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even when we suffer through hard times because it’s those experiences that God uses to make us better and more mature Christians. We also have to remember that whatever we go through isn’t just for us; it’s also so we can help and encourage someone else.”
    â€œThat’s true,” said Angel. “Believe it or not, Sullivan, you and Charles are part of the reason I was able to accept Duke’s proposal. I didn’t think I could trust him again after he cheated on me with Theresa and walked out on our marriage. Seeing how forgiving and loving Charles was toward you helped give me the strength I needed to move past that. It also showed me that a marriage can not only overcome something as devastating as infidelity but can also be stronger as a result.
    â€œAnd, Lawson, watching the way Garrett is with Namon—the way he treats him like he’s his own child—made it a lot easier to love Theresa’s daughters like they are my own, unconditionally.”
    â€œWe can’t deny it, ladies. God has been good to all of us,” affirmed Lawson. “Even when times are hard, He still works things out for the good of those who love Him. The devil intended all of those trials to break us and to make us give up. God used those same trials for us to build one another up.”
    Kina swelled with pride. “Well said, cousin.”
    â€œAt least it’s been relatively calm for the past few months,” noted Reginell. “Everybody is doing well. Lawson is trying her best to stay off my back about stripping.”
    â€œLawson staying off your back isn’t the problem. It’s you we need to stay off your back,” added Sullivan.
    â€œSully, do you really want to go there?” asked Angel.
    Remembering her own dirty dalliances, Sullivan retreated into silence.
    â€œIt’s a little scary, though,” admitted Angel.
    Reginell began tinkering with her cell phone. “What is?”
    â€œThe calm. It makes you wonder when the other shoe is going to drop.”
    Lawson peered out of the window. “Well, you know what they say . . . Either you’re going through a storm, coming out of one, or are about to enter one.”
    Just then, a loud clap of thunder and blinding flash of lightning shook the room, causing the lights to flicker. The ladies exchanged troubled glances with one another, wondering if it really had been the calm before one heck of a storm.

Chapter 3
    â€œNobody told me it would be like this.”
    â€” Kina Battle
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    Kina came home to an empty apartment after leaving Reginell’s. Kenny was spending the night with Namon at Lawson’s house, and she would be spending the night alone with her thoughts, painful memories, and loneliness.
    She slipped out of her shoes, unfastened the belt that was restricting her stomach, and felt like herself again. Sometimes it was exhausting to keep up the fa- çade for her friends, like everything was fine in her life, but it was easier than having them worry about her or worse—feel sorry for her. Yes, she was proud to be back in school, and she knew the change of employment would do her good, but those were outward things. Inwardly, not much had changed. She was no longer at the mercy of her husband’s fist, and she had the freedom to do what she pleased, but she still struggled with her demons; only now, external demons had been replaced by internal ones.
    Kina checked her voice mail messages. There was only one from her therapist reminding her that she’d missed three appointments in a row and that it had been two months since her last session. Kina pressed delete before hearing the rest of the message.
    â€œWhat good is all that psychobabble doing me if I’m still in the same state I was in a year ago?” she wondered. “I’m still sad, still lonely, still broke. There’s no point in wasting the good doc’s time or any more of my money on