All I've Ever Wanted - Adrianne Byrd [0]
All I’ve Ever Wanted
ADRIANNE BYRD
Acknowledgment
First and foremost, I want to thank God for always being in my corner.
To my family and friends, thanks for all the support and love that you’ve given me. To my wonderful fans and readers, thank you for allowing me to do what I do. It’s always a pleasure to entertain you.
Contents
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 1
Downtown Atlanta,
Friday, 11:55 p.m.
Exhausted, Kennedy St. James stared out the city-bus window and into the night. Her vision never focused on anything in particular as she allowed her mind to wander endlessly on everything and nothing. She shifted in her seat and once again felt the painful throb in her feet. Lord, how she hated waiting tables.
She pulled her gaze from the passing trees and looked around the MARTA bus just as Mrs. Russell pulled the thin, wired cord above her head. A bell dinged and the elderly woman rose from her seat. Their eyes met seconds before they shared a smile.
“You have a nice night,” Mrs. Russell said kindly before shuffling down the narrow aisle.
“You, too,” Kennedy responded. She watched as the woman exchanged pleasantries with Leroy, the bus driver, then stepped off the bus.
“God bless that sweet woman,” Leroy said, shaking his head as he pulled the bus away from the curb. He looked up into his rearview mirror and locked gazes with Kennedy. “I’ve never met anyone with such a kind spirit. You know what I mean?”
She nodded and smiled. “I know exactly what you mean.”
“Why God saw fit to take her husband, then turn around and take both her children in the same year just escapes me.”
Kennedy remembered her father’s funeral and absently quoted what her grandmother had told her. “Some things aren’t for us to understand.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he agreed, nodding. “It just breaks my heart to see her in such bad shape.”
The subtle smile curved across Kennedy’s face suddenly heavy and forced. In fact, lately all her smiles seemed that way. Her grandmother once said that life should be viewed like a roller-coaster ride. Everyone has a share of ups and downs. But, for years now, Kennedy’s life seemed like one fast dip into oblivion. When was her ride going to climb back up?
The slow, gentle rocking of the MARTA bus as it traveled down Martin Luther King Boulevard reminded her of her grandmother’s old rocking chair, which had lulled her into more than her fair share of catnaps. She glanced at her watch. It wouldn’t be long before she could climb into bed to get as close to eight hours of sleep as she possibly could—which would probably be her usual four hours.
Working long hours, plus attending night school, was definitely taking its toll. The sad fact was that she still had a good two years to go before she received her bachelor’s degree. She expelled a long sigh. Did she really have what it would take to get through another two years?
She would be nearly thirty years old by the time she finished. But it was better to be thirty with a degree, than to be that age without one, she reminded herself. Had she not started her family young, she would have been finished with school by now. “Better late than never,” she reaffirmed softly.
When her stop came into view, she pulled the cord, and then stood to slip her bookbag across her shoulders.
“You have a good weekend, Leroy,” she said, offering another heavy smile.
The older man’s dark eyes twinkled as his lips widened. “You do the same, Kennedy. But make sure you get yourself some rest. You look like you’re about to pass out.”
The doors jerked open.
“Trust me. The moment my head hits the pillow it’s lights out. But I’ll see you Monday night.” She waved and then