Things Hoped For: A Vow Series Spin-Off: The Vow Series, #4

By Chencia C. Higgins

Can two women who only want to be loved, find a home in each other when the world around them is moving too fast for them to settle down?

Growing up in an intolerant town, LaTrisha Martin was used to shrinking the most important parts of herself. She hid her loneliness within a busy life and kept the yearning in her heart tucked away from those closest to her. Just as the façade became too heavy to maintain, Trisha received wise words from a strange woman that helped redirect her life's journey. On a whim, she relocates to Houston, and while adjusting to a new normal, she finds that those desires she'd once hidden begin to manifest in ways she never imagined.

With her star attached to a rocket ship, Xenobia Cooper was quickly transforming from a locally known talent into a name known in households across the nation. Viewed as an overnight success to many, the only thing that the veteran of the Houston underground music scene hadn't prepared for was living a life without someone to come home to at the end of the day. A reckless tweet sent out in the middle of the night brings an influx of women with stars in their eyes, but they all lack the key component that Xeno is looking for. A chance encounter after her largest show to date and she's convinced that those things she'd hoped for are just within her grasp.

The Vow Series
To Buy a Vow - Book 1
To Build a Vow - Book 2
To Break a Vow - Book 3
Things Hoped For - Book 4

• Language: English
• Publisher: EKOL Media
• Release date: Jul 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393348542

Book preview

One

Trisha

When It's Not So Hard To Say Goodbye After All

Y 'all have to promise to look after her. I'm the only family she has, and even though she's abandoning me and moving across state lines, I want to make sure that she's cared for. Lisa clutched her cloth napkin in one hand and squeezed Nedra's hand across the table with the other. Her eyes were glassy and her face was flushed. Her lightweight ass was drunk. The fucking nerve.

Amused, I rolled my eyes, swallowing the last of my wine as I glanced at Nedra and Tonya—who were giving each other a look that clearly expressed their confusion—before turning to glare at Jeremiah, completely ignoring Lisa's dramatics—and her transparent attempt at shade.

"Please, J. Please get your wife."

At the sound of his name, Jeremiah paused in the middle of whatever he was saying to Boobie and his handsome mahogany face sprung into a grin as he swiveled his bald head to face me—no doubt already well aware that Lisa was doing two glasses past too much. What am I supposed to do, Tee?

I gave him a dumb look. He knew damn well… Put your dick in her mouth so she can shut up. Duh.

Lisa's offended gasp was immediately followed by a burp, Nedra screamed in amusement, and Tonya's mouth dropped open in shock.

All other conversations seemed to halt instantaneously as all adult eyes swung toward me.

Sabrina was the first to speak, the pinched look on her otherwise regal face proving that she was sufficiently vexed. LaTrisha, there are children present. Be courteous and watch your language.

Yes, ma'am. I immediately replied, though I wondered who exactly she was referencing. Did she mean Ja'Mya and Wisdom, who were sharing a pair of earbuds as they giggled at something on Mya's tablet, completely oblivious to what the adults in the room were talking about? Or was she talking about the three toddlers in highchairs who she and James were fawning over at the far end of the long, rectangular dinner table where we all sat? Lisa and Jeremiah's baby boy and Nedra and Jermaine's boy and girl twins were nearly the same age, having been born only a few weeks apart in the same month just over a year ago.

Days after she'd helped me get settled in at my new apartment, Lisa instructed me to get dressed to attend dinner at the youngest Hawkins brother's home. I'd assumed it was a birthday get-together for the babies. It wasn't until we exited the mudroom and entered Jermaine's kitchen to find a room full of people standing under a banner that said, Congratulations Trisha!, that I realized what was actually going on. And I'd immediately burst into tears.

I'd done it.

Finally.

After two years of marinating on the idea and using every excuse in—and out of—the book about why I couldn't, I took the leap. I'd given notice at the tiny massage parlor where I'd practiced for the past seven years, declined to renew the lease on my rental, packed up my shit, and moved south. I didn't make the jump blindly though.

Back when moving somewhere with more grocery stores than churches was just a lofty goal with no timeframe in mind, I'd joined a couple of online groups and followed a few message boards created by and for queer, Black women like me. Women who needed safe spaces where they could breathe easy. With no clue what I was looking for, I lurked for months, liking posts and bookmarking information, but I didn't engage beyond that. Then, Jade, one of the handful of women that I'd actually communicated with occasionally, posted a job opening at the spa in Houston where she worked as a massage therapist. Something inside of me jolted awake and from there? It was history. I messaged Jade about the opening, explaining my situation and sharing entirely too much information about my life with a stranger, and in the process, stumbled into a new group of friends. Jade introduced me to her best friend, Melissa, and the two women helped me to plan my move.

If I knew nothing else, I knew that I would eventually need to move out of southeast Arkansas, and for me, the next best option wasn't in-state. Houston was a natural choice because Hawk, Trina, and Boobie were there. Even if I rarely saw them after relocating, at least I wouldn't be in a new city all alone in the event of an emergency. Once the decision was made, Lisa insisted on flying with me to scout for a new home. We met up with Jade and Melissa and they guided us to what they considered the safest places in the city for single Black women. I learned where to find the best drinks—Capital Grill for happy hour during the week, VR Club and Lounge on Saturdays, and Lakeside Lounge on Sundays—and so much more over the course of a weekend. My excitement for my impending move grew with each tidbit.

