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PROLOGUE A piercing scream shattered Nelson's dream. "Nelson!" My God! That’s Shelby, he thought, bolting upright in the bed. Without further analysis, he leaped to his feet and ran across the hallway to his son's room. Seeing Shelby's tear-streaked face, panic flashed in his eyes and his temple began to throb as he rushed over to her. "What is it, Shel? What's wrong?" Shelby held out the small bundle in her arms. "S-s-something's wrong, Nelson. Lamar won't wake up." Nelson felt his chest cave in as he took his son. He knew without looking at him that Lamar wasn't breathing. Shelby continued to mumble through her tears. "I-I came in to feed him and when I tried to wa- wake him, Lamar wouldn't wake up. Nelson, what's wrong?" Nelson wasn't listening. He was administering CPR to his son, blowing frantic air through the cold, stiff lips. Lamar did not respond. "Shelby! Call 911," he yelled, looking at her when she didn't move. "Now, Shelby!" He lowered his head again, praying and crying at the same time. "Come on, son. Please, Lamar. Come on. Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!" He tried again. There was no movement . . . There was no sound . . . There was no response. And after several more tries, Nelson knew it was over. He looked up at the ceiling and opened his mouth; the scream that rose in his throat never vocalized as he huddled his son's body against his. "Why, God? Why!" Shelby ran back into the room. One glance at her husband's face and she collapsed in the rocking chair behind her, sobbing wildly. Bewildered, Nelson could only stare from Shelby to his son. The tears falling from his eyes trickled onto Lamar's motionless face; he swabbed them away with gentle fingers. What was he supposed to do? Their baby was dead and Nelson didn't know what to do. Slowly, he walked over to Shelby and carefully the small infant in her arms. Then he knelt down, placed his arms around his family and laid his head in his wife's lap. CHAPTER ONE Everything looked magnificent. Trimmed in gold, holly red and wintergreen, the room sparkled in the festive colors of the holiday season and the illumination of five overhead chandeliers. Shelby Julian Reeves held the edge of the black curtain and her breath in anticipation. The butterflies that had courted her stomach all day suddenly unfurled their delicate wings and Shelby felt a rush of nervous excitement. Embracing the celebratory mood, her brown eyes wandered the room aimlessly trying to take it all in. An eleven foot tree stood tall and majestic in the left corner of the room; its massive branches loaded down with strings of white lights, gold ornaments and red bows. On the carpeted floor beneath its base, a multitude of empty, gold wrapped packages reflected the twinkling lights of the tree. Miniature sleighs full of artfully cut boughs crested in white, red berries and pine cones sat as centerpieces on round white clothed tables. The lush and large poinsettias clustered throughout also served to outline a makeshift runway down the center of the floor. Shelby released the curtain and made a mental note to send the interior design firm something special to thank them for their donation. J.R. had told her that tickets sales had increased significantly over the last two months and maybe she should have paid more attention. But since first annual anythings didn't generally draw large crowds, Shelby hadn't given the news more than a passing thought. There had to be at least five hundred people out there and as she listened to the loud murmur of voices, a magical feeling overtook her, the same one she felt every time she did a show. The DownTown Stock Club had its job. Soon, she would take center stage and do hers. She turned away and came face to face with her business manager and friend, Manette Walker. Startled by Manny's abrupt appearance, she threw a hand over her pounding chest. "Girl, you nearly gave me a heart attack."
appraising the outfit Manny had chosen to wear for the evening. Instead of the black wool pantsuit Shelby had suggested, Manette wore a peppermint striped sheath. Her accessories included a black feather boa, black gloves, red hoop earrings and four inch black pumps. Manny spent hours at the gym keeping her five foot, seven inch frame in top condition. Shelby couldn't understand why after all that work, her friend deliberately hid her beautiful tan complexion under layers of makeup and her body under clothes that did nothing but distract from her slender figure. But at least, she'd toned down the hair, Shelby thought. She directed her gaze to the slightly wild look in Manette's eyes. "Starris just called," Manny began. "She's stuck in traffic and doesn't know how long it will take her to get here which causes a real problem since she's supposed to model the first outfit in the show. Ty's yelling for you again. I told him that you pulled the fish skirt from the show and he's not happy. Casey won't speak to anyone because she's still sulking about having to wear the gold gown which is not a good color for her and Miranda refuses to get dressed because she can't find her wigs." Shelby noted the dramatic pose struck in consideration of what Manette no doubt deemed a calamity in the making. "It will be fine, Manny." "Fine! How can you say that, Shel? This is why I hate doing these things. Something always goes wrong at the last minute. Always! The opening number revolves around Starris. She's not here and we fitted the outfit specifically for her. I've looked everywhere for those damn wigs and I can't find them and if Casey throws one more black look my way, she's fired!" Shelby laughed. "You can't fire Casey. She's donating her time this evening as a favor to us." Lips colored red protruded in an exaggerated pout as Manny's eyes narrowed in a glare. "I may not be able to fire her, but I can sure send her butt packing." |
| Truly Inseparable |
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| Wanda Y. Thomas, Author Immerse Yourself in a Good Book |
