On the Way to Heaven (BWWM Romance) Read online

  ON THE WAY TO HEAVEN

  BY

  STACY-DEANNE

  Copyright © 2015 Stacy-Deanne

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Email: [email protected]

  Website: http://authorstacy-deanne.weebly.com/

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  Readers: Thanks so much for choosing my book! I would be very appreciative if you would leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads when you are done. Much love!

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Wait a minute.” Trina Flack glared at the tall, full-figured, black woman in the white pantsuit.

  The woman stood at the Gates of Eternity with her eyes straight ahead, like a soldier.

  “Maybe you don’t know who I am,” Trina said. “You better recognize, and let me in these gates.”

  “I know exactly who you are.” The woman glanced at her clipboard. “You’re Trina Flack. Thirty-five years old, black, and—”

  “Well, with the way you’re treating me, you act like you don’t know who I am.”

  “Come on!” The man behind Trina huffed.

  “We’ve been standing here all day,” a woman whined from way down the line.

  “Why don’t you tone down the attitude a bit, Miss Flack?” the full-figured woman asked. “You see, in here, you’re not the special snowflake you obviously thought you were on Earth.”

  “Look, I’ve had the day from hell.” Trina flipped her long, curly locks off her shoulders. “You have any idea what I’ve been through today?” She counted on her fingers. “First off, I was in a car accident, totaled my new Benz, and oh yeah, I died, in case you haven’t noticed.”

  The other woman rolled her eyes.

  “I end up here…” Trina looked at the thick clouds that floated endlessly in all directions. “Which is supposed to be Heaven, but if you ask me, it’s a bit disappointing.”

  The full-figured woman’s mouth dropped. “Excuse me?”

  “I get here and I can’t find any of my stuff. I can’t find my laptop or my phone. If this is Heaven, then send me back to Earth. Besides, I’ve got things to do. I’m one of New York’s most prestigious corporate lawyers. Now, I know I’m cute.” Trina patted her hair.

  The full-figured woman mumbled.

  “But don’t let this gorgeous body, fantastic hair, and Janet Jackson face, fool you, okay? And I’m talking young, eighties Janet here, by the way.” Trina stuck her finger in the woman’s face. “I might be hot and sexy, but I’m no fool. I have more degrees than you could ever dream of, and I can go toe-to-toe with anyone. So, when I say I’m getting in these gates…oh honey, I’m getting in these gates.”

  “You can save the speech, okay?” The woman glared. “I know everything about everyone standing at these gates. I know all about your professional successes and your romantic failures.”

  Trina scoffed.

  “Let me tell you a bit about who I am.” The woman stuck her large bosom out. “I’m Lorraine. I’m the Chief Spiritual Commander.”

  Trina batted her fake lashes. “Who?”

  “I’m in charge of the Heavenly Army that enforces order for the Spiritual Court.”

  Trina shrugged.

  “You can think of me as the head sergeant of the afterlife.” Lorraine beamed. “And let me tell you something…” Her smile faded. “I’m in charge of these gates, and I get tired of standing out here day after day, and night after night, to oversee things.” She waved her hand toward the huge line behind Trina. “Do you realize how many people die each day? The first place they come is where you are. You see, this is the entrance to the afterlife. So, while you think you’re in Heaven…you’re really not.”

  Trina contemplated the scenario. “What do you mean I’m not in Heaven? I belong in Heaven.”

  “Contrary to popular belief, just doing what you think you should do to get into Heaven, does not guarantee a spot.” Lorraine flashed an unconvincing smile. “You don’t just walk up off the street and end up in Heaven. Girl, please. There’s protocol here, just like anywhere.”

  Trina exhaled. “And what’s the protocol?”

  “Everyone has to meet with the Spiritual Court to learn their fate.”

  “Look, I’m getting confused by all this stuff.” Trina put her hands on her waist. “Can’t you cut a sista some slack? Oh, I guess you forgot where you came from, since you’re in charge of the Heavenly Gates now, huh?”

  “I wouldn’t go there if I were you, Miss Flack. I don’t make the rules. Whatever happens during your meeting with the Spiritual Court is the way things will be.”

  “I belong in Heaven!” Trina pointed to the shimmering, solid gold gates. “I demand to speak to God or whoever, up in here.”

  Lorraine squinted. “No one speaks to God but Daniela.”

  “Who the hell is Daniela? I don’t wanna speak to Daniela.” Trina raised her arms. “I wanna speak to God, because this isn’t right. I deserve to be in Heaven.”

  “Since you feel that way you can meet with the Spiritual Court now.” Lorraine gestured to three muscular men in white. “Take her to the Spiritual Court.”

  “Wait a minute.” Trina fought as the men grabbed her. “Hold on!”

  They dragged her inside the gates, and through a massive hall made of clouds.

  “Wait a minute, here!” She kicked. “Listen to me.”

  Lorraine followed behind. “We have our hands full with this one, don’t we?”

  “You can’t do this to me!” Trina jerked and twisted in the men’s clutches. “Get these goons off me!”

  “Settle down.” Lorraine moved in front and stopped the guards when they got to the huge double doors.

  “Let me go!” Trina struggled.

