Book Excerpts
“Control yourself, Key. Dang!" Shyla was getting nervous herself.
“Laugh about something so he won’t think we’re talking about him.
“No kidding. He’s right behind-”
“Girl that is too funny. Did you talk to…”
“Excuse me, Shyla,” he said with husky voice. Shyla turned her attention toward him and almost fell out of her seat. They just stared at one another. “I was hoping that was you. I didn’t mean to interrupt your afternoon.” Her mouth went dry.
“Hi,” she said taking a sip of water.
“Hi yourself. I saw you yesterday but wasn’t absolutely sure it was you.” He was sure all right. There was no other woman with a figure like hers.
Kemah just smiled as if to say, "I told you so."
“Well it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen you.” His voice made her weak in the knees and wet some place else. It’s a good thing she was seated.
“A couple of months,” she said weakly.
“That long?” he bounced back and forth on his feet. “So how have you been?”
“I can’t complain. Business is good. I’ve been meaning to take a vacation out this way for a while and finally had the time so I’m here. What about yourself? How’s it going and what brings you to this part of the universe?
“May I?” He points to the empty seat next to her.
“I’m sorry, have a seat. It’s available for the time being.”
What had she meant? Was she expecting someone else? He let it pass.
“To answer your question, I’ve been doing great. I needed some me time away from work. A few friends were coming down to visit a school pal and they dragged me along. I needed the vacation anyway before I head back to Napa.”
“You’re going to Napa?”
“Umm, umm.” Kemah clears her throat.
“I’m sorry Kemah. I forgot you were sitting there.”
“Yeah right,” she said under her breath but not low enough that Shyla couldn’t hear her.
“Anyway. Kemah this gentlemen is one of Felton’s very old and dearest friends,” she starts to snap here finger as if she was trying to remember his name. “I’m sorry, I’m drawing a blank, what’s-”
“No problem. The names Zachary. Zachary Trellis.”
“That’s right Zachary.” She knew she remembered. Zachary knew to but he couldn’t quite figure out what she was trying to prove. Zachary and Felton work together.
He reached for her hand and just as he said her name Kemah was a bout to pull away. She remembered a guy with the name Trellis. He had changed her life and if it hadn’t been for his friends and his being non-trusting they would still be together. She didn’t want to believe that Zachary was any relation but the had the same facial features, the proud chin, the permanently arched eyebrows and the same deep dimples, even without the smile. The only difference was that Zachary was a few shades darker. Please don’t let this be a relative she thought.
You okay?” both Shyla and Zachary asked. She looked as if she were in another world or at least trying to figure something out.
She pulled her hand away. “it’s nothing really. You just remind me of someone I once knew.
"When I'm with You"
Chance fell over laughing.
"Please tell me that Trisha was joking when she called you that. Your name really isn't Theo Huckstable is it?"
"It's Theodosia, actually, and I'd prefer to called by it. It's feminine, it fits, and I don't like it shortened, unless you're family or friend, which sir, you are neither."
Chance couldn't help it. There were loads of jokes with her name written all on them.
"True, true. But answer me this." he tried to hold in his laughter. "Do you have sister's named Denice, Vanessa and Rudy? and check this out." he couldn't keep a straight face. "Are your parents names Heathcliff and Claire Hucksstable?
She sighed, folding her arms across her chest. "If you must know, Rudy is my younger brother's name, and..."
Chance doubled over laughing, holding his side as he was falling to the floor. He fell hard but the only pain he felt was in his side from laughing so hard.
Theodosia rolled her eyes again. "And...and my parents are no longer here." she said sadly with her head held low.
"Theo..."
She turned and walked back into the covered patio with the rest of the guest. He wouldn't get the last word in.
Chance sobered quickly. "Did she say what I think she said?"
"Yes. you big jerk face," his baby sister shouted. "How could you b so cruel and insensitive?"
He rubbed his hand over his face. "How was I suppose to know? I only met the woman, what, a couple of weeks ago." He plopped down on the stood beside his sister.
"Yeah, and we know what kind of impression you left with her then." she shook her head as if his very being had disgusted her. "Today was definitely no better. i swear Chance, sometimes I hate to tell others that we're related They start looking at me as if I've grown two heads. You just can't seem to control yourself. I just don't know about you, Chance." she picked up a tray of spinach dip and crackers and carried them out onto the patio.
Chance sat there not knowing what to do. Had he really spoken ill of the deceased?
When Trish returned, he pleaded with her to understand that what he had said was not meant to hurt her friend.
"Trish, I'm sorry, but can you give your brother some credit, please. I didn't know."
"But you know that there is always a change especially because of our ages."
"I know and if I had known I would have let it go as far as it did. You know that."
"All I know is that you probably hurt her feelings. I told you that one of these days your so called humor was going to get someone hurt, but you wouldn't listen, would you?
No, he thought. And today was that day.
KENLEY: SHAME ON ME
I must have stood there about an hour watching her sleep, remembering every inch of her succulent body, every curve, every mole, and dimple. The way her body latched on, feeding me as I fed her, was something phenomenal, something I never experienced with any woman. I had never wanted to get that close to another human-being because of the loss when either of you were. Too many friends married or with a partner had died in the line of duty, leaving them to deal with the pain and suffering of their loss alone.
But, Addyson she got to me. I allowed her into my heart because I needed that kind of person on my side, someone who would give a damn about me when I returned. She didn’t believe in marriage, said it was for some, but not for others, and especially not for her. I disagree. So, I made her believe in me, believe that I could make her happy. And, I did, for but only a brief moment.
