Looking for a gift for the mystery lover in your life? Love character driven fiction that keeps you on the edge of your seat and cheering for the good guys? You'll love the Justice Series.
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author ~ ~ ~ writing and streams of consciousness
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Friday, September 12, 2014
Two of my favorite quotes from New York Times bestselling author, M. A. Comley, and two free books!
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Sunday Sample - WIP - Beyond A Reasonable Doubt
Coming soon! Hopefully in October - Beyond A Reasonable Doubt
CHAPTER ONE
Jenna scanned the courtroom, anxious to get started and get it over with. Closing arguments were the part of her job she loved the most, and the part she was good at. The evidence had all been presented to the jury. Next, the defense would weave their story, shining a different light on the proof and twisting testimony in the hopes of creating doubt. All they needed was one juror. Her job was to make sure they didn't get that—to close all loopholes and leave the jury with only one choice: Travello was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. She'd practiced her closing argument, and she was ready.
Her gaze fell on Aran Travello. He grinned at her, causing a deep, nagging feeling to gnaw at her gut. She shook it off. The evidence was all in her favor. No jury in its right mind would find him innocent.
Grant Benson slid into the seat beside her and handed her a file. “Here's the PSIR."
Jenna scanned the presentencing investigation report, her eyebrows knitting together. Travello's previous crimes included everything but murder, and most of the crimes were nonviolent. "Damn it, there has to be more, something everyone missed."
Grant smiled, showing even, white teeth. "Patience, you’re showing your true colors.”
Jenna laughed and closed the file. Her father had wanted to name her “Impatience,” but her mother had balked. Two months early and weighing only two pounds, Jenna Patience James had burst into the world with gusto, screaming and kicking and fighting for life—just as she’d been doing ever since.
A quiet hush fell over the courtroom. Jenna turned, watching as Conrad Merced sashayed through the doors. She heard the quick intake of Grant’s breath as a blinding pain started just behind her right eye.
“What the hell is he doing here?” she whispered. “There’s no damn way Travello could afford to hire him.”
Jenna rubbed her right temple, soothing the pain as she continued to watch Conrad stroll down the aisle. He always reminded her of a clown, dressed in a dark-blue Armani suit, bright-red bowtie that matched his flaming-red hair and, of course, his trademark white shoes. Travello couldn’t even afford the shoe shine.
Grant shrugged and stood up. "Don't worry about it. I'd say you've got this one in the bag, even with Merced on his side."
Jenna raised an eyebrow. Grant was the new law clerk at the DA's office and had yet to try his first case. He had no clue just how many things could go wrong in a trial, especially a trial with Merced. His confidence in her ability wasn't exactly comforting.
Jenna continued to rub her temple as she slipped her feet into her three-inch heels, which gave her a respectable five-foot-five-inch height. Going up against Merced, even that felt short. Why hadn't Michael told her Merced was entering the case? She glanced to the back of the courtroom, and he shrugged, his lips lifting in a sympathetic smile.
Merced stopped at the prosecutor's table and dropped a motion in front of her. "There's been a slight change in Mr. Travello's representation. I'll be doing closing arguments. I hope you won't object as I'd hate to see a mistrial called on a technicality."
Jenna glanced at the motion. Merced knew damn well she wanted to object. Under other circumstances, she would have objected. Conrad Merced had never lost a case. Well, today wasn't going to be his lucky day. Pasting on her sweetest smile, she met the stony black gaze. "No objection, counselor."
She took some pleasure in the knitting of his bushy brows as the bailiff entered the room.
"All rise. Judge Raymond Carter presiding."
Jenna continued to smile as she stood. Merced was known for his courtroom drama, but Carter would squash him like a bug if he started that.
"Counsel, approach the bench, please."
Jenna held her smile as she stood before the bench, meeting the judge's sympathetic look. Damn him, he'd buried her already.
"Miss James, I have a copy of Mr. Merced's motion, do you have any objections?"
"No objections, Your Honor."
Carter eyed them both over his glasses. "All right, counsel, you may proceed with closing arguments. Mr. Merced, there will be none of your usual shenanigans."
"Strictly by the book, Judge. If Miss James has no objections, defense will go first, alleviating the need for rebuttal by counsel."
Jenna eyed him warily. Clearly, he had something up his sleeve. "No objections, Your Honor."
Jenna returned to her seat as Merced addressed the court. The gnawing feeling inside her gut grew to almost a physical pain as she listened to him go over the evidence, creating loopholes that could, if believed, create a reasonable doubt in the jury's mind. Fortunately, the loopholes were minor, but Merced's lack of courtroom drama and droning voice created a new fear inside her. Was he setting up an appeal defense for incompetent counsel?
"Miss James?"
Jenna stood and walked around the table.
"Your Honor, counsel, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you've heard the testimony. The evidence is clear and precise. Mr. Travello not only butchered but reveled in the death of a homeless immigrant. All for a bottle of cheap wine." She knew her blue eyes were flashing as she delivered condemning words with precision. She didn’t flutter or wave her hands at the exhibits. Instead, she gripped them as weapons, walking slowly in front of each juror as she met their eyes, dropping her voice and making it soft and sensuous. “Perhaps Mr. Travello thought no one would care. Ladies and gentlemen, I care. This was someone’s son. Someone’s father. Someone’s best friend.”
~ ~ ~
Michael Elkins took his gaze from the jury for just a moment to admire the young woman delivering the scathing closing argument. She wasn't as pretty as the women he normally dated, but she was cute, and eventually he would change the things he didn't like. He studied the black curls that surrounded her face, already beginning to frizz on the edges. His gaze traveled down the slender frame. The breasts were a little too small, but implants would take care of that. He sighed. Her legs had almost become a deal breaker. He liked them long and shapely. Unfortunately, there was little he could do about her height.
He shook his head as the jurors averted their eyes from the gory picture she held in her hands. She was one of the best prosecutors in the state of Texas, and in another year to two, she'd be the new district attorney. That made her valuable to his career, which was all that really mattered in a relationship.
Shrugging his shoulders, he met the gaze of his partner, Scott Harman, who had taken his place on the case when Jenna was assigned as prosecutor. Their relationship wasn’t exactly public knowledge, but there was no way he would risk his career for a lowlife like Travello. He'd known Travello was guilty the first time he talked to him. He didn’t need to stay to hear the jury’s verdict. Travello had lost the second she dropped her voice and whispered those soft words, “someone’s son... someone’s father... someone’s best friend.”
He turned his attention back to Jenna. She was going to be pissed that he hadn't told her about Merced. Of course, he could feign ignorance. Scott had called him last night to tell him Merced was doing closing arguments. He hadn't asked why. Truth be told, he didn't care one way or the other. If Jenna won, he would take her for a celebration dinner. If she lost, he would console her.
Rising, he caught her eye as she returned to the prosecutor’s table to wait for Judge Carter to deliver the jury instructions, then to wait longer for the verdict and, if he was found guilty, sentencing. He caught her subtle wink, the slight lifting of the corners of her mouth.
Michael raised his hand, running his fingers through his thick, blond hair in a silent salute as he headed for the courtroom door to answer the cell phone that had been vibrating incessantly for more than five minutes.
He cleared security, heading for fresh air and a much-needed cigarette before he returned the call. The Honorable William Jefferson Elkins had summoned—six times. He wasn’t going to be happy about Michael’s refusal to answer the phone, even if he had been in court. Lighting a cigarette, he took a deep drag and scowled. His father hadn’t called him in over six months, and now he’d called six times in the space of a half hour. Hitting the Redial button, he threw the unfinished cigarette into the street.
“Hello.”
“Maria, it’s Michael. My father has been trying to reach me.”
The silence on the phone was deafening, and Michael felt the first tremors of foreboding.
“Hold, please.” The words were whispered with an underlying note of compassion and pain.
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you for hours.” Judge Elkins bellowed into the receiver.
“I’ve been in court, dad.” Michael didn’t bother to correct him that it had only been a half hour. No one ever corrected Judge Elkins—at least, no one that still had a bar license.
“There’s been an accident.” Anger still riddled the old man’s voice. “Your mother’s dead.”
