Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
So, I don’t say anything. I just cry.
Right there at the table.
I drop my face into my hands and weep.
“Aw, Brynn. No, please don’t cry,” Jolene coos.
“Yeah, girl. We’re good! We did it! We made it out the other side,” Shavonne says. “We won!” A hand rubs my back and I get a whiff of Jolene’s vanilla-spice perfume. A pair of hands take mine away from my face and through my blurry gaze, I look into Jolene’s glistening eyes. She’s bent down beside my chair, peering up at me.
“You can live your life now, Brynn. No more hiding. No more holding your breath. It’s time to free yourself, do you hear me? Let this all go and become the best possible version of yourself.”
“I just . . .” I sniffle and tilt my head to wipe my damp cheek on my shoulder. I look at Samuel, whose eyes are moist too. “I’ve been stuck in survival mode. Constantly feeling like someone is out to get me. And I guess all of this just solidifies it, you know? Makes it feel like all I did wasn’t for nothing.” I gesture to the check on the table. “Jolene, you didn’t have to do this. Seriously.”
“I wanted to,” she says with a smile. “And you better be glad because some of the questions those interviewers asked made me want to blow my damn brains out. Now I see why Beyoncé doesn’t do interviews anymore!”
I bubble a laugh as she does, then she leans in to hug me. I hug her back, finding comfort in this moment. Even if Jolene and I never speak again after I leave this hotel, I’m forever grateful. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of what I did without her. This is how it should be in the world: women helping women. People supporting each other.
We spend the rest of the night drinking champagne and Samuel orders Indian food for us before he has to take off to visit Cabarrus County for an event.
“So, what will you two do with all that money coming in?” Jolene asks. She’s stripped out of her work suit to just the silk camisole beneath. Shavonne sits next to me on the bed, her hands planted and locked behind her head as she stares up at the ceiling.
“Well, first I’m going to get a new car. I’m thinking a Lexus or something snazzy,” Shavonne says, grinning. “Then I’ll probably go back to New Orleans, help Krystal out a bit more with her shop. Might even take over it so she can relax. Believe it or not, she makes pretty good money there. I can expand things for her. Add another shop in the mall or something.”
“She’d love that,” I say.
“What about you, Brynn?” Jolene asks.
“I’ve always liked cooking,” I say, shrugging. “I used to make Pinterest boards of how I’d design my beachfront bed and breakfast if I ever owned one. I’d move to Cape Cod and start one up, have in-house breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Make it a true escape, or a hidden gem, you know?” I look between Jolene and Shavonne. “I might do that. Something calm and quiet after all the chaos.”
“That’s beautiful,” Jolene murmurs.
“And if my idea in Nola doesn’t pan out, I’ll join you at the bed and breakfast,” Shavonne declares, bumping my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her, resting my head on her shoulder.
I’m not sure what it is about this moment, but what I do know is that I’ve never felt safer than I do now. Tucked between two powerful women, all of us ready to tackle our dreams and blossom into the women we’re truly meant to be. Even Jolene. Though she has it all, her growth was stunted by Dominic. Now she can bloom.
I was wrong about myself before. I’m not worthless. I am someone with a soul and a divine right to be here. I have a purpose just like every other human on this earth and if that isn’t enough to live for, I don’t know what is.