The Endurance Series
Endurance The Power Within
Endurance: The Power Within By April Thomas Published by Jiali Media Inc
Edited by Brigid M. Freymuller Epic Editing, a brand of Write Right – Colorado, LLC writerightco.com Copyright 2022 (c) April Thomas All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Printed in the United States of America Formatting created by Jiali Media Inc, Images credits to Deposit Photos & Canva Author message videos by Jiali Media Inc
Dedication To God, my Father, my loving sister, Denyse, and my daughters Katia & Anniah. My son Nathaniel. My grandma who has read all my books. Noel, Bonnie, Mom and Dad, and, of course, Turquoise who stayed by my side as I typed away throughout the night. Also, to my supportive friends and fans on Facebook who have encouraged me to keep writing. Thank you!
A Special Thank you to:
Tangayler Oates of Tborders.com for the business guidance, and being such an amazing friend. God Bless you and your family.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents 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 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34
1 7 11 15 21 31 41 47 53 63 69 75 87 95 101 109 121 129 139 149 159 171 179 185 195 205 215 225 235 243 249 257 263 273
Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48
279 291 301 313 323 331 341 349 359 365 375 385 395 401
Trindadian Creole
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Endurance The Power Within
“Wa de eye doh see, de heart doh grieve”
Chapter 1 “No!” Jacob Gordon shouts: his heart raced, his mind already foreseeing his darkest fears. Jacob’s will to protect whom he loved went into action. Energy sped through him and onto the vehicle excelling towards his wife when abruptly the car came to a screeching halt. He rushed across the gas station’s parking just in time. Song’s knees buckled as her legs lost their sturdiness. Despite the distance between them, Jacob was there to catch her in a blink of an eye. Startled, Song looked at her husband, stunned by what had just happened. She turned her head, and her eyes locked with the stunned driver. “Are you okay?” Jacob was out of breath as he questioned his wife. He checked over her seeing that she was not physically harmed. Jacob took her hand as they walked past the damaged vehicle. The driver exited his car and scratched his head as he observed an unmistakable handprint embedded into the hood of his car. “H-How did you do that?” Song asked. “I know it was you, but you were nowhere near that car.” “We can talk about it when we get to my aunt and uncle’s house,” Jacob said as he rushed her to their car. He opened the passenger’s side and guided her into the front seat. “Put on your seat belt; we should be there in a few minutes.” Song’s eyes glanced over the gas station parking lot; people were beginning to gather around the driver and pointing back at her. Jacob had entered the driver’s side and immediately took off in the direction of his relatives’ home. The engine’s sound was all that was heard until they reached his aunt’s home. Justina and Brandon Gordon waited on the front porch, both already aware of the incident that happened at the gas station. Jacob guided Song out of the car and introduced her to his aunt and uncle. Song felt nothing but love coming towards her from his family and felt relieved to be in a safe, loving home. She opened her mouth to express her gratitude when a sharp pain caused her to scream out. “How far along is she?” Justina questioned her nephew.
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April Thomas “It’s too early; she is just eight months.” Jacob answered. “Yes, but she is carrying twins?” Justina added. “Should we call the ambulance?” Jacob questioned, unsure of what to do. Song cried out in pain as her water broke, splashing all over the hardwood floors. “I don’t think there is time,” Justina answered. “You brought her here because you both wanted a natural birthright?” his aunt reminded him. “Yes, but I don’t want anything bad to happen. I thought we still had at least a month!” “Brandon, help me get her to the guest room,” Justina ordered. She looked over at Jacob and sighed. “I’m going to need you to get it together; you are about to be a father,” she said, placing her hands on her hips. “Why is everything happening so fast?” Jacob complained. “Cause, these little ones what to meet their aunt and uncle. Go boil some water!” “Boiling water, okay, I can do that,” Jacob said, rushing off towards the kitchen. Brandon looked over at his wife.” What’s the boiling water for?” he asked while swooping Song up into his arms. “To keep him out of my way,” Justina laughed. Song giggled also, but the pain wouldn’t allow her to thoroughly enjoy the joke. Brandon was a large man. He stood about six foot five inches with broad shoulders. For an older gentleman, he seemed to be aging well. Brandon carried Song up the stairs and to a beautifully decorated guest suite. He placed her on the full-size bed and gave his wife a kiss on the forehead before informing her that he would be downstairs, keeping Jacob out of her way. Justina turned her full attention towards Song. “ I have been a midwife nearly all my life; you have nothing to worry about. I delivered Jacob and all of his cousins, well, most of them,” she reassured Song.