CHAPTER ONE
Jenna scanned the courtroom, anxious to get started and get it over with. Closing arguments were the part of her job she loved the most, and the part she was good at. The evidence had all been presented to the jury. Next, the defense would weave their story, shining a different light on the proof and twisting testimony in the hopes of creating doubt. All they needed was one juror. Her job was to make sure they didn't get that—to close all loopholes and leave the jury with only one choice: Travello was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. She'd practiced her closing argument, and she was ready.
Her gaze fell on Aran Travello. He grinned at her, causing a deep, nagging feeling to gnaw at her gut. She shook it off. The evidence was all in her favor. No jury in its right mind would find him innocent.
Grant Benson slid into the seat beside her and handed her a file. “Here's the PSIR."
Jenna scanned the presentencing investigation report, her eyebrows knitting together. Travello's previous crimes included everything but murder, and most of the crimes were nonviolent. "Damn it, there has to be more, something everyone missed."
Grant smiled, showing even, white teeth. "Patience, you’re showing your true colors.”
Jenna laughed and closed the file. Her father had wanted to name her “Impatience,” but her mother had balked. Two months early and weighing only two pounds, Jenna Patience James had burst into the world with gusto, screaming and kicking and fighting for life—just as she’d been doing ever since.
A quiet hush fell over the courtroom. Jenna turned, watching as Conrad Merced sashayed through the doors. She heard the quick intake of Grant’s breath as a blinding pain started just behind her right eye.
“What the hell is he doing here?” she whispered. “There’s no damn way Travello could afford to hire him.”
Jenna rubbed her right temple, soothing the pain as she continued to watch Conrad stroll down the aisle. He always reminded her of a clown, dressed in a dark-blue Armani suit, bright-red bowtie that matched his flaming-red hair and, of course, his trademark white shoes. Travello couldn’t even afford the shoe shine.
Grant shrugged and stood up. "Don't worry about it. I'd say you've got this one in the bag, even with Merced on his side."
Jenna raised an eyebrow. Grant was the new law clerk at the DA's office and had yet to try his first case. He had no clue just how many things could go wrong in a trial, especially a trial with Merced. His confidence in her ability wasn't exactly comforting.
Jenna continued to rub her temple as she slipped her feet into her three-inch heels, which gave her a respectable five-foot-five-inch height. Going up against Merced, even that felt short. Why hadn't Michael told her Merced was entering the case? She glanced to the back of the courtroom, and he shrugged, his lips lifting in a sympathetic smile.
Merced stopped at the prosecutor's table and dropped a motion in front of her. "There's been a slight change in Mr. Travello's representation. I'll be doing closing arguments. I hope you won't object as I'd hate to see a mistrial called on a technicality."
Jenna glanced at the motion. Merced knew damn well she wanted to object. Under other circumstances, she would have objected. Conrad Merced had never lost a case. Well, today wasn't going to be his lucky day. Pasting on her sweetest smile, she met the stony black gaze. "No objection, counselor."
She took some pleasure in the knitting of his bushy brows as the bailiff entered the room.
"All rise. Judge Raymond Carter presiding."
Jenna continued to smile as she stood. Merced was known for his courtroom drama, but Carter would squash him like a bug if he started that.
"Counsel, approach the bench, please."
Jenna held her smile as she stood before the bench, meeting the judge's sympathetic look. Damn him, he'd buried her already.
"Miss James, I have a copy of Mr. Merced's motion, do you have any objections?"
"No objections, Your Honor."
Carter eyed them both over his glasses. "All right, counsel, you may proceed with closing arguments. Mr. Merced, there will be none of your usual shenanigans."
"Strictly by the book, Judge. If Miss James has no objections, defense will go first, alleviating the need for rebuttal by counsel."
Jenna eyed him warily. Clearly, he had something up his sleeve. "No objections, Your Honor."
Jenna returned to her seat as Merced addressed the court. The gnawing feeling inside her gut grew to almost a physical pain as she listened to him go over the evidence, creating loopholes that could, if believed, create a reasonable doubt in the jury's mind. Fortunately, the loopholes were minor, but Merced's lack of courtroom drama and droning voice created a new fear inside her. Was he setting up an appeal defense for incompetent counsel?
"Miss James?"
Jenna stood and walked around the table.
"Your Honor, counsel, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you've heard the testimony. The evidence is clear and precise. Mr. Travello not only butchered but reveled in the death of a homeless immigrant. All for a bottle of cheap wine." She knew her blue eyes were flashing as she delivered condemning words with precision. She didn’t flutter or wave her hands at the exhibits. Instead, she gripped them as weapons, walking slowly in front of each juror as she met their eyes, dropping her voice and making it soft and sensuous. “Perhaps Mr. Travello thought no one would care. Ladies and gentlemen, I care. This was someone’s son. Someone’s father. Someone’s best friend.”
~ ~ ~
Michael Elkins took his gaze from the jury for just a moment to admire the young woman delivering the scathing closing argument. She wasn't as pretty as the women he normally dated, but she was cute, and eventually he would change the things he didn't like. He studied the black curls that surrounded her face, already beginning to frizz on the edges. His gaze traveled down the slender frame. The breasts were a little too small, but implants would take care of that. He sighed. Her legs had almost become a deal breaker. He liked them long and shapely. Unfortunately, there was little he could do about her height.
He shook his head as the jurors averted their eyes from the gory picture she held in her hands. She was one of the best prosecutors in the state of Texas, and in another year to two, she'd be the new district attorney. That made her valuable to his career, which was all that really mattered in a relationship.
Shrugging his shoulders, he met the gaze of his partner, Scott Harman, who had taken his place on the case when Jenna was assigned as prosecutor. Their relationship wasn’t exactly public knowledge, but there was no way he would risk his career for a lowlife like Travello. He'd known Travello was guilty the first time he talked to him. He didn’t need to stay to hear the jury’s verdict. Travello had lost the second she dropped her voice and whispered those soft words, “someone’s son... someone’s father... someone’s best friend.”
He turned his attention back to Jenna. She was going to be pissed that he hadn't told her about Merced. Of course, he could feign ignorance. Scott had called him last night to tell him Merced was doing closing arguments. He hadn't asked why. Truth be told, he didn't care one way or the other. If Jenna won, he would take her for a celebration dinner. If she lost, he would console her.
Rising, he caught her eye as she returned to the prosecutor’s table to wait for Judge Carter to deliver the jury instructions, then to wait longer for the verdict and, if he was found guilty, sentencing. He caught her subtle wink, the slight lifting of the corners of her mouth.
Michael raised his hand, running his fingers through his thick, blond hair in a silent salute as he headed for the courtroom door to answer the cell phone that had been vibrating incessantly for more than five minutes.
He cleared security, heading for fresh air and a much-needed cigarette before he returned the call. The Honorable William Jefferson Elkins had summoned—six times. He wasn’t going to be happy about Michael’s refusal to answer the phone, even if he had been in court. Lighting a cigarette, he took a deep drag and scowled. His father hadn’t called him in over six months, and now he’d called six times in the space of a half hour. Hitting the Redial button, he threw the unfinished cigarette into the street.
“Hello.”
“Maria, it’s Michael. My father has been trying to reach me.”
The silence on the phone was deafening, and Michael felt the first tremors of foreboding.
“Hold, please.” The words were whispered with an underlying note of compassion and pain.
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you for hours.” Judge Elkins bellowed into the receiver.
“I’ve been in court, dad.” Michael didn’t bother to correct him that it had only been a half hour. No one ever corrected Judge Elkins—at least, no one that still had a bar license.
“There’s been an accident.” Anger still riddled the old man’s voice. “Your mother’s dead.”
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Coming Soon - Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - Warning - strong language.
Coming soon! Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - this was one of my favorite chapters. Right now in the hands of the editors, so it could change before the final publication, but I love Harry Redmond and Jake Savior.
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
Marcus poured another drink and glanced at Gregory. "Thanks to Miss James, we have a little over thirty-six hours to find that evidence and set the stage. The house should be empty except for the maid. Don't kill her unless you have to."
