Blind Innocence Ii: After the Storm

By A. Adams Jones

Blind Innocence II is a unique story of trials, tribulations and overcoming ones obstacles. Tarell Johnson has come a long way from where he started out in life. Now having just about everything a man could want and need, the one thing he doesnt have is the woman of his dreams (Debbie). As you follow along in this very complicated,confusing and controversial love story, you will see the meaning of true love.

Monique Johnson, a former crack addict and street hustler, even after changing her life continues to face many trials. Losing yet, another child, but this time to a violent crime and almost losing her own life as well, still perseveres even through her tears. Traveling through scenes of Moniques life will show readers what the words strength and courage truly means.

Theresa, the minister, is looked at by many people as one having Gods wisdom and knowledge of Him, and knowing to do the right things. However,with her husband Eric being in the military over 15 years, and away fromhome; she battles with her spirituality and humanity as she becomes lonely, angry, and just tired of it. Through Theresas trials readers will see how important it is to pray for those in authority and leadership.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Aug 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490734057

A. Adams Jones

A. Adams Jones is an ordained minister and an entrepreneur who owns both a construction company and a T-shirt company. She is married with fi ve children and was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York; she has been settled in the New Haven, Connecticut, area for over twenty years.

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Copyright 2014 A. Adams Jones.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-3406-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-3405-7 (e)

Trafford rev. 08/23/2014

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Contents

Dedications

Acknowledgements

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Epilogue

A Note From The Author

A Note From The Author

Inspirational Words

About The Author

In loving memories of Bishop Charles Don Sessions, Vice Bishop Vander Sessions, and Darin McDuffie

Dedications

I would like to dedicate this book to ALL those that are presently going through trials or have been through a struggle and trials.

Acknowledgements

To God, thank you for everything you do. I love you, I truly do… always have, ever since the day I met you. I don’t know what I would do without you… You’re like a dream that came true. You’re my knight in shining armor, I will always cherish you. Before you, things were crazy in my life, I didn’t know what to do… but I prayed and you changed my life, and made it brand new! I love you with all my heart, and I know the feeling is mutual, and that you feel the same way too. I am sooo grateful to ‘Jesus’, because if it wasn’t for him, there would be no ‘me’ and ‘you.’

To my husband Michael, a.k.a (Swell)… The ocean is green, the sky is blue, the sun is hot and bright yellow, I’m picturing being on the beach with you. Smiling, laughing, and putting everything behind, because life is too short to wasting any more time. I look forward to St. Lucius, someplace we always dreamed to be, enjoying the peace, the scenery, and all the luxury. It once was a dream, but it’s now a reality, I can’t wait to be in St. Lucius, just ‘you’ and ‘me’. ☺ I love you!

To my father and mother, Alfred and Dorothy Adams. Thank you both so much for all y’all support through the years. Thanks for all the teachings and for raising us up in church. Words can’t even express the love I have for the both of you!!! Love you both, always and forever!!!

To all my children, John, Anthony, Destiny, Hakeem, Chris and Stephen… I love you all, always and forever!!

I want to acknowledge my aunt Annie who always been like a second mother to me. Thanks for all that you’ve done for me through the years. Love you much!!

Shout out to all my aunts, uncles and cousins. It’s so many of them, to many to call off. Love you all!!

To my precious grandkids: Diamond, Livier, Nas’zaiah, and Jada. Grandma loves you so very much, always remember that.

Shout outs to my siblings, to my oldest sister Lorraine, I love you, (R.I.P.)

Freddy; I always admired your courage. You’ve always had unmeasurable courage ever since we were kids. Thanks for taking some of my beatings. Love you!

Michelle, I have nothing but love for you always and forever.

Cynthia, I owe you many thanks. You have been there for me and my children through the years like none other. Don’t think that I haven’t recognized that. Even when I didn’t, God made sure he reminded me. Thanks for all your support and help with my book tours, and always sticking by me. I really appreciate you. Love you!

