Crowning Glory Read online

  Copyright © 2011, 2014 Pat Simmons

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. References to real events, organizations, and places are used in a fictional context. Any resemblances to actual people, living or dead are entirely coincidental.

  To read more books by this author, please visit www.patsimmons.net.

  PRAISES FOR PAT SIMMONS’ NOVELS:

  On Crowning Glory:

  I loved the character development. Simmons does an excellent job of giving you enough information about their past to keep you on edge. The book flowed well. This is a phenomenal work of redemption— Jas L. Hanna "Reading Diva" (Burlington, NC)

  This was an excellent read. Being a person that works in Court, observing criminal trials, this humbled me. I have read all of Pat Simmons books and she just does it every time. Great example of Christian living and the power of redemption—Kathy Lyons, reader

  Simmons shines in this Godly romance. The character development and storyline pace will have you mesmerized as two families face their demons. CROWNING GLORY is a masterpiece of Christian romance which is definitely is a MUST read—Delta reviewer

  Pat Simmons has done it again! "Crowning Glory" is an easy read and as always the book gives me comfort. As I read her books I always have my bible open— OOSA Online Book Club "O.O.S.A. Gets It Read!"

  On A Baby for Christmas (Love at the Crossroads series)

  I love stories with a strong family presence. This is my first book by Mrs. Simmons BUT it will not be my last!!! I was captivated from the first page. I didn't want the story to end. My God's anointing continue to reign on your writing career :) — T. Baker "aficionado of books"

  On No Easy Catch (Carmen Sisters series):

  Throughout the story Rahn and Shae’s relationship starts out beautiful but then life happens. Will Rahn and Shae continue to strike out or will they hit a home run with God as their pitcher? The strong messages of faith had me at one time thinking had I kept my promises to God? I don’t know for sure but I’m certainly convicted. Simmons has a knack for writing stories that make you pause and reflect and this one doesn’t disappoint.

  One of my favorite quotes in the book was “when fear comes knocking let faith answer it. Once the door is open fear disappears. Its nuggets like this one that kept me turning pages. What an outstanding read!—Readers Paradise "Book Club"

  On Love at the Crossroads series:

  As always I was truly pleased reading the first book of this series. The characters are witty, loving, resourceful, kind, and flawed all at the same time. Losing a spouse has to be devastating for anyone and knowing you will never be able to have children is enough to shake your faith. Though the get weary and challenged God still gets the victory. I love that I'm getting prayer and bits and pieces of the Word throughout the entire book, along with a story that I can visually see unfolding right before my eyes.— SUBC New Orleans Chapter "Beyond The Book"

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Acknowledgments include, but are not limited to the following people who took my phone calls and emails or took time away from their busy schedule to invite me into their office. I hope I have crossed my t’s and dotted my i’s. Please make sure you read my author’s notes at the end of the story.

  Ella Brand and family

  Peggy Tyson, Crime Victims Advocacy Center St. Louis

  Jessica, Victim’s advocate

  John Devouton, St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney

  Jacqueline LaPine, Missouri Prison system PIO

  Renee Williamson, Evangelist

  Raoul William, retired Senior US Probation Officer

  Author Steve Haymon, PhD

  Robert Eastern III, East St. Louis, IL Alderman

  Lois “Cookie” Garmany Berryman

  To my countless family members who have supported me since book one:

  Coles, Carters, Scotts, Thompsons, Wades, Sinkfields, Simmons, Sturdivants, Thomases, Bethesda Temple Church family, St. Louis Glory Girl book club, Barnes & Noble (Florissant) whose booksellers are my biggest cheerleaders and make me feel important.

  To the descendants of Winnie Jordan Scaife and Ephraim Scaife from Arkansas. Winnie was my great-great-great grandmother—Manvera Wade’s six year old half-sister. Manerva was fifty-four. It’s true. I have the 1880 census to prove it. LOL

  To Sister Juana Johnson and Dr. Marilyn Maxwell for their suggestion on naming a future book. LOL.

  To Bishop Johnson for the informative Bible classes and soul stirring preaching.

  Fellow authors and the village people

  To my dear husband, Kerry. I am so blessed!

  Thanks Jared for your vote on the cover. To sales person extraordinaire Simi who finally talked someone into buying my book. LOL

  My mother, Johnnie, and sister, Kim.

