“Behave, Raven,” Pierce had said, silently agreeing.
“Well, it’s true.”
And to some degree it was. Janetta still had some things to face. As did Simeon Cahill who was now sitting behind bars in Rikers doing a bid for attempted murder. His counter charges of assault, battery, and attempted murder against Eric and Raven had not held up in court. Pierce’s prayers had been answered on that one since Eric had insisted on telling the truth about things. Fortunately, prosecution witnesses to Sim’s many misdeeds had helped convict him.
Raven and Pierce were splitting their time between Chicago and New York, with a mutual commitment to settle in one place and buy a house with a big yard when the baby got to walking age. Pierce still couldn’t get Raven to concede that New York had better pizza. However, he had managed to get her hooked on Virgil’s smoked barbeque wings, cheese grits, and honey butter biscuits. New York had to have something going for it. Besides him, of course.
When they arrived at Tedeschi Winery, the group spread out over the leafy green areas in front of one of the most historic buildings on Maui. Inoke grinned as he told the story. “King’s Cottage dates all the way back to 1874, when it was built specifically for the visit of Hawaii’s monarch, David Kalakaua and Queen Kapi’olani. Hawaii’s last king often came here to find peace of mind.”
And it followed that so did the not-quite-blushing bride and her handsome groom. They spoke vows that each had written from the heart. Right after putting an elegant platinum band on her finger, Pierce signaled to Steve, who came forward and passed a package to Pierce.
Pierce handed Raven a present wrapped in silver and bound with a bright blue bow. She peered up at him before opening.
Her clutch tablet, the writing all intact, stared back at her. Wordlessly, Raven stood on tip-toe to kiss her husband. Then she took his hand and led him near the cliff’s edge, with the group trailing behind them. She tossed the tablet into the water and watched the swells take it out to sea.
Pierce frowned down at her. “Why? Woman, what’s going on? All I’ve heard about is you getting your tablet back.”
Tears filled her eyes as Raven remembered the night she’d met Pierce. Her heart had been heavy with the possible loss of her only child. That night, she’d known without a doubt that Eric’s condition had gotten worse.
“I was writing as hard as I could that night to block out my knowledge that I might lose the most precious thing in my world.” She looked over her shoulder at Eric, who tried for a smile. “I didn’t realize that my life was about to change from a time of loss to a time of gain.” She locked gazes with Pierce. “I was about to gain a man who loved me—the real me—with all my flaws and issues. A man who won’t let me keep anything hidden from him. A man who brings out the best in me.” She reached out to cup his face and pressed another kiss to his lips. Pierce could only beam.
Raven turned to her pareo-draped daughter-in-law. “I didn’t know that I would gain a daughter who has given me moments of pride that I didn’t think possible.” She reached out to place her hand over the younger woman’s. “Thank you for being a wonderful friend and wife to my son.” Marie embraced her, as her tears ran down her freckled face.
Raven turned to Drew with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. “And I got my big brother back. Should I tell them how you used to…”
Drew shook his head vigorously. He had taken care of little Raven, made sure she had her baths, and had braided her hair because their mother never really wanted to touch her. “Thank you,” Raven whispered.
Drew leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Then Raven reached for Anita, saying, “I love you and I forgive you because I now truly understand. Thank you for coming back into my life.”
Anita hugged her fiercely, whispering her love, as Lorrie kissed her cheek.
“And I gained a father,” Raven said, looking at the handsome man who moved forward into her embrace. “Life brings you what you need when you need it most. I love you and I will always need you.” She released her father and swept her gaze over her brothers and sisters, then held her arms out for a group hug. Her three brothers came willingly. Her sisters came, not quite as fast as her brothers, but they came—and that was a major point. One of them, the tallest of the beauties, actually gave Raven a small smile, which she gratefully returned.
Next Raven turned to Ava and clasped her hands. “My life has been blessed all along with my best friend, my spiritual sister, who has always had my back. She always believed that I would find the right man. And when I found Pierce, she finally got to say, ‘I told you so.’ “
Applause and whistles greeted that statement.
Finally Raven went back to Pierce. “So, baby, I don’t need that tablet anymore. I was writing about a pain that I thought would happen, but was not part of my path. I was writing my hopes and dreams for my life, and they’ve already come true.”
