Dreams That Won't Let Go (Jubilant Soul Book #3) , livre ebook

Baker Publishing Group - Hawkins Adams Stacy

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100 pages

English

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Indigo Burns is excited. Her wedding preparations to the man of her dreams are under way, her career as a photographer is a success, and her family seems to be doing better than ever--all except her brother Reuben who nobody has seen in years. But that's about to change, because Reuben has decided to move back home to Jubilant, Texas. But Reuben's hope to find healing with his sisters doesn't seem to be working. Soon enough their lives intersect in dramatic, sometimes painful, and ultimately healing ways.This insightful novel by an Essence bestselling author will pull in women readers from the urban market and beyond.

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 janvier 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441207319
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0202€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

J UBILANT S OUL BOOK THREE
DREAMS THAT WON T LET GO
A Novel
S tacy H awkins A dams
2010 by Stacy Hawkins Adams
Published by Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.revellbooks.com
E-book edition created 2010
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-for example, electronic, photocopy, recording-without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-0731-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Scripture used in this book, whether quoted or paraphrased by the characters, is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Published in association with the literary agency of The Steve Laube Agency, 5025 N. Central Ave. #635, Phoenix, AZ 85012-1502.
To Sharon Shahid, Muriel Miller Branch, and Carol Jackson for your ever-present encouragement, friendship, and love
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18
CONTENTS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
1
I ndigo Burns loved her brother-just not today.
Today, she wished Reuben would go home to Seattle. Today, she couldn t deal with his upstaging her. She needed just two hours of Mama s time, to treat Mama to lunch and ask her advice.
Never mind that she was a self-sufficient adult with a job, her own place, and two degrees; she still trusted Mama s wisdom- craved it-when she needed to make decisions this big.
But instead of enjoying the atmosphere in Jubilant s new casual chic dining spot with Indigo, Mama was calling her from home, sounding like a breathless schoolgirl.
Looks like I m going to be late, baby, Mama said. Reuben left to run an errand this morning, and he s on his way back to the house. He called and asked me to stay until he gets here. He has something to tell me. You don t mind, do you?
Indigo clamped her lips together. She couldn t tell Mama that she did mind, or that she didn t understand why Reuben s wishes always trumped everyone else s.
Mama kept chattering, as if she didn t expect a response. I don t know what that boy is up to, but I told him to hurry. Can you give me fifteen minutes? Go ahead and order my iced tea.
Alright, Mama, Indigo said after a long pause. See you when you get here.
She clicked off the cell phone and took a deep breath so the tears she felt forming would dissipate. Being a crybaby wouldn t help. Why was she so emotional anyway? It was just lunch, and Mama hadn t canceled.
As much as she wanted to dismiss the resentment, though, it persisted. That boy wasn t a boy. He was a man. A husband. A father. And every time he came to visit, the world didn t have to stop.
But it always did.
Indigo s stomach rumbled. Hunger and frustration were not a great combination. The menu images and descriptions of super-sized salads, sandwiches, pasta, and gourmet burgers, coupled with the aromas wafting from the plates of nearby diners, didn t help.
Her phone rang and she was thankful for the distraction. She picked up on the second ring when Shelby s number and smiling cocoa brown face flashed across the screen.
What s up, Mrs. Pappas?
That s Lieutenant Pappas to you, girlfriend. How many times do I have to tell you that?
You can fly naval helicopters all you want, but when you come home every night, you re still Hunt Pappas s wife, Ms. Thang, Indigo said.
And glad about it. Shelby laughed. Where are you? What s that noise I hear in the background?
Indigo sighed and glanced at the door, where a hostess was greeting new diners. Sitting here at The Bend, waiting on Mama, and hating on Reuben.
Indie-
He flew into town last weekend for Daddy s birthday and decided to stay for the week, since his bosses at Amazon.com allow him to telecommute. Wonder how Peyton and his little man feel about being stuck in Seattle while he s here, hanging out with his parents.
What happened this time?
Mama is supposed to be joining me for lunch. I have some exciting news that I need to get some feedback on-that s why I left you a message too. But apparently Reuben left the house this morning for a while, and the minute he called and said he needed to talk to her, Mama dropped her keys and purse and set up a vigil near the front door.