“Jacob told me.” She said, knowing that she was in good hands. Justina pulled out a white gown from a dresser draw for Song. “Here, let’s get you in this and get you as comfortable as possible.” Song blushed, feeling uncomfortable, but she knew she needed to prepare herself to have her babies. “Where are you from?” Justina questioned lightly, hoping she could take her mind off what was happening. “I’m from California; my parents moved to Georgia not too long ago,” Song answered. “And that’s where you met the troublemaker,” Justina teased. Song giggled. “Yes, he applied to be a delivery boy for my parent’s Chinese restaurant.”
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Endurance The Power Within Justina smiled; it seemed to be working. Song had already taken off her top and bra as they talked, and Justina placed the gown over her head. “That nephew of mine couldn’t stop talking about you, but I loved how happy he became.” Song gasped and clenched her fists into tight balls. Her belly tightened, and she felt the urge to push. “What do I do?” she asked Justina.
“What is your body telling you?” Justina answered. Song looked at her, confused. “I want you to close your eyes and focus on the contraction. What do you feel your body needs right now?”
Song fell silent as she held her eyes closed and born down, focusing her energy on the contraction. Justina moved in sequence with her removing her pants and undergarments. Song put all her might into pushing despite the incredible pain she was enduring.
“You are doing great; just pace yourself.” Justina coached while resting her hands on Song’s knees. “Breath, and when you’re ready, let’s push again.” Five minutes passed, and Song began to push again. “Oh, my word!” Justina shouted as she rushed to get a nasal suctions bulb to clear the baby’s airway. “Is he she out?” Song questioned. “Just the head, you need to keep pushing,” Justina answered her calmly, although there was a quiver in her voice. Justina looked down at the little baby, her skin was blue, and she seemed unresponsive. Song began to push again, freeing the first baby. She leaned back, exhausted yet waiting to hear the first cries of her baby. Before she could question the silence. Another contraction came, and the second baby began to emerge. Frantically Justina did everything in her power to revive the first baby without drawing attention to herself. She sensed that Song’s mind was fragile, and she needed her to be vital to delivering the second baby. Justina called out to her husband, and he came quickly, Jacob in tow. She wrapped the first baby in a white blanket and shoved it into her husband’s arms. “Take this one away,” she ordered. Jacob rushed to Song’s side and held her hand. “I’m here, baby, whatever you need me to do?” he encouraged. Song pushed again while squeezing Jacob’s hand. The second baby’s cries burst into the room Song’s heart burst with joy as tears streamed down her face. “It’s a girl!” Justina announced. “She’s beautiful, baby. What should we name her?” Jacob asked his wife. “Mei, let’s name her Mei,” Song said before passing out. Jacob took the baby from his aunt’s arms. “Mei Gordon, This is daddy; I love you more than you will ever know.”
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April Thomas Her heart swelled in her chest as she gazed at the picture on her nightstand. She slowly rose from her warm comfy bed, pulling herself to sit up, taking the frame off the nightstand. She had woken from another dream of her late father, Jacob Gordon. She had his beautiful green eyes and a tan complexion. “I miss you Dad, when I turn eighteen, I’m going to find your family so that I can see you once again through them,” Mei swore to herself. She placed the Atlanta, Georgia-themed frame back down on her nightstand and stood from her bed. Walking over to her bedroom window, the bright Florida sun seems to burst in through her blinds and warm her soul. “Just two more years, Dad, and I will be free of this place.” Mei looked down onto the sidewalk from her two-story three-bedroom townhouse and sighed. “Lexington, of all the cities in Central Florida, why did it have to be Lexington.” Mei could hear her younger sister Ariaha arguing with their mom concerning her outfit. It was a daily argument her mother had with Ariaha. Mei counted to ten in her head, knowing the exact amount of time her stepfather Thomas Paulard would attempt to break up the argument. “I can’t wait to leave,” Mei grumbled as she walked towards her dresser drawers to get dressed.