  FINALLY to four generations of Rossi in my life

  Ross Cole (my grandfather 1915-1998)

  Rossi Cole Jr (my father 1935-1995)

  Rossi Cole III (brother)

  Rossi Cole IV (nephew)

  Other Christian titles include:

  The Guilty Jamieson Legacy series

  Book I: Guilty of Love

  Book II: Not Guilty of Love

  Book III: Still Guilty

  Book IV: The Acquittal

  Book V: Guilty by Association

  Book VI: The Guilt Trip

  Back Story to Free from Guilt

  Book VII: Free from Guilt

  Sandra Nicholson: Backstory to The Confession

  Book VIII: The Confession

  The Carmen Sisters

  Book I: No Easy Catch

  Book II: In Defense of Love

  Book III: Driven to Be Loved

  Book IV: Redeeming Heart

  Love at the Crossroads

  Book I: Stopping Traffic

  Book II: A Baby for Christmas

  Book III: The Keepsake

  Book IV: What God Has for Me

  Book V: Every Woman Needs A Praying Man

  Making Love Work Anthology

  Book I: Love at Work

  Book II: Words of Love

  Book III: A Mother’s Love

  Restoring My Soul series

  Book I: Crowning Glory

  Jet: Back Story to Led by the Spirit

  Book II: Love Led by the Spirit

  Single titles

  Talk to Me

  Her Dress (novella)

  Holiday titles

  Love for the Holidays (Three Christian novellas) (Book 1 Andersen Brothers):

  A Christian Christmas

  A Christian Easter

  A Christian Father’s Day

  A Woman After David’s Heart (Valentine’s Day) (Book 2 Andersen Brothers)

  A Noelle for Nathan (Book 3 Andersen Brothers)

  Christmas Greetings

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Praises for Pat Simmons’s Novels

  Acknowledgements

  Other Christian Titles Include

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter
30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Epilogue

  Book Club Questions

  Author’s Note about Crowning Glory

  About the Author

  Other Christian Titles

  CHAPTER 1

  Without a test, there can be no testimony, Karyn Wallace reminded herself five minutes after she agreed to a date with Levi Tolliver. She wasn’t Cinderella, and Karyn doubted the widower would be her Prince Charming.

  Yes, she was affected by the most beautiful dark chocolate eyes she had seen in her lifetime. They were hypnotic, even camouflaged behind designer glasses, which were angled perfectly on his chiseled nose. Levi’s skin was a blend of chocolates: dark, milk, and white, which created a creamy undefined tone. His thick, black wavy hair and thin mustache were nice touches, but it was Levi’s dimples that seemed to be on standby, waiting for his lips’ command to smile. Buffed at—she guessed about—five feet, eleven inches, Karyn wasn’t intimidated by Levi’s height as he towered over her petite stature.

  “You might as well surrender to what God has stirred between us,” Levi stated as if he had sealed a business deal after his seventh visit and counting in a month to Bookshelves Unlimited where she worked as a specialist in children’s books.

  Suspicion set in. What did he know about God in her life? At twenty-seven, Karyn was too old to play games. Sometimes the devil injected the word of God into conversations as bait to lure Christians in for the kill, thinking they found a kindred spirit. She didn’t have time to test the waters to see if she could survive another relationship gone awry. The memories of one bad relationship had a way of lasting a lifetime.

  When he moved intimately closer, his lashes were mesmerizing, catching her off guard. “Deny the attraction, Karyn.”

  She hated dares. Bluffs got people into trouble, hurt, or sometimes killed. Karyn blinked. Now, she was getting carried away. Anchoring her elbows on the table in the store’s café, Karyn nestled her chin in her hands. She took pleasure in delaying her response. After all, he was interrupting her dinner break.

  “I’m attracted to flashy cars, white kittens, black-eyed peas, and—”

  “Me,” he interjected as a fact.

  Karyn refused to confirm or deny his assumption, but she silently admitted she was enjoying their banter. There was something intoxicating about a person who oozed confidence. Despite her outward boasting, she struggled at times with low self-esteem. Shrugging, she continued as if she didn’t hear him. “Although I don’t own a flashy car or a white kitten, I can put away some black-eyed peas.”

  “Your preferences are noted.” Levi lifted a brow and held it in place to make sure he had her attention. Only after she became impatient did he soften his features and smile, offering his sidekick dimples for her pleasure.

  “My Buick LaCrosse is new, but not flashy. My daughter is allergic to cats, and my mother can throw down on any beans, peas, or greens.” A dimple winked as he stretched his lips into a lazy grin. “For the past four years, my spirit has laid dormant, waiting on a word from God. With no warning, I got a message plain enough that even a caveman could read it.” He snickered.

  “I’ve seen those GEICO commercials, and I’m not impressed.”

  “I couldn’t resist saying that.”

  “Maybe in the future…” She paused and lifted a finger. “But not any time soon.” Her refusals were solely based on experience with one man, which she knew wasn’t fair.

  “Hmmm.” He nodded. “At least it’s not no again.” Snickering, Levi’s dimple performed an encore. “After all, with God all things are possible.”

