I dialed Frank’s number and waited for him to answer.
“Hello?”
“Hey, how’s it going?” I asked.
“I’m fine. Oh, and thanks for the balloons. I was completely surprised when the doorbell rang,” he said, but sounded as if he was a thousand miles away.
“Since I hadn’t heard from you, I was starting to think you hadn’t gotten them.”
“I know. I kept meaning to call you, but I just hadn’t gotten around to it.”
“So have you decided what you’re wearing to dinner?”
“Yeah, but it won’t be anything too dressy,” he said, and at that moment I knew something was wrong. It wasn’t what he said as much as the way he said it.
“Okay, Frank. What’s up? Why are you acting so withdrawn?”
“Anise, we need to talk,” he said.
I swallowed a lump that came out of nowhere.
“About what?” I asked, and felt my hand shaking.
“Not in a million years did I expect something like this to happen. And of all days, on my birthday.”
I didn’t like the tone of his voice, and my intuition told me that he was going to devastate me in some unbearable way. I knew he was going to feed me something I wouldn’t be able to digest, so I didn’t comment.
“My ex-wife is back in town, and she came by to see me today.”
My heart collapsed instantly.
“What did she want?” I finally asked.
“She wants us to get back together.”
My body entered total paralysis. I prayed that I was only dreaming.
“Anise?”
I heard him but I couldn’t respond. How was I going to compete with an ex-wife he’d still been in love with long after they were divorced?
“Anise, are you still there?” he practically pleaded.
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“I’m sorry about all of this.”
“That’s fine, but what did you tell her, Frank?” I asked.
“I didn’t tell her anything, because I was too shocked about seeing her.”
“But how do you feel about what she’s asking?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” I repeated in sorrow.
“I know it sounds crazy, but I don’t. I mean, I thought Tracy was completely out of my system, but after seeing her, I really don’t know.”
“Well, if that’s true, Frank, then where does that leave you and me?”
He paused for a few seconds.
“Anise, as much as I hate saying it, I don’t know that either.”
“Frank, you know what . . . I’m hanging up now.”
How could he not know? was all I could think. How could he pursue me, claim that he loved me and then have second thoughts about it? How could he go on and on about us being married one day and now feel uncertain? I asked myself question after question, trying to figure out why this was happening to me, but in the end there weren’t any answers. I wondered what Frank was thinking at this very moment.
But the more I sat there wondering, the more I realized that I’d been through way too much over the last two years to let Frank or anyone else control my destiny. Not that I wasn’t hurt by his words, because I was. But at the same time, I started to remember everything I’d accomplished over the last three months. I’d uncovered years of discrimination at Reed Meyers, which would hopefully help current employees as well as those hired in the future, and against all odds I got a big settlement. I’d opened my eyes and accepted the fact that my husband didn’t want me, and was almost happily divorced. Best of all, I’d taken the initiative to start my own business and couldn’t be more satisfied with it.
I’d done all these things by drawing on my mother’s love and the inner strength that God had given me. This new situation would be handled no differently. I wasn’t sure what would happen between Frank and me, but what I did know was that every obstacle I’d ever encountered was only temporary.
Which meant I would be fine.
My history guaranteed it.
And just knowing that gave me a wonderful sense of peace.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am sincerely thankful to God for always guiding me in the right direction. You continue to bless my career year after year and my life as a whole. Truly, nothing would be possible without Your love and grace.
Much love to my husband, Will, for still being the love of my life as well as my greatest support system. You are the best, and I love you from the bottom of my soul.
Much love to my brothers, Willie Jr. and Michael Stapleton, for being so caring. Mom is no longer with us, but know that she is very much alive in our hearts.
Much love to my nephews and niece, Michael Jamaal Young, Malik James Stapleton and Alanna Denise Lawson; my stepson, Trenod Vines-Roby, and my step-grandson, Lamont Woods.
Much love and gratitude to Peggy Hicks, for being more like a blood sister than you are a best friend. You are always there for me, and I am extremely grateful for all the hard work you do as my publicist. Much love to the rest of your family (my family), Steve and Lauren.
Much love to Lori Whitaker Thurman for being so willing and dependable. We became friends just over sixteen years ago, but we are now sisters in every sense of the word. Much love to your mom, Mary Whitaker, who has made sure I still have a mom to turn to.
Much love to Kelli Tunson Bullard, my friend and sister for thirty-one years and still counting. Much love to Brian, Kiara, Kaprisha and KaSondra.
Much love to my aunts and uncles for being such loving and caring people. I’m so grateful to have all of you to depend on for anything at anytime. Fannie Haley, Ben Tennin, Mary Lou and Charlie Beasley, Clifton Jr. and Vernell Tennin, Ada Tennin and Luther Tennin. Much love to my uncle Robert Tennin, who has been ill for a long while.
Much love and thanks to Susan Saylor and Evelyn Barmore for always working around my sometimes hectic schedule and for being great friends and confidants.