“Sweet girl, hurry, or you will be late for school,” Bao said as she entered Mei’s bedroom. “Prayers?” She inquired, lightly scolding Mei for not praying first thing in the morning. “Sorry, Bao,” Mei answered as she moved to her bed to kneel down and pray. “I will get you something to wear,” Bao replied, giving Mei a loving smile. Bao quickly selected a pair of Jeans, undergarments, and a shirt. She laid her clothes out on the bed and left the room.
“Mei, breakfast is ready!” Her mom, Song, called out.
Mei dressed as and rushed downstairs. As she entered the kitchen, she kissed her mom on the cheek, grabbed some toast off her little sister’s plate. “Hey!” Ariaha shouted out in protest. “I don’t want to miss my bus,” Mei apologized to her sister before darting towards the door, bumping into her grandfather. “Sorry, grandfather,” Mei spoke in Chinese. “Come on, let me walk you to the bus stop.” He said, taking her hand. “Sure, Grandfather,” Mei replied as she opened the front door. She shouted goodbye to her mother. Then happily slide her arm under her grandfather’s. “Grandfather, tell me about what it was like when you were growing up?” She questioned playfully. She enjoyed the morning walks to her bus stop with her grandfather. Especially since she was the only one at her bus stop, at least she had her grandfather to speak to. “Yes, but today focus on your schoolwork. I know that it can be hard for you at times. Today, I need you to stay alert and be prepared.” “Yes, Grandfather, I will,” Mei said obediently. “But I haven’t had a bad experience since I was thirteen.” Mei gently protested. “Yes, when my little flower was just thirteen, you had an intense vision, and your mother did not believe you. It has distorted your understanding of your gift, but you did nothing wrong.
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Endurance The Power Within And, often, the people closest to you will let you down. I don’t want that to happen again.” Her grandfather encouraged. “I understand, great-grandfather,” Mei said with a sigh. “Did I ever tell you the story of the Dragon and the Phoenix?” Mei smiled, she had heard the story more times than she could count, but she enjoyed listening to her great-grandfather tell the tale. He did not wait on an answer; the ancient legend poured out of the old man’s lips like honey to Mei’s ears. Before she knew it, she was at her bus stop, and her great-grandfather was making his way back home.
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April Thomas
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Endurance The Power Within
“Gopaul luck eh seepaul luck.” Chapter 2 His eyes burned as he forced them open; soreness from football practice the night before reminded him that he had training tonight. Max groaned in pain as he rolled onto his back. A sudden image of Mei’s beautiful face seemed to give him the spark he needed to get going.
“Max!” his stepbrother Justin shouted out as he stumbled through the bedroom door. Justin’s clothes hung on him as if it was struggling to stay on his malnourished frame. “Your Dad has been looking for you; where have you been?” Max questioned as he got off his bed to grab a nearby T-shirt.
“Why was he looking for me?” Justin returned as he tried to smooth out his clothing. “Why do you do this? You have a Mom and Dad who love you. I feel sorry for the Dude; I don’t even know what to say to him anymore.”
“Not everyone has it like you, Max; your Dad treats you like royalty. I wish my Dad would put twenty-five thousand in my bank account each month. Is that how it is in Trinidad, ya’ll people rich like that,” Justin spoke in a condescending tone.
Max chuckled, “People have it hard everywhere; my father’s family had nothing; they raised livestock and ate what grew out of the ground. Stop thinking that you have it hard. Besides, every penny you get goes to drugs; you would kill yourself if your father handed you that much money.” “Speaking about money, let me borrow a fifty,” Justin changed the subject.
Max sighed and took a good look at his stepbrother. He smelled like he had been sleeping in the trash for three days. Justin couldn’t make eye contact with him, and his toes peeped through the top of his sneakers. Max could barely recognize the happy-go-lucky blonde hair blue eye’d kid he grew up with. “I can’t. You will not kill yourself on my dime, I’m sorry.”
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Justin verbally attacked Max, calling him various hateful names as he walked out of his room. Justin could be heard arguing with his father until his father caved and shoved money into his hands a few minutes later. Instantly as if a switch was flipped, there was silence once again.
