A Better Pair of Shoes, a novel Chapter 40-a Aisha and Tony Rolls Out the Red Carpet         I could recognize the surroundings, and the brick exterior that told me it was Sax.  The woman was familiar to me, but I couldn’t identify her.  I could see that Tony was not happy.  There was a short exchange of words, and then she moved slowly and deliberately into his personal space.  She cuffed his ear, and delivered whatever was she’d wanted him to know.  I saw Tony’s face change from upset to concern, and I instantly sprung up from my sleep unaware of where I was.  I looked around for a few seconds, and realized that I was at home, in bed with Tony.  The disturbance of my quick awakening did not awaken Tony however, and so I returned my head to my pillow.  I lay awake holding onto the things I’d seen, and then out of nowhere, there was a voice, a whisper in my consciousness, that said, “He knows.”  ...

A Better Pair of Shoes, a novel Chapter 39-b Ketly Recovers Pt.2 My mom and dad had insisted on keeping Shayne, and we agreed.  I quickly thanked everyone for coming, and said my good-byes.  I could see both Kayla and Aisha with many questions on their minds, and so I promised to call as I stopped to hug each one.  Moments later, we were alone.  The short walk to the car felt like a long walk in a park.  We held hands, but did not begin to sum anything up with words.  Actually, I didn’t have any words.  As we began to journey, I began to dream again.  Jeff and I were still holding hands.  It was too scary for me to let go just yet.  There was still so much that needed to be said, but perhaps we were both searching for the words.  Then, came the break in the silence we were both wanting.             “How’d you like the book?”        ...

A Better Pair of Shoes, a novel C hapter 39-a Ketly Recovers           When I turned the last page of Jeff’s book, much of my hurt had dissipated.  There was a lot to show that Angela had been me, but there was nothing to prove that I was Angela.  There was no surprising note hidden in the pages of my copy of the book with a marriage proposal.  Yet, I was healed to know that my heart had not simply been a board game.  Everything I had remembered— all the truly important moments Jeff and I had shared, did not only stand out in my mind, but his as well.  I felt almost ready to pick up the pieces of the dream that had fallen apart, and make something of my reemerging hopes.  Since Angela had declined Jeff’s offer, and I hadn’t gotten one, I knew the book had come to help me to see Jeff in a different light, and for the sake of Shayne, I needed that.  I’d finished the book three days ago, and despite al...