A Piece of the Pie Read online

  A Piece of the Pie

  Sweet and Spicy Book 1

  Michelle Lindo-Rice

  ~~~

  Smashwords Edition

  Michelle Lindo-Rice

  P.O. Box 495792

  Port Charlotte, FL 33949

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be re-produced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.

  A Piece of the Pie Copyright © 2015 Michelle Lindo-Rice

  Print Edition ISBN-13: 978-1519480507

  Print Edition ISBN-10: 1519480504

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Acknowledgements

  Lord, I thank You. How you give me these crazy ideas and give Yourself the glory is beyond me.

  A big thank you to my sons: Eric and Jordan. Thank you to my sisters, family and church members.

  Special thanks to Sherri Lewis who is a skillful editor and a master at characterization. I’d also like to thank the amazing Rhonda McKnight who helps me grow as an author.

  Thank you to my faithful readers who motivate and encourage me. Thank you to the book clubs and reviewers. I couldn’t do what I do without you.

  A Piece of the Pie is a spicy read. Enjoy!

  Sincerely,

  Michelle Lindo-Rice

  Check out sample chapters of my novels and PLEASE join my mailing list at www.michellelindorice.com

  Christian Fiction Authors I recommend:

  www.blackchristianreads.com

  Dedication

  For Eric Michael.

  Your future is bright. I know I’ll be watching you accept an Academy Award one day.

  Table of Contents

  Acknowledgements

  Dedication

  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

  Epilogue

  Questions for Discussion

  About the Author

  1

  Back then

  Everybody on the block wanted a piece of Evie.

  At the ripe age of fourteen, Evelyn “Evie” Burkette was well versed in pleasing men. She’d had her first experience when she was twelve, with an eighteen year-old, Lamont Bell.

  As long as Evie lived, she’d never forget Lamont’s face or name. He had seem so nice when he’d invited her to hang with him at his house… But she wouldn’t think about that now.

  Evie focused on the boy standing before her in her bedroom. She placed his hand under her shirt.

  “Do you want to see them?” she whispered.

  The boy’s hazel eyes widened and he nodded. Evie pursed her lips to keep from laughing at the youth. He looked like a puppy dog.

  She granted his wish. The boy released a long groan, closed his eyes and shuddered.

  Evie undid her bun so her hair would fall around her shoulders and then sat on her twin-sized bed. She stretched across the bed and posed seductively, ignoring the creaks and groans it made. Her bed had seen many other moments like this.

  His eyes bulged and she smiled.

  “What’s your name, again?” Evie asked. “I need to know your name before I give you some.”

  “G…Garvin,” the boy sputtered. His face was beet red.

  “Oh, yeah.” She had asked him his name earlier, but she’d forgotten.

  Evie stood and slipped out of her clothes. Garvin’s eyes zeroed in on what she had on display. He released small, harried gasps.

  Goodness, he’d better not have a heart attack.

  Evie tilted her head and asked. “If I give you some of this, what will I get in return?”

  Garvin’s brows furrowed. “Huh?”

  Evie felt blessed because of her generous proportions. While her friends were busy begging their parents for money and treats, Evie never had to ask her mother for a thing. Men gave her money, clothes and shoes. Anything she wanted. All she had to do was give them a taste of her honey juice in return.

  Now Evie was no fool. She hid most of the stuff she got from her mother. Every morning, Evie left the house looking like an angel. She changed as soon as she got off the school bus. In less than five minutes, Evie transformed from frumpy church girl to the hottest chick in the eighth grade. Her mother got home after Evie every day, so Evie only needed her charade in the mornings.

  Bertice “Bertie” Burkette was a single mother who worked as a cashier during the day and went to nursing school at night. When she wasn’t at school, Bertie was at church. Evie was left on her own a lot of time, which was just fine by her.

  Evie sat up. “You think I’m not worth anything?”

  “No!” Garvin shot out. He jammed his hands into his pants pockets to see what he could find.

  Evie watched him patiently, but she knew what she wanted. It was dangling around Garvin’s neck. Evie had seen him walk by her house with the gold chain. She’d decided she wanted it.

  Her mother had attended every church service since she became a Christian four years ago. Evie was not the least bit interested in God. As far as she saw, God couldn’t do anything for her she couldn’t do herself.

  Since it was Tuesday night, Evie pretended she was sick. Once her mother had left for Bible study, Evie had lured Garvin into her house.

  “I don’t have anything!” Garvin yelled.

  Evie shook her head and reached for her plaid skirt.

  “C’mon,” Garvin pleaded.

  Like an Academy Award winning actress, Evie pinned her gaze on the chain.

  Garvin looked down. His grasped the metal in his hand and shook his head. “My father gave me this.”

