Author Description

Cheyvonne Riley, is an unemployed, senior, banking professional from the Caribbean, who migrates to New York on a visitor's visa seeking employment but her six-month allotted stay period is about to expire. CheChe, is affectionately nicknamed by her beloved now deceased grandmother who also raised and molded her from birth. She is on the verge of a major promotion when the worldwide financial crisis forces a merger of her bank and she is let go. Almost, simultaneously she discovers that the foundation of her common law relationship with her daughter's father is grounded in a lie. The emotional devastation of this one-two punch and dwindling savings convinces her to leave her little girl behind with an unstable grandmother and to seek work in New York City like the many who have gone before her. New York proves to be an environment more hostile than her West Indian surroundings. The work place, when she manages to find a domestic gig, is full of prejudicial predators and back-stabbers. Living with US-born relatives proves more painful than accidentally walking on an ants' nest. But for prayer taught to her by her grandmother, loneliness and depression would be CheChe's only companions. Eventually, CheChe finds a permanent position as a Private Aide to a wealthy retiree who has dementia. In the home of this generous man, she gains the opportunity to build a home for her daughter and possibly amass enough savings to return home quicker. She also finds a different love that can help to heal her distrust. Overnight the blessing seems to morph into a curse but CheChe cannot run away again. The 24/7 job, caring for a sick stranger is stressful in and of itself. CheChe has the added burden of attending to her boss's adult, free-loading children who, threatened by her unfettered access to their father, devise ways to torture her day and night. Major issues arise with her house construction and promise to leave her penniless. CheChe is also daily tormented by the physical and