Tyora Moody's Blog, page 2

Summer 2023

Eugeena Patterson-Jones is in a good place with her daughter, Leesa. Once in constant conflict, the mother and daughter have grown closer. Excited about getting together for their weekly lunch, Eugeena meets Leesa at her job to grab a taste of the award-winning barbecue sandwich from Smokin’ Ward.

They both find Leesa’s friend dead inside his food truck. Usually Eugeena is the one who���s sticking her nose into situations, but Leesa is determined to find out who killed her friend.

Spring 2023

Eugeena Patterson-Jones and her husband, Amos Jones, finally head out for their long-awaited honeymoon in Music City. As part of a surprise, Eugeena is treated to a concert starring one of her favorite singers. Cinnamon Waters, also a childhood friend, invites Eugeena and Amos backstage where she reveals someone is trying to kill her.

When one mishap after the other keeps happening, the couple���s romantic getaway takes a backseat to trying to save her friend���s life.

August 15, 2023

Can a broken relationship be redeemed?

Leesa Patterson has a young son with Chris Black. Both have worked hard to co-parent both their son and Leesa���s daughter. When Chris suggests they try again with their relationship, Leesa shuns the idea. Their first go-around in a relationship resulted in Leesa breaking up with Chris. Since the break-up, they���ve developed a comfortable friendship for the benefit of the kids.  

But as Chris sets out to woo her, Leesa struggles to keep her walls up. Is she really falling for him again?

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1 (unedited)

I stared at the modest brick home in front of me for a long time. Afraid that a neighbor would notice me watching the house, I inhaled deeply and exhaled a shaky breath before climbing out of my minivan.

Alright, Leesa Patterson, your mama taught you better than this.

It wasn���t that I wasn���t excited to pick up my kids. In fact, I missed them. No matter how exhausted my body felt, I looked forward to the hug I knew would come from my oldest and only daughter, Kisha. She always had so much to share that it was hard to keep up with her stories from her day. Knowing how my relationship changed with my mama as I got older, I didn���t want this stage to end.

Then there was the burst of giggles from my son, Tyric. His laughter always tickled my ears and warmed my heart. He was a happy child, and that made me happy. My kids were growing up so fast. I truly cherished every moment.

The reality that had me in a chokehold today was I simply didn���t want to face Belinda Black. 

My baby���s daddy���s mother. 

 I cringed, calling Chris Black my baby���s daddy, but it was what it was. There was a time I���d thought Chris was the man I would settle down with for life, but that all changed not too long after our son was born. Instead, in the past two years, we co-parented, skirting around the tension that hung between us. And the many questions that others had for us.

What are you two? Boyfriend and girlfriend? Friends? Are you ever going to get married?

So many questions! It was easier to skirt around them. Or it used to be easy. 

The sun beat down on my head as I walked down the driveway towards the front door. I rang the doorbell, straining to hear my children���s voices. Instead, only silence greeted me, raising my anxiety. Leaving my kids with Belinda was such a different experience from when I dropped the kids off at my mama���s house. It was like night versus day. I lifted my hand to ring the doorbell again, but then heard the locks disengaging from the inside.

Unconsciously, I stepped away from the door, bracing myself as the door flew open. As usual, Belinda���s presence in the doorway appeared almost menacing, her usual scowl in place.

Chris��� dad, Emmanuel Black, passed away years ago, but old photos confirmed Chris inherited his height from both parents. His mother stood around 5���8 or 5���9, her ebony face framed with a salt and pepper bob. Belinda Black was not incredibly beautiful, but she appeared majestic with wide brown eyes that seemed to penetrate your soul. Never raising her voice, her words could be just as cutting. Always elegantly dressed even though she was at home most of the day, I couldn���t recall ever seeing her with her hair out of place. She didn���t wear makeup, but she had smooth skin that didn���t reveal her sixty years.

Rarely with a smile, she peered down at me through heavy brown frames perched almost on the end of her nose. A former teacher, Belinda always appeared like she had a stern word to share. Before retiring, Belinda served as a school principal for the last few years. Every time I looked up at her, I was reminded of the times I visited the principal���s office in high school. I was grateful she hadn���t been the principal at my high school.

Belinda crossed her arms and stated, ���You���re late again.���

I bit my lip, feeling heat rise around my neck that had nothing to do with the warm June afternoon. ���Sorry, I had to finish something up for my boss. If I didn���t finish it up. I would have had to deal with it first thing on Monday.���

Belinda crossed her arms. ���You could have called. If you say you are going to be here at five thirty, then I expect you to be here.���

I tried my best not to grit my teeth. Sometimes it was best to not get into it with this woman. ���Are Kisha and Tyric ready? I will get them out of your hair. I really appreciate you looking after them today.���

Belinda seemed to be in a special mood today, so I had to ask. ���Were they good?���

���They could use some more discipline.���

Of course.

