Zamaria's Heart

By CaSandra McLaughlin

Zamaria Houston loses her job as a hot dj in Dallas, Texas and is left with no choice but to move back to her hometown of  Sweet Lily Texas. She dreads going back because that means facing Eddie, her ex who left her with no explanation. Zamaria's intentions are to get a job and leave in a few months. She doesn't expect to have a future there.To her surprise Sweet Lily Texas grows on her and she sees transformations in herself that she didn't expect.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: CaSandra McLaughlin
• Release date: Nov 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393539186

Book preview

Chapter 1

Sweet Lily, Texas was the place that Zamaria promised herself she'd never go back to live. Her grandmother had always told her to never say never because it would certainly come back to bite you later. Although the town was growing, it certainly wasn't on the top of her places she wanted to live list. They'd built a Wal-Mart a few years back and even got a Lowe's and a Chili's. Brookshire's and Piggly Wiggly were the only two grocery stores. Sweet Lily was a quiet community an hour away from Dallas, a place where people who wanted to retire should live. After all, there was nothing to really do other than attend church, potluck dinners, and, of course, take trips to Dairy Queen. 

Just the thought of having to work at the Piggly Wiggly or one of the cafes in town saddened her heart. What choice did she have? She was unemployed, single and out of options.

She sat in her grandmother's driveway and whispered a prayer.

Lord, please help me adjust and please help me find a job so that I can move as soon as possible in Jesus name. Amen.

She glanced in the backseat and saw that Damon, her ten-year-old son, was fast asleep with no cares in the world. Oh how great it must be to be in the world with no concerns, no worries about anything other than eating, playing and changing clothes. Her phone rang. Zamaria glanced at the screen. It was Trina, her old high school classmate.

Hey, she sang.

Just checking on you to see if you had made it in. Would you like to join me and Emerald for dinner tonight?

Girl, are you spying on me? I just pulled into Grandma Helen's driveway. And I'm really not in the mood to hang out.

Awww come on. It’ll be great.

How is it great that I lost my job and my apartment, all within the same week? Zamaria whined.

I know you moving from Dallas back to Sweet Lily wasn't a part of your plan. I just believe that God allows things to happen for a reason, and I know you may not want to hear it, but it's really going to work out for your good according to Romans 8:28.

Trina, please don't give me a Sunday school lesson right now.

I'm not giving you a Sunday school lesson. Just letting you know that something bigger and better is in store for you.

Zamaria grew up in church and believed in God, but she didn't make it a habit of going around reciting scripture like Trina.

What could possibly be better than working for Hot 98 ZTZY? That was my dream job. I can't believe the owner fired me just so he could hire his twenty-year-old girlfriend.

Zamaria had worked long and hard to land her position with them. After being there for two years, she was promoted from being on the street team to the morning drive host. All of her hard work had been a waste, and now she was jobless and back living at her grandmother's house.

I know you can't see it right now, but His plan is always better.

Certainly His plan couldn't be that I lose my job and end up back here. I really need to get going. I'll catch up with you soon. She hung up before Trina could respond.

She glanced at Grandma Helen's simple frame home with its well-manicured yard. The beige paint was beginning to peel off the side of the house, but other than that, the place seemed to be just as it was before she left. Grandma Helen peeped out of the window, saw her sitting in the car and rushed out to greet her. Zamaria got out of the car.

Oh, Zamaria, baby. It’s so good to see you. Grandma Helen, a short woman with a full round face and a short gray afro, hugged her.

It's good to see you, too, Grandma. She smiled.

Let me help you get your stuff out of the car.

Oh no, that's okay, Grandma. I can handle it. I only brought a couple of bags and some suitcases. I sold my furniture, and my other things are in storage.

In storage? Why waste that money when you've moved back home?

I don't plan to be here forever. It’s just temporary. Zamaria grabbed a duffle bag from the back seat.

Mom, I'm hungry. Damon woke up, stretching, rubbing his eyes and got out the car.

Oh look at you, Damon, you're growing like a weed. Give your granny some sugar, baby. Grandma Helen pulled him into her arms and smothered him with more kisses than he wanted. Come on, let's go inside and fix you a plate. I made you some spaghetti, corn on the cob, and salad. I also baked you some brownies.

All of my favorites. Thanks, Grandma. He beamed.

You welcome, baby.

Grandma Helen and Damon walked inside the house. Zamaria watched as the two of them went inside. She went to the back of her car and opened the trunk. A blue Chevy Tahoe pulled up behind her black Toyota Corolla. A tall Idris Alba look-a-like dressed in jeans and a purple button-down shirt stepped out and headed toward her.

Seriously? Could this day get any worse? she muttered.

Her ex-boyfriend: Eddie James, who—by the way—.broke her heart was staring at her.

Hey, he said nervously.

What are you doing here, and how did you know I was here?

I ran into Trina, and she mentioned you were moving back. I was in the area and figured I'd stop by.

Eddie, we're not on stop-by terms. She continued retrieving her bags from the car

Need some help? He flashed his Kodak, charismatic smile. The same smile that captured, then shattered, her heart

She took a deep breath, and tried to dismiss the wave of emotions she was feeling. Emotions she thought were long gone.

I've got it, thanks. Then to prove the point, she threw Damon's duffle bag over her shoulder and grabbed the heaviest suitcase and carried it to the porch. She struggled, but she made it.

Eddie followed her, carrying two suitcases.

Eddie, thanks. I don't need your help. I just got here and have a lot to do, so if you don't mind, please just let me get settled.

Zamaria, there's so much I wanna—

Please just go, she snapped.

All right, maybe another time.

Eddie walked back to his Tahoe and slowly drove away.

Zamaria sat on the porch swing. Memories of her and Eddie spending time together, and making plans for the future captured her thoughts. All of her hopes and dreams included him and if someone had told her she wouldn't be Mrs. Eddie Dewayne James, she'd tell them that they had it all wrong.

She gathered the bags from the porch and went inside the house.

Zamaria, who was that in the yard? Grandma Helen asked.

Nobody to worry about. She rushed down the hall to her old bedroom. She knew her grandmother would ask more questions that she just didn't feel like answering.

The room was the same with the exception of a new thirty-two inch T.V. that sat on the dresser. She sat on her king-sized bed that was covered with a thick, but soft, red velvet comforter.

Rummaging through her purse, she found her phone and called Trina. Why did you tell Eddie that I was here? she asked without saying hello.

I didn't think it was a big deal, and besides, I thought you were over him.

So did she.

That doesn't mean that I want to see him.

"Zamaria, I seriously doubt if you'll be