By the Grace of God 
ISBN: 1-60162-962-1 (Kensington/Urban Christian)
When Gracie’s fiancé, Dillian, suddenly, and without warning, walks out of her life leaving no indication as to why and then cuts off all lines of communication with her, she is left devastated and confused. She agonizes over his disappearing act, mainly because she just wants to know why. She feels she at least deserves that much. But when Gracie finally finds the answer she’s been looking for, the betrayal and secrets involved turns her life upside down.
Even with the support of her family and friends, Gracie’s emotions go from bad to worse once she realizes that Dillian is not the only link to the line of betrayal. It’s then, by the grace of God, that Gracie is able to search for the strength to weather the storm, but will she be able to find it through all the thick dark clouds?
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CHAPTER ONE
Just as she had successfully completed in the past few years, Gracie started her day as normal as the next. With the stretches and pull she forced her limbs to participate in, she led her determined pupils in their warm-up routine at six o’clock in the morning.
“One, two, three, four. Again, one, two…” Gracie Gregory loved what she did even if it were before six o’clock in the morning when she started her day. All of the success in her dream job didn’t come by hard work, but by a mere accident.
If it hadn’t been for the pulled and destroyed muscle in her leg that had her admitted into the hospital instead of signed up for the Summer Olympics, Gracie would have never found her career as an aerobics instructor. It was at the young age of twenty-two when Gracie’s hard efforts suddenly put an end to a life long dream. While stretching too hard on an already worn tendon, the ultimate competition that Gracie had forever dreamed about had come to an end.
That disappointment was four years ago and soon after, instead of sulking through her should’ve could’ve would’ve syndrome, a determined Gracie put pen to paper while still in the hospital and went to plan ‘B’. Plan ‘B’ consisted of her very own business.
With a grand idea in mind and money lent from her supportive parents and godparents, Gracie opened her very own fitness workout center two years later and named it, Full of Grace Fitness Gym, a place where both men and women could frequent. Be it running, swimming or even wall climbing, Gracie’s gym had it all and gave its consumers their monies worth, right in the heart of Dallas.
With not having the usual sources to fully staff and run the unique and fulfilling gym alone, Gracie decided to accept freelancing instructors and also took on a business partner. In all the times that Kendra had indeed showed her loyalty as a best friend, she found no one better qualified to become partner of her gym, other than Kendra.
For one, both had been health nuts since their track days at the university in Texas, blending perfectly together. But it was more on just their shared interest. It was instinct.
For Gracie it was more on the level of being able to totally contribute her trust to the friendship that she had with Kendra. With Kendra being a friend through sunny days as well as gray skies, the support she showed with being a confidant, more like a sister, had always stayed with Gracie.
Just like when Gracie’s turmoil grew in her committed relationship with Dillian, ‘crazy Kendra’ as Gracie called her, was there to help her struggling friend through, no matter what.
Walking down the gym’s hallway and into the shared office, Gracie greeted a seated Kendra. “Hey, girl.”
“What’s going on, Gracie? I thought you said you were going to change your hours after the summer?” Kendra responded to a half energized Gracie.
“Yeah, I thought so too. But being that things aren’t getting any better at the home front, the more I stay away, it seems to be best.” Gracie took a drink from her bottled water before sinking into the vacant sofa.
“You mean to tell me he’s still acting strange? What’s up with him, yo?”
Gracie smiled and shook her head at Kendra. Even though they were both born and raised in Texas and carried the Texas born accent, Kendra loved to use her bits and pieces of East Coast slang that she inherited from her East Coast migrated boyfriend, Sean.
“Honestly, I don’t know. He paged me and said he wanted to get together during my first break and talk.” With their relationship already on the brink of death, Gracie knew things between her and Dillian were just about over. “I’m wondering if I should even go.”
Kendra, noticing distress in Gracie’s brown eyes, felt that Gracie needed a hug. She rose from her recliner and offered her friend a supportive embrace. With the shown space that had come between their hearts, Kendra knew even if it would be the end of Gracie’s relationship, Gracie and Dillian needed to talk.
From the beginning, Kendra herself had seen the love that had exploded from Dillian toward Gracie and vice versa. She had been thrown for a loop as well when issues had arrived in their relationship and threw them off course. Yet and still, Kendra knew that she had to be the shoulder when Gracie needed to cry.
“You can’t just not talk to him, Gracie. Whatever it is, good or bad, you need to know. If he is not the man that is supposed to be your husband, you need to know so that you don’t waste the time you’ve put into the relationship.” Kendra tried to keep her eyes on Gracie as she gathered up her workout towel and compact discs.
“I know,” was all that Gracie could muster up. (continue)
His Grace, His Mercy...coming September 2009
Prologue
With the overwhelming feel of holding her new baby, the humbled mother allowed her tears to surface from their hiding place.The wisdom that God gives to all mothers was already evident in her being: knowing how to hold, comfort and love her child.
She had somewhat believed in miracles and blessings but until the day she was able to deliver a child that she hadn’t even prepared for, the meek new mother now knew that God was still in the blessing business. Even for her.
“Don’t you go and spoil that baby,” the older woman interrupted the youthful mother, standing from the rocking chair that had been placed in the hospital room. “That’s my job…give her here,” she pushed up the sleeves on her shirt, held out her washed hands and opened her arms for the bundle of joy.
Barely peeking up from her infant child’s round face, the mother contemplated. “I guess I’ll let you hold her. Isn’t she just beautiful? She is my special angel,” she said while fighting her joyful tears.
Agreeing about the beauty of the child, the older woman didn’t let the mother forget that her job wasn’t complete. “You know, you do have to name this child before you leave the hospital don’t you? Thought any further?” she asked, keeping her eyes glued to the infant covered in the fluffed pink blanket.
With a motion, sitting herself up in bed, pushing strands of hair back into her make shift ponytail, the thirty something mother exhaled as she thought about naming her child.“I thought about it, prayed about it.And I have chosen her name.You know, it’s nothing but God’s grace that could allow me to go through so much and make it out with my head up.But for all that I’ve done, God’s mercy is so sufficient.” Holding in her cry, the child’s mother shared the name that rested well with her.
“Mercy.She’s another chance that God has given me to do right with this life that He’s given me.Mercy fits her well.”Readying her arms to receive the baby back into her arms, Mercy’s mother held a smile that only God could place on her yearning face.With the feel of the baby’s soft fingers between her own, the grateful mother closed her eyes and hummed the words that came to her heart.
“God’s mercy held me…so I wouldn’t let go.”
The Triumph of My Soul -
ISBN-13: 978-0-9790222-2-7, ISBN-10: 0-9790222-2-3
Inspirational, prolific, heartfelt encouraging stories featuring Essence Best-selling author, Bill Holmes, Motivational Speaker & Talk Show Host, Cheryl Donovan, Best-selling author, Elissa Gabrielle, Karibu Best-Selling author Jessica Tilles, and College Professor and Ph.D. candidate, Dike Okoro, the highly-talented, Lorraine Elzia, the eye-opening Agnes B. Levine, the uplifting Fon James, the strong Jarold Imes, the provocative Kim Robinson, the magnificent Keshia Dawn, the sensitive Allyson Deese, the determined Linda R. Herman, the progressive Ebonee Monique, the comforting Jacqueline Moore, the survivor Linda Wattley, and the butterfly Casche Russell
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