Divas of Damascus Road Read online

  “Wooo!” Regina reached past Orlando and slapped hands with Aunt Toe.

  “That’s enough.” Gloria smiled, too.

  “Oh, Gloria, please. What I’mo do with a man? I’d keel over the minute he kissed me,” Aunt Toe laughed at herself.

  “Yeah, right.” Yo-yo pushed Aunt Toe’s joke from her mind.

  “You drove up all by yourself, Dianne?” Regina asked.

  “Yes. I’ll be leaving out Sunday, after church.”

  “Can I spend the night at your house, Yo-yo? I know it’s already spic and span.”

  “Girl, I caught her with some dishes in the sink the other day,” Regina said with amazement.

  “That was a rare occasion.” Yo-yo rolled her eyes. “Of course you can stay with me.”

  “Dianne, you be careful drivin’ long distances by yourself. You hear?” Aunt Toe said. “You might do yourself some good movin’ up this way instead of doin’ all this drivin’ and flyin’.”

  “Well, I think I may be able to put an end to all this travel soon. I’m meeting with my boss next week to see about telecommuting ninety percent of the time,” Dianne announced.

  “What’s that?” Aunt Toe asked.

  “It’s when I do my work on the computer and by telephone,” she said.

  “That would be great, Dianne,” Yolanda said. “I can’t wait to have you move back to Dentonville.”

  “Hey,” Dianne announced, “I’ve got a big gig coming up, a national conference on the use of writing as a tool for healing. My doctor submitted a few of my poems for consideration, and I was invited to speak.”

  “That’s great, Dianne,” Regina congratulated her. “This could be a new career for you, you know?”

  Dianne shook her head in amazement. God was indeed opening doors for her. “Now I understand what people mean when they talk about the story behind the glory. The price you paid to get where you are is exactly what it cost.”

  “Dianne, that’s deep.” Kelan nodded. “No wonder you’re the poet.”

  “That’s my Sugarbee,” Gloria agreed.

  Gloria ordered Yolanda and Regina to take Dianne into the new den. “Go show her how I’ve fixed it up.”

  Yolanda and Regina led Dianne to what used to be the garage. Dianne happily huffed and puffed at the sight. What was once a cluttered, dark, stuffy garage had been transformed into a bright, airy living room. Fresh carpeting and wood paneling covered the planes, while traditional furniture gave the appearance of many good times past in the room. Cleverly placed shelving displayed several of the pictures they’d rummaged through following Joyce Ann’s death. Dianne was drawn to one picture in particular, though: one of Joyce Ann in happier days. It was the way Dianne wanted to remember Joyce Ann.

  And then the idea hit her. “You know what?”

  “What?” Regina asked.

  Why don’t we establish a scholarship or something in Joyce Ann’s name? We could award it to a college freshman who’s overcome and managed to push forward despite a rocky beginning.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Yolanda agreed. “We didn’t go through all this pain all this time for nothing.”

  “I know that’s right,” Regina agreed.

  They discussed the idea with their larger family over dinner, and everyone agreed to help establish the Joyce Ann Rucker scholarship fund. Richard volunteered his connections with the community, Kelan volunteered his artistic skills to create a logo, and Orlando offered to set up a Web site. Where Dianne, Regina, and Yolanda had envisioned a women-only operation, they found that the men in their lives had something to contribute. Rather than being in the way, they made the way a little easier.

  Gloria lit the birthday candles, and Aunt Toe blew them out just as quickly. In years past, Aunt Toe had wished she would live to see her girls reunited. She’d been granted that wish. Aunt Toe didn’t have any more wishes—or birthdays—left. She knew this would be her last one.

  Sometimes people know. And she was fine with that now.

  The End

  If you liked Divas of Damascus Road,

  get ready to enjoy Boaz Brown!

  LaShondra has done the work on herself first. She's gotten her education and, more importantly, developed a strong relationship with Christ. Now, she's ready for a man--but not just any man. She wants a Boaz, a godly man...who's gainfully employed...and it wouldn’t hurt if he looked good, too. God answers with three out of three, but there's a twist: her perfect man, Stelson Brown, isn't African-American.

  While LaShondra's parents are happy about her professional success, they're chomping at the bit for her to get married. Her father (who wouldn't even let her bring her white friends home from school) and her mother (who gets word about the white man through the church folk grapevine) will have more than a few words for her when they find out--if LaShondra ever gets around to telling her family and friends about Stelson.

  The racial climate at LaShondra's job isn't helping the situation. LaShondra suspects that the principal is buffering grades for certain students. Can she keep her integrity while keeping her job as vice principal?

  Boaz Brown is the first novel of bestselling novelist Michelle Stimpson. In essence, it launched her career as a writer and is still one of her best-loved works.

  "Sassy...refreshingly forthright...an

  excellent reading group selection." -Library Journal (Starred Review)

  "Thought-provoking...offers lessons for

  all" -Publisher's Weekly

  "Powerful...stylishly written...delivers

  hard questions in a tightly wrapped package of complex relationships, power

  struggles, and heart-melting romance." -Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine

  (4.5 stars)

  Download Boaz Brown now!

  Other Books by Michelle Stimpson

  Michelle Stimpson

  Fiction

  A Forgotten Love (Novella) Book One in the “A Few Good Men” Series

  A Shoulda Woulda Christmas (Novella)

  Boaz Brown

  Divas of Damascus Road

  Falling into Grace

  I Met Him in the Ladies’ Room (Novella)

  I Met Him in the Ladies’ Room Again (Novella)

  Last Temptation (Starring “Peaches” from Boaz Brown)

  Mama B: A Time to Speak (Book 1)

  Mama B: A Time to Dance (Book 2)

  Mama B: A Time to Love (Book 3)

  Mama B: A Time to Mend (Book 4)

  Someone to Watch Over Me

  Stepping Down

  The Good Stuff

  Trouble In My Way (Young Adult)

  What About Momma’s House? (Novella with April Barker)

  What About Love? (Novella with April Barker)

  Non-Fiction

  Did I Marry the Wrong Guy? And other silent ponderings of a fairly normal Christian wife

  Uncommon Sense: 30 Truths to Radically Renew Your Mind in Christ

  The 21-Day Publishing Plan

  Visit Michelle online:

  www.MichelleStimpson.com

  www.Facebook.com/TheMichelleStimpsonPage

  A Note from the Author

  If you have yet to start your journey in Christ, let me encourage you to seek Him. Seek Him in all of his glory, all of His love, and His wisdom. If you feel the tug in your heart, Thank Him for His goodness, ask Him for forgiveness, and invite Him to live in you. He stands knocking on the door of your heart and is more than pleased to come in and be your Lord (Rev. 3:20).

  About the Author

  Michelle Stimpson’s works include the highly acclaimed Boaz Brown, Divas of Damascus Road (National Bestseller), and Falling Into Grace, which has been optioned for a movie of the week. She has published several short stories for high school students through her educational publishing company at WeGottaRead.com.

  Michelle serves in women's ministry at her home church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. She also ministers to women and writers through her blog. She regularly speaks at special event
s and writing workshops sponsored churches, schools, book clubs, and educational organizations.

  The Stimpsons are proud parents of two young adults and one crazy dog.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Description:

  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

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  If you liked Divas of Damascus Road, get ready to enjoy Boaz Brown!

  Other Books by Michelle Stimpson

  A Note from the Author

  About the Author