EXCERPT
When Cecilia walked into the living room, the first thing she noticed was that her father wasn’t there. So maybe this wasn’t as bad as she thought.
“Josie tells me she hears you throw up every morning, yet you’re well enough to go to school. That can only mean one thing. So, tell me,” Rose said, pointing a finger close to Cecilia’s face, “who are you sleeping with? The whole football team?”
Before Cecilia had a chance to answer, Josie said, “Oh, Mom, you’re so way off base. She’s been sleeping with her nigger boyfriend. Haven’t you, Sis?” She smirked and nodded her head at Cecilia. “Does he have a big thing like they say?”
She looked at Cecilia. “Who’s the father, or don’t you know?”
Cecilia swallowed. She could lie. Say she didn’t know. But that would be defiling the purity of her baby. And no way could she deny Lucian’s existence. If she did, it would mean she was ashamed of him. “I love him.”
“Who? Tell me who it is and I’ll talk to his parents and explain that they have to let their son marry you, take responsibility.”
“How are you going to get out of this one?” Josie asked, laughing.
“I don’t think you’ll want to do that.” Cecilia looked from Josie to her mother. “It’s Lucian. He’s the colored boy from school. I’ve been seeing him for months.”
Rose dropped into the chair and put her face in her hands. Through sobs, she said, “How could you do this to us? Do you realize what this means? What your father is going to do? He will beat you so you will lose that thing growing in you.”
“That ‘thing’ as you call it, is my baby. Your grandchild.”
Rose sat up straight. “Oh, no. Not my grandchild. I refuse to have a colored grandchild. Do you understand me? You will not have that baby.”
When the front door opened and Tony walked in, he looked at his wife and daughters. “What is it?” He removed his coat and threw his hat on the table. He stood in the center of the living room with his hands on his hips. “Somebody tell me what’s going on. I’m beginning to lose my temper.”
Josie broke the silence. “She’s having a nigger baby.” She pointed at Cecilia.
Tony, his face distorted with anger, shouted, “Is that true?”
Unable to form words, Cecilia nodded.
“So you’ve been sneaking around with that coon, lying to us, disrespecting the family. I told you what would happen if you did that. You would never see any of us again. You’re a total disgrace, a whore.“ His hand came up and connected with Cecilia’s face. “I’m disgusted just looking at you.” He turned away.
Barbara Larriva
Travel has always been my first love. It was because of an experience in Morocco that started my writing career. I was a secretary at the time and because the Moroccan experience was rather lengthy, I typed it (yes, a real typewriter!) and passed it out to my co-workers. The comments were all quite positive so I took a Creative Writing class and dabbled in romance writing. After receiving a rejection (I still have it) that said “your book is neither romantic nor inspiring,” I announced to my writers’ group, “As long as I’m going to get rejected I might as well write what i want to write.” So I wrote POPPY. I sent out only one query to Ballantine/Random House and they bought it. That was the beginning…
You may contact the author at author@barbaralarriva.com
A Sister’s Betrayal By Barbara Larriva
Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews
First, I want to thank Barbara Larriva for providing me with this book so I may bring your this review.
A Sister’s Betrayal is a prequel to Barbara’s first book One Day I Will Find You. Now usually I say to read books in order so you get the feel for the characters and the storyline. However, not with this book. You may read this book as a stand alone and understand it. But, Barbara’s book One Day I Will Find You is extremely powerful that their had to be a prequel. I am so glad she wrote this after the first book.
This book was a short quick read with extremely important messages that even in todays day an age holds true. Love is love no matter what skin color, gender, age, etc. So many mixed emotions in this book for myself.
The biggest pet peeve I had with this arc copy I was given is that it was not prof read. There were many and I mean many words all jumbled together without any spaces between them. It made many of the pages difficult to read.
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