The Good Neighbor: Who Can We Trust?

By Beverly Ligon

"The Good Neighbor" tells the story of a black couple with three sons. When the wife, Nyla, gets assaulted twice, she confides in her sister because she is afraid to tell anyone else. Even when someone confesses to the assault, she still asks that her sister keeps it a secret. Unable to stay quiet, her sister is determined to help Nyla find peace. As the complexities of the situation unfold, they both realize that no one is who they were believed to be.

This is a must-read story about trust, deceit, and healing. The characters in this story are complex and unpredictable, especially since the person who confessed to the assaults wasn't responsible for them both. The twists and turns of this novel allow readers to remain engaged and curious about the identities and actions of the characters. This gripping novel raises one of life's most relevant questions – who can we trust?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098372323

Book preview

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Copyright 2021

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN: 978-1-09837-231-6 (softcover)

ISBN: 978-1-09837-232-3 (eBook)

Contents

FALLING IN LOVE

VIOLATED

SECRECY

AARON MEETS JACK

THE CONFESSION

LIVING WITH UNCERTAINTY

THE SHOCKING TRUTH

THE CONFRONTATION

STARTING OVER

FALLING IN LOVE

As everyone is eating, CJ asks, Mom, are you still going to start your college classes this summer?

Yeah, I think it’s about time I do. She replied while avoiding eye contact with Chance, her husband.

Chance took another bite of his breakfast and said he was done, although he really wasn’t finished eating. He quickly lost his appetite since he hated the idea of Nyla going back to college. He wanted her to stay home and take care of the house, kids, and himself.

Chance said his goodbyes to the boys, kissed Nyla and whispered in her ear as he hugged her, We need to talk.

Nyla didn’t answer, but smiled so everything appeared to be okay.

After Chance had left and the boys finished their breakfast, Nyla took them to summer camp. On the way, she remembered when her and Chance first met. It was twelve years earlier when she and her family moved to a city where they’d lived before. Since she already had friends there, she spent most of her free time walking around the block with one of her sisters named Debra and best friend, Tangee.

Back then, walking around the block was fun, and almost every female in the hood did it, especially on weekends. The females would put on their little outfits and make sure their hair was styled nicely, just to go outside and walk around. The guys looked forward to the weekend too because most of them were fishing for females to hook up with. Their attention getter was the music that they played, which could be heard booming long before their actual vehicle arrived on the scene. It was nice, almost like a block party and just like most block parties, a fight almost always broke out because some girl found out that she and another girl or two were sharing the same guy. Most times, their guy would be there when the fight started, but by the end of it, he’d be long gone.

One Sunday afternoon, everyone was lounging around the house after returning from church. When Nyla was done eating dinner, she went to her bedroom that she shared with three of her younger sisters.

Debra walked in and said, I’m bored! Let’s go walking!

Dee, I don’t feel like walking. Nyla responded as she laid lifeless on her and her baby sister’s full-size bed.

You don’t ever feel like doing anything! Dee said. Stop being lazy and let’s go! She grabbed Nyla by the arm and pulled her out of bed.

Dee was two and a half years younger than Nyla, but always had a bossy way of getting people to do whatever she wanted, whether they wanted to or not. She was a lot more developed than Nyla also, which made her appear to be about the same age if not older. Either way, Nyla had no choice, except to get up. She got dressed and they went outside to walk around the block. Halfway around, the two stopped by Tangee’s house to see if she wanted to join them, and she did.

There were people of all ages outside enjoying the remaining hours of the day. Some of the younger boys rode around on go-carts and bikes while young men drove around in nice cars playing their loud music. Little kids played in yards and along the streets while other groups of girls walked around in their cliques like they did. Everybody appeared to be having a good time.

Nyla, Dee and Tangee walked around the block about three times when Nyla noticed up ahead at a corner house, a little girl about three years old playing with a ball. She said, That little girl is going to run in the street after that ball and get hit by a car.

Yep, she sure is! I don’t think anybody can see her over there neither! Let’s hurry up so we can tell somebody to get her, suggested Dee.

They walked faster. When they were about two houses away, they heard loud music approaching and knew there were only seconds before a car would turn the corner. So, they started running, just in case. About two seconds later, the little girl bounced the ball and it went rolling towards the street, and like all little kids do at that age, unaware of danger, she ran after it.

By this time, Nyla and the others were yelling for someone to get the little girl. A group of guys that were standing in front of a big SUV parked in front of that same yard saw them, but since they were playing their loud music too, they couldn’t hear what the girls were saying.

Only a house away from the yard where the child was supposed to be in, Nyla yelled as loud as she could, Get that baby!

The guys that were already looking puzzled finally noticed the little girl had ran into the street, but it was too late. A car had reached the corner and made a turn in her direction. Nyla waved her hands wildly for the car to stop, but it kept coming. So, she darted across the street in front of the car just in time to grab the little girl out of harm’s way. They both fell to the ground as the car squealed to a stop and people ran to see what had happened.

My baby! Give me my baby, cried a lady’s voice!

Nyla held up the baby while she remained on the ground. The lady took her little girl as she thanked Jesus over and over that she was safe, but said nothing to Nyla. The little girl began to cry as she was carried away, not because she was hurt, but because she didn’t understand what had just happened.

Are you okay? Dee asked.

Yeah, I’m fine. Nyla answered.

I’m so sorry! A man voice said. Let me help you up. He reached out his hand and Nyla held out hers and tried to stand, but when she did, she screamed and fell back to the ground.

What’s wrong, Nyla? Dee asked.

My leg…oh my foot…it hurts! Nyla cried as she reached towards her foot, but wouldn’t dare touch it. At that point, she and everybody that stood and watched, noticed that her right sneaker was