Crossing The Line

By Latasha Bynum-Marchand

How far would you cross the line? Every man and woman has their limits. Words are hurtful, lies are told, and the occasional rumor is spread....so as people we tend to put up our personal shields and barriers, due to the unforeseeable circumstance or changes we go through. Renee is an intelligent, professional woman facing the challenges of juggling both her personal and professional life. She has accomplished many of her career goals, but is completely blind-sided as she rises to the top. Renee has many friends from her childhood to her adult life, but none closer than her closest friend Ahrei. Aheri is a well-liked, attractive trophy that has issues unlike any other woman she knows or in relation too. Jordan is a well-built male, who needs the approval of others, to deal with the issues of life that have eluded him. “Anger is easy forgiveness is not.” If given the choice to forgive someone who has crossed the ultimate line, what would you do?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Latasha Bynum-Marchand
• Release date: Jul 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476434230

Latasha Bynum-Marchand

Latasha Bynum-Marchand published the first edition of Crossing The Line in 2010. Latasha is a motivational speaker, relaxation coach and Producer/Host of "The TashaTasha" television show on Inland Empire's Public Access channel. You can also hear her live broadcast on www.asmrradio.com every Mon and Wed night at 9:00 p.m pacific standard time. Latasha is known for delivering real topics of discussion about life, love, and relationships in her own unique way. Her Salt Videos are fan favorites on YouTube, as they encourage people to achieve their individual ideas for happiness.

Book preview

Crossing The Line

By

Latasha Bynum-Marchand

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2012 by Latasha Bynum-Marchand

Cover image artwork provided by CreateSpace

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. N ames, characters, places, and incidents either are the prod uct of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or d ead, events or locals is entirely co incidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission from the author.

Published by Latasha Bynum-Marchand

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my Lord Jesus Christ who makes all things possible. I would also like to thank my beautiful daughters, Jaela and Jani, who have always inspired me to do more and go further. To my parents, Sandra and Kenneth, for their continued love and support. To my Dad for giving me the tools to truly pursue my dream, I can never thank you enough. To my mom who has always had an ear to listen to me even when she wasn’t quite sure what I was talking about, I love you more than words can say. To my sister Portia, for being an ear when I needed one. To my nephew Camden, for being the son I never had. To my brother Torey I am blessed to have such a great big bro, you have always looked out and protected me and I love you. To my husband Ryan for not only being my motivator, and best friend, but for believing in me even when I did not believe in myself, I love you forever. To my mother in law Carmen and Father in law Ronald thank you both so much for the words of encouragement and the continued support. To my family members who have expressed their love and support with this project I am forever grateful to have such wonderful people in my life. Thank you Special thanks also to my Aunt Shun and Uncle Ronald —for encouraging me to write this novel for your continued love and support I am so grateful to you both.

To Rhiannon Neeley and K.B. Stanford – thank you for your work in bringing Crossing The Line to new life. I thank you both from the bottom of my heart.

In loving memory of my Grandmother, Murtha Tims, for her love and support. I am very lucky to have had such a cool Grandma.

And to my readers, thank you very much for your support and may God bless you all.

Introduction

Crossing the Line

What is the line? Everyone has something, some area of their life, which is off limits, a point where there would be no turning back. Choosing to move on from someone who has hurt you in the worst way is not easy.

This is the decision Renee is forced to make. Renee is an intelligent, professional woman facing the challenges of juggling both her personal and professional life. She has accomplished many of her career goals, but is completely blind-sided when she realizes her marriage has suffered in her rise to the top.

After discovering the extent of her husband’s infidelities, she is forced to make the decision of leaving everything she knows behind and moving to a new city for a fresh start.

Once she begins to embrace life in a new town, her past returns. She begins the hard journey of facing the pain she left behind.

Anger is easy, forgiveness is not. If given the choice to forgive someone who has crossed the ultimate line, what would you do?

Chapter One

My New Start

Renee

I woke up this morning to the sounds of my favorite radio station. I was singing along with All I Do Is Think Of You, which is a song that I used to love. Definitely an oldie but goodie tune that felt good to belt out when there was no one there to torture with my early morning and not so smooth voice.

