Defining Moments (eBook)

Vanessa Brown (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
148 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
9798350985924 (ISBN)

Infos

'Defining Moments' tells the empowering story of Cynthia Harris, a woman who turned heartache and life's challenges into a journey of transformation. Through reflection, resilience, and renewal, Cynthia reclaims her strength, wisdom, and joy, proving that even in the darkest moments, a brighter, triumphant chapter awaits.

Vanessa Brown is an extremely proud graduate of Alabama State University, with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. Her academic and social experiences at ASU, coupled with strong family values has played a major role in the development of her personal and professional life. She enjoys a very strong bond with her beloved ASU. She credits her professional success to her HBCU experience and the firm dedication of the faculty and staff of ASU. Like Cynthia Harris, Vanessa Brown had to overcome, pulse-stopping heartache, devastating disappointments and the mistakes of her past. Each passing day, she held onto her faith and the strength of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for support. What Vanessa Brown has learned is that, 'You cannot have a testimony, unless you pass the test'. A testimony she freely shares at any given moment. In addition to her love of writing, she enjoys quiet time on her patio listening to soothing jazz music, while savoring great Southern seafood. Currently, Vanessa Brown lives in Mobile, Alabama, also known as the birthplace of Mardi Gras.

---

"e;Defining Moments"e; is the inspiring journey of Cynthia Harris, a woman who faced profound emotional heartache and the daunting mistakes and challenges of life. Despite years of professional success, Cynthia found herself at a crossroads, burdened by pain and in need of returning to her safe haven-home. Through moments of deep reflection, she began to reclaim her life, finding inner peace, clarity, and the strength to release the weight of her past. This courageous reset transformed her pain into purpose, opening up new adventures and opportunities she had never imagined. As the dust of her struggles settled, Cynthia discovered the woman she had become resilient, graceful, wise, and powerful beyond measure. A testament to the power of perseverance and self-discovery. It's a reminder that life's toughest moments don't define us instead, they become stepping stones to something greater when we embrace them with courage and an open heart. Cynthia's story will inspire readers to reflect on their own lives, find hope in their challenges, and believe that it's never too late to create the life they've dreamed of. With raw honesty and uplifting resolve, Cynthia shows that the greatest chapters of our lives often emerge from the ashes of our struggles. "e;Defining Moment"e;s is a celebration of resilience, renewal, and the extraordinary power of the human spirit.

Textauszug

CHAPTER I

As Cynthia Connelly sat on her patio sipping her morning coffee and enjoying an unseasonably cool fall breeze, she reflected on all the events which brought her back to the Gulf Coast almost ten years ago. Mobile was known as the city by the Bay, had the greatest seafood in the world in her opinion, breathtaking azalea trails, and was the birthplace of Mardi Gras. But for Cynthia it was home, her grandmother had often said, “You can come home when there is no other place to go.” After some very difficult moments, Cynthia realized her grandmother was right, because there may come a time when life hits you so hard that you find it difficult to breathe, and familiar surroundings is the only thing able to provide you with some sense of clarity. When Cynthia found herself in such a position, and in desperate need of clarity, there was only one choice for her; it was time to come home.

Cynthia’s childhood was not perfect, but it was good, and her grandmother did the best she could to provide her with a comfortable and stable home. They lived in an area of the city known as Happy Hill, which honestly did not live up to its idyllic name. It was a community of housing projects made out of cement blocks, which were extremely hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Even though their apartment was tiny, Cynthia remembered it was always clean and filled with freshly cooked food every day. Her grandmother was known for her famous teacakes, which were the centerpiece of their many tea parties, but served with coffee instead of tea. Cynthia smiled, what wonderful memories. She didn’t know it then, but those special moments spent with her grandmother would become the memories she would hold on to for a lifetime.

Cynthia felt safe inside those four cement walls. However, once she stepped outside, she was reminded, it was also a community filled with drugs and violence. Someone was always getting shot, and the police were constantly patrolling the area looking to make a drug arrest. In spite of all this, Cynthia’s immediate surroundings were like a safe haven. Everyone knew each other, looked out for each other, and the adults had no problem making sure all the kids were well behaved, at least in their presence anyway. All of this offered a sense of comfort to the neighborhood kids as they played outside, with the understanding everyone would return home before the evening streetlights came on. Cynthia smiled at the thought of her friends racing home when the lights started popping on, knowing someone would be the butt of all the jokes the next day because he or she didn’t make it, and had to pay the price. It was easy for Cynthia because she never ventured pass her self-imposed safety zone, which was no more than a five-block area from her apartment. Growing up in such an environment Cynthia was determined to provide better days for herself and her grandmother.

Cynthia’s grandmother raised her to be independent, to get a good education, and work hard; she wanted to make sure Cynthia had a better life than she did. Cynthia believed her grandmother was the reason, she had such a strong work ethic, she had instilled in her the drive to be successful. Indeed, that shy young girl from a drug and crime infested housing project, had completed college, and gone on to make quite a name for herself in advertising. Her dear grandmother was gone but she had often told Cynthia how proud she was of her accomplishments. Cynthia owed her so much, and in spite of her grandmother’s many objections, Cynthia provided for her financially until the day she died, it was a very small price to pay.

