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  When they pulled up at the bakery, Nia took off her seat belt and asked, “I wonder why Carmella didn’t want to come over here with us. I would have liked her input, but I didn’t want to push her into doing something she wasn’t up for.”

  “Oh, Mama Carmella is up for plenty. Don’t worry about going easy on her.”

  Nia nodded as she got out of the car and stood in front of the building, looking up at the sign. “Hallelujah Cakes and Such,” she read and then turned to Ronny as if an idea just struck her. “If we keep this name for the business, we can call my Health Bars, Praise Bars, by doing a little play off the word hallelujah.”

  Ronny thought about that for a moment, then shook his head. “Angel Bars might work better than Praise Bars because it will make people think that the bars must be good for them if their angelic. But if we call them Praise Bars, I doubt that the buyer would connect the concept.”

  “I didn’t think about it like that. You’re really smart, Ronny. I’m grateful to be working with you and your family on this project.”

  Ronny’s face flushed as he thanked her for the compliment.

  “Did you just blush?” Nia asked as she walked towards him, pointing at his face.

  Ronny’s hands went to his cheeks, they were feeling a bit warm, and he just didn’t understand why this woman affected him like this. “I wasn’t blushing. It’s not like I don’t receive compliments all the time.”

  The smile left her face as she stepped back. “I didn’t mean to imply that I caused you to blush. I’m sorry if it sounded like that.”

  She looked as if she thought she’d overstepped her placed and Ronny didn’t like that look on her at all. “I’m the one who needs to apologize. I did feel some heat in my cheeks, so I probably did blush. I guess I just didn’t want to admit it.”

  When Nia didn’t say anything, Ronny took the key out of his pocket. “How about we go inside the bakery and have a look around.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Ronny opened the door and then allowed Nia to go inside first. He found the light switch and flipped it on. “Here it is, in all its glory. Before Mama Carmella was diagnosed with diabetes this was a flourishing business. She and my dad were in the process of opening a few more stores.”

  “I can’t believe she just closed her business down like that.” Nia was awestruck as she walked around the front area of the bakery.

  “Mama Carmella has too much integrity to sell food that she wouldn’t put in her own body. So, even though this bakery meant so much to her, she just couldn’t continue pumping sugar into people once she’d figured out how harmful it is to the body.”

  “I commend her for that.”

  “I was proud of her. I haven’t given up sugar myself, but I certainly understand where Mama Carmella is coming from. That’s why your proposal seemed like such a good fit.”

  Nia strolled into the back area and felt as if she was in heaven as she stood in front of the huge prep table. Running her hands over the counter top, Nia told Ronny, “I can see myself teaching classes back here. This is perfect.”

  “And you don’t mind relocating to Raleigh in order to get started?”

  “You act like I’ve got so much going for myself back in Charlotte. I can leave tomorrow, if need be.”

  “What about other family members... will they be okay with you leaving them behind?”

  Wrapping her arms around herself, Nia told him. “It’s just me and Jarod. I lost my family years ago. And Jarod’s grandparents on his father’s side aren’t involved in his life.”

  “That’s too bad, he’s a really great kid.”

  “I know.” Nia gave a half smile as she said, “Their loss, right?”

  “Most def,” Ronny agreed and then asked, “Are you ready to go get something to eat?”

  “I thought I heard your stomach growl a little while ago. So what’s it going to be, pizza or burgers?”

  “Woman, you must think I have a death wish or something. If Mama-Carmella found out that I took you to a burger joint she would skin me alive.” Ronny shook his head. “No siree, I don’t need problems like that in my life.”

  “You act like Carmella is so hard, but I can tell that you really love her. The adoration you have for her comes out in your voice when you talk about her.”

  “Why wouldn’t I love her, she’s my mother,” Ronny said as if no other idea had ever or would ever enter his head. He then went on to further explain, “After my mom died, all of us kids were kind of lost, my dad included. But when Mama Carmella came into our lives, and helped us to heal we put the past behind us.”

  Nia’s eyes filled with tears as she leaned against the counter. “I’m glad she was able to be there for your family. She sounds like an awesome woman.”

  “Why are you crying?” Ronny rushed over to Nia, put his hand on her face and gently wiped a tear as it fell onto her cheek.

  “It’s just that I’ve lost so many important people in my life, but I’ve never had anyone replaced by someone who could make a difference in my life. So, when I thought about how special that must feel, it just brought tears to my eyes.”

  “I’m sorry I said all of that because I don’t ever want to say or do anything to make you cry again.”

  Turning away from Ronny, Nia wiped at her face. “I’m the one who should be sorry. We are supposed to be discussing business and here I am crying in front of you. You must be having second thoughts about investing with someone as emotional as I am. But please believe me, I’m not always like this.”

  Actually, Ronny was thinking that he had made the best decision of his life when he decided to do business with Nia Brooks. He put his hands in hers, and said, “Come on, let me treat you to a meal that you won’t soon forget.”