  Evie held out her hands. She kept them outstretched until Garvin undid the clasp. His hand shook when he dropped the chain into her hand.

  “Good. Now get undressed.” Evie placed the chain on the nightstand and opened the drawer. She retrieved a condom from the middle of her diary. “Put this on,” she commanded, handing it to him.

  She rolled her eyes when Garvin struggled to get it on. This is why she didn’t deal with amateurs. Once he was ready, she patted the bed next to her. He sat down and she kissed him.

  Garvin was eager with awkward hands. She bit back the bile rising in her throat and lay on the bed. If she hadn’t eyed the chain sparkling in the evening light, she would have kicked him out already.

  Seconds later, he was done. Really?

  “You retard.” Evie yelled. “Get your clothes on and get out!” She pointed at the clock. “My boyfriend’s coming and you’d better be gone or else he’ll kill you.”


  “Boyfriend?” Garvin squeaked.

  “Yeah!” Evie sneered. “Big Will’s a real man and if he comes over here and sees you, he’ll surely shoot you.”

  Garvin needed no further encouragement. He knew who Big Will was. He dressed and almost fell running down the stairs to leave her house.

  Once she heard the door slam, Evie moved into motion. She tore her sheets off the bed and put them in the wash. Then she took a speedy, wash-the-important-stuff kind of shower. Evie remade the bed with clean sheets and then the doorbell rang.

  She raced down the stairs and opened the door.

  Big Will entered her house and headed up to her room. He was almost six feet and had the physique of a bodybuilder. Evie hadn’t even bothered to get dressed. She knew why he was here. He came over every other Tuesday night.

  Big Will eyed the piece of jewelry on her nightstand and without missing a beat, reached out and grabbed it.

  “This for me?”

  “Yes!”

  He kissed her long and hard. Evie took all of what he had to offer. She hoped it happened this time. She wanted to have Big Will’s baby. Evie wanted that more than anything. Having a baby would be the sure way to keep Big Will in her life. Out of all the boys she’d been with, Big Will was the only one who meant anything to her. She felt protected, important. So many girls wanted him, yet he'd chosen her.

  Evie decided she'd move in with him as soon as she turned sixteen. The only way he’d let her come any sooner was if she got pregnant.

  When Big Will left, Evie fell asleep with stars in her eyes. She touched her stomach and sighed. She had a good feeling this time. By the end of the year, she’d have a baby and she'd have Big Will.

  2

  Evie puked for the third time that day. She was having a hard time keeping anything down. She went over to the basin and washed her mouth.

  She had been right that night. She was now two months pregnant. That was where her accurate predictions came to a sorrowful end. She was living with Garvin and his parents, the Whitfield’s.

  Big Will hadn’t done what she’d anticipated. He hadn’t rescued her from Bertie. Instead, he had called her out in front of everybody on the block then turned his back on her.

  Evie clenched her fists at the memory.

  The entire time Big Will had demeaned her, Evie kept her mouth closed. She refused to let him see how his words pierced her tender heart. Once Big Will turned on her, Evie had walked around the corner and up the block to where Garvin lived.

  She rang his doorbell and informed him he was going to be a daddy. Garvin’s mouth popped open at the news. The next thing Evie knew, she was sitting in front of both Garvin’s parents and her mother. The three adults discussed what they should do.

  Garvin’s parents wanted her to abort the baby. Bertie wanted her to keep it.

  Evie was fine with whatever. Nothing they did or said mattered since Big Will’s rejection.

  When they got home that night, Bertie pleaded with her. “Please don’t abort your child. This might be the only one you have. I’ll help you as best as I can. I’m almost done with nursing school. It’ll be tough, but we’ll manage.”

  Evie rubbed her still flat tummy. “I’m too young to be a mother.”

  “You should’ve thought about that before you brought that boy in my house,” Bertie said, shaking her head. “I don’t know how you even ended up in this position. You should be graduating middle school, not having a baby.”

  Evie knew. Lamont Bell.

  “Do you want to play Super Mario Brothers on my brand new Nintendo?” Lamont had asked her one hot summer day.

  Evie had gotten tired of staying inside the house and had gone outside when the ice cream truck swung by. He’d purchased her the treat and then made the offer.

  Evie licked her ice cream cone and nodded, even though she’d never heard of that game before.

  “Wait till I tell my friends,” she said, following Lamont inside his house. “They’re not going to believe this.”

  Evie had been having fun until Lamont touched her. She’d said no, but he had taken her anyway.

  When Evie left Lamont’s house that evening, she’d been so ashamed. She wished she’d listen to Bertie when she had warned Evie to stay in the house.

  Evie wiped her tears. Lamont had told her it was her fault for looking so grown. She’d developed quicker than her friends.

