Dream Girl Awakened
Read Dream Girl Awakened Online
Authors: Stacy Campbell
Dear Reader:
Sometimes you always want what you can't have, and for some, like the characters in
Dream Girl Awakened,
you can't have whom you desire. Such is the case of Aruba Dixon, who feens her best friend Victoria's husband, Winston. Aruba, married to a man who can't seem to hold down a job, constantly dreams of an ideal relationship with Winston, a wealthy prospect. Meanwhile, she is unaware that her own husband, James, whom she has put on the back burner, is actually being pursued by Tawatha, a single mother of four. No one is satisfied with what's waiting at home.
Imagine a novel where everyone is entangled in hopes to fulfill their own dreams. Stacy Campbell's debut project is complete with twists and turns and surprises. But like everything you do in the dark, you cannot hide it forever. Find out what her characters face as their eyes are opened to what's going on behind closed doors.
As always, thanks for supporting Strebor Books, where we strive to bring you the most groundbreaking, out-of-the-box literature in today's market. If you would like to contact me directly, feel free to email me at
[email protected]
. You can also find me on
Facebook.com/AuthorZane
and on
Twitter.com/PlanetZane
.
Blessings,
Zane
Publisher
Strebor Books International
For More, Visit:
Strebor Books
Chapter 2: Ready or Not, Here I Come
Chapter 3: Cappuccino, Latte, or Me
Chapter 4: Lies Have Short Legs
Chapter 5: Old School, New School
Chapter 6: The Doctor Will See You Now
Chapter 11: Flirting in September
Chapter 12: For the Love of Money
Chapter 14: The Gift that Keeps on Giving
Chapter 15: Old Before My Time
Chapter 16: Somebody's Got a Secret
Chapter 17: Your Office Hours are 9 to 5
Chapter 18: Leads, Leads, Leads
Chapter 19: Protector, Provider
Chapter 20: The Well's Running Dry
Chapter 24: Make It Wiggle, Make It Jiggle
Chapter 25: The Hardest-Working Man in Indy
Chapter 27: Out of the Mouths of Babes
Chapter 28: All in My Lover's Eyes
Chapter 29: That's What Friends Are For
Chapter 31: Westside Walk It Out
Chapter 32: It's Not What You Think
Chapter 33: Let's Get This Party Started
Chapter 35: Toyota Camry Confessions
Chapter 36: We're Gonna Have a Funky Good Time
Chapter 37: It's the Thought that Counts
Chapter 38: Have a Little Faith
Chapter 40: Let's Help Her Together
Chapter 41: Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust
Chapter 42: Midnight Train to Georgia
Chapter 44: The Real Housewife of L.A.
This book is dedicated to the four people who knew I had wings and could fly before I did:
Mattie Lawrence-4/19/1929-11/19/1997 (Mother)
Anthony Bernard Gilbert-10/12/1967-2/25/2002 (Cousin)
Brenda Hillard-8/5/1967-8/29/2003 (Cousin)
Roy Lawrence-3/19/1926-11/2/2012-(Father)
Putting finger to keyboard or pen to paper takes courage. Thank you God for everything and especially giving me the courage to use the gift of writing.
Mom, you didn't get a chance to see my writing dream come true, but you always chided me to stop wasting my time and my talents. This is to let you know I was listening. Thanks for being such a wonderful mother and virtuous woman. I miss you dearly.
To my dad, Mr. Roy Lawrence. I am writing this on the morning of your funeral. You will always be the King, the Emperor, the Man, and the best father a woman could ever have. Thanks for being my first male cheerleader, date, encourager, buddy, Chevy Truck shotgun partner, and all-around stand-up guy. Your eyes lit up when I told you I'd written a book. When I told you the writing game was now a game of sales, you grinned wider and said, “Baby, you âgon sell them books.” Your desire for all of your children to
receive an education is why I read and write. And write. And write.
To my agent, Sara Camilli, Stephen Camilli, Zane, Charmaine Parker, Strebor Books, and the entire Dream Girl team. Without you, these acknowledgements wouldn't be possible. Thanks for taking a chance on an unknown writer. I appreciate the opportunity you've given me and plan to do my best to honor that chance.
To my husband, Hulian, daughter, Ylana, and son, Malik. I appreciate your love and support. The three of you make me feel I can achieve anything. How did I get blessed with the three of you?
My rock star siblings: Curtis Lawrence, Barbara Mapp, William Lawrence, Becky Lawrence, David Lawrence, and Lillie Lawrence. You have made every day on earth magical through our blood connection and so much more. I love each and every one of you more than words can express. To my nieces and nephews, Mark Anthony Adams, Vernon Lundy, Markina Mapp, Surece Mapp-Nunnally, Joy Mapp, Jerine Reynolds, Ronrico Woodard, Andrea Allen, Crystal Woodard, Antario Wilson, and Jason Lawrence. It's been amazing to grow up with each of you and see how strong and independent you all are. I love you. Cousin Amy Stanton, you complete the tribe. To my sisters-in-law, Darlene Lawrence, Lorraine Lawrence, Veronica Lawrence, and Latumba Campbell, I'm so glad we got to know each other through the gift of marriage.
