Read In Times of Trouble Online
Authors: Yolonda Tonette Sanders
In Times of Trouble
Chapter 4: A Flying Firecracker
Chapter 6: A Different Perspective
Chapter 7: A Whole 'Nother Story
Chapter 11: Something's Not Quite Right
Chapter 13: With All Due Respect
Chapter 15: Already Been Tested
Chapter 16: As Luck Would Have It
Chapter 19: Temporary Insanity
Chapter 21: Familiar Territory
Chapter 25: Down Right Ignorance
Chapter 26: Water Under the Bridge
Chapter 28: Conflict of Interest
Chapter 32: A Permanent Fixture
Chapter 33: Woulddas, Shoulddas, Coulddas
Chapter 34: No Further Questions
Chapter 36: A Few Choice Words
Chapter 38: Knight in Shining Armor
This book is dedicated to my cousin, Tyrell Jones.
I love you more than you could ever know.
First, I want to thank Jesus for loving, molding, stretching, challenging, correcting, and forgiving me. No matter how close I came to giving up or how many times I failed You, You never let me go. May my life bring glory to Your Name!
David, I could use all the pages in this book and more to express my love and appreciation for you. I'm grateful for both the good and the bad times we've endured. All has worked together to shape
us!
I love you, baby!
To Tre and Tia, my heart is open to many children, but no one comes close to matching the love I have for each of you and the joy I have from being your mother.
To my parents, Wilene and Eddie, in addition to David and the kids, you are my biggest supporters. Thank you for believing in me and cheering me on.
To Carla Laskey, Teresa Lewis, LaKesha Raynor, and Janice Sanders who took the time to proofread this story before it ever reached the desk of an agent or publisher. Your feedback was invaluable and I appreciate and love you ladies very much.
To Dan Schofield, I have never forgotten your kindness!
To my family (both biological and in Christ), friends, book clubs,
stores, and members of
Yo Notes
who have supported me over the years, I thank you all very much!
To Torry Cornett, Tiffany Croom, Mata Elliott, Kim Hahn, Selvy Hall, Kayla Hollins, Tyree Ayers, Michelle (Graham) Jones, Yolanda Knox, Cheryle Lewis (wife of Joe Lewis in Cincinnati, OH
), Shinerr Parker, Donald Schwind, Jennifer Scwhind, Leslie J. Sherrod, MaRita Teague, Robin Thornton, Suzy Tobin, and Clarke Tobin, I sincerely thank each of you for the assistance you provided. No matter how “big” or “small” a part you feel you played, your role was important to my completing this story.
A HUGE thank you goes to Tifani Kendrick for reminding me that I have a voice!
To Megan Yenni, I kept my promise to name a character in this book after you.
Tyra, you may be fully grown, but you will always be my “baby!” I love you!
To my longest friend, Vicki Wismer, I know you'll always be there.
To Rell, I dedicated this book to you because I believe in God's sovereignty over genetic health conditions. May you find comfort in His word.
To Sara (and Stephen), THANK YOU for believing in me! May this be the beginning of a long, happy, and prosperous partnership.
To everyone who works for or with Simon & Schuster and Strebor, thank you for your part in putting together the complete package.
If I have neglected to mention anyone, I must be having a brain fart at the time. Please forgive me!
To you, the reader, thank you for your support. I pray that this
story is a blessing to you. Trust that God's power is not limited by life's circumstances.
Much Love & Many Blessings,
Yolonda
www.facebook.com/yoproductions
I can also be found on Twitter
@ytsanders
A Minor Issue
I
t took Lisa a few minutes to fully regain consciousness when she woke up and found herself in the living room. She hadn't meant to fall asleep. Tucked away in an eastern suburb of Columbus, the Hampton household had been relatively quiet last night. With her mother and daughter out, Lisa took advantage of the solitary Saturday evening and just relaxed. Considering the many late nights she'd worked the previous week, she needed the break. Lisa spent the evening in her blue satin pajamas curled up on her cream plush sofa where she had apparently fallen asleep.
The sound of snow humming on her flat television screen was irritating and she quickly used the remote to turn it off. Noticing the time was 12:49 a.m., Lisa leapt up and ran through the kitchen to see if her car was in the garage. Nope, just her mother's car, which meant that Chanelle, her seventeen-year-old daughter, had missed her midnight curfew!
“Don't jump to conclusions,” Lisa said to herself as she reached for the phone, flipping through the caller ID. She hoped Chanelle had tried to call when she was asleep, but was disheartened to find no evidence supporting her theory. She quickly dialed Chanelle's cell phone, hearing the hip-hop music selection
that preceded her daughter's voice mail. She didn't bother leaving a message.
Dashing up the stairs, Lisa knocked on her mother's bedroom door as a courtesy, but didn't wait for a response. “Mama?” She peeked inside.
Hattie lay like Sleeping Beauty underneath a tan comforter that blended in perfectly with her light skin tone. She looked so peaceful that Lisa really didn't want to disturb her. She stood for a split second, admiring her mother's beauty. Though she was in her mid-sixties, Lisa's mother looked greatâstill-mostly-black hair, a shapely size ten figure and no wrinkles. Lisa hoped she'd inherited her mother's genes and would also age gracefully. So far so good, but if Chanelle kept working her nerves, she'd surely look old and gray within a few years.
“Mama!” Lisa spoke with more force.
“Huh?”
“Sorry to wake you. . .I want to know if you've heard from Chanelle.”
“No, why? She's not home yet?”
“No, but don't worry. I'll find her.”
Her mother quickly sat up. “Did you call Jareeka? Maybe Chanelle accidentally dozed off over there.”
The girl's name was actually Gericka, like
Erika,
but Lisa didn't bother correcting her mother, who was notorious for renaming people. “Calling there is my next step. I wanted to check with you first.”
Lisa ran back down to the kitchen where Chanelle's best friend's telephone number was posted on the small magnetic bulletin board attached to the refrigerator. By now it was a few minutes shy of one.
The phone rang several times before Marlon Young, Gericka's father, answered.
“Hi! I'm sorry to call your house so late. This is Lisa.”
“Yes, what can I do for you?”
“Is Chanelle there?”
“No, why do you ask?”
Lisa's throat tightened. “She's not here yet. Do you know what time she brought Gericka home from the movies?”
“I don't know what Chanelle told you, but she didn't go to the movies with Gericka,” Marlon firmly stated. “Gericka and Karen went to Louisville on Friday to spend the weekend with my mother-in-law.”
“I'm sorry. . .I thought. Never mind. I'm sorry I woke you.”
“It's okay. I'm sure you're concerned about your daughter. I pray she gets home safely,” he said, before hanging up.
With no other options, Lisa reluctantly dialed RJ's number, which she had unfortunately memorized by now. She
hated
calling her ex-husband, but figured the situation warranted such an action. It was a waste of time because he hadn't seen or heard from Chanelle either. As if his presence would calm Lisa's nerves, RJ had offered to come over and wait with her until Chanelle arrived.
“No, thanks!” Lisa quickly declined. He always seemed to be looking for an excuse to be near her, but the only man occupying her time was Minister Freeman, whom she had been out to dinner with on several occasions.