Dishonored Vows

By Kymlah J. Burton

This is a book that has been begging to be published, it looks into the lives of three couples who are under the strain of abuse, infidelity, disrespect, and dishonor in their marriages. These three women are
married to men who have not taken their marriage vows seriously. To be perfectly honestthey have Dishonored Their Wedding Vows

Lisa Lyons (Desmond) has been married for 10 years to her high school sweetheart. She takes a lover when she finds out her husband is having yet, another affair. How can this marriage be saved when Desmond
finds so much pleasure in the arms of other women? He finds nothing wrong with bringing them into the home where he and his family live.

Lucy Smalls (James) is married to a womanizer, who is a mental and physical abuser. Did promising to love him til death do us part, mean that she was supposed to stay with him until he killed her? She is the owner of the hair salon where all of the women go to release their pent-up feelings and come away with renewed energy and the strength to face another day.

Jasmine Cooper (Brian) after a year of wedded bliss discovers that her husband has not only one, but two children that she never knew about. The youngest one supposedly, conceived a month after they
were married.

This is not a male-bashing book, its about how three woman chose to deal with their husbands lying, cheating and beatings. As you read this, Im sure you will realize that you know some woman or maybe you, yourself have been in a similar situation. How would or did you handle it? What advice would you have given to someone in one of these situations?
This is not a book to be placed on a shelf, it is to be read, discussed, and dissected. Its a guide post for couples whose marriages are in trouble and whether they separate, divorce or get counseling they need
to know that one size does not fit all and they do have choices.

Enjoy the Read!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483603971

Kymlah J. Burton

Biography The author was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She currently resides in a quaint little town approximately 20 miles west of Columbia in South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Colorado University and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Kymlah J. Burton.

Book Cover and Graphics Designed by ‘Guardians Graphics’

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013904015

ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4836-0396-4

Softcover 978-1-4836-0395-7

Ebook 978-1-4836-0397-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 03/16/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

131030

Contents

Acknowledgements

1

Lucy and James Smalls

2

Lisa and Desmond Lyons

3

Jasmine and Brian Cooper

4

Lucy

5

Lisa

6

Jasmine

7

Lucy

8

Lisa

9

Jasmine

10

Lucy

11

Lisa

12

Jasmine

13

Lucy

14

Lisa

15

Jasmine

16

Lucy

17

Lisa

18

Jasmine

19

Lucy

20

Lisa

21

Lucy

Excerpt from Love’s Chameleon

By Kymlah J. Burton

Dedication

Dedicated to the Memory of my Maternal Grandparents

Harvey & Mary Fleming-Eleazer and

My Dad, Eddie L. Harris

This is a book that has been begging to be published, it looks into the lives of three couples who are under the strain of abuse, infidelity, disrespect, and dishonor in their marriages. These three women are married to men who have not taken their marriage vows seriously. To be perfectly honest—they have ‘Dishonored Their Wedding Vows’—

Lisa Lyons (Desmond) has been married for 10 years to her high school sweetheart. She takes a lover when she finds out her husband is having yet, another affair. How can this marriage be saved when Desmond finds so much pleasure in the arms of other women? He finds nothing wrong with bringing them into the home where he and his family live.

Lucy Smalls (James) is married to a womanizer, who is a mental and physical abuser. Did promising to love him ’til death do us part’, mean that she was supposed to stay with him until he killed her? She is the owner of the hair salon where all of the women go to release their pent-up feelings and come away with renewed energy and the strength to face another day.

Jasmine Cooper (Brian) after a year of wedded bliss discovers that her husband has not only one, but two children that she never knew about. The youngest one supposedly, conceived a month after they were married.

This is not a male-bashing book, it’s about how three woman chose to deal with their husband’s lying, cheating and beatings. As you read this, I’m sure you will realize that you know some woman or maybe you, yourself have been in a similar situation. How would or did you handle it? What advice would you have given to someone in one of these situations?

This is not a book to be placed on a shelf, it is to be read, discussed, and dissected. It’s a guide post for couples whose marriages are in trouble and whether they separate, divorce or get counseling they need to know that ‘one size does not fit all’ and they do have choices.

Enjoy the Read!

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I thank God for putting this book on my heart, for giving me a gift and allowing me to share it with others. This was a journey that started in 2008 but God did not see fit for me to complete it until He was ready.

Special Thanks To:

Sherrell Autreace and Phylicia Shervonne, my daughters—I am so very proud of you both and no mother could ever love you more.

Consuela Coates-Beaufort, my mother, editor and best friend, for your unconditional love and support even when I didn’t deserve it.

Victor Coates and Michael Carter, two of my brothers, for being confidants, great friends and awesome brothers.

My spiritual advisors: Pastors Madrick and Angela Dreher, The late Pastor Leonard Faison and his wife, Nancy Faison, Pastor Gloria J. Frazier and my maternal aunt, Olivia Fleming-Dixon, who was happy to share her 96 years worth of spiritual wisdom.

Doris Frazier-Bryant, the very best cousin, friend, shoulder and SO much more. When no one else was there, near or far, you were.

Yvonne ‘Pudden’ (my other daughter); Kimyatta, Najwa, Deora, DeAnna, Alexis and Alicia ‘Buttons’; my nieces—just your love gave Auntie so much support.

And last but not least, my husband, Bernard Ingram, for without you, I would not have been able, nor would I have had the insight or the strength, to write this book.

