Ex-Factor...

Should "Til Death Do Us Part," really be adhered to anymore? That's the problem that Kennedy Holloway is facing and must determine how important her marital vows are to her. Ready to move on with her life and beyond the heartbreak her husband has created for her, she has made her peace with what was and is ready to move into what could be. However, life altering events will have her changing her mind and putting her life on hold for...forever?

Today's #writerwednesday snippet is from an upcoming novel, Bel Amour (Beautiful Love).

Blurb...

BEL AMOUR
A beautiful story of love between a man and a woman. Photographer Kennedy Holloway has changed her life, and is now pursuing her first love in a career of creating beautiful art from behind the lens of a camera. A freelance photographer for Courtside Magazine, she’s begun rubbing elbows with some of the NBA’s elite players. Running from heartache and disappointment, she’s come to the end of the road when she meets Atlanta Cobras’, Elias Da Silva.

Touted as the NBA’s #1 shooting guard and designated all-around ladies’ man, Elias’ private life is off limits to the paparazzi. No one really knows the man off the court, and he’s blocking every attempt from anyone getting too close, until he meets Kennedy on assignment. Her attempts to hide behind the camera only peeks his interest further. He won’t rest until he wins at the game of love.

Follow Kennedy and Elias through three years of ups and downs, as they learn about one another and themselves. Deemed to be the “perfect couple,” Kennedy’s past rises as a barrier between them. Will a lesson in sacrificial love keep the two of them apart, or will it be the bond that they need to bring them together again?

Excerpt...

Kennedy looked around her townhome one final time before releasing a sigh. Everything had been packed away. All her recently purchased furniture sent to storage, along with other valuables.

“You ready, babe?” Rick asked, draping an arm over her shoulder with a large grin creasing his face.

Not really, she thought, but kept her feelings to herself.

Kennedy looked up at her husband and smiled. “Sure.”

She looked down at the baby in her arms, her heart pounding, and uncertainty dancing around in her mind.

The infant’s fists were bundled underneath her chin while she slept peacefully away. She had no clue of the turmoil the adults in her life were experiencing.

Jessica had left the hospital shortly before the nurses came to release her, never once looking back or saying goodbye to the baby. Rick had her on his own for two weeks, before Kennedy finally caved in to his demands, against her mother’s wishes. Marilyn had not taken her calls since she announced to her mother that she had stopped the divorce and was moving back into their home.

Halfway through the drive to their home, Rick reached over and grabbed her hand into his pulling her from her thoughts. She looked up at him and smiled slightly, her head still resting in her other hand.

“What’s on your mind, baby?” he asked.

“Mm, nothing.”

“Come on, you can talk to me. You’re worried about being a mother?” he grinned like a Cheshire cat.

“No. Not really,” she muttered, turning to stare out the window. Her thoughts had been on Elias, wondering what he was doing. She had tried several times to no avail to reach out to him after the pictures appeared in the media.

“Then what?”

“Just wondering what Jessica could be thinking about to leave such an innocent life behind,” she lied, twisting in her seat to glance at the baby’s car seat. She couldn’t see her face very well from her position, but she could tell the newborn was still asleep.

“Mm. She’s selfish I can tell you that much. Let’s not talk about her. I don’t want to think about Jessica anymore. I want to talk about the family me, you, and Trinity will be. Not to mention the little one that I plan to put inside you once I get you home in bed,” Rick stated, laughing.

“Oh no, you don’t!” Kennedy replied, jerking her hand from his.

He frowned.

“What do you mean? That was always our dream, remember? Especially yours, babe.”

“Seems like you got a head start on that one.”

Rick reached a hand out and stroked Kennedy’s hair. “Come on, babe. You told me you’d forgiven me.”

“Doesn’t mean I’ll forget.”

“So, you’re saying we can’t start a family together?”

“We have a lot of healing to do, Rick. And you have a lot of growing and maturing to do. We’re hardly in the position to have another baby right now. Trinity’s barely three weeks old, and we have to learn how to take care of a child. The last thing we need to do is overwhelm ourselves with thoughts of another. Besides, we have too much baggage to deal with before jumping on that road.”

Rick sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. He pulled into the driveway of their home. She had not been here in such a long time. This had once been a dream home for her, now all it held were painful memories. Just looking at it, made her want to run.

As if sensing her hesitation, the baby chose that moment to begin whimpering in her sleep.

Rick tossed a look her way, and instantly unbuckled his seat belt.

Kennedy unbuckled hers and made her way to the rear passenger seat. Unstrapping Trinity’s car seat, she carefully lifted the infant out and held her close to her, while rocking her. She grabbed the baby bag with her other hand and lifted it onto the same shoulder she had already strapped her purse.