  “Put her down,” Lorraine instructed. “You can go.”

  The guards bowed, and left down another hall of clouds.

  “What kind of place is this?” Trina straightened her clothes. “I just died. Where’s the compassion?”

  “You’re the one with the attitude, acting like you deserve to get into Heaven. No one deserves to get into Heaven.”

  “Is this the Spiritual Court?” Trina looked at the antique doors with carved markings that looked like they’d been there since the beginning of time. “What do all these markings mean?”

  “Ancient sayings.” Lorraine looked her up and down. “I could spend a year explaining them to you and you wouldn’t understand.”

  “And I’m the one with the attitude?”

  “Wait here.” Lorraine delivered three thunderous knocks to the golden doors. The knocks echoed throughout the hall.

  “Damn.” Trina covered her ears.

  The doors opened, filling the hall with more clouds.

  “Man.” Trina waved clouds out of her face. “How do you guys see with all these clouds? I mean the first five minutes it was cute, but now it’s annoying.”

  Two men in white stood behind the doors.

  “State your name and your business,” the first said.

  “Fool, you know who I am.” Lorraine pushed them out of the way and turned to Trina. “I’ll be right back.”

  The guards shut the doors in Trina’s face.

  “Ain’t this a bit…” Trina covered her mouth and looked around. “Sorry.”

  The doors opened again.

  “Come on.” Lorraine waved to Trina.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Trina held her breath, and followed Lorraine into the cloudy space that smelled like glazed doughnuts and coffee. “Hmm, it smells good in here.” She sniffed. “I’m hungry. Can I have—?”

  “Hush.” Lorraine stopped at another huge door with antique markings on it. “Now let me tell you something. You have to be respectful in this room, okay? The Spiritual Court decides your fate. What they say goes. Piss them off, and you’ll spend the rest of your afterlife in Hell. You want that?”

  “No, ma’am,” Trina whispered.

  “Then lose the attitude, shut up, and listen. Now, you’d better hope Daniela likes you. She’s the Supreme Spiritual Messenger. She rules the Spiritual Court, and is the only spirit who talks to God.”

  “She really talks to God?”

  Lorraine nodded.

  “Damn, how’d she get her job?” Trina chuckled. “Can she hook a sista up?”

  “I’m warning you.” Lorraine exhaled. “You only get one chance to make an impression.”

  Trina straightened her Gucci blazer. “I just wanna go to Heaven.”

  “Keep your trap shut in here.” Lorraine opened the door. “Don’t speak unless spoken to.” She moved aside.

  “Fine.” Trina drifted inside the cloudy, massive room.

  Across the room, seemingly miles away, sat a table so long it reached from one end to the next. At least one hundred people, dressed in white, and of all nationalities and races, sat behind the table.

  The scrawny woman in the center held a stern gaze that almost burned Trina’s insides. She sat on a golden chair, with
every jewel Trina could name cascading off her necklace. She appeared to be white or Hispanic, with her brownish-gray hair perched on top of her head in a tight bun. She appeared ageless in the face, but common sense suggested she was older than Trina could imagine.

  The door slammed behind Trina and Lorraine.

  Trina’s heart fell into her suede designer pumps. As always, gas swirled in her stomach, like it did whenever she got nervous.

  Ooh, Lord. Not now.

  She clenched her stomach.

  “Miss Flack, how are you?” Daniela peered at Trina from underneath her glasses.

  “I’m…I’m fine.” She rubbed her rumbling stomach. “Ooh.”

  “What’s your problem?” Lorraine whispered.

  “Nothing.” Trina grunted.

  “Are you all right?” Daniela asked.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Trina clenched her stomach. “May I say I have the deepest respect for your court and the Lord? I admit I haven’t gone to church in a while. I’ve been busy.”

  The members of the court looked at each other.

  “I know that’s not a good excuse.” Trina held out her hand. “But I’m not gonna come up in here and lie. I’m sure you already know what I’ve been doing. I’m sure you also know I’m a good person. Yeah, I might be a bit selfish, but I’ve had to be.” She touched her hair. “All my life, I’ve had to depend just on me. It hasn’t been easy, but I do my best. I’m proud of what I’ve become and—”

  “Shut up, girl.” Lorraine nudged her.

  “No.” Trina moved closer toward the table. “I want you guys to know I’m a good person. I deserve to be in Heaven. I’m not perfect, but who is? I’m sure Mother Teresa even made some bad decisions in her day. I…”

  Daniela pounded her golden gavel. “Silence!”

  Trina jumped back. “Damn.”

  “In this court, you speak only when addressed,” Daniela said. “Is that clear, Miss Flack?”

  “Yeah, but I just wanted to—”

  “I don’t care what you wanted to do.” Daniela set the gavel down. “I run this court, and not you. Is that clear for the last time?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Trina’s stomach rumbled. “Ugh.”

  “As far as the type of person you are, the court is well aware.” Daniela lifted some papers. “We’ve been reading your file.”

  “My file?”

  “Every human has a spiritual file from the day they’re born.”

  “What?” Trina leaned to the side. “You’re kidding me.”