Alfred Adams Jr, a.k.a. Shaborn, I want to thank you for all that you’ve done for me, it is greatly appreciated, and thanks for inspiring me with your books ☺, love you!

Mark, a.k.a. Miz. Thanks for all your support. I’m waiting for your next book The Family to come out, and since one of the characters is a reflection of me I can’t wait to read it, ☺ Love you!

To Neicey, the baby of the bunch. The miracle child and the spoiled one. You’re still my baby sis even though you have kids of your own. I am here for you always. Love you!

Shout out to the Jones family, my other side of the family. Much love to you all!!

Shout out to my CT family, the Washing-ton’s. Much love to you all!!

I would like to thank Gordon Turner for all your assistance and help. You have been such a big help and I greatly appreciate it. Much love to you!!

I would like to thank Bk, (one of the Harlem Book Vendor’s) for showing me so much love when I arrived on the streets in Harlem with my books. Thanks for pushing the books when I wasn’t out there to push them myself. You’ve done so much in helping me and I greatly appreciate it. Much love to you!!

I would like to acknowledge and shout out all my associates and friends of many years, Kim Brice, Richard Barrett, Brady Woodrow, Richard Altschuler, Lilly Washington, John Ortiz, Tamara Burroughs, and Marion Snipes. I have nothing but love for you all!!!

I would like to thank all my family in SC, ATL and NY that came out to my events. Special thanks to Cynthia, Michelle, a.k.a (Terry), Tina, Desiree, and Sherry for all y’all help in putting on the event in SC and assisting me at the event. Thanks Cousin Tina for staying up with me all night around the clock just about, to get those flyers done. Love you all!!!

I especially want to thank Brenda and Rich Jennings for all y’all support and assistance with the Blind Innocence book. Thanks again for the cook-out/book signing. I am so, so, grateful to you both, God bless y’all!!

Chapter One

THREE YEARS LATER

Thanks Giving Day… 2012

Sitting at the dining room table at Sharon’s house in Queens during Thanks Giving, Tarell was in deep thought as he listened to his family members, Sharon, his mother Monique and Jackie laughing and talking. He smiled as his thoughts went back on that day ten years ago when all hell had broken loose. He thought about how it was a miracle that they would all be sitting at the dinner table of his aunt’s house talking, laughing and loving one another as if nothing ever happened.

Tarell, Tarell! Monique called as she helped Sharon serve the food.

Tarell delayed answering because he was into his thoughts.

Oh, I’m sorry. I was thinking about something, he said.

It must have been something good because I could see you were in deep thoughts, Monique smiled.

Yeah, he smiled back, you can say that.

Oh, I just wanted to know if you wanted some of these collard greens on your plate.

Sure, thanks!

Around the dining room table aside from Tarell, was Patrick, his wife Alisha, Sharon and her husband Barry, Ebony, Tarell Jr. who was called Junior as a nick name, Patrick’s two children Bobby and Brittney, Brittney’s one year old daughter Anna, Sharon’s daughter Shaniya and Jackie who was still childless and neither had a husband.

Although Jackie wasn’t married and childless, she made it known that she was fine with it. She loved her nieces and nephews and they loved their aunt Jackie as well. Whenever they needed something that they couldn’t get from their parents, like the car, they would always call their aunt Jackie. They felt she was the coolest aunt a young adult person could ever have. Even when they were kids they always looked forward to seeing her because they knew she would have something for them like gifts or even money.

This was the Johnson’s family first Thanks Giving together as adults. It was also the same year Sharon, her husband and daughter Shaniya moved back to Queens New York, after relocating to North Carolina ten years prior.

Sharon invited all of her immediate family including Monique who had never really been invited to anything in the past. Before eating the prepared Thanksgiving meal, Sharon said a prayer, then afterwards gave a speech.