Rick grabbed Kennedy’s bags from the other side and smiled at her.

“Look at you…just beautiful. Motherhood looks great on you.”

Mr. Stanley came from around his backyard and stopped. Lifting a hand up to his forehead, he smiled and ambled over towards the couple.

“Well, I’ll be. Look who’s here! Land alive, I ain’t seen you in quite some time. I’m sho’ glad to see you two back together,” he remarked, as he made his way closer.

“Hi, Mr. Stanley,” Kennedy greeted warmly, a rush of affection taking over her.

“Hey, Mr. Stanley,” Rick greeted, reaching out and heartily shaking the elder man’s hand.

Mrs. Irene came out of the house and began making her way towards the small group.

“Well, well, well, who do we have here?” Mrs. Irene gushed, walking up to them.

“Well, it explains why we ain’t seen Kenni around, Reenie,” Mr. Stanley stated. “She’s been busy, and pregnant! I’m so glad you two starting a family.”

“May I see her?” Mrs. Irene asked, with a look of concern.

“Sure, Mrs. Irene,” Kennedy replied, handing over her carefully wrapped bundle.

She looked to Rick who stood beaming from ear to ear.

“Why that’s a proud papa if I ever seen one. I know I was like that with all three of ours,” Mr. Stanley stated, grinning back at Rick.

“Whose baby, is she?” Mrs. Irene asked.

“Woman! That’s their baby. What in Sam’s hill are you talking ‘bout?”

“Well, I know I seen Kennedy recently on them talk shows ‘bout them celebrities, and her figure was just as gorgeous as it is now. Ain’t no way a baby don’ come outta that,” she stated, pointing at Kennedy.

Kennedy glanced over at Rick, who was working his jaw back and forth.

“Foolish talk, woman!” Mr. Stanley reprimanded, talking about the couple as if they weren’t standing there.

“Mm-mm. Chile got blue eyes. Ain’t no way this heah’ Kennedy’s baby,” Mrs. Irene stated, looking between them.

Mr. Stanley looked down at the baby for the first time and then back up at Rick. “Son, you don’ went out and got yourself a baby outside the marriage?”

Rick started scratching the back of his neck and looking uncomfortable. “Well, see…”

“Yes, sir. Yes, he did. I’m here to help him raise her and make sure that she has a good home,” Kennedy intervened, accepting the baby back from Mrs. Irene.

Pressing her lips together she looked at the infant and back at her husband. “Mr. Stanley and Mrs. Irene, I think I need to get her in the house now, so I can change her.”

“You do that, sugah,” Mrs. Irene stated, patting Kennedy on the back.

She turned to head to the house, but not before hearing the advice given her husband.

“You take good care of that woman. She’s a mighty good girl, son. Don’t keep messing up too much. It’s only so much a woman can take. You hear me?” Mr. Stanley advised.

“Yes, sir.”

“Stanley had one time to pull some stuff like that on me…you wouldn’t be standing here talking to him now,” Mrs. Irene huffed, and walked off.

Kennedy squeezed her eyes shut tight. She waited for a few beats before hearing her husband’s footsteps on the stairwell, before he made his way up to the porch. She moved aside to allow him to unlock the front door.

About Chelle Ramsey...

Women's fiction author and blogger, Chelle Ramsey brings a refreshing perspective into the lives of her readers and wants them to find entertainment, healing and inspiration in each novel. Using real problems and challenges faced by ordinary people, Chelle wants readers to become empowered to rise above life's adversities, with faith in God, and belief in themselves.

Her stories are relatable to individuals of diverse demographics, who have suffered a loss, been hurt, have low self-esteem, have lost hope, or need a word of encouragement. She strives to take your emotions on a roller coaster ride, one page at a time. Chelle holds an MBA in Human Resource Management, which she puts to use in her Human Resources role by day, while she writes her fiction novels at night. And in her spare time, she’s a blogger, freelance writer, and ghostwriter. 
Her most important roles are those of a wife and mother of three. During her “me time,” she becomes enraptured with the enthralling stories of Terry McMillan, Nora Roberts, James Patterson and Stuart Woods. Chelle Ramsey resides in a rural community in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys writing, family time, and watching NBA games.
She hosts the annual 20 Days of Love authors’ blogging campaign, March Madness authors’ giveaways campaign, and showcases other authors on her blog at www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog. Her novels can be found online at Chelle Ramsey Amazon.
 
LINKS:
WEB: www.chelleramsey.com
BLOG: http://www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog
EMAIL: chelleramseywrites@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: ChelleWrites
TWITTER: @UndeniablyChell
PINTEREST: ChellesBooks
INSTAGRAM: UndeniablyChelle+-

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