  Chapter 7

  While dining at a five-star seafood restaurant, Ronny and Nia discussed her move from Charlotte to Raleigh. Ronny wanted her back in Raleigh within a week, but Nia was calculating how long it would take to sell her furniture and then put together a yard sale so that she could earn enough money to possibly stay in one of those extended stay places for about a month or two. If the business went well, then she’d be able to move into another apartment... find Jarod a good school and get her life started again.

  Cutting into her thoughts, Ronny said, “I can add a moving allowance to the investment package so you can hire a mover to bring your things to your new home.”

  “Is that normal?” She wanted to cry again, but decided to save that for later, when she was in her room, on her knees talking to her Savior.

  “I’ve provided relocation packages before, when the situation warranted it.”

  Thank You, Lord Jesus, thank You. Nia silently prayed, not able to wait until she was alone to give praise to her God for turning things around for her. Just this week she had been trying to figure out how she was going to come up with the money to pay her rent and now she had a relocation package. She shook her head in disbelief as she told him, “God is simply amazing.”

  “I think I had a little bit to do with it, don’t you?” Ronny asked as he dug into his lobster.

  “Of course you had something to do with the blessings I have received. And I truly thank you for allowing God to use you to work His miracles in my life.”

  Ronny put his fork down and leaned back in his seat, staring at Nia.

  “What?” she asked when he didn’t say anything.

  “I just figured out why I am totally fascinated by you.” He pointed at her. “You remind me of Mama Carmella. I think the two of you will work well together.”

  Did he just say she fascinated him and then told her she reminded him of his mother? Nia didn’t know if that was good or bad. She knew that he adored his step-mother, but did that mean he wanted others to be just like her? “Does that bother you?”

  “On the contrary. I admire women like you and Mama Carmella. She faced tons of adversity in her life, but she just kept giving praise to God,” he lifted his hands, mi
micking praise, “no matter what, just like you seem to be doing.”

  “Then why do you sound as if giving praise to God is a problem.”

  “It’s not a problem, I just don’t understand how you could do it. Because if I had faced as much adversity as you have, I don’t know if I would still be willing to praise God, especially if I felt like He had fallen down on the job.”

  “Kind of like being a few minutes late to an important meeting?” Nia couldn’t resist the jab.

  “Okay, maybe I was a little harsh with you that day. But you were late.”

  “You would have been late, too, if you had to deal with everything I dealt with that morning. But all’s well that ends well, right?” She lifted her iced tea to toast him.

  Ronny lifted his glass and toasted Nia. As their glasses clinked and the water residue drizzled down the glasses he imagined the two of them locked in a passionate embrace that lasted a lifetime. He shook himself, trying to get the thought out of his head. Then he turned the conversation back to what he thought was safer ground. “Back to what we were talking about. Because I know what Mama Carmella would say if I asked her, but I want to know how you’re still so charitable to God... giving Him credit for the good things that happen in your life, but then acting as if He isn’t responsible for the bad.”

  With a smirk on her face, Nia sized Ronny up. “You’re one of those types, huh?”

  “What type?”

  “The type who believes everything has to be perfect or there’s no reason to serve God. With the kind of parents you have it’s hard for me to believe that you’re one of those thorny Christians.”

  Ronny had been sipping his cola. He almost spit it out as he said, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “In the fourth chapter of the book of Mark, Jesus describes the type of Christian who’s heard the word of God but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.”

  This woman took his breath away each and every time he came in contact with her. He had never done business with anyone who was bold enough to tell him that his riches were deceitful because he didn’t have Jesus, especially, someone who needed him to invest in her business. Nia Brooks took the cake. Shaking his head, all he could do was ask, “Okay, so if I’m thorny, what type of Christian are you?”

  Without hesitation she said, “I’m a John 6:68 kind of Christian.”

  With a look of confusion on his face, Ronny said, “I hope you’re about to elaborate. Because I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Don’t read the Bible much, huh?”

  “These days I’m busy reading financial journals and business books.”

  “All of that is good, because you’re preparing for financial success in life. And if you weren’t successful, you wouldn’t be able to help me with my business, but I still believe that the best thing any of us can do for ourselves is to prepare for our after-life. If my parents and my husband hadn’t been ready to meet Jesus when they did, what would have become of them?”

  Ronny nodded but said nothing.

  “To answer your question, in the book of John, chapter six, Jesus says something that offends a multitude of the people who had been following Him. The people were so offended that they stopped following Him. Kind of like how people stop coming to church after the Lord didn’t move fast enough on a problem they were dealing with.

  “After the crowd left Jesus’s ministry, he then turned to the twelve disciples and asked, ‘will you also go away?’ But in verse 68 Simon Peter answered him and said, ‘to whom shall we go for thou has the words of eternal life’.

  “That scripture sticks to me and anytime I’m going through something that causes me to doubt my convictions even a little bit, I am reminded of that scripture and I realize that I don’t want to be anywhere but safe in the arms of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

  The waitress came to the table and asked if they wanted anything else. Ronny said, “Just the check, please.”

  The waitress brought the check to the table, Ronny paid the bill and as they got up to leave, Nia said, “You got quiet on me. I hope I didn’t offend you.”

