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with us and how much your weight bothered you. You’ve grown up to be this beautiful and extremely confident woman, and now you’re helping other girls do the same.”

      “I’m just trying to get them to focus on being a size healthy versus a size four.” Cherise was proud of her work as a counselor at the Darlene Sheppard Center, a therapeutic community for overweight children and teens.

      Her father spent a few more minutes with them before moving on to talk to some of the other guests. Cherise was glad to see him, although he stayed on the go—had always been that way, which is one of the reasons her parents had divorced. The other was that he loved women and hadn’t been exactly faithful, but Cherise loved her father in spite of his flaws. Out of all of her siblings, she was the closest to him.

      The newlyweds gradually made their way over to where Elle and Cherise were sitting.

      “Congratulations,” Cherise said. She wiped her mouth on the cloth napkin before continuing. “The ceremony was beautiful.”

      Ransom gave her a hug. “What’s up, cousin? I just met your sister.”

      “Jazz wasn’t sure she was going to make it,” Cherise responded. “But she really wanted to meet you. Coco, you look stunning.”

      “I was about to tell you the same thing,” she responded. “Cherise, how are the girls?”

      Coco was referring to the teenagers Cherise counseled at the center. She had taken them on a tour of the Stanley Chocolates factory, which was owned by Coco’s family, and for drinking chocolate at the Chocolate Bar next door, owned by Coco.

      “They have their challenges,” she answered. “But I’m trying to work with them.”

      “Cherise, when Coco and I get back, I’d like to talk to you about working with the structured day program,” Ransom said. “I’ve wanted to get something started for girls.”

      She nodded. “We’ll definitely talk when you get back.”

      When they walked away, Elle turned to Cherise and asked, “So are you going on the family cruise with us next month? We’re going to the Mediterranean this year.”

      “You guys are all coupled off,” Cherise responded. “I tried to get Jazz to go with me, but she’s not going to be able to, so I think I’m going to sit this one out. Besides, the ship is probably full by now.”

      “Ivy’s going,” Elle said. “She booked a family suite because we thought more were coming, but some people had to back out.”

      Cherise shook her head. “I think I’m going to just wait for the next one. I’m not prepared to go on a cruise this year.”

      “Please come on the cruise so that I’ll have somebody to hang out with, Cherise,” Ivy Ransom, one of Elle’s sisters, said as she joined them. “It’s just me and the girls in a huge suite. You can stay with us.”

      She was still undecided. Cherise enjoyed being with her cousins, but she often felt like the odd man out, because most of them were married or involved in a committed relationship. Her brother Julian was going on the cruise and taking some girl he’d recently started dating. Ivy was divorced and bitter—Cherise didn’t want to hear her complaining the entire trip. If she decided to go, she wanted to have fun.

      “I have to think about this for a moment,” Cherise said.

      “Well, I’ve already paid for someone and she’s not going to be able to go, so just let me know if you can go in her place. I’ll call the cruise line to change the information.” Ivy sat down at the table with them. She glanced over her shoulder at the man sitting beside her mother and said, “I still can’t believe Mama brought a date to the wedding. First she brings him to the Valentine’s Day dinner and now he’s showing up for the family dinners on Sunday. What exactly is going on between her and Mr. Ragland?”

      “Mama told me that they were just friends,” Elle said. “I know that he’s a prominent attorney and seems to be a nice man. He lost his wife a few years back.”

      “I don’t want him hurting Mom,” Ivy snapped.

      “I don’t think there’s anything to worry about,” Elle responded. “Mr. Ragland seems to be quite infatuated with Mama. Look at him—he can’t keep his eyes off her.”

      “Even Aunt Amanda can get a man—I know I need to step up my game,” Cherise said with a chuckle.

      “Mama’s still sexy,” Elle said, laughing softly. “Don’t be fooled by that cane. She’s still got her groove.”

      “Oh, Lord,” Ivy muttered, shaking her head. “Please tell me that our oh-so-Christian mother is not sleeping with Mr. Ragland.”

      Cherise hid her smile behind her napkin at the horrified expression on Ivy’s face. She could be such a prude sometimes.

      “I don’t think she is, but since I don’t live at home anymore I don’t really know for sure. But Ivy… even if she is—she’s a grown woman,” Elle told her sister.

      Ivy stood up with purpose. “I’m going to have a talk with her.”

      “Do it at your own risk,” Elle warned. “I’m going to stay over here and just mind my own business.”

      “Me, too,” Cherise intoned.

      Her uncle had died a long time ago, so Cherise was glad to see her aunt Amanda enjoying the company of a man.

      Ivy sat back down. “Mom can take care of herself, I suppose. But back to you, Cherise. I really hope you’ll come on the cruise. I don’t want to be the only single person in the clan.”

      Cherise excused herself to make a visit to the ladies’ room, where she eyed her reflection. She was five nine and full-figured—no doubt about that. Her flawless mahogany complexion was devoid of heavy makeup, and her dark brown hair fell past her shoulders in waves. She wasn’t bad-looking. She just wasn’t one of those thin types that a lot of men seemed to love.

      Cherise thought about her options. She believed her Mr. Right was somewhere close—maybe he’d be aboard the Emerald Princess. That’s how her cousin Laine had met his wife. But even if he wasn’t, looking was part of the fun, she decided as she thought about the scores of men that would be on the ship.

      When she returned to the table, Cherise announced, “Okay, I’ve made a decision.”

      “This is their existing facility,” Steven Chambers began as he pointed to a photograph on the board. “There’s about thirteen thousand square feet of space. They’re entering into a major facility expansion of about forty thousand square feet of building space on the new site. I’m going in this afternoon to present the new design to the church executive board to get their feedback.”

      His supervisor nodded in approval. “The pastor of this church is a good friend of mine. It’s important that we know exactly what he wants to achieve in this project.”

      “I started doing a schematic design after I spoke with Pastor Wilkins last week,” Steven said, “but before I finish it, I need more information.”

      “Wilkins was very impressed with the new Holton Building, and he insisted on having you as the lead on this project.”

      Steven straightened his tie and smiled. “Thanks, Randall. After my meeting this afternoon, I’m off for the next fourteen days. I’m really looking forward to this vacation.”

      “Enjoy,” Randall said. “You’ve earned it.”

      Steven left his supervisor’s office and took the stairs down to the parking garage situated in downtown Los Angeles. He entered the freeway and headed toward Inglewood to meet with Pastor Wilkins and his staff.

      In a few days he would be aboard the Emerald Princess, cruising toward the Mediterranean. The last time he went on vacation was with his ex-girlfriend. It had been almost six months since

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