A Hire Love. Candice Dow
>
Also by Candice Dow
Caught in the Mix
Ain’t No Sunshine
Tappin’ on Thirty
A Hire Love
Candice Dow
This book is dedicated to my niece and namesake, Candice Taliah Dow, born March 2, 2006. I made a commitment to myself to finish this book before you were born. Thanks for arriving two weeks late and granting me an extension on my self-imposed deadline.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank God for the abundance of blessings in my life. I am ever so grateful for His goodness and mercy.
All good things come in threes, and I can’t believe how time flies. Just a year and a half ago, I was a first-time author, biting my nails, anxiously awaiting feedback on my first book, and how I prayed that at least one person would like it. For some reason I thought those jitters would go away with subsequent books. Guess what? They’re still here, but I believe it is what makes me humble and drives me to write stories that you will enjoy. To my lovely readers: It is your love and support that keep me afloat. Your words pull me through and you make this journey worth the ride. To all the African-American book clubs, thank you. You are our backbone, and I appreciate you keeping it tight for us. So much love and gratitude goes out to you.
To my wonderful literary agent and friend, Audra Barrett: When you proposed the idea for this story, I remember you thought you’d have to sell it to me. Before you could even finish your pitch, I knew it was something that I’d be honored to write. Thanks for trusting me enough to be the surrogate mother to your baby! You are brilliant and I couldn’t ask for better representation.
To my mother and father, thanks for over-nurturing me and making me believe that anything in this world is attainable. To my sister, Lisa, where would I be without you? Auntie’s Angels: Morgan and Macey, keep making me proud. You are everything and everything is you! Thanks to all my family for being there and loving me despite my frequent absences from the family meetings. We are bound together with cords that cannot be broken! Special thanks to the family promo-team, especially Danece “Down for the Ride” Sykes, Tara “Just Tell Me What I Gotta Do” Collier, Nia and Little Kevin, Sonia Harrison, Malik and The Twins.
Anika, you always know exactly when to push and when to pull. I am so blessed to have you to share my triumphs and successes, as well as my failures and mistakes. To the “Sex and the City” crew turned “ANS Street Team.” Just when I thought you girls were too commercial for the grind, you stepped up the game in a major way. Nicole Dehlitsch, every writer needs to have you in her life, and I’m so glad you’re in mine. Julian Brown, my lifelong friend, thanks for actually listening.
To my fellow authors and friends: Darren Coleman, thank you so much for your guidance and assurance as I try to figure this literary industry out. I wish you continued success. Daaimah “Everyday I’m Hustlin’” Poole, you are my girl! I am intrigued by your drive and determination. You deserve the best, and I wish you all the success in the world. Lissa Woodson aka Naleighna Kai, I can always trust that you are promoting me even when I’m not promoting myself and I thank you.
To the other authors who have blessed me on this journey with a smile, an encouraging word, a laugh, or a listening ear, I just want to tell you that I appreciate you: Janine A. Morris, Brenda L. Thomas, Victoria Christopher-Murray, Mary B. Morrison, Kendra Norman-Bellamy, Karen Quinones-Miller, Carl Weber, RM Johnson, La Jill Hunt, T. Styles, Nikki Turner, Joel McIver, Yasmin Shiraz, Yolanda Buick, and so many others—much success.
To the TriCom Publicity team, thank you for all of your hard work. Many thanks to Robilyn Heath, Heather Covington, Shunda Leigh, and Nakea Murray.
Thanks to the entire Kensington staff, especially Latoya Smith for holding down the fort. Jessica McLean, you are the best and I’m so blessed to have you.
If I forgot anyone, blame it on my mind and not my heart. Until next time, I’ma keep rhymin’ and keep writin’ and you will always be my reason…
With love,
Candice
Contents
PROLOGUE
Scene 1FATIMA
Scene 2FATIMA
Scene 3FATIMA
Scene 4FATIMA
Scene 5RASHAD
Scene 6FATIMA
Scene 7RASHAD
Scene 8FATIMA
Scene 9RASHAD
Scene 10FATIMA
Scene 11RASHAD
Scene 12FATIMA
Scene 13RASHAD
Scene 14FATIMA
Scene 15RASHAD
Scene 16FATIMA
Scene 17RASHAD
Scene 18FATIMA
Scene 19RASHAD
Scene 20FATIMA
Scene 21RASHAD
Scene 22FATIMA
Scene 23RASHAD
Scene 24RASHAD
Scene 25FATIMA
Scene 26RASHAD
Scene 27FATIMA
Scene 28RASHAD
Scene 29RASHAD
Scene 30FATIMA
Scene 31FATIMA
Scene 32RASHAD
Scene 33FATIMA
Scene 34RASHAD
Scene 35FATIMA
Scene 36RASHAD
Scene 37FATIMA
Scene 38RASHAD
Scene 39FATIMA
Scene 40RASHAD
Scene 41FATIMA
Scene 42RASHAD
Scene 43FATIMA
Scene 44RASHAD
Scene 45FATIMA
Scene 46RASHAD
Scene 47FATIMA
Scene 48RASHAD
Scene 49FATIMA
Scene 50RASHAD
Scene 51FATIMA
Scene 52RASHAD
PROLOGUE
Mounds of makeup-soiled tissue sat on the pew separating my sister and me. My mother was on the other side with her Southern church hat cocked to the side. Spit bubbles lined my lips as I asked, “Why?”
With her left arm wrapped around my shoulders to settle the jitters, my mother wiped my face with the ball of her right thumb. My sniffles stuttered as I fought to catch my breath.
When we fell in love, I thought to myself, this is too good to be true. As the pastor did the eulogy, our life flashed through the lenses of my Chanel sunshades. He was the man of my dreams. Why couldn’t this be a dream?
With my arm stretched to the picture that sat atop the casket, I rocked back and forth wishing that I could touch him just one