Free Hitting the Right Note by Rhonda Bowen Page A

this man, no matter how wonderful he is, can’t be who God meant for you. Not now. Not like this.”
    â€œThat’s easy for you to say,” JJ said. “With your engagement ring weighing down your left hand.”
    â€œIt might seem that way, but haven’t you learned anything from our mother’s own history? Three marriages. None worked. And now she’s alone again.”
    â€œYes, Sydney, you’re right,” JJ said. “Three marriages, to three men who claimed to be believers. And look how well that turned out for her.”
    â€œThat doesn’t make this right—”
    â€œFor Pete’s sake, Sydney, can’t you just be happy for me?” JJ stood up. “Can’t you just say, ‘I hope you’re happy. I hope this works out. I love you, JJ.’?”
    â€œYou know I love you,” Sydney said sadly. “And I know you might feel happy now, but this thing is not going to work out, no matter how hard any of us hope and wish for it. Because either this man is going to break your heart or he’s going to turn you into someone you’re not—someone who loses that one true relationship that has kept her going for years. And the sad thing about it is that I can tell that it’s already started to happen.”
    â€œYou know what?” JJ returned to the entryway and grabbed the shoes she had just abandoned. “I don’t need to listen to this anymore.”
    â€œJJ . . .”
    â€œI always thought this place, this house, would be a safe place for me.” She pulled on one shoe. “A place where I could be myself. Where I could feel comfortable no matter how right or wrong anyone thought my decisions were.”
    â€œYou can, JJ,” Sydney said, moving toward the door. “Please don’t leave.”
    But JJ knew she couldn’t stay. She already had her mother’s judgment weighing down on her. She knew her sister would never be okay with her relationship with Rayshawn. But she thought that at the very least her sister would be there for her in spite of it, just like JJ had been there for Sydney when she had been dealing with her own confusion only a year ago. But it seemed like that was too much to ask.
    â€œJJ, please.” Sydney’s hand clasped her upper arm, and JJ cringed and pushed back tears before pulling away.
    â€œI have to go.”
    Then, before she could break down, she slipped through the front door and hurried down the front walk to her car. She had to get out of there.
    She made it across the city in less than twenty minutes. When she rang the doorbell at her destination, it didn’t take long for someone to respond.
    â€œHey, can I stay here for a bit?”
    Rayshawn swung the door open wider and welcomed her in. “You never have to ask.”

Chapter 9
    J J stepped inside the dark living room and dropped her purse and keys in the chair near the entryway.
    â€œBabe, what’s wrong?” Rayshawn asked, concern filling his voice. He reached for the lights, but JJ grabbed his hand before he could switch them on.
    â€œNo, don’t,” she said, her voice muffled with tears. “Just please. Leave them off.”
    â€œBabe, you’re worrying me,” he said, pulling her into his arms, pushing her hair away from her face. “Talk to me, please.”
    Even through the slivers of moonlight stealing between the curtains, JJ could see the concern in his eyes. The affection there. How long had it been since someone had looked at her like that? Without judgment, without need, without expectation. Just looked at her, like no matter who she was or chose to be, it would be okay. What had happened to all the people she used to be able to count on for that?
    JJ couldn’t talk anymore. She had talked enough for the night. She was tired of talking; of thinking. Instead she buried herself in Rayshawn’s arms and wished it to all go away. And when he kissed the