To my extended family members and in-laws, the Stantons, Lawrences, and Campbells. Without you, I'd have no history, memories, or family.
The Indianapolis Crew: Rhonda Morgan Dix, Nikisha Mundy, Kimberly Wize, Jenice Myers, Mary Lee McClendon, Lisa Coffman, Maria Spicer-Walker, Anita Lauderdale-Woodson, Kara Batts, and Patricia Diawara. Thanks so much for your love, support, and all those nights at dinner that you introduced me as “our friend, the writer.”
The Georgia Crew: Detrell Hawkins, Vickie Shorts, Antonio Bernard Lawrence, Victor Carroll, and Lillian Latrealle Smith. Your friendship throughout the years has been phenomenal. I'm glad we crossed paths. A special, come-on-over-here and gimme a big hug to Devetrice Conyers-Hinton. Not only are you a friend and a sister to me, you are a wonderful example of what it means to be an encourager. This book was written in one of the MANY beautiful, leather-bound journals you've gifted me over the years.
To my New Beginnings Fellowship Church family. Spiritual growth is achieved through teaching and the Word. No one does it better than Dr. James Anthony Jackson, Sr. My, how I've grown under your leadership, Dr. Jackson. I thank God for you and First Lady, Tara Cox Jackson. You have reminded me what it means to fellowship with others and I am so thankful that you continue to coax me out of my shell. I extend big hugs to the Multimedia Ministry team. Angela Collins-Cooper, Nicole Norwood, Anita Jones, Sandra Loyd, Tammi Kinchlow, Paulette Spicer, and Anthony Moore. You make ministry a joy and I love co-laboring with you.
To my UPS Family: Sheila Brown, Shayla Gardner, John Woodall, Katie Chapman, Cliff Laswell, Candice Brewer, Connie Mottram, Jeanine Walker, Jajuana Batts, and Andrea Johnson. You make coming to work easy. Not a day goes by that I don't appreciate your wisdom, guidance, and the teamwork we display. To my Trends International Publishing Family: All a girl needs to write a book is two fifteen-minute breaks and a thirty-minute lunch break. Thank you Sherry Gardiner, Carla Briggs, Karl Riley, Aurora Carillo, and Meegail Roberts for unwittingly giving me space and inspiration to write. A special thanks goes out to Mrs. Barbara Twyman-Gibson for all the prayers, pep talks and big sister support.
To the Hancock Central High School Class of 1987. We spent our formative years together and are still growing strong. I appreciate
and love all of you and I pray we continue to grow in love and wisdom.
To all the writers along the way who've encouraged me, shared nuggets of wisdom, or simply said, “Stacy, shut up and write,” I thank you. I can't name each of you, but I want to give a shout-out to Trisha R. Thomas, Cheri Paris Edwards (let's write that book together for real), Victoria Christopher Murray, Sonsyrea Tate-Montgomery, Parry Brown, Terry McMillan, Margaret Johnson-Hodge, Josette Dixon-Hall, Electa Rome Parks, Adrienne Thompson, Kimberla Lawson-Roby, Dee Stewart, Lolita Files, Bernice McFadden, Marissa Monteilh, Pamela Rice, Kuwana Haulsey, Dijorn Moss, Darryl Wimberly, Lutishia Lovely, Sandra Gould, Gigi Levangie-Grazer, Walter Mosley, and Richard Dry. Marita Golden, thank you for your excellent instruction. I have taken the lessons to heart.
To my fellow aspiring authors, keep writing and keep believing. It can happen for you, too. To all the boys and girls who lost friendships and possible lifelong connections due to grown folks' tomfoolery, this one's for you. If I've missed someone, please, please, please charge it to my head and not my heart.
Stacy
Owed to Myself
May 21, 2008
A
ruba propped up the girls in a Miracle C-cup, checked the smooth, waxed bikini line in her thong, and released her shoulder-length hair from a barrette, proud she'd made an appointment at Aveda Fredericks to iron out her leonine mane of curls earlier in the day. Just as she slipped on her dress, Jeremiah called from the door, “Mommy, you smell good.”
As she turned, she stopped mid-smile at the sight of Jeremiah perched atop James's shoulders.
“Yeah, Mah-mee, I haven't seen you this beautiful sinceâwell, you're always beautiful. Are you trying to make me jealous?” asked James, hoping to elicit a smile. “Where you going looking so good?” James was careful not to offend her. He needed to get back in her corner, back into her accommodating thighs.
“Just a company function. Won't be out too late. One of us has to work in the morning. May I have five more minutes to get dressed?
Please
.”
James walked out the door with Jeremiah blowing kisses at Aruba. She balled her fists at James's back.
Ten years and this is the best I can do
.
Ten years of hanging my hopes on this man's dreams. Ten years of supporting him and he won't even keep a decent job. Was I that dumb in 1998 thinking James was the best I could do? It all ends tonight
.
Definitely! I have one year to accomplish my goal, to make things better for myself and my son. Mind-blowing sex can't make up for all I've endured with this man.
