Alternate Story Ending: Lena & Maurice (Lena’s Ex-File)

When I decided to work on the Author’s Cuts versions of my stories, Lena’s Ex-File was one I knew I wanted to revisit. It was a short story, but with all the experience I’ve gained over the years, I saw places where I could enhance their journey—one of the biggest being giving Maurice a voice.

From the very start, one thing about Lena was certain: she wanted to be married. Period.

This alternate story ending captures the moment Maurice finally puts action behind the promise he made in both the original Lena’s Ex-File and the Author’s Cut. And let me tell you… it’s a moment.

Enjoy! ❤️

LENA

The car’s wheels came to a gradual stop, making the ride-share vehicle sway a little on the cobblestone street.

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The Turning Point: Romello “Mello” St. Claire’s Choice in They Call Me Mello

When Romello “Mello” St. Claire stepped into Chapter Three of No Fraternizing, Pt. 2, readers wanted more. That wasn’t the plan, but when it comes to Mello, plans tend to change. After the conclusion of No Fraternizing, Pt. 3, reader emails poured in asking if Mello would get his own story. I already knew what I’d be working on next.

Mello is the quintessential ladies’ man—charismatic, stylish, and irresistible—but in They Call Me Mello, he meets his match. When he escapes to Miami to lay low while the heat in New York dies down (and no, we’re not talking about the weather), his stay is supposed to be temporary. He makes sure to remind us of that at every opportunity. But somewhere along the way, things shift. He finds more than a safe haven… he finds love.

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Meet Arielle St. James

You met the inspiration last week when I discussed how Soul Food inspired me to write my first age-gap romance. Now, meet the woman herself.

Arielle “Ari” St. James is the kind of woman whose name turns heads before she even steps into a room. Heiress to a luxury hospitality empire and co-founder of The St. James, New York, she’s spent her life elevating the brand’s reputation while holding her family’s legacy together with precision and grace.

She’s 41, polished, and always ten steps ahead. Arielle’s the woman everyone trusts to make the impossible happen. But behind the clean lines and silk blouses, Arielle’s built a world that feels more like a cage than a crown.

What she doesn’t expect is Micah Black… a young man who doesn’t care about her title, her brand, or her perfect image. All he sees is her.



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Inside the Character: Getting to Know Ivy Pressman from Raising Love

Ivy Pressman has been an idea for quite a while. She sat in a section of my notes app where I keep my story premises, waiting for the right time to make her debut, and I couldn’t imagine her being in any story other than Raising Love. She’s a character I really liked once I started to flesh her out—a perfectionist with a big heart, something I could relate to. We got to know her well in Raising Love through her honest, transparent POVs, but as always, there’s more to uncover about the woman behind the sportscaster persona.

Let’s get to know Ivy a little more intimately.

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Resuscitate My Love: Episode 6 – Condition Guarded

DEION

A soft glow to my right caught my attention. And when I glanced that way, I did a double take at Whit who walked through the front door of the brownstone, closing the door behind her. As she made her way down the stoop, I opened my car door to step out.

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Character Q&A: Maurice Baldwin

We’re sitting in Maurice’s office at the law firm where he works. The space is sleek and professional, with leather furnishings that gleam under the bright office lights. Degrees and plaques line the walls, while photos of Maurice with notable names fill the back desk. Among the decor is a single photo of Lena, his wife. Noticing there are no photos of kids, I inquire, as part of my due diligence.

“Nah, not yet. We still got time, though,” he insists with a smile.

Maurice is still an entertainment lawyer, and he’s kind enough to meet with me after work. It’s been almost ten years since we last spoke, if you don’t count revisiting his story in the author’s cut version of Lena’s Ex-File.

“To be fair, I didn’t have much of a voice in the original version of my story until you offered that author’s cut,” he jokes. “So, yeah, we can shave at least a year off of those many years since you last caught up with me.”

However long it’s been, it’s good to see him and Lena going strong—something he’s eager to share during our sit-down.

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Love, Hate & Revenge, pt. 3 Chapter 19: “I’m too old to be someone’s boyfriend”

We’re back talking about my favorite sisters, and this time, it’s Maliya’s turn again. There are a few chapters I’ve been looking forward to creating commentary for, and with this month’s theme centered on “when they knew,” this moment from Love, Hate & Revenge, Pt. 3 felt right on time. Told from Maliya’s point of view, this chapter marks a refreshing and emotional shift for both her and Eli. Each had experienced their own version of devastation… Maliya discovering the truth about her fiancé, Omari, and Eli still grappling with the loss of his wife and unborn child years earlier. So watching their connection evolve from wedding logistics to something deeply personal was both necessary and beautiful. A turning point in more ways than one.

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How Soul Food Inspired My First Age-Gap Romance

I can’t believe it’s already August. Not just because summer is winding down, but because we’re officially two months away from the release of my first age-gap romance.

Last year, when I decided to finally explore this trope in my writing, a few things sparked the inspiration. One was an old idea I had to write about a couple who owned one of the most popular Black-owned luxury hotels: The Braxton Hotel. If you’ve read my Love, Hate & Revenge series, the name might sound familiar. The Braxton had always been in the background, and I’d wanted to give it its own spotlight.

That story never fully came together… but pieces of it made their way into my age-gap romance.

The real moment everything clicked into place, though?

After I rewatched the movie Soul Food.

Teri Joseph Deserved Better. Period.

I first watched Soul Food when I was around twelve. I saw it again as a teenager. Even then (at twelve then again as a teenager) something about how they treated Teri—the eldest daughter—bothered me. But when I watched it again last year as an adult? I was pissed.



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Inside the Character: Getting to Know Maurice Baldwin from Lena’s Ex-File

I’m happy I was able to create more time with Maurice in the Author’s Cut version of Lena’s Ex-File. Revisiting his character in my short second chance romance gave me the opportunity to get to know a man I didn’t fully explore the first time around. The original Lena’s Ex-File was told from a single point of view, and while Lena did a great job telling their story, giving Maurice a voice helped round things out. There’s more to him than what we initially saw—and I’m glad readers finally get to experience that.
So, let’s get to know him a little more intimately.

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