An Old Fashioned Southern Romance Novel by Annalise Arrington Read Free Book Online

me leave you with a bit of advice. Warrenton may not be everything you ever dreamed of, but he certainly is a delightful young man. I have no doubt that the two of you could have a wonderful life together. But, you have to meet him halfway, Anna. If he seems disinterested, it is only because he is afraid of you rejecting him. You can go chase your dream of marrying a prince in England if you so desire, but just remember that things are not always what they seem. You have to make your own fairytales. Your Prince Charming may be a few hundred yards away.”
    “You have no idea how many times I have heard that. I just wish I could see what everyone else is seeing.”
    “Close your mind and open your heart, Anna. Then you will see your true destiny.”
    Eudora kissed her daughter on the forehead and turned. She picked up her bag of popcorn and opened the door.
    “Mother,” Annabella started.
    “Yes, Dear,” her mother answered, never turning around.
    “Are you happy?” Annabella asked her.
    “When I decided to be happy, I was. When I decided to be sad, I was. Right now, I just want to watch television.”
    Annabella’s mother walked out the door and started down the hall. Annabella smiled a little. She saw just a little bit of herself in her graying mother.

Chapter Eight
    Dominique fluffed out her dark coils with a black pick. She patted her soft fro and gave herself a satisfactory smile in the bathroom mirror. She was ready for the world, as far as she was concerned. She had watched her mother in a service role her whole life and the young girl was intent on having a more meaningful existence. She always sort of envied Annabella because the overly-dramatic belle commanded much of Hattie’s time that would otherwise be spent with her own daughter. Dominique excelled in school and pushed herself harder than anyone in her life. Her mother was content with A’s and B’s, but Dominique would settle for nothing less than A-plus grades. She loved math and science and now it was all paying off. The petite, brown girl was ready for college. She had her choice of all the top universities in the country but, as with everything in her life, Dominique was methodically selective. She had seen other girls like herself go off to predominately-White institutions and come back home browbeaten. In their Dixie town, they were taught that White automatically meant better. So, they jumped through hoops to be accepted by the large, research universities that could not discern one chocolate face from another. Most of them ended up back at home with less than a year of college under their belt, poised to fill the service positions from which their parents retired. Dominique had learned from the example of others and she was going to attend a historically Black college. She did not want to be a number. She wanted to be known and recognized for her unique talents and abilities. Most importantly, she wanted to graduate and go on to be a top scientist and researcher in her field. After taking several college tours and campus visits, she settled on a school that promised much more than academic and financial support. She found a place that was nurturing. She hoped to get some of the attention she missed from her mother while the woman was off raising someone else’s child. Dominique was not bitter. She felt her mother did the best she could do and it was because of her mother’s sacrifices that Dominique is where she is today. Besides, she felt that Annabella needed her mother more than she did. Annabella was needy and her own mother was not around. Although it seemed ironic, Dominique felt sorry for Annabella, the poor little rich girl. She had it all and still couldn’t find happiness. Most people would think that’s impossible, but Dominique saw if first hand growing up. Her mother tried not to bring work home, but Dominique picked up things. She knew that Hattie was often dog-tired and frazzled to the bone trying to keep Annabella happy,