We had been married for three days, three wonderful days. And, in those three days, I learned what made her laugh and what would make her cry. What I was going to do would make her cry. She trusted me to be there for her and I would be, if my other life wasn’t going to keep me away. When I sat in the chair at the desk to write her a note, I couldn't think of a single thing. The words wouldn't come. How could I say I love you in the same breath as saying I have to leave you? She wouldn't understand. I guess I wouldn’t either if I was in her shoes. I had to believe that I was coming home and she would be waiting for me. That's what would keep me going to know that I had her to return to.
I wrote a short note and placed it in the envelope along with the keys to the car. I wouldn’t leave her stranded to fend for herself. I could only hope that during our lovemaking that I'd left a piece of myself with her, that way when I was gone she wouldn’t be alone.
“I love you, beautiful Addyson," I said as I gently kissed the top of her head. If I had done any more, I would not have been able to leave. The sooner I went, the less painful it would be for the both of us.
Three hours later I was on a plane out of the country, trying to forget what I done to the only woman I’d ever loved. I wanted to believe that I was protecting her from the unknown, but that didn’t make me hate myself any less. I had to snap out of it. Soon, I would be in another country, under an assumed name, praying the outcome would be fast and fatality free.
ADDYSON: Can't Buy My Love
“I love
you so, so much that I don’t want to go another day without sharing it with you
as my bride. I don’t know how you feel,
but you are it for me. I hope that you
can say that you love me as well, but if you can’t, I can guarantee you that I
have enough love for the both of us and some day you will love me.”
I didn’t know where it came from or when it started, but I cried, inside. Was it from panic? No, I didn’t believe so. It could have been the excitement of it all. Someone actually asked me to marry him and I liked him, like, a lot. I did the first thing that my mind encouraged me to do. I reached over, grabbed him by the collar, and gave him a kiss, hard and greedy. I think he was in shock the first few seconds, but then he reacted like I expected he would. And, then I told him yes, I would marry him.
We completed and signed the form, and didn’t have to wait twenty-four hours or longer to do the deed. We were married by five that afternoon. Kenley promised me a bigger wedding on our first year anniversary. Since we had a few hours to spare before the ceremony, we drove to the nearest Macy’s, which was thirty minutes away, and brought the proper attire for an informal wedding. And, yes, I changed right there in the women’s restroom. I allowed the make-up guy at the Mac counter to lightly make me up. It had been my experience that the men did a better job in those stores. My hair was in a ponytail, so to look more like a bride, I bought a curling iron, took out the ponytail, and added a few curls. Even on short notice, I looked pretty amazing.
The ceremony was very short, ten minutes tops. It was strange, though. Formal weddings lasted at least thirty minutes, but there was so much to do to put it together. I did have a bouquet and a ring. Afterwards, we went to a one-hour photo studio and had pictures taken. Kenley wanted us to have something to share with our families, our children and grandchildren when we had them, something to cherish from our life’s beginning.
He took me for a romantic dinner, and then we drove to Santa Barbara for a short honeymoon. We both had work the following week. But, for three glorious days and nights, we made love aboard a beautiful yacht and watched the sun rise and set over the earth. I was in marital bliss, as they say. My opinion on marriage had changed tremendously. I knew in my heart that we’d have a wonderful marriage and that I would never be happier until we began raising our family together.
But, I was wrong. The morning of the fourth day, when the sun awakened, there was no sign of Kenley. I didn’t find a note. I didn’t know if he had went up on deck of the beautiful yacht he’d rented and fell over or just that he wasn’t there, but I didn’t panic. I dressed and went up on deck. The boat was docked in the same spot as when we sailed off, but even the captain wasn’t on board. What the hell was going on? My husband was missing and the captain as well. Something wasn’t right. I turned to go get my phone and I saw the captain approaching down the walk.
“Good morning, Mrs. Hogan. I hope you enjoyed your stay on the Ebony Princess.”
“Good morning, Captain Fred. I had a wonderful time, but I seem to be missing something.”
“What’s that, my dear?”
“My husband. Have you seen Mr. Hogan this morning?”
I saw him fidget. I hoped he wasn’t about to tell me a lie. That would really piss me off.
“Have you seen my husband, Captain?”
“I did see him early this morning before he left.”
“Left? What do you mean he left? He’s coming back, right?” I rubbed my hands all over my face. I didn’t know what to do. A scream was at the front of my throat.
“Mr. Hogan said he had to leave, but asked me to give you this.” He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a white envelope.
I was reluctant to take it from him because I really didn’t want to know what was inside. I’d been married four days, and now it was over. That was all I could think of. If he had fell overboard, I would have understood that better. He wouldn’t have done it on purpose. But this, a note to let me down easily, I didn’t think I could take it.
“Screw it,” I said, and snatched the envelope, ripping it open. It was a key to the car and a note that read, I’ll return soon, promise. I love you, Kenley. I turned to the captain and he handed me a cup with what I could only imagine was coffee. He allowed me to stay on board another hour or so. I couldn’t remember. I just knew that Kenley never showed up or called.
That hurt. He’d walked away. The only memory I had was a beautiful dress, a photograph, and my bouquet of roses. I was going to preserve it for our one year anniversary and toss it to the single ladies when we remarried. It was a joke now, just as much as my impromptu marriage was. As I walked off the yacht with my belongings in hand, I took the bouquet, made a wish, and threw it into the harbor. I wished never to fall in love again.
