Dessie Harper faces a crossroads in her life. She’s lost her cousin and lover, gained a brother, and carries an unborn child. During a tropical getaway to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Dessie meets a captivating man named Daniel—but even the prospect of romance can’t deter her from what she needs to do. She reveals her situation to her faithful friends, Vicki, Sharon, and Debra. With their help, she formulates a plan to begin the next phase of her life. That plan involves quitting her job, moving to New York, and keeping her pregnancy a secret from her mother, Ruthie, who Dessie feels would be ashamed of her daughter. In addition to the trouble of looking for work to support herself, however, Dessie fears for her life. Her lover, Ray, threatened to kill her when she demanded financial support for her child. She’ll do anything to protect herself and her baby. In this sequel to Junie Boy’s Funeral, Dessie navigates the many twists and turns that life throws at her as she seeks to improve herself and find love and acceptance.

"This is Samantha Darden, Dessie, my guest this evening." "Darryl you are so silly!" the young woman said, "he knows that I'm much more to him than that!" Mother said that in six months time, he'll will be my husband!" The woman moved her chair even closer to Darryl's; as if that was at all possible. Darryl shook his head slightly and stiffly as if letting Dessie know that what she was saying wasn't true. "When we get married, daddy says that Darryl would probably make partner," the woman said, smiling at Darryl. "What does your husband do for a living Dorrie?" Samantha asked. "My name is "Dessie." "Oh! I'm so sorry! Mother said that if she didn't tell me what day it was at least twice, I wouldn't even know that!" Samantha said, laughing at her own corny attempt to sound witty. "So Dessie, what does your husband do?" Samantha asked again. "He's a Financial Planner." "Oh! He works at a bank! Which one?" "He doesn't work at a bank. He works at an insurance company." "Well that's stupid! What would a financial planner be doing at an insurance company?" Dessie looked at her without saying a word. Feeling awkward by the silence, Dessie asked Samantha asked Samantha what school did she attend. "Vassar!" Samantha said proudly. "What was your major there?" Dessie continued. "I was a Liberal Artist, but I haven't been able to get one single job working

David Caines grew up in the Hartford area and is a graduate of C.W. Post College on Long Island and New England Institute in Boston. He is employed with the Hartford Board of Education. This is his second novel.