Gregory sipped his scotch. "What about James and those two cops? They could be a problem if they connect you to Elkins."
Marcus smiled and lifted his glass. "If all goes as planned they won't have time to connect me to either of the Elkins. Except as their lawyer, of course." He downed the bourbon and wiped his lips on his sleeve. "Don't look so disappointed. I do have a job for you. I believe David Garcia is soft where Miss James is concerned. He needs a little lesson on where his loyalty lies."
Gregory grinned. "Leg or arm? Or both?"
"I think an arm will be fine. He needs to be able to walk tomorrow."
~ ~ ~
Harry parked in front of the house, picked up the arrest warrant for Michael Elkins and handed Jake the one for William. "Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll resist arrest."
Jake tossed his cigarette out the window. "JJ might be upset if she doesn't get to take these bastards to trial." He opened his door and stepped out. "Of course, if there's nobody else here, who's gonna know they didn't resist?"
Harry joined him on the sidewalk. "I've got scratches and you've got a busted nose. Looks like the bastards resisted to me."
Jake shook his head. "I know you want to kill the guy for what he did to JJ, but he had a heart attack recently. We want him alive long enough to enjoy the fruits of being behind bars. He's cute remember. Cute guys are always popular."
Harry's lips compressed into a tight line. "All right, but I get one punch."
Jake slapped him on the back. "One punch it is partner."
Harry knocked loudly on the front door which was opened by the maid. Her eyes widened and her hands immediately started fluttering. "Can I help you?"
"We have a warrant for the arrest of William Elkins and Michael Elkins. Where are they?" Harry asked.
The hands fluttered even more wildly. "I do not understand. You're going to arrest Mr. Elkins?"
Jake gave her his best smile. "That's the plan, honey. Where is he?"
"The judge is in his study. Mr. Michael is upstairs in the shower."
Jake tapped Harry on the shoulder. "We'll do the judge first." He turned to the maid. "Why don't you show us where the study is, then you can go get Michael and bring him down."
"Yes, sir. Please follow me."
They followed her down the hallway to huge oak doors. She knocked and waited.
"Come in."
Jake grabbed her arm as she reached for the door. "Go get Michael. We'll take it from here."
Harry drew his gun as Jake opened the door and stepped into the room. Elkins glared at them from behind a huge mahogany desk.
"What the hell are you doing here? Get out of my house."
Jake moved slowly. "William Elkins, you're under arrest for the murder of Olivia Elkins. You have the right to remain silent."
Elkins reached for his drawer and Jake drew his gun and pointed it directly at judge's chest. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. I don't need much of a reason to pull this trigger."
Elkins let his hand fall away and Jake grinned. "As I said, you have a right to remain silent. If you give up that right anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." He rounded the desk, holstered his gun and jerked the judge to his feet. He pulled an arm behind the judge's back and slapped on a cuff. "You have the right to an attorney." Grabbing the other arm he wrenched it around and cuffed it. "If you can't afford an attorney one will be appointed to you." He turned the judge to face him. "Do you understand your rights, sir?"
Elkins spit on him before bellowing, "You're dead you son-of-a-bitch."
Jake wiped off the spittle and glanced at Harry. "I do believe the judge just threatened me, Harry. What do you think?"
Harry leaned against the wall never taking his eyes from the open door. "Sounded like a threat to me."
Jake eyed the old man. He wanted to hit him. Maybe break a few bones. Instead he smiled maliciously and pulled him in close. "I've waited twenty eight years to get you. So you know what I'm gonna do, Judge? I'm gonna spread the word around the jail that you're a former judge. Prisoners don't like judges. With that information making the rounds, even an old ass like yours is gonna see some real action. You've spent your whole life fucking people. Let's see how you like it." He pushed him toward the door just as Michael Elkins came sauntering through it.
"Don't worry, dad, I called Marcus and left a message. He'll have you out before they even finish the paperwork."
Harry stepped forward and handed Michael his warrant. "Michael Elkins you're under arrest for conspiracy, tampering with evidence and transporting a dead body across state lines."
Michael glanced at the warrant. "That little whore put you up to this?" He smiled at Harry. "She's pretty good in bed, isn't she?"
Harry's right fist came up hard and fast, catching him dead in the lips. He grabbed him before he could fall, pulled his arms behind his back and cuffed him. "You have the right to remain silent. If you give up the right to remain silent anything you say can and will result in me beating the shit out you."
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
Marcus poured another drink and glanced at Gregory. "Thanks to Miss James, we have a little over thirty-six hours to find that evidence and set the stage. The house should be empty except for the maid. Don't kill her unless you have to."
Gregory sipped his scotch. "What about James and those two cops? They could be a problem if they connect you to Elkins."
Marcus smiled and lifted his glass. "If all goes as planned they won't have time to connect me to either of the Elkins. Except as their lawyer, of course." He downed the bourbon and wiped his lips on his sleeve. "Don't look so disappointed. I do have a job for you. I believe David Garcia is soft where Miss James is concerned. He needs a little lesson on where his loyalty lies."
Gregory grinned. "Leg or arm? Or both?"
"I think an arm will be fine. He needs to be able to walk tomorrow."
~ ~ ~
Harry parked in front of the house, picked up the arrest warrant for Michael Elkins and handed Jake the one for William. "Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll resist arrest."
Jake tossed his cigarette out the window. "JJ might be upset if she doesn't get to take these bastards to trial." He opened his door and stepped out. "Of course, if there's nobody else here, who's gonna know they didn't resist?"
Harry joined him on the sidewalk. "I've got scratches and you've got a busted nose. Looks like the bastards resisted to me."
Jake shook his head. "I know you want to kill the guy for what he did to JJ, but he had a heart attack recently. We want him alive long enough to enjoy the fruits of being behind bars. He's cute remember. Cute guys are always popular."
Harry's lips compressed into a tight line. "All right, but I get one punch."
Jake slapped him on the back. "One punch it is partner."
Harry knocked loudly on the front door which was opened by the maid. Her eyes widened and her hands immediately started fluttering. "Can I help you?"
"We have a warrant for the arrest of William Elkins and Michael Elkins. Where are they?" Harry asked.
The hands fluttered even more wildly. "I do not understand. You're going to arrest Mr. Elkins?"
Jake gave her his best smile. "That's the plan, honey. Where is he?"
"The judge is in his study. Mr. Michael is upstairs in the shower."
Jake tapped Harry on the shoulder. "We'll do the judge first." He turned to the maid. "Why don't you show us where the study is, then you can go get Michael and bring him down."
"Yes, sir. Please follow me."
They followed her down the hallway to huge oak doors. She knocked and waited.
"Come in."
Jake grabbed her arm as she reached for the door. "Go get Michael. We'll take it from here."
Harry drew his gun as Jake opened the door and stepped into the room. Elkins glared at them from behind a huge mahogany desk.
"What the hell are you doing here? Get out of my house."
Jake moved slowly. "William Elkins, you're under arrest for the murder of Olivia Elkins. You have the right to remain silent."
Elkins reached for his drawer and Jake drew his gun and pointed it directly at judge's chest. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. I don't need much of a reason to pull this trigger."
Elkins let his hand fall away and Jake grinned. "As I said, you have a right to remain silent. If you give up that right anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." He rounded the desk, holstered his gun and jerked the judge to his feet. He pulled an arm behind the judge's back and slapped on a cuff. "You have the right to an attorney." Grabbing the other arm he wrenched it around and cuffed it. "If you can't afford an attorney one will be appointed to you." He turned the judge to face him. "Do you understand your rights, sir?"
Elkins spit on him before bellowing, "You're dead you son-of-a-bitch."
Jake wiped off the spittle and glanced at Harry. "I do believe the judge just threatened me, Harry. What do you think?"
Harry leaned against the wall never taking his eyes from the open door. "Sounded like a threat to me."
Jake eyed the old man. He wanted to hit him. Maybe break a few bones. Instead he smiled maliciously and pulled him in close. "I've waited twenty eight years to get you. So you know what I'm gonna do, Judge? I'm gonna spread the word around the jail that you're a former judge. Prisoners don't like judges. With that information making the rounds, even an old ass like yours is gonna see some real action. You've spent your whole life fucking people. Let's see how you like it." He pushed him toward the door just as Michael Elkins came sauntering through it.
