The Fall of the Prodigal (29 page)

“This is the happiest day of my life. I'm walking my daughter down the aisle.” Noel cried, not caring who saw.

Verona wiped her father's cheeks. “Don't start. My makeup is flawless and I'm not about to ruin it with waterworks.”

Elijah came inside the house. “Everyone's waiting and Michael is yelling he's coming in here for you if you don't get a move on.”

“Tell that mule head this is my day and I won't be rushed because of his impatience,” she glared.

Elijah grinned, and left to rejoin Michael and Keith at the makeshift altar in the gardens of what used to be Lauren's home. Verona and Michael would be raising John and Olivia there, as it was the only home the children had ever known. It was traumatic enough their mother had died a few months ago. Uprooting them would be too much. Verona and Michael would tell them the whole sordid tale of how Lauren died by a gunshot wound one day. For now, they told the twins Lauren was in heaven. Which was a lie.

Michael was not selling the penthouse, though. He was having the rooms redone and equipped for young children.

Verona touched her tiger pendant and smiled. Her life was complete. Her son and Michael were building a relationship but it was not without its trials. Elijah bristled when Michael corrected him about something. Michael felt she had been too generous with the Hummer she had bought Elijah. And, on it went. But, all was well.

John and Olivia entangled themselves in folds of her gown. Her mother came running after them.

“I can't keep them still,” she fussed, though she laughed at their antics.

Verona bent to kiss them. God had given her children. She now understood what her father meant about adoption. Olivia was the cutest flower girl and John was taking his job as ring bearer very seriously.

Taking Noel's hand, she said, “I'm ready.”

Gina came and smoothed her Badgley Mischka gown. “I have to do my job as the matron of honor and let me just say you are stunning. Michael won't be able to keep his eyes off you.”

Mindy rounded the corner. “I hear the music playing. We have to go.” She served as Verona's only bridesmaid. The young woman had been floored when Verona asked her. Mindy was so intent on not missing a step during rehearsal Verona had to tell her she needed to relax and have fun.

As Verona focused on Michael, calmness seeped through her being. She was on the right path to the man God had perfected for her. He was obstinate and stubborn, but he was hers. She could live with that.

Michelle Lindo-Rice enjoys crafting women's fiction with themes centered around the four “F” words: Faith, Friendship, Family, and Forgiveness. Her first published work,
Sing A New Song,
was a Black Expressions featured selection. Originally from Jamaica West Indies, Michelle Lindo-Rice calls herself a lifelong learner.

She has earned degrees from New York University, SUNY at Stony Brook, and Teachers College, Columbia University. When she moved to Florida, she enrolled in Argosy University where she completed her Education Specialist degree in Education Leadership. A pastor's kid, Michelle upholds the faith, preaching, teaching, and ministering through praise and worship.

For more information about her other books, or to leave an encouraging word, you can reach Michelle online at Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Stumbledupon, Twitter @mlindorice, Pinterest, Google+. To learn more about her books, please join her mailing list at
www.michellelindorice.com
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The Fall of the Prodigal Copyright © 2015

Michelle Lindo-Rice

 

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: 978-1-6016-2698-1

 

 

 

 

 

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