I laid there, sinking into my covers, the weight of my heavy pink comforter snuggling me like a hug, and felt like I was back home in Echo, Texas. I couldn’t remember anything bad that had happened there for that brief moment. I was warm and cozy, like mom’s kitchen. I let myself relax and enjoy it. Before I could hit the bridge, or the high part as I called it, my eyes met the clock radio and saw that the time said 7:10 a.m. I burst from my cozy bed and hit the floor running.

I'm late, was all I could think as I ran a comb through my already curly—and now frizzy—long hair. My morning had started as many mornings before—busy and crazy at the same time. I ran from room to room, grabbing this or that. For a person who prides herself on her ability to organize, I seemed to fall short, to say the least, this morning. I was used to the madness of the mornings, but I usually at least got a nice long shower out of the deal.

Unfortunately, not today. I was in and out before the water even warmed up. Just my luck it was the coldest and rainiest day we’d had all year and I started it off by freezing myself. I reached into my closet and grabbed my basic gray dress suit and white silk shirt, which I had dry cleaned Friday evening.

The most modest-heeled shoes I could find, gray of course to match.

My life was routine. I liked it that way.

It had gotten me through these past few years and had taught me to plan for everything. Life is a rhythm.

While I was rushing out of the door, I heard the typical sounds of my building. I knew who I would see and who I would meet. I knew that the couple from 4B would be on the elevator kissing and then they’d smile nervously when the doors opened and I came walking in. I knew the dog from Apt 5A would be staring at me hungrily when I exited the elevator.

Expectations are funny though. Today I was running late, so the couple from 4B was entering a cab by the time I sprinted through the lobby and entered into the elevator. The dog from 5A was out of the main lobby door and almost at the end of the block. Today was not a day for expectations.

I remember feeling like I forgot something as I walked through the dark and very cold, parking garage of my building. My thoughts went to what it could have been. I had the usual combo; my purse, which I was clutching to hold onto due to the huge stack of DVD rentals I was juggling, along with my coat and umbrella due to the weather forecast I had watched briefly while channel surfing last night. It was going to be the first peek of winter we had so far. A late winter which had begun Jan 19th. What was it I was forgetting?

I wondered just what it was while I fumbled with the keys to open the door on my brand new Mercedes E-Class. I had purchased the car to remind myself of why I get up every morning and go to a job that I receive very little joy or satisfaction from. As I entered my car and sank into the warm leather seats, I realized what I had forgotten—my cell phone.

Before I went into too much panic, I was reminded of exactly which calls I would miss that day. My mom called me first thing in the morning to see if I was still alive since I moved to ‘the big city’, as she called it. My hairstylist, Cordell, to confirm our afternoon appointment. And Alyssa, a hometown friend, who had moved here seven months before me.

Alyssa had taught me the ins and outs of living here. Who to speak to, who to avoid. And best of all, where to shop. I hated that I was going to miss her call most of all. She went out with a very handsome, very nice guy from our gym and I knew she’d have a lot to talk about. If I wasn’t over the whole handsome-gym-guy thing, I would have asked him out first, but I'm happy for her just the same.

I was almost clearing the parking garage exit when I was flagged down by no other than our apartment security guard, Damon. He stood five foot-seven and his teeth and stomach met me before the rest of him did. I really didn’t want to roll the window down but he positioned himself directly in front of my car. I actually contemplated running him over but I'm pretty sure that’s a felony.

Good morning, I said in a nice general way of speaking. Of course he sucked his teeth a little bit, then said, It would be a better morning if you would stop playin’ games and let me call you.

Another futile attempt to get my phone number. I had run out of nice ways to tell him I was not interested in any kind of relationship with anyone at this time. We’d had this conversation many times.

Even if his pants could not easily pass for shorts, and he wasn’t more than slightly overweight and wore a uniform that never looked clean no matter what time of day it was, I still wouldn’t take a chance. I’d had more than my fill of dating and relationship horror stories and was content to just be by myself.

I reached deep down inside and came up with, I'm sorry, Damon. I've met someone and we are exclusively dating now.

That’s when he leaned in close to my ear and whispered, He don’t have to know.

How special. The thought of a ‘physical relationship’ with Damon was too horrible—and comical at the same time—to imagine. Before I could help myself, I gave him the ‘not on your life’ look, rolled my window up, and proceeded out of the garage.

I was immensely upset that I had wasted more than too much time