Much love to E. Lynn Harris for always standing in my corner. Your loyalty and friendship have been unwavering, and I sincerely appreciate you from the bottom of my heart. Much love to you, Rodrick, as well.
Much love to Victoria Christopher Murray, who has always been my sister in publishing, but who now has become one of my closest friends. Your visits have been a blessing.
Much love to my friend and fellow author, Shandra Hill, for the many phone calls we share.
Much love to some of my author friends: Eric Jerome Dickey, Patricia Haley, Travis Hunter, Lolita Files, Tracy Price-Thompson, Jacquelin Thomas, Colin Chaner, Yolanda Joe and Franklin White.
Much love and special thanks to the following bookstore owners and staff members: Emma at Black Images Book Bazaar in Dallas; Frances at the Cultural Connection in Milwaukee; Jim at Zahra’s in Los Angeles; Brother Simba at Karibu in Hyattsville, M.D.; Scott at Reprint in D.C.; Robin at Sibanye, Inc; Anika Sala at Shrine of the Black Madonna in Houston; Nkenge Abi at Shrine of the Black Madonna in Detroit; Sherry at Apple Book Center in Detroit; Sonya at Black Bookworm in Fort Worth; Joyce of Mitchie’s Fine Black Art & Gallery in Austin; Andre at Our Story in Plainfield, NJ; Larry at Cultural Plus in New York; Jerry at Alexander Book Company in San Francisco; Desiree at Afrocentric in Chicago; Nia at Medu Bookstore in Atlanta; Marcus at Nubian Bookstore in Atlanta; Joi and the other two owners of Hue-Man Experience in Denver; Blanche at Marcus Books in Oakland; Rick at Barnes & Noble in Rockford; Jeremiah at Waldenbooks at Cherryvale Mall; and Reenie at Borders on 95th in Chicago.
Much love to all of the other African-American bookstore owners throughout this country who go out of their way to sell my books. Without you, I would not exist as a writer.
Much love and special thanks to the following for promoting my work year after year: Julie Snively (Congrats on your much deserved retirement!) and the entire staff at the Rockford Register Star, Steve Shannon and Stefani Troye at WZOK in Rockford; Andy Gannon at WIFR-TV in Rockford
; Tommy Meeks at Rockford Cablevision; Dede McGuire of The Doug Banks Show; Cliff and Janine at KJLH in Los Angeles; Tom and Gwen Pope of The Tom Pope Show; Jay Butler at WQBH in Detroit; Huey Moore at WDTR in Detroit; Patrik Bass at Essence magazine; Shawn Evans Mitchell for Atlanta Good Life magazine; Glenn R. Townes for Upscale magazine; and Tamlin Henry and Nicole Bailey-Williams at WDAS in Philadelphia.
Much, much love and admiration to my agent, Elaine Koster, who represents me in the most dedicated and honorable fashion, but who also cares about me personally. For that, I am forever grateful.
Much love and a huge amount of thanks to my editor, Carolyn Marino, at HarperCollins/William Morrow for being so knowledgeable in terms of editing. It is every author’s dream to find an editor who will work extra hard at making their work the best that it can be, but also one who will allow him or her the opportunity to write straight from the heart. Now I know why you have been in the business for as long as you have and why you hold the position you do. Thank you, Carolyn, for everything.
Much love and thanks to Jennifer Civiletto and the rest of the HarperCollins/William Morrow family. I am completely indebted to all of you.
Much love to Black Expressions Book Club for promoting and selling thousands of African-American titles.
Much love to the OT Book Club in Rockford of which I am a member (Tammy Roby—founder, Lori Thurman, Regina Taylor, Virginia Givens, Valerie Hanserd, Cathy Watkins, Lesia Smith, Mattie Tate and Sandra Wright). I truly enjoy the time we spend each month discussing books and everything else we can think of! Also, much love to Nicole Redmond, who now lives in Texas, but who we all miss a great deal.
Much love and thanks to ALL of the wonderful book clubs throughout this country. There are hundreds of you who I have met personally, and I can only imagine how many I haven’t. You continue to make an amazing difference in terms of getting the word out about my books, and I am totally grateful.
Much love to Pastor John F. Senter, Minister Deniece Senter and every member of the Providence Missionary Baptist Church—a place I’ve called home since the day I was born.
And finally, to you, my readers. You make this thing we call writing so worth the while, and I appreciate the support you always give each time my books are released. You make all the difference in the world and no matter how many books I write, I will always remember that.
About the Author
KIMBERLY LAWSON ROBY is the author of four nationally bestselling novels: It's a Thin Line, Casting the First Stone, Here and Now, and Behind Closed Doors. She lives in Illinois with her husband.
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ALSO BY KIMBERLA LAWSON ROBY
It’s a Thin Line Casting the First Stone Here and Now Behind Closed Doors
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A TASTE OF REALITY. Copyright © 2003 by Kimberla Lawson Roby. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub © Edition JANUARY 2003 ISBN: 9780061755255
Print edition first published in 2003 by HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
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Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Kimberla Lawson Roby
Copyright
About the Publisher
A Taste of Reality Page 28
