After the Pain

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.