I fought hard not to roll my eyes. I would have preferred to leave my kids with my mama, but Eugeena Patterson and her second husband, Amos Jones, had just arrived back in town last night. My kids got along just fine with them and I didn���t get these comments.

The crazy thing is Belinda complained a few weeks ago about not seeing enough of the kids, mainly Tyric. Since we were taking a break from daycare to save some expenses, I���d caved to Chris��� request. Of course, I didn���t really have a choice with mama out of town.

 ���Well, come on in. No need to let my air out.��� The statuesque woman turned quickly on her heels, leaving me standing at the door.

I took another breath, praying I could control my emotions. Lord, let me just gather my kids, their things and get out of here. Mama always told me to watch my face because whatever I was feeling would be written all over it.

Chris grew up in a similar neighborhood to where I grew up in Charleston. We hadn���t attended the same high school, but I had been aware of him since we attended rival high schools. A former high school football star, it didn���t take long to gauge from the Black���s family home that Chris was his mother���s pride and joy. 

He was also her only child.

I passed the familiar dozens of photos of Chris placed throughout the house on walls and surfaces. I enjoyed seeing this part of Chris��� childhood and often imagined if Tyric would follow in his dad���s footsteps. Tyric���s baby pictures were almost a replica of his dad���s photos.

We passed the living room that rarely allowed for guests. I followed Belinda past the kitchen into a family area that once had been a porch. The bright room with its large windows faced an immaculate yard filled with roses and other flowers. It was a pretty day to be outside, but Kisha and Tyric sat on the couch in front of the television. Both seemed to be subdued. Tyric appeared to be in a losing battle as his lashes fluttered and he struggled to remain upright. He often fought naptime, but he would eventually succumb to the much needed slumber.

Kisha, already a shy child, seemed to be quieter than usual. Her sullen eyes stared at the television that appeared to have her favorite show, Wild Kratts. She didn���t seem to be bothered that her little brother had his round head leaning against her shoulder. 

I swallowed back my emotions, warmed by my children���s bond. Kisha was a very good older sister. 

Once again, I was struck by how different my kids were with Belinda compared to my mama. 

Belinda wasn���t one to put a hand on a child. Chris mentioned his mother had never spanked him and that his dad did all the disciplining. But he said his mom���s tone of voice was enough to put the fear of God in him. Belinda had been a teacher and principal at the middle and high school level. While she enjoyed Tyric, she didn���t appear to be comfortable around young kids. 

 Belinda claimed she didn���t mind watching both kids, but despite being Tyric���s older sister, I had a sneaky feeling that Belinda didn���t truly accept Kisha. Chris wasn���t her dad, and she was my child. I noticed no mistreatment, but Kisha definitely had a standoffish reaction to Belinda, like she knew she needed to be wary around her.

Like mother, like daughter.

 I walked into the room realizing my long working day at the office had crept up into my bones, making me feel droopy too. ���Hey, pumpkins. Y���all ready to go home?���

Kisha hadn���t noticed I had entered the room until I spoke. Her face brightened and my heart did a somersault as I observed joy return to my daughter���s face. Kisha shook her brother awake as she slid from the couch.

���Come on, Tyric. It���s time to go.���

Tyric cried out a little, upset from being jostled from his pending nap. 

I went over to him and picked him up. ���Okay, sleepyhead. It���s time to go.��� I tickled him until he broke out into giggles.

Kisha had grabbed her book bag from the floor, but stood next to me like she wasn���t planning on making a move without me. 

I looked over to catch Belinda taking up the doorway. Remembering my manners, ���Thank you again for watching the kids today. Kisha will start summer camp next week and my mama is back in town now.���

Something crossed Belinda���s face. ���I don���t mind watching Tyric. I���m sure your mama has things to do. She and her new husband probably are going to want to travel again.���

I bristled at the way Belinda said new husband. My mama had been a widow for about five years before getting remarried. I knew from a conversation with Chris that his mother had no intentions of remarrying, even though his dad had passed almost a decade ago. 

I also didn���t like how she purposely only mentioned watching Tyric. She often did that.

I plastered a smile on my face. ���Well, if they decide to head out of town again, I will be in touch about your schedule.���

Some emotion crossed Belinda���s face I couldn���t interpret. I put Tyric down and guided both children down the hallway and toward the exit.