  But the next day Lamont sweetened her up with a Care Bear. Her friends had been so jealous that she had one of the popular toys. Evie liked the attention. All she had to do was let Lamont do his thing.

  Then Lamont introduced her to one of his friends. She’d asked for a Cabbage Patch Doll. And, he’d given it to her.

  From then on, it had become easy. Evie had given her body but never her heart. Until Big Will.

  Evie shook the memories away. Bertie stood waiting for her to say something but Evie knew she would never answer. She never did no matter how many times or how many different ways Bertie asked, “Did something happen to you?” or “Did somebody hurt you?” Evie never spoke.

  “The baby’s innocent and deserves a chance,” Bertie said.

  Evie lifted her chin. “The Whitfield’s are willing to pay for an abortion.”

  Bertie shook her head. “Children are a gift from God.”

  If only this were a gift she could give back. “Are you saying I’m going to hell if I have an abortion?” Evie challenged.

  “No, I’m not saying that,” Bertie said. “God has enough love to forgive everything. I’m saying you never know what your baby could become. He could be the next president. She could be a superstar or a scientist. You never know. That’s the joy of parenting.”

  “Or she could get pregnant at fourteen,” Evie snapped back. “She could get knocked-up and continue the cycle.”

  Bertie folded her arms. “As long as you live under my roof, you’re keeping that child.”

  Evie had packed her bags that very night. The Whitfield’s had taken her into their home. Evie read up on abortion. She even set the appointment. It was supposed to be at 3 P.M. that afternoon. They would go when Garvin got out of school.

  Evie waited in her bedroom at the Whitfield’s for seven hours. No one came home. Then there was a loud knock at the door. Her mother stood crying.

  “There was an accident. Garvin and his parents are dead. I just saw it on the news.”

  Evie clutched her stomach and fell to her knees. Why couldn’t they have died tomorrow? She cried. A part of her wondered if she would lose the baby.

  But her baby was strong. The little one stayed secure in Evie’s womb through the funeral and through the tears.

  Seven months later, a baby girl screamed her way into the world. Evie looked at the shocking red hair and called her Pumpkin.

  “What about Melissa or Amanda?” her mother asked.

  Evie shook her head. “Pumpkin.” She kissed the orange curls and fell in love. But soon, Evie realized this was a needy human being and not a toy. She wanted her freedom. Pumpkin needed too much. Much more than Evie would ever be able to give her.

  It took a few months, but Big Will came around to apologize. He didn’t acknowledge his daughter.

  “I’m leaving town and I want you with me.”

  “But what about Pumpkin?” Evie asked, straddling the six month-old on her hips.

  “It’s either her or me,” Big Will said.

  Pumpkin didn’t hesitate. “I have to wait for my mother to get home.”

  By the time Bertie entered the house, Evie was packed and ready to go.

  “You’re only fifteen,” Bertie said. “You’re not going anywhere.”

  Evie left the next day. As her mother pulled up in the driveway, Evie jumped into Big Will’s car.

  She yelled, “Take care of Pumpkin.” Then she kissed Big Will on the cheek. “Let’s go far away. I’m never coming back.”

  3

  Present day

  “Men are goi
ng to line up around the block to try out your pumpkin.” Zane Johnson said, before taking several close up shots. He used his loft in Greenwich Village for photo shoots only for select clients.

  “Knock it off. I’ve had enough of your innuendos to last a lifetime. If you weren’t family, I’d throw you out on your rear end.” Pumpkin Reynolds spoke through gritted teeth while maintaining her signature pose. She held a pumpkin-shaped bottle in her hand.

  “Family has nothing to do with it. This isn’t about you being married to my cousin. If I weren’t the best, you wouldn’t use me. Besides, you can’t throw me out of my own home.”

  Pumpkin chuckled. “You’re right about that. I can’t throw you out of your own home.” She didn’t acknowledge that he was, in fact, the best. She couldn’t risk inflating his already supersized ego.

  Zane looked into his lens to prepare for another shot. “How’s Cameron doing anyway? It’s been a few months since I’ve seen him.”

  “He’s deep into film production. Building our nest egg, he says.” Pumpkin hated how her voice sounded sad and weak.

  “Hold still.” Zane adjusted his camera and took one more shot. He glanced at the photo before nodding. “I think that’s it. That’s the moneymaker. I’m glad we decided to reshoot with the fur.” He scrutinized the picture. “That look on your face is going to cause accidents on the highway. This will go up on the billboard in two weeks as scheduled.”

  Pumpkin slid the faux fur coat off her shoulders. As an animal lover, she didn’t support cruelty to animals to be fashionable.

  Pumpkin placed the perfume on the counter. “Thank goodness that’s over. I’ve sweated enough to fill a river.” It was mid-October and temperatures were still high in the nineties. She was ready for the fall weather to kick in.