"Don't worry, dad, I called Marcus and left a message. He'll have you out before they even finish the paperwork."
Harry stepped forward and handed Michael his warrant. "Michael Elkins you're under arrest for conspiracy, tampering with evidence and transporting a dead body across state lines."
Michael glanced at the warrant. "That little whore put you up to this?" He smiled at Harry. "She's pretty good in bed, isn't she?"
Harry's right fist came up hard and fast, catching him dead in the lips. He grabbed him before he could fall, pulled his arms behind his back and cuffed him. "You have the right to remain silent. If you give up the right to remain silent anything you say can and will result in me beating the shit out you."
Monday, August 4, 2014
Coming Soon! Helena's Diary
CHAPTER ONE
Saguria Canyon offered a picturesque view of everything Gabriella loved about spring in southern California. The golden hue of mule’s ears and deep blue Ithuriel’s spears dotted the lush green grass of the meadow below. In another week, two at the most, life in the canyon would be thriving. Lovers would walk hand in hand, seeking out private trails and stopping for a kiss under the cherry blossoms.
But not me.
Her shoulders slumped. She’d been dating Robert for six months, but the relationship wasn’t going anywhere. At least not for her. The only romance and passion in her life were captured on the pages of her romance novels. And lately even those relationships seemed stale and monotonous.
The blare of a horn broke her reverie, and she turned to wave at Maddy. The heaviness lifted for a moment. Madeleine Jones simply didn’t allow being down in the dumps. Gabriella couldn't help the grin that spread across her face as Maddy extricated herself from her fire-red Jaguar. Even dressed in oversized sweats, without a touch of makeup, she looked like a movie star or supermodel. She had tied her long blonde hair back in a careless ponytail, and the baggy sweats did little to disguise what everyone called a “curvaceous” figure.
“Helena Gabriella Carson, you look like you’ve lost your best friend.” Maddy grinned and swung into a set of stretching exercises that would have left Gabriella gasping for breath. “And I know that isn’t true, because here I am. Ready? A good four-mile hike will get your blood pumping and your artistic juices flowing. Spring has sprung, and love is in the air.”
Gabriella tried to smile but couldn’t pull it off. “Life is all around me, and yet I still feel dead inside.”
Maddy wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “It's only been six months, Ree, and most of that you've spent finalizing your mother's estate. Another month and you'll be back to writing sizzling romance novels for all your fans.”
“I hope so. I finally finished Cold Heart and sent it off to Celeste last week.”
Maddy pulled her toward the hiking trail. “Good. Let's go find some inspiration for the next one.”
Gabriella followed, thankful the friendship between them didn't require a lot of small talk. She'd woken up frustrated and angry without an outlet for either. The four-mile trek up the trail might help with the frustration, but the anger was something unfamiliar, new territory through which she didn't know how to navigate. And she definitely didn't want to dwell on the reasons behind it.
“Have you thought about going back to school?” Maddy stopped on an outcropping of rock and bent to examine a small stonecrop flower growing beside the boulder. “I love these things. They’re so beautiful.”
Gabriella studied the tiny orange flower clinging to the side of the boulder. It looked lonely and vulnerable. Just like she felt. She wanted to hide it, protect it from the hikers that, like them, would stop on the boulder to enjoy the view. “And like most beautiful things, endangered because people want to possess them.”
Maddy sat on the boulder and patted the spot beside her. “I wondered when that was going to happen.”
“What?” Gabriella sat next to her but moved as far from the edge as possible.
“The anger and resentment.” Maddy shot her a sympathetic smile. “It's perfectly normal. You gave up two years of your life to nurse your mother. And cancer is a horrible disease. You go through the highs of thinking she’s getting better and then the lows of knowing it’s only a matter of time. Now that your grief is subsiding, other emotions are fighting for control.”
“That's not...” The truth she didn’t want to dwell on was staring her right in the face. “But I loved my mother.”
“Of course you did. I loved her, too. My favorite childhood memories were made at your house. My mom was always mad at us because we weren’t the little ballerina princesses she wanted. Your mom let us jump in the mud puddles, washed our faces, and gave us a cookie. You have every right to be angry. You were jerked from a life of fun, parties, and friends to a life of seclusion, sickness, and pain. No matter how much we love someone, there's a part of all of us that's just a little selfish.”
Gabriella wiped away a tear. “I feel like I’ve changed so much. Like I’m not the same person anymore.” She waved toward the trail.
“This is the first spontaneous thing I’ve done in three years. And I almost cancelled it.”
“Necessity always changes people. You were forced to grow up overnight. You went from making decisions about what to have for lunch to how to pay this month’s bills.” Maddy turned to her, her eyes filled with respect. “And you did it, Ree. Without ever making one complaint in all that time. You did it all. Let yourself be angry. Scream occasionally at the injustice of it all.” Maddy grinned mischievously. “Then buy a new dress, get your hair done, and go out for a night of fun and frolicking.”
“It wasn’t all bad, Maddy. I became a bestselling romance author, and I met Robert.”
Maddy stood up and dusted off her sweats. “The writing I totally get, but Robert is something you're going to have to explain to me. He's the most unromantic, emotionally unresponsive man I've ever met. He's not right for you, Ree, and I wish you could see that before it's too late.”
Gabriella searched for words to defend Robert but came up with nothing. She’d been thinking the same thing before Maddy arrived. Her cell phone saved her from having to respond. “It's Celeste. Should I take it?”
Maddy chuckled. “Definitely, and put it on speaker. I love her accent and the way she always calls you Helena. She sounds like one of those old movie drama queens. I can just see her with her long cigarette holder, waving it around as she exclaims, “But, Helena, darling...”
Gabriella placed her fingers across her lips, mumbled “Shh,” and pressed the speaker button. “Hi, Celeste.”
“Helena, darling, we simply must talk about this manuscript.”
Gabriella bit her lip to stop the giggle rising in her throat as Maddy waved her imaginary cigarette in the air.
“The story, as always, is superb. But, darling, where is the passion? The spice? Our readers want to feel their blood boiling and their toes curling.”
Gabriella’s phone beeped another call coming in, and she turned her back to Maddy. If she kept watching her, she’d break down in fits of laughter that Celeste would never understand. “I have another call coming in, Celeste. Send it back and I'll work on it.”
“All right, darling, but don't forget we have a deadline. Your readers are waiting, and waiting readers are fickle. If you make them wait too long, they'll simply move on to someone else.”
“I’ll make it so hot the paper sizzles. Bye, Celeste.” Gabriella hit the end button and glared at the number ringing in. Robert knew she was hiking with Maddy this morning. And she really didn't want to deal with his weekly dinner reservation confirmation at the moment. Maddy leaned over her shoulder and said, “Let it go to voicemail.”
She let it go to voicemail and faced a grinning Maddy.
“Darn it, you didn’t give Celeste time to say, ‘Cheerio, darling.’”
Ignoring her, Gabriella dialed her voicemail and listened to Robert's droning voice. “Wanted to give you a heads up. We can't get reservations for Girando's until tomorrow night, so we'll cancel tonight, and I'll see you tomorrow at seven.”
She'd forgotten the phone was still on speaker until Maddy piped up, her voice filled with disgust. “You should play that for Celeste. Maybe then, she'd understand why there was no passion or spice in your writing. That guy would have a heart attack if you even mentioned blood boiling or toes curling.”
She shook her head, biting her lip again to stifle a giggle. She lost the battle as an image of Robert's prim and proper face popped through her mind, and she laughed aloud. He would have a heart attack if she mentioned wanting him to “curl her toes.”
“Stop it, Maddy. Robert's a good man, and I was lucky to find him. He'll make partner by next year.”
Maddy snorted again and took off walking. “You're selling yourself short.” She leveled a stern look at Gabriella. “Again.”