Shelby laughed. You think she found a spot on the floor and sat Indian style?
Instead of joining in, Indigo tightened her grip on the phone and clenched her teeth.
Come on, Indie, Shelby said into the silence. Lighten up. You helped Reuben reconnect with the family four years ago. Now you get upset every time he comes home to spend time with your parents and the rest of the family, and you treat him like an ex-con. Why are you so resentful . . . so jealous?
Only Shelby could find the courage to ask her a question like that. Indigo handled it her usual way, by asking one of her own.
Are you going Dr. Phil on me? Has that talk show guru been on the Corpus Christi naval base or something?
Good comeback, Indie, but stop dodging the question.
Indigo perched an elbow on the table and rested her chin in her palm. She gazed out of the draperied windows at the restaurant s landscaped lawn and expansive parking lot. Shelby was right: she was swimming in envy and anger, and the two bedfellows didn t suit her.
Indigo was thankful Reuben had stopped distancing himself from the family and that he now visited Jubilant several times a year. But she hated how whenever he came to town, Mama and Daddy decided everything and everyone else could wait.
The fact that both her best friend and her fianc kept giving her the same lecture rattled her. Max continuously urged Indigo to deal with how she felt about Reuben s return, and to understand that Mama had enough love for her, Reuben, and their sister, Yasmin, even when Mama got caught up in Reubenmania.
Max and Shelby might be right; but she was human. It hurt.
Indigo scanned the caf , noting the smiling couples and small groups of diners, some dressed casually with others suited up for business, and decided she wasn t going to feel self-conscious if she wound up eating alone. She was hungry, and in all of the excitement over Reuben, Mama might not show.
You re right, Shel. She sat upright and tucked a strand of loosely curled, shoulder-length hair behind an ear. I need to pray about how I ve been feeling-
And acting.
Maybe I m being immature, but when the truth is right in front of you, and it makes you feel like an outsider in your own family, it s hard. Indigo sat back in the chair and sighed. Let me go so I can stop whining, okay? I ll call you later to share my news. I ve got to order something to eat so I can get out of this restaurant.
Alright, Indie. Love ya.
Indigo laid the cell on the table and motioned for her waitress. She was about to request the chicken club pita with cucumber yogurt sauce when she looked up, out of the window, and saw Mama s blue Toyota Avalon pull into a parking space right in front.
Here s my mom, now, she told the waitress. Give us five minutes?
Indigo pushed her chair back and stood to greet Mama. Her face fell when she saw that Mama wasn t alone. Reuben held open the door and followed her inside.
Mama greeted her with a hug. I made it! Reuben hadn t eaten either, so I insisted that he join us.
Reuben draped his arm around Mama s shoulders and smiled. Can we fit another chair at the table, sis?
Before she could respond, the waitress materialized and pulled one over.
Here you go, sir. What would you like to drink?
Thanks, Reuben said. I ll have a Dr Pepper.
He waited until Mama and Indigo were seated before sliding into a chair himself.
Mama sipped her now iceless tea, then reached over to pat Indigo s hand. You look pretty, today. I love that purple top.
Indigo smiled and squeezed Mama s hand.
Thanks, Mama. You re looking nice too.
She had been itching to tell Mama what was on her mind, but now that Mama was here, Indigo wasn t sure she wanted to, with Reuben joining them.
Want to order? Indigo asked when she noticed the waitress hovering nearby. Mama, are you getting your usual-a Cobb salad and a bowl of clam chowder soup?
Mama laughed. Why not? At my age, it s about enjoying what you love.
Indigo shook her head. Mama was always calling herself old, but had no problem catching the eye of men her age and younger. Her cinnamon skin was smooth, her figure was slim, and she lit up a room with her energy, her lively eyes, and her warm smile.
I keep telling you, seventy-something is the new sixty-something.
Before Indigo could wave over their waitress, Mama continued. Well, today I m going to surprise you and order something different. I m feeling adventurous. Reuben just made me the happiest mother and grandmother in the world. Mama beamed at him. Do you want to tell her, or can I?
Reuben chuckled and shrugged. Go for it.
Mama s eyes danced. Reuben s been offered a job here in Jubilant. He, Peyton, and Charles David are moving home!
Indigo s breath got caught in her throat. Tears erupted before she could stop them, but Mama misunderstood her weeping. She grinned and grabbed one of Indigo s hands.
I know, sweetie! I was so happy, I cried too.
Indigo