Check out this emotionally-filled Christian Romance by J. Gardel!
Synopsis:
Skylar Jae Mathis trusts no man with her heart. Abused when she was a young girl by her father and beaten down by her many failed relationships, she would rather be alone and on her hustle, than to be with someone who can’t appreciate her for the beautiful, independent woman that she is.
She’s determined to stay happily single, but when Zyon Davis moves in next door, she re-evaluates her vow to stay single. Will he be able to restore her faith in men and break down the barriers around her heart? Most importantly, can he help restore her faith in God?
Zyon Davis has been burned by a woman before. He has vowed to never ever love another woman again let alone get involved with one. Feeling the humiliation of being cheated on, he moves to Dallas, Texas in hopes of starting anew. When he meets the lovely Skylar Mathis, he can’t help but be intrigued. Even though he can tell she has been hurt before, his entire being yearns to help her heal. But how can he help her when he’s been hurt as well? Can they find restoration in each other?
Excerpt:
1986
I hated when Daddy hit Mommy. When he drank, he became an absolute monster. Someone I didn’t recognize. Nothing like the sweet doting father and Pastor he allowed everyone else to see. Like right now. I could hear them arguing. Their voices escalating. The same argument every time.
“Look, I worked a twelve hour shift today and I don’t feel like having this conversation, Earl. Take your drunk behind to bed!”
“Oh so you’re just going to throw your job in my face huh? Like I don’t want to work?!”
“God, I wish you would stop with this woe is me crap. I’ve had it up to here with your self-pity. God spared your life in that car accident but all you can do is talk about what you can’t do anymore.”
About a year ago, Daddy and Mommy had been on their way to a church banquet in Arlington when a truck had run a red light and not only hit but totaled their car. They’d both survived but Daddy’s hand had been pinned in the driver’s side door and it hadn’t been the same since. He couldn’t work because it was his dominant hand that had been smashed. And he blamed Mommy for what happened. He blamed her for everything. I thought it was so unfair.
“You wanna repeat that Patrice?” I heard Daddy say. I could tell he was about to snap.
I heard her sigh, like she was just tired of this merry go-round. “Nothing…just nothing.”
“Say it again!” He roared at her and I jumped. My heart began beating frantically and my palms began to sweat. God please don’t let him hit Mommy! I prayed. I prayed hard because once he unleashed his wrath on her, I would be next. I heard his big feet move and then my mother yelped. Then I heard her scream as he pushed her into the door.
“I hate when you spew that God spared me crap!” Slap.
“Stop Earl!” Mommy screamed
“I’ll stop when I’m good and ready! You don’t run me! I’m the man of this house, not you!” Daddy bellowed. Slap. Soon after I heard the doorknob being turned and I hightailed it up to my room and locked myself in my closet. Putting my hands over my ears, I prayed again. “Please God. Don’t let him hurt me. I’ll be a good girl. I promise.”
“Sky! Where are you?!” Daddy roared.
“Leave her alone Earl!” My mother screamed
I heard his heavy feet trudging up the steps and tears seeped out from the corners of my eyes. He’s going to find me. He always finds me. I kept praying though. I refused to stop calling out to God. My closet door slammed open but I didn’t open my eyes. My daddy yanked me into his arms and shook me.
“You heard me calling you girl! Got me looking all over this house for you, Sky! I’m gonna beat your butt!”
“No! Daddy please!” I sobbed.
“Shut up your blubbering girl!” I opened my eyes to see his hand lift to strike me but before he could Mommy struck him in the back of his head. With what, I wasn’t sure. I was just relieved that he hadn’t hurt me. I fell down on the floor and he fell beside me. Quickly, I scampered away from him. Afraid he would grab me again.
“Are you okay, baby?”
“Yes.” I whimpered.
“I’m so sorry I let this go on for so long. He will never hurt you or me again.”
My eyes grew big as I saw her point a gun at my Daddy. I began to tremble at the thought of never seeing him again. I didn’t want him to die but he’s hurt us and he would keep doing it. “Mommy…”
She glanced over at me for a second. “No Sky. I know you’re too young to fully understand but your Daddy is not going to stop hurting us. I’ve tried to get him help but he won’t take it. I can’t live like this anymore.” Tears seeped from her eyes and her hand shook but I knew she was serious. How did we end up like this? I wondered.
BOOM!
I jumped at the loudness of the gunshot. She’d shot my Daddy in the head. I began to cry hysterically and ran over to him. “Daddy! Daddy, wake up!” I shook him as best as I could with my small hands but he never moved.
One, single gunshot changed my life forever.
I was only seven when my father was taken from me. I was too young to understand the consequences of what had just happened… what God had allowed to happen…
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