Of course I felt some trepidation about leaving the place I'd called home for almost twenty years, but there was something greater I feared far more than becoming a transplant in my mid-thirties, and that was fulfilling an inescapable prophecy spoken to me by a woman I'd only met once and would never forget.

♥♥♥♥

When Drunk Bitches Spill Other Folk's Tea

Tonya was the first to speak as soon as the four of us—me, her, Lisa, and Nedra—were settled in the formal living room located near the front of the mansion that Nedra shared with her husband Jermaine. Sabrina and James had gone to bed, taking their youngest grandchildren with them, and the brothers had taken Mya and Wisdom to Jermaine's in-house, two-lane bowling alley. Nedra had grabbed two bottles of wine and told us to follow her into the relatively unused sitting area in the front of the house. Depositing the bottles onto the tray that sat atop the wide ottoman, Nedra ushered us onto the white sofas and disappeared, quickly returning with half of an already sliced Bundt cake and a stack of plates.

How do you like it so far?

As I sank into the plush sofa, I eyed the decadent-looking chocolate confection and shrugged. I've only been here a week and the only places I've been able to visit—outside of work—are the grocery store and the gas station.

Tonya nodded in conciliation. I guess you have a point.

The perfect hostess, Nedra plated thick slices of the cake and passed them around, before filling her glass to the brim with Cabernet and fixing her eyes on me. So, what's your plan?

Not quite sure what she was asking, I bought myself time by chewing the forkful of cake I'd put in my mouth. What I thought was a simple chocolate bundt was actually a swirl of strawberry and chocolate cake and covered with a glossy chocolate glaze. It was heaven and I'd already decided that I needed a second slice.

Undeterred by my lengthy silence, Nedra waited until I swallowed the bit of spongy sweetness and twisted my lips to the side as I asked, Plan?

She nodded. Yeah. What do you plan on doing now that you've picked up and moved to a whole other state?

Understanding dawned on me and I smiled. Ohhhh! That's easy. It's not so much a plan as it is a mantra. Living my life to the fullest is the only thing on my agenda. Settling in, exploring the city, meeting new people, so on and so forth.

Mmhm, Lisa murmured, her glass to her lips as her cake sat untouched on the ottoman. Gone on and tell them why you really moved out here.

Both Nedra and Tonya sat forward on the couch they occupied. Curiosity was written all over Tonya's face and Nedra's brows were raised and lips pursed.

Yeah, Trisha, Tonya chimed in. Gon' on and tell us, girl.

Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. "That is the real reason I moved down here; to live life the way I should. Free to be happy, to be healthy, and to just…be."

Tonya smiled. Aww, that's so sweet. She turned to Nedra. Right?

Nedra's shrewd gaze bounced between me and Lisa for a moment before a slick grin spread across her face. "Why do I feel like you forgot to add free to fuck strangers and free to fall in love?"

Mouth agape, Tonya stared at Nedra with wide eyes. Well, damn!

Lisa covered her mouth, failing to mask her giggles. You hit the nail on the head, Nedra!

In all honesty, I didn't really know Nedra and Tonya that well. These were Lisa's sisters-in-law and since they both lived in Houston, the number of times I'd met them could fit in the palm of my hand with two fingers left over. While Tonya seemed like the kind of woman to keep a polite distance until she knew you, Nedra didn't seem to ever meet a stranger. From the moment we'd met she was cracking jokes and talking to me like we were old friends. Her demeanor was comforting, like that of a favorite cousin or an old high school friend that I was once attached at the hip with. It was because of that familiarity that she could say something so over the top and personal to me and I would burst out laughing instead of getting pissed or annoyed. Plus, she was right. Offering a wide smile, I shrugged.

Well, that too.

I know that's right! She held her hand up and I immediately slapped it five.

Lisa tapped my knee. Tell them the rest of it.

What's the rest of it? Tonya asked.

Giving Lisa a stern look, I said, That's it. I knew she'd gotten close to these women over the past two years but that didn't mean she needed to spill all of my business in the street.

Nedra pursed her lips and slanted a glance at me. I feel like that's a lie.

Quirking a brow, I smirked at her. You're having a lot of feelings tonight, aren't ya?

I sure the fuck am; and when y'all leave, I'm gonna take these feelings and fuck my husband with them.

Unbidden, the literal image of her doing just that flitted across my mind and I burst out laughing. I don't think that came out the way you intended.

Hmm, Tonya murmured thoughtfully, her fingers tapping at her chin while she stared off into the distance. Fucking my husband does sound like the move to make.

Lisa sighed wistfully. I agree.

Glancing at all three of them, I cackled. Listen to the real housewives of Hawkins Realty get collectively horny for their mens.

Lisa stuttered out a laugh while Tonya cracked up loudly. Nedra was the only one who narrowed her eyes at me.

"You ain't slick, heifer. Gon' tell us the rest of the reason you moved down here.