Others who I would be remiss to omit are: Gunzer Lee Beaufort, Frank L. Brooks, Timothy Burton, LaMar Coates, Doretha Cratic, Michael D. Eleazer, B. Sha’Marr Gay, Dorothy Goins, Nadine Harris, The Harris and Ingram Families, Rick ‘O’, Gwen ‘Peggie’ Patrick, Yolanda Scott, and Zion Thomas.

I have other siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, god-children, other family members, sisters-in-law and friends; far too many to mention.

Please know you were not forgotten but space would not permit me to name you all. You know who you are and you know how much I love and appreciate you and the parts you have played in my life.

1

Lucy and James

Smalls

Lucy, what’s taking you so damn long?

I’m coming.

What?

I said I’m coming.

Well you’re not coming fast enough!

I’m sorry James, I’m moving as fast as I can, Lucy said slowly. Last night James had been out drinking and womanizing, again. When Lucy confronted him he did what he had done on numerous occasions, he beat her down. Lucy was tired of going into the salon looking and feeling like she had gone all ten rounds with the reigning heavy weight champion. But, that was her saving grace; she, once again, thanked God for her salon. She’d given James plenty of opportunities to leave but he always said they were going to stay together if it killed them both. And Lucy believed he literally meant that. She knew the people in the salon saw the bruises on her face and neck, after all she couldn’t hide everything with make-up. But, she still tried to put on a good front, by smiling and acting happy but it was beginning to take too much effort. She couldn’t take the beatings much longer and she was tired of looking down and out, no matter how much she smiled or how much make-up she applied.

When Lucy got into the car James started with his same ole lies. Lucy, you know I love you Baby, that’s why I don’t want us to break up, you keep me grounded. I keep trying to break if off with these girls but when I start drinking you know how vulnerable I get and they start taking advantage of me. I promise you I’m going to stop drinking because I’ve spent too many years with you to find anyone else as special as you.

Blah, blah, blah, was all Lucy heard because he had said the same thing at least once a week, for the last five years. Her mind drifted back to their courtship, how James was there when her family turned their back on her. How, when she had nowhere to stay, James offered her shelter and when she had a dream of opening her own beauty shop, ‘Divine Dezignz’, James worked extra hours to make sure she had all the money she needed to put down on the property. She thought to herself, I can’t leave, he’s done too much to help me get where I am. I need him and he really does love me.

When they got to the shop James got out, opened the door for her and helped her carry her things inside. He smiled at everyone, said his hello’s, kissed his wife on the lips and said, Have a good day sweetheart.

Lucy stared at him, wishing her eyes were daggers so that she could shoot them into his back. But, she just put on a happy face and said her daily prayer, Today is a great day in the Lord, let us, as well as everyone who walks through the door, be blessed, Amen. Okay troops, she sang out, let’s have a great day. On the inside, she just wanted to lie down and die.

Lucy went on about her day but God in heaven knows she ached something fierce. She knew she should have gone to the Emergency Room but she had too many heads lined up this morning. She could have very easily given her clients to one of the other stylists, either Symphony, Journey, Paris or Kelli but her clients had been with her since the beginning and they were very funny about other stylists doing their hair. After the beat-down from James last night and constantly using her hands today, her arm felt like it was broken. She would definitely have to go to the ER tonight. She would just have to devise another story, hopefully, Dr. Brandon Hudson would not be the one to wait on her. I swear I think that man waits for me to come thru the doors before stepping foot in the emergency room. He is always full of questions, when he’s not giving out advice. Ms. Smalls, are you sure all you did was loose your footing? How many steps were there? Were you all alone when you fell? Is the dog okay? After a trip like that he must have been hurt too, you should have him checked by your Vet.

Oh my God, Lucy sighed, she just was not in the mood for Doctor Hudson tonight. Maybe she would call ahead to see if he was going to be on duty. Lucy talked all that stuff in her head but underneath she was always glad to see Dr. Hudson with his handsome self. He was always very caring and nurturing even if it did seem like he was interrogating her for some crime she had been accused of. She guessed that came with the territory though. An effective and efficient doctor has to ask questions in order to find out what was wrong but, sometimes Dr. Hudson was too good at his job because Lucy got tired of thinking of instant lies to satisfy his questions.

Lucy . . . Lucy! Lucy was so deep in thought she forgot she was pressing Mary Ewing’s hair.

Oh Mrs. Ewing, I’m sorry, said Lucy as she grabbed a cool towel to put on Mrs. Ewing’s ear. She didn’t burn it but the heat from the comb seemed to scorch it a little.

That’s fine Honey, it didn’t burn. What’s on your mind so heavy today?

Oh Mrs. Ewing you don’t want to know.

Oh, Honey, I don’t have all of this grey on my head for nothing. Now I ain’t no psychic or nothing but something is not right. I’ve been coming to you for a long time, over 10 years, starting when you were doing hair in your apartment. I know we’ve never had any personal discussions because I know you can’t tell young peoples what to do, but for the last five years or so I see the change in you. Your eyes don’t have that sparkle like they used to. I was there when you got married and I know when you had the misfortune of losing your baby.

Lucy almost choked, she didn’t think anyone knew, she hadn’t told anyone. She wasn’t gaining weight; in fact that was one of the problems with her pregnancy.

Honey, Mrs. Ewing said, "Calm down, I don’t gossip like some of these folks but that’s why I brought you the card that said I was thinking of you after your ‘flu’."

Lucy stopped doing Mrs. Ewing’s hair and turned the chair around so Mrs. Ewing could face her.

Mrs. Ewing, how did you know?

Chile, I’m from the old school, I saw the baby’s heartbeat in your neck and I had dreamed of fish not long before that.

Oh my goodness, does anyone else know?

"Well, if they do