The trail grew steeper, and the two fell into a comfortable silence. Gabriella tried hard to concentrate on the haunting sounds of the songbirds in the trees and keep her breathing even, but Maddy's words continued to nag at her. Why am I with Robert? She was fond of him, and their relationship didn't take up a lot of her time. Dinner once a week, a movie on the weekend sometimes followed by a half hour of hand-holding and Robert telling her about his latest case. He'd explained his need to work almost every night and weekends. If he was going to be a Supreme Court justice within five years, there wasn’t time for anything else. Until now, that had been enough. Caring for her mother and writing had filled the lonely hours from dusk until dawn.
She hadn't realized how deep into her own thoughts she'd gone until she bumped into Maddy at the top of the trail. “Sorry.”
“There's something I need to tell you.” Maddy walked a few feet off the trail, putting space between them. “I'm leaving for England next week. I've been offered a partnership in a clinic there.”
Gabriella’s heart skipped a beat as a strange tightness seized her chest and loneliness settled over her. Maddy had been her best friend since first grade. She couldn't have survived without her to lean on the last two years. And she certainly would never have submitted her first manuscript to Capricious Books without constant prodding. She'd been more surprised than anyone had when Capricious not only bought the manuscript with a modest advance but also offered a contract to purchase her next four novels. The extra money had allowed her to hire help with her mother, and over the next twenty-four months, she'd managed to publish two more books.
Staring down at the canyon below, she concentrated on the lush green pasture before pasting a smile on her face and turning back to Maddy. “You’re going to be a great doctor and therapist, and this sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you.” Her smile faltered as she took in the stiff stance and set jaw.
“Cut the crap, Ree, and come with me. There’s nothing to keep you here now that your mother is gone. You can write anywhere. Remember all the nights we sat up talking about the great adventures we were going to have? The places we would see? After England, I'm going to Africa.” Her light blue eyes darkened. “It's not too late. We can still have those adventures. You should be living romances with exciting men, not writing about them. This isn't you. Robert isn't you.”
For a moment, the old feelings of excitement threatened to emerge, but two years of penny pinching to afford her mother's expensive pain medications after insurance denied her claims had created a sensibility she couldn't overcome. Even with the advances and sales of her books, she'd barely managed to keep them out of bankruptcy. “We'll see.”
The trip back down the trail was much more somber than their past trips, the parting in the parking lot quicker, as if both were anxious to put distance between them. “Call me, and we'll celebrate the night before you leave.”
Maddy waved at her as she pulled into traffic. “Next Wednesday, then.”
Gabriella watched the car until it was out of sight. They had planned the hike to ease her feelings of loss and hopefully jumpstart a new life and overcome her writer's block. Instead, she felt more miserable than before. She opened the car door then sighed and climbed behind the wheel. Maddy was sailing off into the spring of her life, leaving behind the cold, stark winter that had suddenly enveloped Gabriella.
CHAPTER TWO
Gabriella pulled into the driveway of the two-story ranch that had been home for as long as she could remember. Robert was pressing her to put it on the market, but she couldn't bring herself to part with it yet. Even if she was acting foolish and sentimental, that was home, and right now, she needed that comfort more than she needed a suave apartment in the city.
Exiting the car, she smiled at the elderly woman next door waving to her. “Hi, Mrs. Finley. How's George doing today?”
“Tolerable, missy, but the day is still young. Got something for you.” She held up a package and a long white envelope. “Mailman made me sign for both. Hope it ain't nothing bad.”
Gabriella walked the short distance between the houses and took the package and envelope. She recognized her mother's longtime friend, Suzanne Johnson's, return address on the package. “Well, this one is from a friend, so it shouldn't be anything bad.” She flipped the envelope on top of the package, read the law firm's address, and shook her head. “And this one is hopefully an inheritance from a long-lost relative I didn't know I had.”
Mrs. Finley guffawed. “If that's true, it's a shame they didn't die before, when poor Helena could have used the money.”
Gabriella smiled and waved her hand again. Mrs. Finley had been a godsend during her mother's final days. The only thing more prominent in her personality than kindness was nosiness. “I'll let you know later.”
She closed the door and placed the package and letter on the credenza. First things first. She poured a glass of wine and kicked off her walking shoes as she studied the two items. Package or letter? Her sense of curiosity won out, and she ripped the paper from the package.
Gabriella opened the box and lifted the tissue paper to find a folded sheet of her mother's stationery lying on top of a leather-bound book, with the words “Helena's Diary” burned into the cover. A cameo picture of her mother at an early age had been placed in the center. Fresh tears started as Gabriella rubbed her thumb back and forth over the picture. She swiped away a tear before unfolding the paper.
My sweet child, if you are reading this, then I have gone home. I asked Suzanne several years ago to send you my diary and a small package after my death. I hope my diary will bring you comfort and inspiration. Do not think too badly of me. I was in many ways like you—impulsive and just a tad on the wild side.
There is also a small package in the box. Inside, you'll find the key to the diary as well as a locket. Forgive me, Ree, for asking this, but the locket must be returned to its rightful owner. Once you've read the diary, you'll understand.
I had hoped we could do it together, for I did not mean to leave you alone so soon. Tell Armand I loved him.
Mom.
Gabriella rummaged through the remaining tissue until she found the jewelry box. She studied it for a moment before lifting the lid. “Oh, my God,” she whispered. The locket was the most beautiful piece of jewelry she’d ever seen. She lifted it carefully from the box and examined the intricate design. Two hearts surrounded by tiny jewels overlapped the word “forever.” If the jewels were real, the locket would be worth a fortune. Unable to contain her curiosity, she opened it, careful not to dislodge the two pictures. Her mother's picture could easily have been her own face looking back at her at age sixteen, but the other picture caused her breath to catch and her face to flush as dark and mysterious eyes smiled up at her from the most handsome face she'd ever seen. If this was Armand, no wonder her mother had loved him. She held it for a moment and closed her eyes. She could almost hear the whispered words of young lovers. The urge to write hit her. Inspiration in a flood of heat induced shivers. Celeste had wanted passion and spice. She'd found it. All she had to do was write it.
She took the small key from the box and placed it with the diary. She wrapped the locket in tissue paper before placing it back inside the jewelry box. Right now she wanted a hot bubble bath, a cool glass of wine, and her favorite, if only, pair of silk pajamas. She would read a portion of her mother's diary, and then she would start writing The Locket.
Two hours later, armed with a plate of cheese and crackers and a glass of tea, she curled up on the sofa and opened the diary. A note for her was on the first page.
My sweet Gabriella, please honor one more wish from your mother. Please do not read the last page until your wedding day.
“Oh, Mom, how could you?” She fought her instincts to turn immediately to the last page and smiled to herself as she nibbled on the cheese and studied the childish handwriting beneath the note.
May 1st, 1956
Her mother would have been twelve years old, which explained the cameo picture on the front.
Dear Diary,
We have new neighbors. Daddy called them fur-en-ers, and I asked Mom what that meant. She said not to pay Daddy no never mind, 'cause he was pred-just. I wanted to ask what pred-just meant, but she was busy so I climbed my favorite apple tree and watched them move in. They sure had a lot of boxes. And they must be awful rich. Momma called their car a limo or something. It was long and black. Almost fell out of the tree when I saw HIM.
The page ended there, and Gabriella wondered if the “him” was the good-looking boy in the locket. Excited, she turned the page.
Dear Diary,
Momma baked a cake, and we're gonna go meet the new neighbors. I didn't even complain when she made me wear my Sunday dress and shoes. And she brushed my hair until it was all shiny.
Thought Momma was gonna pass out when we stepped inside the big house. She grabbed me and whispered, “Don't you dare touch anything.” Mrs. Ruiz was nice and invited me and momma to have a cup of tea and a slice of Momma's cake. I sure wanted one, but then HE came in. His momma told him to show me the horses. He took my hand and led me to the barn. I can't remember what kind of horses they had. My hand was tingling, and my heart was beating so loud I couldn't hear him. I'm such an idiot. He probably thought I was deaf and dumb.
