A Brand New Day

By E O Elliott

The sequel to THE RINGO EFFECT finds widowhood bringing many challenges to Dahlia Ringo. But becoming Chicago’s newest multi-millionairess makes it’s all just a little easier to bear. Purchasing and redesigning lakefront condos fulfill her creative spirit while sitting on the board of several city-wide institutions serves her sense of civic duty. Dipping her toe into the dating pool is scary and a lot trickier than she remembers—is it even worth it?—but being a mother always comes first and when one of her children is in trouble, Dahlia grabs the wheel with both hands, not knowing where this fateful ride will take them or how bumpy it’s going to get.

A BRAND NEW DAY continues to follow Dahlia Ringo as she explores life on her own for the very first time, fulfilling her dreams and becoming the independent, self-reliant woman she never knew she could be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E O Elliott
• Release date: Aug 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215543474

E O Elliott

Growing up in Chicago, surrounded by a family of dapper men and stylish women, Edwina’s heart has always belonged to the world of fashion and art. It never occurred to her to do anything else and an extensive career in advertising, illustration and design developed. She kept an on-going journal of her adventures as a retail art director, shooting with models Cindy Crawford, Uma Thurmond, Jennifer Beals and Halle Berry. After moving to Atlanta, GA, she wrote short stories for her own amusement while creating advertising and marketing campaigns for the Alliance Theater Co. with award-winning Artistic Director Kenny Leon and playwrights Elton John & Tim Rice, August Wilson, Janece Shaffer and Debbie Allen. For years she waited for the one big project that would bring it all together—fashion, art, and storytelling—before realizing, finally, that she would have to create the projects herself. And that's what she's been doing ever since. Writing, illustrating and self-publishing her own stories to share.

Book preview

A Brand New Day

Copyright 2023 E. O. Elliott

Published by E. O. Elliott at Smashwords

Cover Fashion: Carolina Herrera

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with others, please consider giving it as a gift by purchasing additional copies for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Acknowledgements

Thanks Jo-ann.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

About the Author

Let's Connect!

Prologue

When businessman Richard Ringo dies, his widow Dahlia is left to face two things. One, that Richard has secretly gambled away their entire life savings leaving her practically penniless and two, there is a young mistress in Calumet City with two small children who call him Daddy.

Dahlia struggles with these truths about her husband while keeping them hidden from everyone else. Richard’s successful businesses as well as her longstanding community involvement has earned the Ringos a stellar reputation throughout Chicago. Allowing his back alley exploits to take her down and destroy the world that she has so carefully molded for herself and her children simply can’t happen.

But Richard sold Ringo Enterprises without telling her. And he took out a second mortgage on their home—again without telling her. With only a few thousand dollars left in their bank account, Dahlia can barely afford to pay next month’s house note.

Things would be far simpler for her if she took the advice of Penelope, her best friend and only confidant, who insists that she put the house up for sale. Worth well over a million dollars, it seems to be the only way out of the mess she’s in. But for Dahlia the idea of selling her home is unthinkable. For thirty years she’s poured her heart and soul into creating and maintaining the large, well-appointed mini-mansion on Bennett Street. She’d rather kill herself than sell it. And she has no intentions of killing herself.

Dahlia begins liquidating her possessions to pay the bills and hide her financial hardships—and the truth about her husband—from everyone. Her expertly curated collection of high-end designer wear keep things afloat for a while. The Dior gowns, Oscar de la Renta suits, Versace cocktail dresses, exquisite fur coats, precious jewelry, pricey knick-knacks and objets d’art collected during their travels go a long way to help maintain the charade. Even her children are fooled.

Concocting lie upon lie she stubbornly holds on to the belief that she can somehow save her home. It's only when the jewelry safe is empty and the designer wardrobe has been depleted does it finally become clear to her. She has to let go— of both the house and her foolish illusions—and confess to her children that their father was not the brilliant and powerful man they believed him to be.

But miracles happen every day.

At rock bottom and with nowhere to turn, Dahlia discovers a lottery ticket in a forgotten bag of Richard’s belongings. Purchased on the day of his final heart attack, it turns out to be a winning ticket.

A 12.5 million dollar winning ticket.

And just like that, the nightmare is over. Dahlia offers Penelope $500,000 to claim the winning ticket as her own and tells one final whopper of a lie to answer for everything.