Heavenly father, we thank you for this food that you have blessed us with. This is a day of many thanks. We thank you for showing us the importance of what family is, we thank you for mending what was once broken and being there for every one of us when we were going through our trials. We thank you for all the love that we as a family share today and forever more, in Jesus name, Amen!

When she was finished, the rest of the family repeated in saying Amen.

Looking around at her family members she continued, I am so glad to see everyone here. This is what mama always wanted. She always wanted to see her children getting along and there for one another, she paused, I wish she was here to see this and to see all her beautiful grandchildren and great grand’s. Family was everything to her. She would always say, ‘if she didn’t have anything else she had her kids, and that we had each other.’ When we were coming up, she would always tell us not to let anything or anyone come between us and that we must stick together. We were all close growing up but things happened and we let it divide us, but not only did we allow ourselves to be robbed in being a family, but our children as well.

Sharon said this in referring to Monique’s Children with the family not really knowing them; not even the other children in the family knew them. As she spoke, tears began to form in her eyes, But I am so glad to be here on this day with all my family. I know mama is seeing all this and is smiling down from heaven.

As Sharon sat back down she thought about how her mother never got to see any of her grandchildren and great grand’s besides Tarell who was gone from the family at the age of 2. Ms. Johnson died young being only 52. On this Thanks Giving day the Johnson family made a vow that they would keep in touch with each other, and they would spend every 4th of July and Thanks Giving together each year in remembrance of their late mother, Ms. Johnson.

Chapter Two

Today made three months since Monique and Tarell have been in touch with each other. They had re-united with each other even before that Thanks Giving day.

Monique, three months prior to that day had set out to look for Tarell and after hiring a private investigator finding him. The investigator had given her Tarell’s phone number and address. She could have called him but decided to go see him in person. She felt that what she had to say to him couldn’t be said over the phone.

When she and Ebony arrived at Tarell’s house that Saturday evening, Monique didn’t know what to expect. She didn’t know if Tarell was going to accept her being there or reject her after everything that had happened that day when he met her ten years prior. However, because of the type of person Tarell is, he received her with open arms and was very happy to see her.

This was the first time Monique met her eight year old grandson Junior. She was so happy seeing him. Junior was happy as well in meeting his grandmother and his aunt Ebony.

Monique couldn’t stop crying.

I love you so much Tarell, she cried. I’m sorry for everything, I’m so sorry!

Tarell just kept hugging her.

You don’t have to be sorry. I’m just glad you’re here.

He smiled at her in being happy to see her and Ebony. As he was hugging his mother, he looked over at Ebony and said, Come here girl and give your brother a hug.

Ebony smiled and proceeded towards him. Still hugging his mother with one arm, he put his other arm around Ebony and kissed her.

Monique began to dry her tears and started to smile as Tarell spoke to Ebony.

How you been? he asked. You got all big since the last time I saw you. You were just a kid, now you’re a young lady.

Yeah, I’m twenty-two, smiled Ebony, and all grown up.

Ebony had grown up to be a very pretty young lady.

Although Monique didn’t go to CT to stay, she ended up staying at Tarell’s house 8 days. Tarell had talked her into it, so she called her job and extended her time out.

That next day after Tarell came in from work, he walked through the door and towards the kitchen.

Ummm, he said, it smells good in here.

Monique was in the kitchen cooking.

Mom it smells good in here, you can smell it outside, he said entering the kitchen and giving her a kiss, but you didn’t have to cook. I was planning on us going out to eat.

No, that’s okay. Dinner will be done in about fifteen minutes. There’s nothing like home cooked food, she smiled.

Okay, but I don’t want you cooking the whole time you’re here, this should be your down time.

No, no, it’s ok. If I don’t find something to do while you’re at work, I will only be sitting here bored. I don’t want to sit all day and watch soap operas, especially since I can’t watch them when I’m home by me working all the time.

While talking she paused a few seconds looking back at Tarell and then continued. While Junior was in school me and Ebony went site seeing and got lost, she laughed.

Got lost? inquired Tarell.

"Yeah,