  “I assure you I’m not.” Daniela looked over one of the papers. “When you’re born, everything you say and do, every decision you make, and even every thought you have, is transported into your spiritual file.”

  “Every thought?” Trina sighed. “Lord, have mercy. Please don’t hold any bad or sexually-explicit thoughts against me. A sista’s been lonely. It’s hard for a strong, independent black woman like me to find a man who can handle her.”

  “Miss Flack.” Daniela tapped the desk. “Don’t make me pick up my gavel again, because if so, I’ll have you thrown out and you’ll spend the rest of your afterlife with our buddies downstairs.” She raised an eyebrow. “Do you get my meaning?”

  “I’m sorry. I was just trying to explain.”

  “Believe me, there is nothing you can tell this court about you that we don’t already know.” Daniela clasped her hands. “We know you’re a good person. You’re rather rough around the edges, but that’s to be expected because of your childhood and not having any parents to raise you. Your attitude could be a lot better, but overall you have a good heart.” Daniela tilted her head. “You just hide it under that sharp tongue because you’re afraid of getting hurt.”

  Trina sighed. “Does this mean you’ll allow me into Heaven?”

  “It’s not that easy.” Daniela pulled out another paper. “You have to have a certain average on your Heavenly Spirits Chart before you can be eligible to get into Heaven.”

  Trina gaped. “Eligible to get into Heaven?”

  “Yes, you can’t just walk up off the street and get into Heaven.”

  “See, I told you,” Lorraine said.

  “No.” Daniela laughed. “If that were the case, everyone would be in Heaven, wouldn’t they?”

  The rest of the court erupted in laughter.

  “Please!” Daniela leaned back, cackling. “Could you imagine the utility bill? If you knew what we pay per month already, you’d die again.”

  The court guffawed.

  “Silence!” Daniela swiped her hand through the air.

  The court sat at attention.

  “Think of Heaven as an Ivy League School,” Daniela said. “And think of the Heavenly Spirits Chart as the entrance exam. Now, you’re a smart young woman and did very well in college. I’m sure you had to put in some extra time for your harder exams right?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “The Heavenly Spirits Chart proves to us that you’re worthy. You must score an eighty or above to go to Heaven.” Daniela leaned forward. “In other words, Miss Flack, C’s, D’s, and F’s do not get you into Heaven.”

  “Well, what’s my score?”

  “Your score is a seventy-two.”

  “Seventy-two?” Trina leaned to the side as another ache hit her stomach. “Why…why did I get a seventy-two?”

  “We don’t have time to run down why,” Daniela said. “We have millions of other people to see today. You will have to bring up your score to get into Heaven.” She set the chart down.

  “Okay how do I do that?” Trina rubbed her hands together. “I’ll do anything to get into Heaven.”

  “That’s the fun part.” Daniela smirked at the Asian man next to her. “Well, at least for us.”

  “Oh, I don’t like that smirk,” Trina whispered to Lorraine.

  “In order to bring up your score, you must complete a task,” Daniela said. “You must affect someone’s life in a profound way, and change it for the better.”

  “Are you serious?” Trina grinned. “I couldn’t even do that with my own damn life.”

  “Watch your mouth,” Lorraine said.

  “Sorry, but that’s an impossible task. How am I supposed to change someone’s life, when I don’t even know them?”

  “You’ll know what you need to know.” Daniela snapped her fingers.

  A photo of a handsome, muscular, white man with shoulder-length, brown hair and a five o’clock shadow, popped up on the wall.

  “Whoa.” Trina’s nipples sprung up against her bra. “Who is that hunk of stud meat?”

  Daniela smiled. “He is hot, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah except for that nineteen-eighty-seven Kurt Russell mullet,” Trina said. “Once he gets a hairstyle from this century, he’ll have it going on.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  “This is Neil Styles.” Daniela pointed to the hunk. “He’s a thirty-seven-year-old freelance carpenter, and single father of three little girls.”

  “Three little girls?” Trina stepped back. “Okay, that’s enough of Neil. I don’t do dudes with kids. I don’t do children at all.” She fidgeted. “I don’t mix with kids. They make me nervous. You got somebody else?”

  “This isn’t Burger King,” Daniela said. “You can’t have it your way. We’ve chosen Neil for you, and that’s the way it’s gonna be.”

  “Well, you should’ve mentioned he had kids at first. You got me all excited to meet him, and then throw out that he has kids.”

  Daniela glared at Trina. “If you don’t want to do this, we can send you downstairs today and be done with it.”

  “No, no!” Trina gripped the table. “I belong in Heaven. You said it yourself. Isn’t that what good people work for their entire lives?” She looked at the others. “I can’t go to Hell.” She sobbed. “I just can’t.”

  “Do you agree to take this task?” Daniela asked.

  Trina nodded.

  “Okay, you’ll be sent back to Earth immediately.” Daniela grabbed the gavel. “You’ll still be ‘you’, but not the old ‘you’. You must forget who you were when you were alive. Put it behind you.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Your degrees, your job…your life as you lived it, is gone. Act like it never existed.”

  Trina sucked in tears. “Okay.”

  “Your name is Trina Mosley, and you’re a maid who’ll work with the Styles family and get things in order.”