Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 142866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
I stretch my hand and invite my client, my dear friend, to join me on the stage.
“Please welcome the woman of the hour to introduce the premiere of her new television show Home Is Where the Start Is, Soledad Charles!”
By the time Soledad crosses the stage to me, her face is tear-streaked and wreathed in so much joy that I’m blinking back thug tears my damn self. She doesn’t say a word, but walks right into my arms. Holding each other only makes us both cry a little harder. She finally pulls back and smiles up at me.
“Thank you, Hen,” she says into the mic. “When I say I wouldn’t be here tonight if it weren’t for Hendrix, I mean that. When I had no money, she and my friend Yasmen made sure me and my girls didn’t go without.”
Soledad blinks away more tears, gulps until she finds her composure.
“Hen helped me carve out a new path as an influencer. She took me on as a client and believed in me when I had to figure out how to believe in myself. So yeah. I wouldn’t be here without her.”
Soledad shields her eyes against the bright lights and peers out at the crowd.
“And where is Yasmen Wade? Yas, I know you’re running around planning or fixing something. She helped organize this event for us tonight. It doesn’t feel right to be up here without you.”
Looking slightly frazzled, Yasmen speed-walks through the crowd and up to the stage. She takes the spot on the other side of Soledad and slips an arm through hers. Soledad looks from me to Yasmen, and tears fill her eyes all over again.
“I have an amazing partner,” she says. “Judah Cross, you know I love you and am so glad we get to do this life thing together.”
I search the crowd to find Judah sitting on the front row with his boys Aaron and Adam. The look in his eyes, the smile on his face is so full of love and pride. Soledad’s three girls are seated with them, and their faces are alight with the same emotion. The same love.
“Yasmen has her ex-ex-husband Josiah,” Soledad says, a teasing grin curving her lips. “We were all waiting for those crazy kids to get back together.”
Yasmen rolls her eyes, but smiles good-naturedly and blows a kiss to Josiah, who sits with Deja and Kassim.
“And now Hendrix has a partner, too.” Soledad’s eyes soften when she looks back to me. “Maverick, welcome to our chaos.”
Mav, who’s seated on the same row as Josiah and Judah, drapes one arm over the shoulder of his daughter, Tamia. When my gaze locks with Maverick’s, there’s a tender heat, a deep knowing that I’ve only ever felt when I looked into this man’s eyes.
“My point,” Soledad continues, “is that all three of us have partners, men we love.”
A few more tears trickle over her cheeks. “But these two women are just as much my soulmates. They have been with me through the toughest times of my life. They have never wavered and have taught me what true friendship, what real sisterhood means. I thank you.”
We’re all a mess now, the tears falling faster than we can wipe them. We’ve all been on our individual journeys, experienced hardships, but not one step since we met each other has been taken alone.
“If I don’t play this first episode,” Soledad laughs, swiping at her cheeks, “we’ll never get through this. When the network approached me about doing a show that emphasized the beauty of creating a home, I knew this was the right fit. I dedicate this premier episode to my girls and to my guys.”
She smiles at her daughters, Judah, and his boys. “And to you, Skyland, for being our family and our community. For being our home.”
We leave the stage and I settle gratefully into the seat beside Maverick. He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles once the episode begins playing.
“Proud of you, Gorgeous,” he whispers.
“Me?” I shrug and keep my voice low under the show’s opening credits. “It’s Soledad’s night.”
“It is, but she said it herself. None of this would be happening without you.” Affection fills his eyes in the dim light from the screen and the moon overhead. “I know you said once it’s not Black Girl Magic, but you are magic, Hendrix Barry. And I’m more than happy if this is a spell you cast on me.”
I fight back the smile threatening to overtake my face and punch him lightly on the arm. “Boy, hush. You have me. You ain’t gotta lay it on that thick.”
“Oh, my God!” Tamia hisses, aiming an indignant look our way. “Will you two please just watch the show?”
She reminds me so much of Deja and Lupe, always hushing me and Soledad and Yasmen, acting embarrassed by us. Just generally being teenagers. Over the last year I’ve gotten to know Maverick’s daughter and she’s a remarkable young woman. I’d expect no less from someone raised by the man who has absolutely stolen my heart.