Divas of Damascus Road
Page 29
“Wooo!” Regina reached past Orlando and slapped hands with Aunt Toe.
“That’s enough.” Gloria smiled, too.
“Oh, Gloria, please. What I’mo do with a man? I’d keel over the minute he kissed me,” Aunt Toe laughed at herself.
“Yeah, right.” Yo-yo pushed Aunt Toe’s joke from her mind.
“You drove up all by yourself, Dianne?” Regina asked.
“Yes. I’ll be leaving out Sunday, after church.”
“Can I spend the night at your house, Yo-yo? I know it’s already spic and span.”
“Girl, I caught her with some dishes in the sink the other day,” Regina said with amazement.
“That was a rare occasion.” Yo-yo rolled her eyes. “Of course you can stay with me.”
“Dianne, you be careful drivin’ long distances by yourself. You hear?” Aunt Toe said. “You might do yourself some good movin’ up this way instead of doin’ all this drivin’ and flyin’.”
“Well, I think I may be able to put an end to all this travel soon. I’m meeting with my boss next week to see about telecommuting ninety percent of the time,” Dianne announced.
“What’s that?” Aunt Toe asked.
“It’s when I do my work on the computer and by telephone,” she said.
“That would be great, Dianne,” Yolanda said. “I can’t wait to have you move back to Dentonville.”
“Hey,” Dianne announced, “I’ve got a big gig coming up, a national conference on the use of writing as a tool for healing. My doctor submitted a few of my poems for consideration, and I was invited to speak.”
“That’s great, Dianne,” Regina congratulated her. “This could be a new career for you, you know?”
Dianne shook her head in amazement. God was indeed opening doors for her. “Now I understand what people mean when they talk about the story behind the glory. The price you paid to get where you are is exactly what it cost.”
“Dianne, that’s deep.” Kelan nodded. “No wonder you’re the poet.”
“That’s my Sugarbee,” Gloria agreed.
Gloria ordered Yolanda and Regina to take Dianne into the new den. “Go show her how I’ve fixed it up.”
Yolanda and Regina led Dianne to what used to be the garage. Dianne happily huffed and puffed at the sight. What was once a cluttered, dark, stuffy garage had been transformed into a bright, airy living room. Fresh carpeting and wood paneling covered the planes, while traditional furniture gave the appearance of many good times past in the room. Cleverly placed shelving displayed several of the pictures they’d rummaged through following Joyce Ann’s death. Dianne was drawn to one picture in particular, though: one of Joyce Ann in happier days. It was the way Dianne wanted to remember Joyce Ann.
And then the idea hit her. “You know what?”
“What?” Regina asked.
Why don’t we establish a scholarship or something in Joyce Ann’s name? We could award it to a college freshman who’s overcome and managed to push forward despite a rocky beginning.”
“That’s a great idea,” Yolanda agreed. “We didn’t go through all this pain all this time for nothing.”
“I know that’s right,” Regina agreed.
They discussed the idea with their larger family over dinner, and everyone agreed to help establish the Joyce Ann Rucker scholarship fund. Richard volunteered his connections with the community, Kelan volunteered his artistic skills to create a logo, and Orlando offered to set up a Web site. Where Dianne, Regina, and Yolanda had envisioned a women-only operation, they found that the men in their lives had something to contribute. Rather than being in the way, they made the way a little easier.
Gloria lit the birthday candles, and Aunt Toe blew them out just as quickly. In years past, Aunt Toe had wished she would live to see her girls reunited. She’d been granted that wish. Aunt Toe didn’t have any more wishes—or birthdays—left. She knew this would be her last one.
Sometimes people know. And she was fine with that now.
The End
If you liked Divas of Damascus Road,
get ready to enjoy Boaz Brown!
LaShondra has done the work on herself first. She's gotten her education and, more importantly, developed a strong relationship with Christ. Now, she's ready for a man--but not just any man. She wants a Boaz, a godly man...who's gainfully employed...and it wouldn’t hurt if he looked good, too. God answers with three out of three, but there's a twist: her perfect man, Stelson Brown, isn't African-American.
While LaShondra's parents are happy about her professional success, they're chomping at the bit for her to get married. Her father (who wouldn't even let her bring her white friends home from school) and her mother (who gets word about the white man through the church folk grapevine) will have more than a few words for her when they find out--if LaShondra ever gets around to telling her family and friends about Stelson.
The racial climate at LaShondra's job isn't helping the situation. LaShondra suspects that the principal is buffering grades for certain students. Can she keep her integrity while keeping her job as vice principal?
Boaz Brown is the first novel of bestselling novelist Michelle Stimpson. In essence, it launched her career as a writer and is still one of her best-loved works.
"Sassy...refreshingly forthright...an
excellent reading group selection." -Library Journal (Starred Review)
"Thought-provoking...offers lessons for
all" -Publisher's Weekly
"Powerful...stylishly written...delivers
hard questions in a tightly wrapped package of complex relationships, power
struggles, and heart-melting romance." -Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine
(4.5 stars)
Download Boaz Brown now!
Other Books by Michelle Stimpson
Michelle Stimpson
Fiction
A Forgotten Love (Novella) Book One in the “A Few Good Men” Series
A Shoulda Woulda Christmas (Novella)
Boaz Brown
Divas of Damascus Road
Falling into Grace
I Met Him in the Ladies’ Room (Novella)
I Met Him in the Ladies’ Room Again (Novella)
Last Temptation (Starring “Peaches” from Boaz Brown)
Mama B: A Time to Speak (Book 1)
Mama B: A Time to Dance (Book 2)
Mama B: A Time to Love (Book 3)
Mama B: A Time to Mend (Book 4)
Someone to Watch Over Me
Stepping Down
The Good Stuff
Trouble In My Way (Young Adult)
What About Momma’s House? (Novella with April Barker)
What About Love? (Novella with April Barker)
Non-Fiction
Did I Marry the Wrong Guy? And other silent ponderings of a fairly normal Christian wife
Uncommon Sense: 30 Truths to Radically Renew Your Mind in Christ
The 21-Day Publishing Plan
Visit Michelle online:
www.MichelleStimpson.com
www.Facebook.com/TheMichelleStimpsonPage
A Note from the Author
If you have yet to start your journey in Christ, let me encourage you to seek Him. Seek Him in all of his glory, all of His love, and His wisdom. If you feel the tug in your heart, Thank Him for His goodness, ask Him for forgiveness, and invite Him to live in you. He stands knocking on the door of your heart and is more than pleased to come in and be your Lord (Rev. 3:20).
About the Author
Michelle Stimpson’s works include the highly acclaimed Boaz Brown, Divas of Damascus Road (National Bestseller), and Falling Into Grace, which has been optioned for a movie of the week. She has published several short stories for high school students through her educational publishing company at WeGottaRead.com.
Michelle serves in women's ministry at her home church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. She also ministers to women and writers through her blog. She regularly speaks at special event
s and writing workshops sponsored churches, schools, book clubs, and educational organizations.
The Stimpsons are proud parents of two young adults and one crazy dog.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Description:
Prologue
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 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
If you liked Divas of Damascus Road, get ready to enjoy Boaz Brown!
Other Books by Michelle Stimpson
A Note from the Author
About the Author