Wearing My Halo Tilted by Stephanie Perry Moore Read Free Book Online Page B

expenses if you’re not traveling. And Trey, the play guy, he’s gonna benefit from whatever books are sold, whenever they are. So that’s money you didn’t have. So why not take a few baby steps before you walk totally? Tr y it. Say yes. I’ve seen you in action. You can’t be scared of the public.”
    â€œNo, no, no,” I said, cutting in and defending myself. “The public is my best mode of selling.”
    â€œThen what’s the hold up? I know you’ve got your man in check just like I’ve got mine,” Tina responded, sternly. Everyone knew she wore the pants in her nine year marriage. She had helped her husband build up his bookstore empire. I think at last count they had nine stores in the midwestern and eastern region. Their goal was to add one every year. Their bookstores were doing exceptionally well, because with other black-owned chains struggling, and in some cases shutting down, they were expanding. She was a marketing genius. If she said I needed to be on this tour, I needed to take heed and be there.
    The words, “Yeah, I’m going,” just sort of slipped out. “Two weeks is good for me to commit to in the beginning. Thanks, Tina.”
    â€œOkay, girl. Well, I gotta go. Stanley and I are headed over to his store. I’ll talk to you Monday morning and give you the details. But you need to plan to fly out on Wednesday.”
    The next thing I knew, I was sitting there in my office going ballistic. Everything was pushed up. I thought I’d have more time. I was trying to figure out what in the heck I was gonna do with my kids. Not to mention, I needed a way to get Dillon to believe this was his idea, so that he wouldn’t be pissed I went against his wishes in the first place.
    â€œHey, there!” my dad said in a zany voice from my garage door as it opened.
    â€œY’all better start locking these doors,” my mom said in a thwarted motherly tone.
    â€œWhere’s Dillon? I don’t see his car,” my dad said, talking normal as I heard him walk toward the front of the house, where my office was located.
    â€œI don’t know,” I said in a smug tone, not wanting to go there with my nosy folks.
    â€œUh-oh. He might be under the doghouse.” My dad laughed as he entered my office.
    I couldn’t believe my dad was a superintendent. Let my grandparents tell it, he barely got out of school himself. He was such a big jokester. I didn’t need him being sarcastic. However, I couldn’t push the wrong buttons with my folks and I needed them to buy into what I was about to do.
    So I hugged my daddy, and said, “What’s going on?”
    â€œHey there, cuz. What’s up with you two?” my dad asked, as he planted a kiss on my cheek.
    I released him from the secure embrace and lied. “Things are cool, Dad.”
    The glare he gave me told me he didn’t buy what I was saying. My mom knew Dillon and I had issues. She always shared all my business with my dad. So I knew she’d tell him whatever she thought she knew. And that always irked me.
    He wasn’t in any position to give me advice. He cheated on my mom when I was in high school and college. Though they got things back on track, he knew I was like him. If my daddy could fall into temptation, it was probably in my blood to do the same.
    I could never cheat on Dillon. It would be over. And as much drama as I had to go through with one husband. Another man probably wouldn’t make it any better.
    I had to make my mom buy into keeping my babies. She really was my only option. I’d never leave my girls with anyone else. I had to appeal to her feminist side. She was the biggest advocate I had for me pursuing my writing career. I would say I felt like I didn’t have to work a couple of years ago, but my mom told me I needed to do more with my life. And she was my biggest cheerleader since my book came out. Even though it