Free Nobody’s Child (New Life Tabernacle Series Book 1) by LaShonda Bowman

grandmother. One was more recent, judging by the clothing. The couple sat on a porch swing, looking at each other and laughing, unaware of their picture being taken. The other photo was a posed shot. Mr. Jones looking sharp in a suit and tie and Mrs. Jones decked out in her Sunday’s finest. They were a good-looking couple. Something about that made Makayla feel proud.
    Just beyond the entertainment stand that held the television, was a hallway. From where she stood, Makayla could see there were more photos lining the wall. She stole a glance over her shoulder. Robin and Mr. Jones were still sleeping, so Makayla silently made her way to the hall.
    She had to cover her mouth to stifle laughter when she got a good look at the first picture in the hallway. It was a scrawny Mr. Jones, at least fifty years younger and wearing a hat cocked to the side.
    Well, all right then, playa , she thought to herself, smiling.
    Below it was another picture of him and Mrs. Jones. Their wedding. Seeing them both younger, Makayla could tell Robin took more after her father than her mother.
    Further along the wall were pictures of Robin as she was growing up. Makayla only had one picture from her childhood. It was a faded and torn preschool photo her grandmother kept in her pocketbook. Looking at the photographs of Robin at about the same age, she could see the childhood resemblance. There was something about the eyes, maybe even the shape of their chins when they were kids…
    But it was the last picture in the hallway that really grabbed her attention. It wasn't of Mr. Jones, Mrs. Jones or even Robin. She had no idea who the woman was, but she was no doubt one of the most beautiful Makayla had ever seen. The picture was old, from the forties or fifties maybe. The woman was outdoors, leaning against the hood of a car, her head tilted toward the camera.
    Was she related to her? Makayla reached up to touch the face.
    "Beautiful, wasn't she? My mother."
    Makayla tried to play off the fact he’d nearly made her pee herself. She hadn't even heard Mr. Jones come down the hall. Fearing her voice would betray her, she only nodded.
    He took the picture off the wall and dusted the glass with his sleeve. "This was the queen, right here. Ms. Caroline Ruby Jones."
    “Caroline? Robin was named after her?"
    He nodded. "All the girls in this family are."
    Not me.
    "She was stunning."
    “Only got prettier, too. And I'm not just saying that because she was my mama, neither. They used to say Caroline Jones was the prettiest missionary to ever set foot in a church."
    Makayla saw his eyes mist over and felt hers do the same, though she couldn't say why.
    "It's cool, how you got all these pictures up and everything. My grandma had some around the house, but nothing like this."
    "This?" Mr. Jones waved over the photo plastered hall wall. "This ain't nothing. Shoot. Honey got boxes and boxes of pictures stacked up in that closet. She intended on organizing ‘em all. You know, putting them in photo books. Just never had the chance. Been meaning to do it myself, but can never get that one in there to help me," he said, pointing his thumb back toward the living room.
    Pictures? Of Robin and the rest of her family? Just waiting to be seen?
    "Um, if you really wanted to do it, I'd be more than happy to help. If you wouldn't mind me being here, I mean…"
    For a moment, Mr. Jones looked at her like she had two heads and she thought maybe she’d overstepped. But then he pointed a crooked finger at her.
    "You know how long I've been trying to get her to help me with that?"
    Relief washed over Makayla. "Too long?"
    “You said it.”
    He leaned his head back and looked at Makayla out of the side of his eye. "See, I knew I liked you the minute I laid eyes on you. In fact…” He put his hand on one of the few empty spaces on the wall and leaned back to look into the living room. Satisfied with what he saw, he turned back to Makayla and motioned for her to come in