Max listened as his stepbrother left the house; he released a heavy breath as his mind quickly sought out anything else to focus on. Mei Gordon was the perfect distraction. He walked into his bathroom and started the shower. His large six-foot-two, muscular frame moved in and out of the bathroom as he picked out his clothes for school. His deep caramel complexion and thick curly hair complimented his grey eyes. As Max is finally ready to get into the shower, his phone chimes. Finding it impossible to ignore, he checks the message then instantly has regrets. Taisha, a girl he had messed around with, was begging him for a ride to school, claiming she had missed the bus. He put his phone down on the bathroom counter, hoping that she would have taken the subtle message by the time he was ready to leave for school. Max stripped and stepped and stepped into the shower. The warm water hit his skin, waking all of his pores. He allowed the water to pour over his head, hoping it would drown out the sound of his cell phone constant ringing and chiming. Max could only assume it was Taisha.
Reluctantly, he ended his shower early and answered his phone. “Yes, Taisha,” He replied. “Eww, why do you have to say it like that?” “I already saw your text; I’m getting dressed now. I have to pick up Nelson first, then we will come by and get you.” he relented. “Thank you, thank you so much!” Taisha squealed. “No problem, see you in a little bit,” Max said before ending the call. “Urggghh!” Max expressed as he put the phone down. It rang again. “What!” Max answered. “Well, good morning to you too.” His uncle Tamarius returned. “I’m sorry unk, this chick-” “what did I tell you about women’s hearts?” “They are not to be played with,” Max repeated the words his uncle always drilled into his mind. “But, unk I know what she’s after. She just wants money.” Max tried to defend himself. “And, you realize this before or after you had sex with her?” His uncle was no fool. “I thought she could distract me from the girl I like,” “Mei?” “Yes, but I don’t know. I just lost interest in her.” “Instead of settling, why not pursue the one you want. And please date, no sex, get to know her first.” “Mei doesn’t notice me; it’s like I’m invisible to her,” Max replied.
Endurance The Power Within “Hmm, I like her.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Means you need to let go of your pride and humble yourself. Despite what this world wants you to believe, a real woman is a gift, and if you have to chase her, then chase her. I gotta go. I just wanted to check on you before school. See you tonight.” “Sure, see you later.” Max ended the call, but his uncle’s words still lingered. It didn’t take long to pick up his best friend, Nelson, and Taisha. Keeping his uncle’s words on his mind, he carefully considered how he had handled Taisha so far. He observed her body language. She moved as if they were a couple, and Max had to accept he had led her on. Max parked his new vehicle in the student parking lot. As he was trained by the men in his family. He walked around to the passenger’s side and opened the door for Taisha. Nelson had already exited the vehicle and shouted over his shoulder to Max that he would see him later. Max nodded, but his main focus was to talk to Taisha. “Hey, I’m sorry if I was short with you this morning, but there is something that we need to talk about.” Max began. “Sure, what is it?” Taisha asked as she put her long dark braids up into a ponytail. “Taisha, you are a beautiful girl, and I know that you deserve better. I told you I didn’t want anything serious with you, so I think that it is best if we just remain friends.” “Friends!” Taisha snapped back. “It is not fair to either one of us,” Max insisted. “I can’t fu-” The school bell bleared, cutting off her words, but Max understood clearly. Taisha added a few more curse words at Max and stormed off towards the school’s main entrance. Max watched as Taisha disappeared into the crowd before taking another step. He glanced over at the school bus drop-off site and felt lucky to see Mei exiting the bus. Her soft curly hair was in a loose bun; she wore an oversized sweater and black jeans. No makeup, no drama, just a girl focused on school. He wanted to talk to her, but now would not be good. He told himself he would give Taisha time to accept the break-up. As Max walked towards the main entrance, he kept an eye on Mei and a guy trying to get her attention. Max quickly recognized it was Zack. A smirk grew on Max’s face, feeling relieved that he was not the only one Mei seemed to ignore. Abruptly, Zack tapped her on the shoulder, startling Mei. She spun around to see who tapped her shoulder and lost her balance. Although Max was a reasonable distance away, he began to run towards her as if he could reach in time to catch her. Jealousy shot through his heart as he watched Zack wrap his left arm around Mei, preventing her from falling. Mei’s left hand pressed against Zack’s chest as Zack made sure Mei was safely back on her feet. Max grumbled to himself as he walked past them, pretending not to notice.
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