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man,” he added. “I believe we could all use a prayer right
    now.” Grasping the hand of the officer nearest him, Reverend Winters
    addressed the room. “Let’s join hands.”
    Clay barely heard the reverend’s words. His mind was filled with concern
    for Craig’s family, especially his mother. She’d already lost a husband, now
    he had to tell her she’d lost a son. Craig also had a younger brother, Tony,
    who was only fourteen, and sister, Janae who was twenty one. While Mrs.
    Simpson had two other kids, Craig was the oldest and the one she relied on
    most since her husband passed away eight years ago.
    The prayer ended, pulling Clayton back to the present and Reverend
    Winters walked over to where he stood.
    “Captain Jackson said you wanted to inform the family, is that right son?
    ”Yes sir, that’s right.”
    “Son, if you feel you must, by all means, do so. But, are you sure you can
    handle it?”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    Reverend Winters studied him. Satisfied, he nodded his agreement.
    “Okay son. Come and see me later if you need to talk, alright?
    18

CHAPTER

    THREE

    Cynthia Edwards parked her car in back of the salon, entering through the
    back door of Nu U and turned on the lights and air conditioning. Although
    she only worked in the shop three days a week for a few hours, Cynthia liked
    to come in early, finding that was the time of day when she got the most
    done. During the workday, when the shop was in full swing, there were too
    many distractions. The Nu U staff normally got in around ten and they were
    a lively bunch. After they arrived and the shop opened, piped in music
    would play on overhead speakers and a steady flow of customers came in
    throughout the day.
    Cynthia did not have to work; her husband’s business did quite well, but
    these few hours a week were just what she needed at this point in her life.
    When Vi asked her to come and work at Nu U a few years back, Cynthia had
    been surprised. After all, she had been dead set against Vi opening up this
    beauty shop in the first place. As she turned the coffeemaker on, she
    thought about that time. It had been a difficult time for both of them.
    “Vi, you can’t be serious. I mean, opening a beauty parlor at your age.
    What do you know about running a business?”
    “It’s not a beauty parlor, it’s going to be a salon/day spa and for your
    information I plan to take management courses.”
    Cynthia could tell Vi was upset, but then so was she. She was, after all, the
    older, more responsible one and she couldn’t stand by and let Vi squander
    her dead husband’s life insurance money on a whim.
    “Vi, don’t be foolish. It’s ridiculous for you to think about going back to
    school at this stage of your life, much less trying to start a business.”
    Unable to hold her temper any longer, Vi told her sister, “Thanks for the
    support Cyn. I don’t know why I’m even discussing this with you. I’m a
    grown woman and I don’t need your permission.”
    “What you need to do is leave that money in the bank and work on finding
    a husband and father for your kids,” Cynthia shot back.
    “Oh, like the last jackass you set me up with? No thanks.”
    After that, their discussion deteriorated into a shouting match. Afterwards,
    Vi didn’t speak to Cynthia for over two months. Although Cynthia still felt
    19

    strongly about the choices Vi was making, she did start to miss spending
    time with the family. Cynthia and her husband had no children. Because of
    this she treated Vi’s children like her own, showering a multitude of affection
    on them since they were babies.
    Within the first few weeks after their argument, Cynthia started feeling
    badly, but no amount of coaxing would make Vi come for Sunday dinner or
    talk to her on the phone. Vi made a point to only spoke to Cynthia out of
    necessity. Fortunately, Cynthia was able to keep up with things through her
    nephew, Craig. She began calling Vi’s house when she knew Vi