Living in New York was more than she could have ever hoped for but so much had happened, Cynthia found herself in a state of mind, where coming home was the only logical choice. Being married to Steven was the high point of her life, her career in advertising and his as an investment banker was a recipe for financial success. However, ten years into their marriage, Steven began to feel the effects of his car accident years prior and within five years, she was a widow. Thinking about the accident wasn’t something she liked to do because it brought back memories of an awful time in their relationship. A time when she made some terrible mistakes and hurt Steven very deeply. A time when, even though she truly loved him, there was so much confusion and chaos surrounding her, and what she thought made sense only added fuel to the fire. The one thing she had to do was forgive herself, for believing her actions caused him to have the accident that cold snowy night in New York. Somehow, love, forgiveness, and a lot of tears helped them to move pass those terrible moments and become even closer.

Unfortunately, Cynthia watched as her strong handsome husband, became a thin and fragile version of himself, and there was nothing she could do but hold his hand to the very end. It was the most excruciating pain she had ever experienced and to continue living in New York without him was not an option. There were moments when the pain was so intense, she could hardly breathe, starting fresh was a wise decision, and Steven made sure she was able to live wherever she wanted, he just couldn’t prepare her to live without him.

Things had changed at Bauer & Bauer, Daniel Bauer retired, his son took over the firm and even though Cynthia was a senior executive, after Steven’s death she had lost passion for the work. Therefore, walking away as a success was the best thing to do. Besides, she left the department in good hands, she recommended Frank Robinson to take her place, and he was doing an outstanding job as the Vice-President of Advertising; and was recently promoted to Sr. Vice-President. He and his wife Denise were the proud parents of two sons and a daughter. Cynthia smiled at the thought of having lunch with Frank, because he was nervous about proposing to Denise, thinking she would want to delay marriage and having a family, for her career. Obviously, he was very wrong because that was definitely not the case. Frank would call ever so often to ask for Cynthia’s advice on a few things, or just to catch-up. Cynthia missed being a part of the creative process, she even missed New York City, but she definitely didn’t miss the cold weather and the snow.

Suddenly, after all these years, she received a letter from the legal department at Mystique Cosmetics, asking her to attend a meeting in New York City regarding the estate of Robert Carson. Cynthia had been lucky enough to marry the man of her dreams and to be loved by another who proclaimed himself to be her guardian angel. She had such fond memories of Robert, he was a very powerful and successful businessman but had a kind and loving heart, especially when it came to her. She smiled as she remembered, and he had a jet, the jet had become a special conversation piece between the two of them. Because Robert was constantly trying to send her on what he called a stress-relieving vacation. Cynthia looked out at the beautiful flowers in her backyard and thought, how could she forget about “Magnificent”, her very own fragrance.

Cynthia tilted her face to the sky, closed her eyes, and allowed the morning sun to shine down on her face, giving her a warm comforting feeling inside. Robert had been so adamant about the production of the perfume, and allowing her to create the name for it, well needless to say, she was overwhelmed with joy. Cynthia believed it was his way of forever proclaiming his love for her. Robert was indeed a very caring and amazing man. The perfume had proven to be a very lucrative product for Mystique Cosmetics, there have been several women over the years that represented the fragrance, but there will always be only one Miss Magnificent. Her career and life in New York were what dreams were made of, but it was her reality and living it was a blessing, an honor, a privilege, and she took none of it for granted.

As Cynthia reminisced, she heard Stephanie’s voice, screaming, “Cynthia!”

Cynthia opened her eyes and yelled back.

“Do not make me take away your key. Do you know what time it is?”

With all the changes in Cynthia’s life, Stephanie was a constant, and a very dear friend, they had been there for each other since high school. No one would ever believe the wild and crazy things they did in college together. It was safe to say they had a lot of fun.

Walking onto the patio, looking like a diva in a pair of form fitting jeans, a sleeveless white linen shirt, heels, and wearing a bright smile. Stephanie laughed, with a cup of coffee in her hand.

“I knocked first. I know it is early, but I also knew you had some steaming hot coffee. And besides, we need to talk.”

Cynthia took a deep breath, and slowly replied. “I don’t want to talk, and I don’t need you to be a social worker today.”

Stephanie sat down with her coffee.

“I have been your social worker for decades. No need to stop now, and you being rude and mean to me, does not work anymore.”

Cynthia laughed. “Did it ever work?”

Stephanie gave Cynthia a look, then said. “I have been in contact with the legal department at Robert’s company. All the arrangements have been made and we are scheduled to be in New York City, day after tomorrow.”

Cynthia rolled her eyes and said, “I don’t recall asking you to contact anyone.”

Stephanie ignored the comment and continued to update her on their plans.

“Connie, Shelia, and Vickie will meet us there. You and The Fabulous Four will be together again.”

Cynthia thought, The...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 21.2.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Lyrik / Dramatik ► Dramatik / Theater
• ISBN-13: 9798350985924 / 9798350985924