Gabriella felt the urge to laugh at and cry for the little girl with her first big crush. She continued to read, enthralled by her mother's short paragraphs detailing a budding friendship. Armand had been two years older than her mother but never treated her like a child. Instead, he had welcomed her questioning mind once she'd finally found her voice, encouraging her to learn Spanish and teaching her to ride horseback. A growing infatuation and adoration filled the next year.
Gabriella finally closed the book well past midnight. Yawning, she placed it on the coffee table just as her gaze fell on the still-unopened envelope. She'd actually forgotten about it. Now or morning? If it were good news, she would lie awake thinking about it, and if it were bad news, she'd lie awake thinking about it. She could almost hear Maddy's teasing voice. “Every great adventure in life starts with a sealed envelope.”
Reading her mother's diary had washed away the day's disappointments. She could use a little adventure. She crossed to the credenza, picked up the envelope, and opened it before she could change her mind. Gabriella pulled out the single sheet of letterhead, her eyes growing huge as she read. She was never going to sleep tonight.
Dear Ms. Carson,
My client, Armand Ruiz, has heard of your mother's recent passing. Pursuant to an agreement with your mother, he requests that you visit him in Madrid. He asked me to implore you to make the trip quickly, as his health is deteriorating and there are urgent matters for the two of you to discuss. If not for his health, he would have made the trip to America to see you and pay his final respects to your mother.
I have taken the liberty of purchasing airline fare, as well as tendering a sum of money to take care of any needs you may have prior to leaving America. Should the dates be impossible for you, please contact me immediately. Otherwise, we will expect you by the end of the month.
Sincerely,
J. Eduardo Martinez
She refolded the letter and slipped it back inside the envelope. Presumptuous of the lawyer to believe she would just drop everything and rush to Madrid at a moment's notice. Still, she couldn't stop the stirring of excitement. She'd always wanted to travel.
Madrid in springtime. She flushed as she remembered the handsome face and dark eyes. Maybe someone was out there who could make her blood boil and her toes curl.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Enter to Win a Kindle Paperwhite - 47+ Fabulous Blogs with Fantastic Prizes - 2014 Indie Writer's Unite Summer Splash Blog-Hop!
Welcome to the 2014 Indie Writers Unite Summer Splash Blog-Hop!
Ready for loads of fun and lots of prizes? Let's get started.
Once you've entered my contest, just click here, or the Summer Splash Blog Hop Main Page link at the end of my blog, and you'll be taken back to the home page to hop on over to 46 other fabulous blogs with fantastic prizes.
MY PRIZES
First Place
Love reading? Everyone I've talked to loves their Kindle Paperwhite. Value: $119.00 (winner may take their choice of the Paperwhite or cash, just in case they already have a Paperwhite).
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$25.00 Amazon Gift Card
THIRD PLACE
An Autographed Copy of Both Catherine Mans Psychic Suspense Novels
As with all contests, there are some rules. Please visit the main page by clicking on the Summer Splash Blog Hop photo above for the contest rules for extra prizes. Follow the rafflecopter directions below to enter my contest. You must be 18 or over to enter and a citizen of a country to which I can gift the Kindle paperwhite or cash prize. Prizes must be claimed within 48 hours after notification. Good Luck and please have fun!
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As an extra gift I've lowered the ebook price of the Catherine Mans Psychic Suspense Novels to $.99 for the duration of the contest. Love mysteries with a paranormal twist, and a little romance? You'll love these!
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Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Save $6.00 - Book 1 and 2, Catherine Mans Psychic Suspense Novels
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Do you suspect your child has a learning disability? Our experience with Learning RX
Two years ago, we took custody of our then four and a half year old grandson. We realized immediately that we had problems. He could barely talk and couldn't sit still for more than two or three minutes. Even with cartoons that he liked, it was impossible for him to sit through more than a few minutes of the show. We met with his kindergarten teacher as there were two weeks left of school in the year when we took custody. We were told that although no official diagnosis had been made because his guardians at the time wouldn't allow it, it was believed that he was slightly mentally retarded with ADHD. We enrolled him in a really good daycare with a preschool and kindergarten program. We found immediately that he knew almost nothing. He recognized only 3 letters out of the entire alphabet and no numbers. We went to work. Within three months we saw a difference, but not enough to start him in regular school so we waited. In six months we had him tested by the school system and he was allowed to start public school in the middle of the year. He struggled, but he was in many ways a little sponge. The problem was there were so many things he didn't know. Every parent has seen the little sheets sent home where you match the animal or the picture to the word. For most children this is relatively easy, but for our child it was hard because he didn't know what anything was. No one had ever shown him a giraffe, or an elephant or talked to him to know what a gate was, or a table.
One of the first things we noticed is that he had no concept of the meaning of words. He's trying to learn to read and spell, but he doesn't know what any of those words mean or how they're used. Within 8 months we noticed he could watch an entire movie. This started slow, but continued from 5 minutes to 10 minutes to 20 minutes to a full show. Amazing from the fact that before 2 or 3 minutes was tops. Still there were problems. Behavior problems started to develop. There had always been some, but they got worse. From working with him I realized that the majority of these problems initiated from his frustration of not being able to do all the things other kids were able to do--he thought easily. His mind didn't work the way everyone else's did. He didn't grasp directions, concepts and his cognitive thinking was low. Really, really low. He would watch you, judge your emotions and know whether to seek a hug or run away, but he couldn't grasp the concept of 4 plus 4 equals 8. And if he ran out of fingers to count on, we were in real trouble.
We had over the first year and a half had numerous medical tests run, including an MRI of the brain. There were no apparent physical reasons for his problems. Having worked with him night after night I realized that something was wrong. He wasn't mentally retarded and although he has some of the symptoms I don't believe he's ADHD. What I did believe was his mind just did not work right. What he saw and what his mind correlated were two different things. I started looking for therapies to help retrain his mind. We first tried visual therapy, but after several months realized we were getting nowhere. A little change, but not enough to really make a difference. He was failing first grade badly. His behavior as well as his academic progress was horrible. There were times I almost gave in and had him medicated. It would have been easier on us. It probably would have been easier on the school. He would have been calmer, more mellow and sit still--BUT--his brain would never have had the chance to correct whatever his issues were. So I beat my head against the wall many nights. I cried myself to sleep many nights. I prayed several times day that I wouldn't lose control with him, or just give up. His frustrations were also my frustrations, my anger, my depression. I almost lost the will to live. So, yes, medication would have been easier for me. But I wanted him to have a normal, healthy, happy life. I wanted him to grow up as a functioning member of society. I wanted him to think, to learn, and to enjoy that process. He couldn't do that if drugs were controlling his brain. He had to learn to control his brain himself. He had to learn coping skills. His mother was a severe drug addict. I'm sure she used drugs during her pregnancy. One of the things she always told me was she had no coping skills. She used drugs when she was happy because they enhanced that feeling. She used drugs when she was sad, to get rid of that emotion. She used drugs when she was angry. Excuses? Yes, but it all boiled to the fact that she had no coping skills for her emotions or situations happening around her. With the background history of where our grandson had been, the things that had been done to him and the things that still trigger moments of total melt down, I couldn't afford to let him fall into that category. If he's going to have any chance at all for a normal life he has to learn self-control and coping skills. He can't do that on drugs that control for him.
Late last year, or early this year I came across an article for the Learning RX which talked about their programs for autistic and children with ADHD. I read the good, the bad and the ugly about this program. One of the things that influenced me the most was comments by Special Ed teachers who had trained in the program to use with their children at school. Some of these children made amazing progress. Children with severe learning programs still made some progress.
We scheduled a meeting with the center, had our grandson tested and talked at length with administrator about his issues, fears and the problems we were having. His scores on the test were something the center had never seen before. He scored a straight 20 across the board in all cognitive and other areas. No fluctuation up or down, just a straight 20. We were told up front they weren't sure how he would respond as they'd never seen this before. And the program is expensive. There are several options where they do all the training or it's done some at home and some at the center. Having gone through months of beating my head against the wall and it taking up to two hours to do one page of simple homework, I opted for them to do all the training. It's a 12 week program, four nights a week for an hour and fifteen minutes. We knew it could be a waste of money. We knew he could balk and not want to go. We went into it with our eyes wide open. This was our last hope in many ways to keep him off of medication and find a way to help him. He couldn't read, he couldn't spell and he couldn't do simple math.
