lies! This story worked me! Hard! It was challenging from start to finish, the characters continually turning left when I was trying with everything in me to herd them right! But I absolutely love the final product. Once again, it was about family and the strength of their love and their commitment to doing right, when it would be so much easier to do wrong!
I loved fleshing out Mingus Black. He’s a bad boy to his core and yet he’s a big softy when it comes to the delightful Joanna Barnes. The two are sheer perfection in all their flawed beauty. Together, they are fire! I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed writing their story.
I really love this book! I hope you will, too!
Thank you so much for your support. I am humbled by all the love you keep showing me, my characters and our stories. I know that none of this would be possible without you.
Until the next time, please take care and may God’s blessings be with you always.
With much love,
Deborah Fletcher Mello
To Kay Edmondson
You are a joy and a blessing to know!
Know that you are much loved and valued!
Contents
The noise level in the small classroom rose substantially as the door flung open and students began to parade inside. Joanna Barnes looked up from the papers she’d been grading, a bright smile pulling at her lips. Greetings rang out warmly as one student after the other found their way to a seat for the third-period history class.
“Good morning, Ms. Barnes!”
“Hey, Ms. B!”
“Ms. Barnes! What up?”
She twisted the cap back onto the red pen she was holding and slid it and the test papers from her previous class into her desk drawer. Rising to her feet, she returned the gesture, greeting each student warmly as she moved to stand by the door.
“Mr. Parsons, good morning! Miss Hayes, how are you? Take a seat, please, Mr. Tolliver!”
The energy in the room was palpable, everyone anxious about the test they would soon be taking. This was one of the honors classes, the students all exceptionally bright and especially motivated. Over half had already been notified of their early acceptance into college, with most of