Pierce pulled her close. As her head rested on his chest, she let the wonder that was Pierce wrap around her and fill every fiber of her being. The others made their way to the reception area as he soothed her, stroking strong, steady hands along the swell of her back. “So you’re saying that everything you write about comes true?”
She looked up at him. “Oh, yes. Yes, indeed!”
Pierce brushed a finger across her trail of tears, then said, “Then maybe I can get you to write that New York has better pizza than Chicago.”
She burst into hearty laughter and punched him lightly on the arm. “Keep on dreaming, baby!”
About Naleighna Kai
a Chicago native, is an inspirational speaker, a Mercedes Benz Mentor
Award Nominee, the national bestselling author of Every Woman Needs a Wife, The Pleasure’s All Mine, co-author of Speak it into Existence with Sesvalah, and a contributing author to a New York Times bestseller. She started writing in December of 1999, self-publishing her first three novels before landing a book deal with an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
She works for a major international law firm and is the CEO of Macro Marketing & Promotions Group, as well as marketing consultant to several national bestselling authors and a publishing consultant to aspiring writers. Naleighna is the mother of J. L. Woodson, the NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literature for his book, Superwoman’s Child: Son of a Single Mother (www.jlwoodson.com) She is currently working on her next novels, Rich Woman’s Fetish and Slaves of Heaven.
* * *
www.naleighnakai.com
www.macrompg.com
www.thecavalcadeofauthors.com
Aspiring writers, please visit the website for resources, contacts, and information on the different ways to get your book completed from point A to Z and off to press! Be sure to join the mailing list.
About Every Woman Needs a Wife
published by Simon & Schuster
This national bestselling novel is the hilarious, but thought-provoking story of a wife who does the “unthinkable.” Strolling in on Vernon and his mistress one night, Brandi Spencer insists that the new woman in his life come home and earn her keep the honest way -- on her feet helping the wife clean the house, keep the children and pay the bills, instead of laying on her back servicing the husband.
Tanya Kaufman has had one shock too many -- one minute she’s a fiancée, the next she finds out she’s been the mistress all along. When Tanya shows up during the surprise anniversary party to take Brandi up on her offer, the women seize the opportunity to teach Vernon that infidelity will no longer come at the expense of the women’s time, money, and happiness. Vernon fights back by launching a high-profile court battle that doesn’t have a thing to do with splitting the money, keeping the house, or visitation rights.
Had any married couple ever fought for custody of...the mistress?
“Wild...an Awesome ride. After reading Every Woman Needs a Wife, I knew I needed one too!”
--L.A. Banks/Leslie Esdaile Banks, New York Times Bestselling Author
“An
implausible premise evolves into a fascinating story. Kai has penned a novel that plumbs the emotions of three people caught up in an all-too-common triangle.”
-- Evelyn Palfrey, National Bestselling Author of Three Perfect Men
“What Naleighna Kai has done with this book -- this storyline -- is create a work of imaginary genius...Once you start reading, you will not stop until you reach the very last page. Yes, this novel is that good!”
-- Zane, New York Times Bestselling Author
About Rich Woman’s Fetish
“Naleighna Kai has always written novels that have “legs.” Rich Woman’s Fetish is a unique, cutting edge story that could walk a mile on its own.”
- Victoria Christopher Murray,
National Bestselling author of The Deal, the Dance and the Devil
Gina escapes a hellacious life in the infamous Robert Taylor Homes by doing the unthinkable—selling the use of her womb to the highest bidder among rich, childless couples from more affluent areas of Chicago. She even accommodates their “special” requests ranging from participating in forbidden fetishes to more complicated liaisons. Gina uses them to amass a fortune, then sets out to fulfill her own dream, one that is shattered in an instant when a freakish accident steals a gift she has always taken for granted.
Years later, Gina learns that one of her surrogate daughters has been forced into the illicit world of drugs and prostitution. When the police and FBI turn a blind eye, Gina risks the anger of her former sponsors and lovers to have their children help search for their youngest sister. One daughter turns to a drug lord to help locate the fourteen-year-old girl; another puts her career in jeopardy when she seeks justice in her own deadly way. The search puts a dangerous spin on their already chaotic lives as the women learn more about trust and love and how to depend on each other to do the impossible.
Coming
Winter 2012
The Pleasure's All Mine Page 39
