Book Jacket Synopsis

 

      Journey through the lives of Emily and Skylar Mathis.  These two sisters are coming of age

      in a world that takes no prisoners and has no loyalties.  A world where life's little trials and  

      tribulations can change the course of your entire life in the blink of an eye. 

    

      Emily is a small time beautician's assistant whose beauty school education is never put to

      use until an untimely incident puts her in the controller's chair.  Using this to her advantage,

      she rises to the challenge and exceeds with unexpected grandeur.  Her dedication to love

      leaves her hurt and at a loss. 

    

      Skylar is beautiful, young, and innocent until fate throws her a life-altering curve ball she isn't

      ready to hit.  Once a grocery store checkout clerk, she makes an unsuspecting change in

      careers, which lead to more decisions that not only effect her life, but also changes the course

      of the people's lives closest to her.  She battles to reclaim her happiness, her stability, and her

      innocence.

    

      These young women, and their friends; Victoria, Meagan, Ginseng and Myeisha, evolve

      from their adolescence into glamorous adulthood.  Their lives seem perfect to the world but

      dark secrets, bad circumstance and foolish choices cost them a lot more than they are willing

      to pay.  In time, things are returned to some sense of normalcy, but at what price?

 

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When we got back to the house, I packed my dress with the things I would be taking to Joshua’s parents’ home.  I changed into a nice silk pantsuit and put on my silver accessories. 

 

The girls then picked me back up so we could go to dinner and to a nightclub.  I was shocked to find the club they took me to featured male exotic dancers. 

While they were fine specimens of manhood, I found myself comparing their bodies to Joshua’s and I concluded I had as fine a man as they were at home already.  The best part about that was that Joshua was all mine, and he was about to be my husband.  I briefly wondered what he and his friends were up to. 

I was fantasizing about his hands touching my body, fingers running through my hair when I was brought back to the here and now by the damn near naked man who was taking center stage at our table.

Victoria and Myeisha yelled out to the club attendees, “Bachelorette over here!”

Everyone handed me single dollar bills.  The dancer started moving his body against me and I was less than impressed.   Hell, Joshua’s penis was bigger than his was.  I smiled and gave him the money, anyway; thinking about how sprung I was.  Throughout the rest of the night, after the other dancers noticed how well our table was tipping, they all managed to make their way over in our direction.  This didn’t bother my friends one bit, but me, I was bored. 

 

Soon enough, it was after midnight and that was when the gentleman dancers left the stage and we could just sit, talk and relax.  I was glad the atmosphere had taken on a more subdued tone.  I was sipping on my glass of red wine when the conversation started on the subject of men. 

Since I was the blushing bride, I had to get my praise on for my wonderful fiancé.  I talked to no end about how great he was, how happy I was when I was around him, and how excited I was about becoming his wife.  This was truly a dream come true, and I had nobody but Victoria to thank.

“Honey,” Myeisha jumped in, “your man is a doctor.  He’s going to be gone all the time.  Especially with him being a gynecologist and an obstetrician.  Women have babies all day, all night, all year.  You may not ever see him.  Do you think you can handle that?”

“Yeah, I guess.  I’ll have to see.  I mean he’s always been so conscientious about making time for me.  I don’t ever feel neglected,” I answered.

Ginny said, “I just hope you know what you’re getting into.  I’m not saying anything against Josh, of course, but you‘ve got to watch men.”

Meagan added, “Yeah, you need to always be on your toes.  Always keep yourself one step ahead of him, girl.  I mean you need to start stashing money in a secret bank account the day you guys get married.  I see women do it everyday at the bank.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little too much?  I mean, if I prepare for a catastrophe, one will surely happen, right?  If I start acting like I don’t trust our union to last, it won’t.  What if Josh finds out?  He’d be so hurt.  I intend to be with him forever, guys.”

“Well, if it will make you feel better, think of your savings account as wild money.  Keep telling yourself you’re saving it for the time you’d like to buy something really extravagant for yourself,” Myeisha said.

“So,” Skylar said, “Have you done any research on Europe, yet?  Do you know where you want to go and what you want to do?”  Skylar was beginning to get out more.  She was just at two months pregnant and not showing at all.

“I know the hotel has a great tourist package.  They automatically plan a schedule full of activities.  We’ll go to museums, parks, and see some shows.  But I’m sure we’ll be spending most of our time in our room, though,” I said with a big smile.

“You are such a freak.  Don’t wear it out, all right.  You’ve got to get some of that same dick for the rest of your life,” Myeisha laughed.

“I’m not going to wear it out, trust me.” 

We all laughed.

“Yeah, right; I know how you get sometimes.  You’re like a Spike Lee sequel waiting to happen – a regular ‘She’s Gotta Have It…ALL THE DAMN TIME!’”  Myeisha continued.

“I guess you could’ve done worse.  He could be some sorry Black man who’s still waiting for everything to just come to him.  Joshua’s ambitious and highly educated.  He’s a gentleman who I can tell just wants to make you happy.  Hell, you know you got it going on because he hasn’t ever hit you or nothing.  Usually men with so much power and influence tend to abuse the people in their lives because they think they can and because they don’t ever want the world to see them sweat, so they go lay their hands all over their woman in order to vent out the pressures at work on someone who doesn’t hold their career in their hands.”

 

I could feel the blood physically rush from my face.  I had not told any one about the night Joshua hit me because I had convinced myself he would change.  From the example he was setting ever since then, I was sure he had gotten it under control and no one would ever need to know.  I was glad when Ginny said she would have to cut our little get together short because she had to go check on her store and finalize a few things before the wedding tomorrow afternoon. 

We left and they dropped me back at the house where I was forced to sit and think if marrying Joshua was indeed in my best interest.

 

 

       About the Author

 

       RAQUEL ELDRIDGE:

 

        Raquel lives in Houston, Texas where she is the owner/CEO of Prose Pros Publishing Company

        under which she’s released all four novels.

  

        She’s been interviewed individually and as part of the writing team that includes the co-author

        of the Where Friendship Lies series, Shawnte’ Henderson.  Most are intrigued by the unique nature

        of their business and personal relationship as collaborators who, to this day, have never physically

        met.

 

        A member of many organizations including the NAACP YAC, NAWW, PWNH, and HELP Sister

        Connect (www.helpsister.com), she’s an active community member who partners with initiatives

        that enforce women’s empowerment and is passionate about mentoring young women and girls.

        Her literary affiliations have included Gospel Xpress Magazine, UrbanThang.com, The

        ReMain Company, U B Trippin’, Comedy Salad and will soon include a new column on the singles

        web group, Dateless in Houston.

 

        She’s currently busy completing future releases, Tainted Relations and The Best Revenge.