  She knew the scripture—Mark 10:27. That was the first thing she uttered every morning after waking up. Levi had been relentless in his pursuit. Why? Her appearance was simplistic: tan pants, a white polo shirt bearing the store’s logo, and tennis shoes. A French braid, dipping inches beyond her shoulders, was her trademark hairdo. To some customers, she resembled a teenager, and the pay seemed to fit the description.

  Whenever Levi strolled through the door, he received more than a passing glance, whether modeling a tailored dark suit or dressed in business-casual clothes: his pants were creased, shirts starched, and shoes polished. When Karyn first noticed him and the wedding ring, she envied the woman who had a wonderful blessing from God: an adorable little girl and a father who doted on his child, calling her sweetheart or darling. He exhibited more patience than the average man.

  After that initial distraction, Karyn had sobered during the subsequent visits. She reminded herself that God was an equal-opportunity blessing giver. She referenced Matthew 5:45, where God provided the sun to rise on the good and evildoers while He allowed the rain to fall on the just and unjust.

  Tonight, Levi had entered the bookstore with a suspicious, determined stride. His presence was too bold to ignore. Even mall security officers went on alert, but backed off when it was apparent that Levi’s intentions were harmless. Strangely, Karyn’s busybody coworker, Patrice Lucas, who saw everything and everyone, didn’t seem to notice him. A poster child for the O’Jays’s old song, “Back Stabber,” Patrice could be a good friend one day and the worst enemy the next. Karyn was still trying to figure out where she placed on Patrice’s list. It really didn’t matter. Patrice would never be one of her confidantes.

  What is he up to? she wondered. He never came to the bookstore alone. From day one, Levi’s precious four-year-old daughter, Dori, enchanted Karyn. The child had a readymade smile, minus the dimples. Her skin was a few shades darker than her father’s. Her hair was thick, long, and sometimes wild. One and two ponytails seemed to be the only doable option for the widower. With the recent chilly temperatures in the last days of October, Dori was always dressed with matching multicolored hats and gloves.

  As Bookshelves Unlimited’s kid specialist, Karyn enjoyed interacting with the little ones, helping them choose games and books that were age appropriate. In Dori’s absence, Levi clutched a large gift bag as he roamed the aisles. Confident she was his target, she waited patiently until they made eye contact, then he kept approaching.

  “Do you have a moment?” He didn’t wait for an answer to his summons as he turned and headed to the elevated platform that claimed to be the café’s territory near the entrance. It was the only spacious area in the cluttered bookstore.

  Already, Karyn’s fist was fishing for a comfortable resting spot on her hip as she formed an attitude. If I do, am I supposed to jump?

  Marking his spot at a white round parlor table, he laid his bag in a black wood chair with a black vinyl cushioned seat. The buzz in the coffee shop didn’t miss a beat as he unbuttoned his black suit coat and claimed an adjacent seat. If he’d worn a coat, he must have left it in the car. Levi crossed his ankle over one knee and leaned back. His demeanor was relaxed and carefree as if it were his designated VIP seating.

  Curious as a feline, Karyn set aside the new shipment of stuffed animals that recited bedtime stories when they were squeezed. She strolled to where Levi was camped out as if he were royalty. He met her eyes with tenderness. Levi’s simmering smile was ammunition to detonate a romantic explosive in some poor woman’s life.

  For a fleeing moment, Karyn felt unworthy in his presence with her red canvas apron smeared with dust from opening boxes. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s a late birthday gi
ft. Happy Birthday, or early Christmas present. Merry Christmas. Whichever works in my favor.” He patted the bag with a Macy’s logo.

  Speechless, Karyn fretted with her braid as her heart pounded wildly. She indulged in a secret moment of excitement. The contents represented a bribe gift. Karyn knew it and was flattered—confused but thrilled.

  “But I…” She grasped for an excuse not to accept it, although her birthday, which was two months ago and Christmas, which was a month away, were ideal reasons.

  Levi remained focused as he stood and pulled out another chair as if she were adorned in a ball gown. Karyn scanned the store. It was a slow night, easily manageable with the current staff. However, Patrice could stretch a small task into an eight-hour shift.

  “Let me go clock out first,” Karyn stated.

  Suddenly, Patrice appeared, arms folded and eyes suspicious as Karyn signed out for a ten-minute break. She felt uneasy around the unkempt woman who spoke her mind. Coworkers thought Patrice was harmless. Karyn was wary of the woman’s best intentions. Beware was written in invisible ink on her coworker’s forehead. Since jobs were hard to find, Karyn didn’t want any rumors floating back to her boss to find fault with her. “It’s quiet, so I’m taking my last break.”

  “Sure, go ahead. I’ve got your back,” Patrice encouraged with a wink, then added over her shoulder as she walked away, “Watch it. That guy is way out of your league.”