We started the program in late February. Within two weeks we were getting reports from his teachers about how well he was doing. Not just academically, but also his behavior had improved greatly. His IEP reading teacher met with me to tell me that he was reading, and reading with confidence and self-esteem. Homework that took over two hours was suddenly being done in less than 10 to fifteen minutes and he was doing most of it by himself with just a little instruction from us. He grasped the concepts of addition and subtraction. He grasped the concepts of vowels and consonants and how blending them made sounds and words. He developed some reasoning skills. In other words, he excelled across the board.
This program has been a life saver for us. He has a long way to go, but now that his brain is learning to function the way it should and his eyes and brain are working together, the rest won't be nearly as hard. We went from not being able to add 2 plus 3 to being able to add 146 plus 23. We went from missing every word, except maybe one on a spelling test to getting them all right, or only missing one and sometimes 2 when the words were really hard. We went from sounding out EVERY letter in a word (which trust me was frustrating and sounded horrible) to being able to sight read many, many words or grasp the word with just a little bit of sounding out. He now reads books. He now thinks about choices and what happens when he makes a choice. He now understands when he's angry he needs to sit down and chill out for a minute--not put his foot through the wall. He went from screaming for 2 hours at a time to an occasional less than a minute feel sorry for himself cry when he doesn't get his way. We went from constant episodes of open defiance to small issues of "that's back talk"--"oh, I'm sorry, granny". We went from having to send him to his room to his going to his room because he knows he needs to chill out. He can sit through an entire movie at the theater.
Our experience with the Learning RX has been amazing and wonderful. Was it easy? NO! After 7 plus hours at school he had to go for an hour and fifteen minutes of very high powered tutoring four nights a week. Then come home for homework. The program is 12 weeks long. He's six years old. He never fought us about going, but there were times I praised his instructor as having the patience of Job. There were times I had to go into the room and remind him of proper behavior to show respect. There were times when we all looked at each other and shook our heads because he was driving us crazy. Why? Because he was tired. He'd been in school all day. All the other kids were outside playing and he wouldn't be finished with everything until it was dark or almost dark. It was at times very difficult, but the progress we were seeing encouraged all of us to keep going. This is his last week. Then he'll be tested and then he'll graduate from the program. The program for his age is called Lift-Off. And that's exactly what it's done. It's lifted him up so that he could catch up with those around him. Now we have a baseline for continuing and keeping him caught up so that his future academic progress won't be so hard for him or us.
Although I highly recommend the Learning RX program, I'll be the first to say that every child is different. Our grandson's progress here was probably top of the line. They had what he needed. This may not work for every child. Some may do better, some will seemingly get no benefit at all. It's an individual thing. And as I said it's very expensive. As long as you see it that way and go into it with your eyes wide open, you're willing to drive every night, sit and wait for an hour and fifteen minutes, then drive home, get dinner, homework, baths, etcetera, then I'd say give it a try. It's not easy on the children or the parents. It's the hardest 12 weeks we've had in a long time because not only was his nights taken up, so were ours. Was it worth it? Yes. Every minute and every dollar.
We've giving him the summer off, and then there's a second program based just on reading and math that we may look at if he's still having trouble when he enters 2nd grade. He'll be tested next week and I can't wait to see his scores. If he has a good day and good night and puts his true effort into that testing it should be an awesome score for this program.
Some reading this may believe I'm anti-medication. To an extent I am. I need to see some physical or emotional need for that medication. In our case simply allowing medication to control what he needed to learn to control himself would have been the wrong option. There are children who probably need medication so therefore I would not be anti-medication in those cases. The question I had to keep asking myself was--"Are you medicating him for his benefit or because you're tired of dealing with him?" The answer was always "I'm tired of dealing with him." Until I can answer that question that it's for his benefit, I'll always look for an alternative. If one can be found I'll grab it first.
If you're interested in learning more about Learning RX, check out the link below. Make sure you read all the reviews, good and bad. Make a list of issues for your child, and ask specific questions of what you can expect over the course. Get involved in what's being done and watch your child's progress or lack thereof and discuss this with both the teacher and the administrator. I've found them to be very open to both questions and issues. And if you have a child with a learning disability, don't ever give up on that child. Seek therapy for yourself if you reach the point I have reached many times. I did, and it helped to have someone to sound things off of. Someone to understand what I was going through. Someone to encourage and help me through the rough spots.
Will all of this continue? Only time will tell. He could revert and stop learning again. He could revolt and refuse to spend the time necessary to help him continue his learning process. He could eventually need medication. Only time will answer those questions. I have my fingers crossed.
http://www.learningrx.com/
One of the first things we noticed is that he had no concept of the meaning of words. He's trying to learn to read and spell, but he doesn't know what any of those words mean or how they're used. Within 8 months we noticed he could watch an entire movie. This started slow, but continued from 5 minutes to 10 minutes to 20 minutes to a full show. Amazing from the fact that before 2 or 3 minutes was tops. Still there were problems. Behavior problems started to develop. There had always been some, but they got worse. From working with him I realized that the majority of these problems initiated from his frustration of not being able to do all the things other kids were able to do--he thought easily. His mind didn't work the way everyone else's did. He didn't grasp directions, concepts and his cognitive thinking was low. Really, really low. He would watch you, judge your emotions and know whether to seek a hug or run away, but he couldn't grasp the concept of 4 plus 4 equals 8. And if he ran out of fingers to count on, we were in real trouble.
We had over the first year and a half had numerous medical tests run, including an MRI of the brain. There were no apparent physical reasons for his problems. Having worked with him night after night I realized that something was wrong. He wasn't mentally retarded and although he has some of the symptoms I don't believe he's ADHD. What I did believe was his mind just did not work right. What he saw and what his mind correlated were two different things. I started looking for therapies to help retrain his mind. We first tried visual therapy, but after several months realized we were getting nowhere. A little change, but not enough to really make a difference. He was failing first grade badly. His behavior as well as his academic progress was horrible. There were times I almost gave in and had him medicated. It would have been easier on us. It probably would have been easier on the school. He would have been calmer, more mellow and sit still--BUT--his brain would never have had the chance to correct whatever his issues were. So I beat my head against the wall many nights. I cried myself to sleep many nights. I prayed several times day that I wouldn't lose control with him, or just give up. His frustrations were also my frustrations, my anger, my depression. I almost lost the will to live. So, yes, medication would have been easier for me. But I wanted him to have a normal, healthy, happy life. I wanted him to grow up as a functioning member of society. I wanted him to think, to learn, and to enjoy that process. He couldn't do that if drugs were controlling his brain. He had to learn to control his brain himself. He had to learn coping skills. His mother was a severe drug addict. I'm sure she used drugs during her pregnancy. One of the things she always told me was she had no coping skills. She used drugs when she was happy because they enhanced that feeling. She used drugs when she was sad, to get rid of that emotion. She used drugs when she was angry. Excuses? Yes, but it all boiled to the fact that she had no coping skills for her emotions or situations happening around her. With the background history of where our grandson had been, the things that had been done to him and the things that still trigger moments of total melt down, I couldn't afford to let him fall into that category. If he's going to have any chance at all for a normal life he has to learn self-control and coping skills. He can't do that on drugs that control for him.
Late last year, or early this year I came across an article for the Learning RX which talked about their programs for autistic and children with ADHD. I read the good, the bad and the ugly about this program. One of the things that influenced me the most was comments by Special Ed teachers who had trained in the program to use with their children at school. Some of these children made amazing progress. Children with severe learning programs still made some progress.
We scheduled a meeting with the center, had our grandson tested and talked at length with administrator about his issues, fears and the problems we were having. His scores on the test were something the center had never seen before. He scored a straight 20 across the board in all cognitive and other areas. No fluctuation up or down, just a straight 20. We were told up front they weren't sure how he would respond as they'd never seen this before. And the program is expensive. There are several options where they do all the training or it's done some at home and some at the center. Having gone through months of beating my head against the wall and it taking up to two hours to do one page of simple homework, I opted for them to do all the training. It's a 12 week program, four nights a week for an hour and fifteen minutes. We knew it could be a waste of money. We knew he could balk and not want to go. We went into it with our eyes wide open. This was our last hope in many ways to keep him off of medication and find a way to help him. He couldn't read, he couldn't spell and he couldn't do simple math.
