His Perfect Wife


 
 Contents
 
 
 
 
 1. Chapter 1
 
 
 
 
 2. Chapter 2
 
 
 
 
 3. Chapter 3
 
 
 
 
 4. Chapter 4
 
 
 
 
 5. Chapter 5
 
 
 
 
 6. Chapter 6
 
 
 
 
 7. Chapter 7
 
 
 
 
 8. Chapter 8
 
 
 
 
 9. Chapter 9
 
 
 
 
 10. Chapter 10
 
 
 
 
 11. Chapter 11
 
 
 
 
 12. Chapter 12
 
 
 
 
 13. Chapter 13
 
 
 
 
 14. Chapter 14
 
 
 
 
 15. Chapter 15
 
 
 
 
 16. Chapter 16
 
 
 
 
 17. Chapter 17
 
 
 
 
 18. Chapter 18
 
 
 
 
 19. Chapter 19
 
 
 
 
 20. Chapter 20
 
 
 
 
 21. Chapter 21
 
 
 
 
 22. Chapter 22
 
 
 
 
 23. Chapter 23
 
 
 
 
 24. Chapter 24
 
 
 
 
 25. Chapter 25
 
 
 
 
 26. Chapter 26
 
 
 
 
 27. Chapter 27
 
 
 
 
 28. Chapter 28
 
 
 
 
 29. Chapter 29
 
 
 
 
 30. Chapter 30
 
 
 
 
 31. Chapter 31
 
 
 
 
 32. Chapter 32
 
 
 
 
 33. Chapter 33
 
 
 
 
 34. Chapter 34
 
 
 
 
 35. Chapter 35
 
 
 
 
 36. Chapter 36
 
 
 
 
 37. Chapter 37
 
 
 
 
 38. Chapter 38
 
 
 
 
 39. Chapter 39
 
 
 
 
 40. Epilogue
 
 
 
 
 About the Author
 
 
 
 
 Author’s Note
 
 
 
 
 Acknowledgments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Aminata Coote
 His Perfect Wife
 
 
 
 
 First published by Hopelight Publishers 2023
 
 
 Copyright © 2023 by Aminata Coote
 
 
 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
 
 This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
 
 
 
 Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 Cover design by Hopelight Publishers Designs
 
 Images courtesy of Canva.com
 
 Sign up for my newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/Maconya for a glimpse into Mac and Tonya’s past.
 
 
 
 
 First edition
 
 
 
 ISBN: 978-976-8334-01-5
 
 
 
 
 
 This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy
 Find out more at reedsy.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 One
 
 
 Chapter 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Latonya McPherson took a sip of her virgin strawberry daiquiri. Her friends were late. As usual. Tonya settled back into the plush mustard cushions, glad they’d chosen The Hanging Garden Restaurant for their bi-weekly girls’ night out. Something about being surrounded by hanging plants gave her a sense of peace.
 She checked the emails on her company phone, scanning to see which ones looked urgent. Tonya paused at an email flagged important, its subject in all caps. She skim-read it and sighed. 
 Her client Ray Blackburn had forgotten to send over the payroll file for fifty employees. Her team would have to prepare manual checks for the employees to receive their pay on time. She forwarded the email to one of her supervisors. She needed to meet with Ray. At least twice a month, he forgot to submit a file on time, which resulted in additional work for her team.
 “Oh no,” Peyton Green snatched the phone out of her hand. “This is a no-working zone.” Peyton dropped Tonya’s phone into her bag and slid into the chair to her right. Her friend didn’t seem to notice that several of the male patrons’ heads had swiveled in her direction. And why not? 
 Peyton was gorgeous with her bronze skin and high cheekbones. Especially when dressed to attract attention as she was now in a bold magenta jumpsuit and an afro wig.
 “Yes, well,” Tonya took another sip. “I wouldn’t have to work if you guys showed up on time.”
 Peyton rolled her eyes. “And we would have been on time if I hadn’t had to convince Miss Thing here she had to come.”
 Tonya turned to Cassandra Pageant who’d taken the seat to her left. “You weren’t planning to come. Why?”
 “Yes.” Cassie tugged on the long sleeves of her black dress. “No. Maybe.” 
 Her friend had straightened her coils and swept them away from her classically beautiful face in a neat chignon. Cassie’s eyes dropped to the table. 
 “It’s a school night.” Cassie shrugged. “I wanted to get to bed early.”
 Cassie was a kindergarten teacher at a local elementary school. She was the one who insisted that she needed a break and adult conversation. Tonya exchanged looks with Peyton who looked as confused as she was. The whole reason they had these Monday night outings was to beat the doldrums. It gave them something to look forward to as they fought the Monday morning blues.
 “Is everything alright?” Tonya rested a hand on Cassie’s.
 Cassie’s phone vibrated. “I’m fine.” Cassie slid her hand away to fiddle with her phone. 
 Tonya stifled a twinge of hurt. What was so urgent on her phone that it needed immediate attention? Cassie’s fingers flew over the keypad. 
 “Who