Behind me, I heard Belinda suck in a breath. ���I hope that you and Chris work things out soon.���

 I stopped halfway from the front door and turned around to look at Belinda. ���Work things out? I think we���re doing just fine.��� 

Belinda quirked her eyebrow. ���It seems like you both could do more. Give these children more stability. I don���t know what���s wrong with young people these days. Marriage isn���t the end of the world. People just be having ������

My eyes locked with Belinda and this time I didn���t care if she saw the anger in my eyes.

Having babies. 

While she had the decency to catch herself, I still fumed how Belinda just couldn���t help herself. She just had to remind me I wasn���t good enough for her son. He only dealt with me because we had a son together. That he bothered with me, a woman who already had a kid, she still couldn���t process it after all these years.

 I remembered how my mama reacted to both my pregnancies. I thought my mama could be so judgmental. But over the years, I���ve learned to appreciate my mama because there was someone so much worse than her. No matter my mistakes, my mama never had me feeling worthless. Like I was just someone taking up space in her precious son���s life.

I felt a small hand wrap around my hand and I looked away from Belinda to see that Kisha looking up at me almost like she was pleading for us to go. I turned towards the door, determined to get out of the house and to the car.

Before we reached the door, the front door swung open, and to my surprise, Chris stepped inside. My first thought was to be annoyed that we were trapped between Chris and his meddlesome mother, but then he smiled at me.

Why did that handsome face seem to make all things right in the world?

Winter 2023

Can a broken relationship be redeemed?

Leesa Patterson has a young son with Chris Black. Both have worked hard to co-parent both their son and Leesa���s daughter. When Chris suggests they try again with their relationship, Leesa shuns the idea. Their first go-around in a relationship resulted in Leesa breaking up with Chris. Since the break-up, they���ve developed a comfortable friendship for the benefit of the kids.  

But as Chris sets out to woo her, Leesa struggles to keep her walls up. Is she really falling in love��� again?

Learn about African American Astronauts & Space Pioneers who shaped the world like Ronald McNair, Mae Jemison, Charles Bolden, and many more.

The BOOK includes:

short, easy-to-read biographies for ages 8-11 with illustrationsa timeline of eventsa glossary to help deepen a child���s vocabulary and comprehension

The ACTIVITY BOOK also has over 30 activity pages which include coloring, word search, crossword puzzle, mazes, and much more. A special section teaches and encourages further research.

Learn about African American Astronauts & Space Pioneers who shaped the world like Ronald McNair, Mae Jemison, Charles Bolden, and many more.

The BOOK includes:

short, easy-to-read biographies for ages 8-11 with illustrationsa timeline of eventsa glossary to help deepen a child���s vocabulary and comprehension

The ACTIVITY BOOK also has over 30 activity pages which include coloring, word search, crossword puzzle, mazes, and much more. A special section teaches and encourages further research.

African American History for Kids Books, #2
African Americans in STEM Activity Books, #2

Learn about African American Women Pioneers in STEM who shaped the world like Dr. Ida Gray, Mary Eliza Mahoney, R.N., Bessie Coleman and many more.

The BOOK includes:

short, easy-to-read biographies for ages 8-11 with illustrationsa timeline of eventsa glossary to help deepen a child���s vocabulary and comprehension

The ACTIVITY BOOK also has over 30 activity pages which include coloring, word search, crossword puzzle, mazes, and much more. A special section teaches and encourages further research.

Sample pages will be available soon.Pre-order Ebook

African American History for Kids Books, #1
African Americans in STEM Activity Books, #1

Learn about African American Inventors & Scientists who shaped the world like Benjamin Banneker, Elijah McCoy, Madam C.J. Walker and many more.

The BOOK includes:

short, easy-to-read biographies for ages 8-11 with illustrationsa timeline of eventsa glossary to help deepen a child���s vocabulary and comprehension

The ACTIVITY BOOK also has over 30 activity pages which include coloring, word search, crossword puzzle, mazes, and much more. A special section teaches and encourages further research.

You can download sample pages below.Order EbookOrder Activity Book

Former reporter Serena “Rena” Manchester has returned to her hometown, still finding a way to get to the bottom of crimes.

[button url=”https://tyoramoody.com/tag/serena-man...” background=”#efd12d” color=”#000000″]Read More About This Series[/button]

Who doesn���t like a good who-dunnit and romance? Join Ms. Eugeena and her sidekick, Amos Jones, for the next mystery.