  Holding her hand as they walked out of the restaurant, Ronny told her, “I like a woman who speaks her mind. It didn’t offend me at all to know that I’m a thorny kind of Christian.”

  “Sometimes I speak my mind a little too much. I’m sorry for saying that to you.”

  “I told you I’m not offended, so don’t you be sorry. Okay?”

  Nia nodded, “Okay.”

  “I thought that was you,” a woman said as she rushed out of the restaurant behind Nia and Ronny. “Where have you been keeping yourself?”

  “Ericka,” Ronny said as he swung around. He’d know that voice from anywhere. And would have hurried along if he had seen her first.

  Ericka leaned into him and kissed his lips, leaving the stain of her bronze shimmer lip gloss. “You used to make me all sorts of promises, but now that you’re able to make them all come true, I don’t even hear from you.” She gave him a tsk-tsk as if he had been a bad boy.

  “If I remember it correctly, you’re the one who went Hollywood on me. So you can’t be mad if we lost touch.”

  “That reality show was just a means to an end, you know how the game is played.”

  “I saw how you played it.” Ronny wanted to add... and I didn’t like it or you one bit, but he kept that to himself.

  Ericka’s eyes shifted downward as she noticed that Ronny was holding Nia’s hand. She pointed at Nia and as if she was in a Color Purple remake, she said, “Who ‘dis woman?”

  Ronny pointed from one woman to the other. “Nia meet Ericka... Ericka, meet Nia.” Then he said, “It was really nice seeing you, Ericka. Wish we could talk further, but Nia and I need to get back to the house.”

  “You sound like you’ve got some kids waiting on you or something.” Ericka’s hand was on her hip, as she displayed attitude at the thought of being dismissed.

  “We actually did leave the little one with my parents. And he’s a busy one, so we’ve got to get going. Nice seeing you.”

  As they got in the car, Nia shook her head. “I can’t believe that you lied like that.”

  “I didn’t lie to her.” Backing out of his parking space, Ronny began the drive to his parents’ house. “I never said that your son was mine, I just told her we had to get back because he was with my parents... and that’s true.”

  “Yeah, but you let her assume that you and I were a couple.”

  As he pulled up to a red light, Ronny turned toward Nia with a mischievous grin on his face. “I know plenty of women who wouldn’t find that such a hardship.”

  “I bet you do.” Nia’s eyebrows lifted as she rolled her eyes.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You know what I’m talking about. Every time I go somewhere with you some woman runs up to you and practically tries to mate with you in front of me and anyone else who might be watching.”

  “Not true,” Ronny said but laughed anyway.

  “Oh really?” Nia reached over and wiped the lipstick off of Ronny’s mouth.

  At her touch, Ronny stopped laughing, because the car swerved and he had to regain control of it.

  “Sorry about that; I guess I should have warned you or something,” Nia said.

  “Your touch just does something to me,” Ronny admitted before he could stop himself. He then pulled the car to the side of the road, put it in park and pulled Nia into his arms. When their mouths met it was everything Ronny thought it would be and more—much more. Fireworks went off in his head as he pulled away from her, he leaned his head against the driver side window and said, “I don’t know what you and your God have done to me, but I got to tell you the truth... I like what I’m feeling.”

  Chapter 8

  Nia didn’t know if she liked what she was feeling. She was falling for Ron Thomas, a man so u
nlike her deceased husband that she couldn’t find any similarities between the two. She and Johnny had met in church youth group and Johnny had been humble and kind. She’d fallen in love with those traits and thought that she would always be attracted to a man with the same godly spirit as Johnny. But Ronny was larger than life, a force to be reckoned with and charming all at the same time.

  Even though she knew Ronny had been raised in a godly environment, he seemed to have forgotten where his blessing came from. And Nia never imagined herself with a man who could so easily forget to give God praise for the great and marvelous things He has done. She just needed to focus on her work and get Ron Thomas off her mind.

  “What are you over there daydreaming about?” Carmella asked as she entered the kitchen and put a sack of almond flour on the prep table.

  Nia smiled as she turned toward Carmella. They had been working together for two weeks now. She had gone back to Charlotte when Ronny left. She and Jarod took all of a day to pack of their meager belongings and then Ronny had the items shipped to Raleigh. But it turned out that she hadn’t needed any further assistance with relocation from Ronny because Carmella and Ramsey welcomed her and Jarod into their home as if they were family. But no matter how much Nia wished it to be so, she kept reminding herself that she was not family and would one day soon need to strike out on her own.

  But after years of having no one to depend on but herself, it felt good to have make-believe parents. She just didn’t know what she was going to do about the make-believe boyfriend of sorts.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be going out with Ronny tonight?” Carmella asked.

  “He’s supposed to be coming to town tonight, but who knows if he’ll be able to get away.”

  Carmella chuckled. “Oh, he’ll be here. But what I’m worried about are all these Angel Bars we need to get done today. If you keep lollygagging and daydreaming, we won’t get anything done. And then we won’t be able to sell anything at the county fair tomorrow, now will we?”