Picking up the pieces Dahlia slowly recovers, determined to put the worst year of her life behind her.

Now she focuses on her new role as a single, middle-aged woman. It will certainly be easier and a lot more fun as a multi-millionaire. But with three children, two grands and another on the way, the games are just beginning.

Chapter 1

The Saint Laurent boutique inside the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel is a cool and welcoming oasis on this warm day in June. The high ceilings, glass shelving and black and white Carrara marble showcase the latest collection of handbags, shoes and luxury wear.

Inside a private dressing salon, Dahlia Ringo reties the belt of her denim wrap dress and finishes up the final fitting of garments selected from their upcoming fall collection last March. The two pantsuits and four daytime dresses will look smart for meetings at The Art Institute, where she’s now on the Board of Trustees, as well as The City Symphony Orchestra, The Museum of Science and Industry and The Obama Library Committee, of which she also serves. Dahlia likes to stay busy. And she likes to dress well while doing it.

Her favorite piece from the collection, the piece she can’t wait to wear, is a cocoa brown bugle-beaded cocktail dress. It reaches mid-knee and flaunts her show-stopping legs. This little number she has slated for the JPBSS Fall Debutante Ball which takes place in late September. The JPBSS, Jefferson Park Business and Social Sector, is her organization. She’s been their President for sixteen years and the Debutante Ball, which she founded, is the feather in her cap.

Her saleswoman, Carla, now waves an opened bottle of champagne over Dahlia’s near empty crystal flute. Would you like another splash, Mrs. Ringo?

Oh no, Dahlia shakes her head while reapplying lipstick. One glass is enough. I’m driving.

After checking the calendar, Carla sets a date for the final delivery of Dahlia’s new garments. These final alterations are all very minor, she says. We should have everything done by late August. I’ll give you a ring a week or so in advance to schedule.

That’s fine, Dahlia says, gathering her handbag, sunglasses and her new iPhone 14, a Mother’s Day gift from her son RJ. Following Carla outside to the main sales floor, Dahlia turns a blind eye to the fine wares on display. It doesn’t matter that she’s worth millions now. She just can’t spend another dime in Saint Laurent. She has a fitting next week at Dior and then her standing appointment at St. John the week after.

She’s enjoyed every moment replenishing the racks, shelves and shoe cubbies left bare in her closet after last years’ Great Effort. But it’s time now to exercise a little discipline and get a grip on herself.

Dahlia steps inside the revolving door to exit the store just as Dr. Rochelle Plummer-Hughes is entering. Rochelle’s grandfather was one of the city’s most well-respected Black pediatricians in the 1950s and ‘60s and Rochelle's father followed in his footsteps. Now Rochelle admirably does her part to maintain the family legacy. She’s just been named to the Board of Trustees at the University of Chicago’s Medical Center.

The ladies spot one another through the hazy glass and grinning, they revolve around until they are both inside the store.

Hello Stranger, Rochelle says as she and Dahlia share a warm hug. Haven’t seen you since the Boo at the Zoo fundraiser last October.

You’re the busy one, Dahlia says. Congratulations on the new appointment. Your father and grandfather would have been so proud of you. I know I am.

Thanks Dahlia, Rochelle says. Do you know Buffy Jacobsen?

Of course, Dahlia says, extending her hand to Rochelle’s companion. She and Buffy attend many of the same fundraisers. How are you?

Buffy’s handshake is limp. She smiles cooly but says nothing.

Rochelle asks Dahlia, Where are you off to?

I have another stop to make and was thinking about grabbing something to eat before heading home.

We have reservations for three right here at The Brasserie, Rochelle says. But our third just cancelled. Have lunch with us?

Thinking she’d have Rochelle all to herself, Buffy can’t hide her disappointment. Dahlia catches the socialite's tight frown out of the corner of her eye and it’s all the more reason to accept Rochelle’s invitation.

I’d love to, Dahlia says.

While Rochelle and Buffy examine a new Saint Laurent shoulder bag delivered this morning from the New York store, Dahlia slips on a pair of readers to peek at her phone messages. There’s a voicemail from her youngest daughter Maya. Entering an unexpected fifth year at Stanford in the fall, this summer she has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to build houses in rural Georgia.

I was just calling, Maya said. "I didn’t want