More Than Politics

Chapter One The New Family

The sound of birds chirping outside Naomi Carter's bedroom window pulled her from her sleep long before her alarm had the chance to ring.

Sunlight peeked through the faded floral curtains, casting golden streaks across the tiny bedroom she'd had since she was six years old. The walls were painted a soft cream color, decorated with family pictures, Bible verses, and ribbons she'd won from school over the years. Her room wasn't fancy. The paint chipped in a few places, and the old wooden floor creaked every time she walked across it.

But it was home.

Naomi stretched before sitting up, letting out a quiet yawn.

She caught her reflection in the mirror hanging on the closet door and smiled to herself.

Her deep, rich dark-brown skin glowed in the morning light, almost like polished mahogany kissed by the sun. She had warm brown eyes that always seemed full of kindness, long lashes, a soft round nose, and full lips that curved into an easy smile. Thick eyebrows framed her face, while her natural 4C curls rested beneath the satin bonnet she wore every night.

She reached up and pulled the bonnet off, letting her curls spring free.

"Lord..." she laughed quietly. "You really let my hair do whatever it wants overnight."

She grabbed her spray bottle from the dresser, misting her curls before working moisturizer through every section with careful hands. Her mama had always told her that taking care of her hair was another way of taking care of herself.

"Your crown deserves love too," she'd always say.

Naomi parted her hair down the middle before slicking it into two neat puff buns, laying her edges carefully until she was satisfied.

"There," she whispered with a grin. "Good enough."

Walking over to her closet, she looked through her school clothes.

She didn't own designer jeans.

She didn't own expensive sneakers.

Most of her clothes came from thrift stores, church donations, or clearance racks.

But every shirt was clean, every pair of jeans neatly folded, and every shoe taken care of.

Her mama always said, "Baby, money doesn't make you presentable. Pride in yourself does."

Naomi slipped on a pair of blue jeans, a yellow T-shirt, and her clean white sneakers before grabbing the silver cross necklace her grandmother had given her years ago.

She never left home without it.

Before opening her bedroom door, she bowed her head.

"Dear Lord... thank You for waking me up this morning. Thank You for my family, our home, and another chance to do right today. Help me be kind to everyone I meet—even when it's hard. Amen."

The smell of bacon drifted through the house.

Naomi smiled instantly.

"Mama's cooking."

She hurried into the kitchen.

"Morning, baby," her mother, Denise Carter, said as she flipped pancakes on an old skillet.

Her father, Marcus Carter, sat at the small kitchen table reading the local newspaper before heading to work.

"Morning, Sunshine," he smiled.

Naomi kissed both of them on the cheek before taking her seat.

"You sleep good?" Denise asked.

"Like a baby."