Lindsay’s fast friendship? Is it realistic considering their history?
7. Give your take on all that Shauntae and Li’l Shaun had to endure from both His Woman His Wife His Widow and Lindsay’s Legacy.
8. Were Tameeka and Francine justified in attacking Lindsay at the hospital? Do you think Lindsay is responsible for Patricia’s illness and subsequent death?
9. Give your overall take on Sha’Ron.
10. If you could rewrite any part of the novel, which part would it be? How would you do it?
AUTHOR BIO
My name is Janice Jones. I was born July 6, 1966, in Detroit, Michigan. I lived in the great state of Michigan until August 2007, when I moved to Phoenix, Arizona. I am the mother of two sons, Jerrick & Derrick Parker, and grandmother to Jevon Jerrick Parker.
I went to church as a child and always enjoyed attending, but I never truly understood what it meant to have a real relationship with God. I fully accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior in May of 1999. Approximately one year later, I heard the voice of God instructing me to write my first novel, His Woman, His Wife, His Widow. Obediently but slowly, I wrote the book.
Since moving to Phoenix, I have become an associate minister at First Institutional Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr. As a member of FIBC, I work with the Women’s Ministry and Ms. Jessie’s Place, our church campus bookstore and coffeehouse. I also write and distribute a weekly message titled “Minister JJ’s Midweek Message For The Soul.” Back in Detroit, I was led and directed by two dynamic pastors, Dr. Nathan A. Proché of Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church and Dr. Wilma R. Johnson of New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church.
It is my goal, and I believe God’s true calling on my life, to be a successful author, novelist, and minister. I truly love to write, and I enjoy telling and creating stories that will prayerfully edify, uplift, and educate others about the benefits of living life as a Christian, a true follower, and servant of Jesus Christ. Everything that I pen is done to show the redeeming power of Christ’s love and sacrifice, which is available to all who are willing to accept.
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.
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
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Lindsay’s Legacy Copyright © 2012 Janice Jones
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: 978-1-5998-3256-2
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.
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