We started the program in late February. Within two weeks we were getting reports from his teachers about how well he was doing. Not just academically, but also his behavior had improved greatly. His IEP reading teacher met with me to tell me that he was reading, and reading with confidence and self-esteem. Homework that took over two hours was suddenly being done in less than 10 to fifteen minutes and he was doing most of it by himself with just a little instruction from us. He grasped the concepts of addition and subtraction. He grasped the concepts of vowels and consonants and how blending them made sounds and words. He developed some reasoning skills. In other words, he excelled across the board.
This program has been a life saver for us. He has a long way to go, but now that his brain is learning to function the way it should and his eyes and brain are working together, the rest won't be nearly as hard. We went from not being able to add 2 plus 3 to being able to add 146 plus 23. We went from missing every word, except maybe one on a spelling test to getting them all right, or only missing one and sometimes 2 when the words were really hard. We went from sounding out EVERY letter in a word (which trust me was frustrating and sounded horrible) to being able to sight read many, many words or grasp the word with just a little bit of sounding out. He now reads books. He now thinks about choices and what happens when he makes a choice. He now understands when he's angry he needs to sit down and chill out for a minute--not put his foot through the wall. He went from screaming for 2 hours at a time to an occasional less than a minute feel sorry for himself cry when he doesn't get his way. We went from constant episodes of open defiance to small issues of "that's back talk"--"oh, I'm sorry, granny". We went from having to send him to his room to his going to his room because he knows he needs to chill out. He can sit through an entire movie at the theater.
Our experience with the Learning RX has been amazing and wonderful. Was it easy? NO! After 7 plus hours at school he had to go for an hour and fifteen minutes of very high powered tutoring four nights a week. Then come home for homework. The program is 12 weeks long. He's six years old. He never fought us about going, but there were times I praised his instructor as having the patience of Job. There were times I had to go into the room and remind him of proper behavior to show respect. There were times when we all looked at each other and shook our heads because he was driving us crazy. Why? Because he was tired. He'd been in school all day. All the other kids were outside playing and he wouldn't be finished with everything until it was dark or almost dark. It was at times very difficult, but the progress we were seeing encouraged all of us to keep going. This is his last week. Then he'll be tested and then he'll graduate from the program. The program for his age is called Lift-Off. And that's exactly what it's done. It's lifted him up so that he could catch up with those around him. Now we have a baseline for continuing and keeping him caught up so that his future academic progress won't be so hard for him or us.
Although I highly recommend the Learning RX program, I'll be the first to say that every child is different. Our grandson's progress here was probably top of the line. They had what he needed. This may not work for every child. Some may do better, some will seemingly get no benefit at all. It's an individual thing. And as I said it's very expensive. As long as you see it that way and go into it with your eyes wide open, you're willing to drive every night, sit and wait for an hour and fifteen minutes, then drive home, get dinner, homework, baths, etcetera, then I'd say give it a try. It's not easy on the children or the parents. It's the hardest 12 weeks we've had in a long time because not only was his nights taken up, so were ours. Was it worth it? Yes. Every minute and every dollar.
We've giving him the summer off, and then there's a second program based just on reading and math that we may look at if he's still having trouble when he enters 2nd grade. He'll be tested next week and I can't wait to see his scores. If he has a good day and good night and puts his true effort into that testing it should be an awesome score for this program.
Some reading this may believe I'm anti-medication. To an extent I am. I need to see some physical or emotional need for that medication. In our case simply allowing medication to control what he needed to learn to control himself would have been the wrong option. There are children who probably need medication so therefore I would not be anti-medication in those cases. The question I had to keep asking myself was--"Are you medicating him for his benefit or because you're tired of dealing with him?" The answer was always "I'm tired of dealing with him." Until I can answer that question that it's for his benefit, I'll always look for an alternative. If one can be found I'll grab it first.
If you're interested in learning more about Learning RX, check out the link below. Make sure you read all the reviews, good and bad. Make a list of issues for your child, and ask specific questions of what you can expect over the course. Get involved in what's being done and watch your child's progress or lack thereof and discuss this with both the teacher and the administrator. I've found them to be very open to both questions and issues. And if you have a child with a learning disability, don't ever give up on that child. Seek therapy for yourself if you reach the point I have reached many times. I did, and it helped to have someone to sound things off of. Someone to understand what I was going through. Someone to encourage and help me through the rough spots.
Will all of this continue? Only time will tell. He could revert and stop learning again. He could revolt and refuse to spend the time necessary to help him continue his learning process. He could eventually need medication. Only time will answer those questions. I have my fingers crossed.
http://www.learningrx.com/
Friday, April 4, 2014
Mystery, Fun and Books
Thank you for signing up for my newsletter. You'll only hear from me when I have a new release, I'm doing a giveaway or contest and have something exciting to say to you. Authors love connecting with their fans, and we love giving away special prizes including swag and autographed books. Enjoy never seen before short stories. I love writing an occasional short story or fan fiction. Submit your name and become a short story star. Newsletters should be fun, not just for the author, but for the fans.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Could a FaceBook post or an innocent Twitter comment come back to haunt you?
Unfortunately, if you find yourself involved in the legal system the answer to that question is YES.
I joined the justice system as a court reporter many, many years ago. When I became a court reporter the courts were keepers of the record, and in most instances those records were protected. Times have changed. In 1999 many insurance companies joined with nationwide court reporting services to provide court reporting services for defense and in some instances plaintiff depositions. Up until this time it was mandatory that court reporters be totally neutral. We could NOT share what we heard in a deposition with anyone outside the room. We could NOT share the deposition transcript with anyone other than the attorneys and the courts. We could NOT have any relationship with anyone involved in the deposition that gave the appearance of impropriety. Kentucky court reporters fought long and hard to make contracting illegal in Kentucky. It is, but unfortunately the law is not followed by everyone, nor is it enforced in a way that would stop it.
Over the years we jumped from just court reporting services to legal consulting services and trial preparation services and national data banks were set up to store the depositions taken, including medical records of the deponents.
Something sent to me today, both frustrates and terrifies me, as the corporations are once again moving in a direction that clearly will harm citizens. They are now getting access to your personal data which includes according to claimscout.com the following information and statement:
"Using proprietary methodology...which means, A methodology that a trader keeps to himself because (1) he doesn’t want to share its secrets or (2) he doesn’t want to answer questions about what he does.
Claimscout monitors: Facebook, Myspace and other social networks. Blogs and journals, online communities, twitter, message boards, Reddit, Digg and social sites. Personal websites and much more.
They state they can: Scout out whether a person's claim is in fact valid.
Imagine this: You're talking to your mother online or facebook and you say something like, I fell this morning and my back is hurting. You're injured in a car wreck and it hurts your back. They're going to bring up your comment to your mother stating--your back was already hurt.
Or you tweet, "On vacation, having a great time." Humm....doesn't sound like you're too injured if you're on vacation and having a great time. You don't say in your tweet that you're having a great time watching the kids because your leg is broke and you can't get involved with them. But no one is going to care about that.
We're often warned to watch what we say because it's out there forever. You may think you're never going to be involved in an accident or that your comments are too innocent to hurt you. No comment now is too innocent to hurt you. Someone who has no right to those comments is monitoring you.
I joined the justice system as a court reporter many, many years ago. When I became a court reporter the courts were keepers of the record, and in most instances those records were protected. Times have changed. In 1999 many insurance companies joined with nationwide court reporting services to provide court reporting services for defense and in some instances plaintiff depositions. Up until this time it was mandatory that court reporters be totally neutral. We could NOT share what we heard in a deposition with anyone outside the room. We could NOT share the deposition transcript with anyone other than the attorneys and the courts. We could NOT have any relationship with anyone involved in the deposition that gave the appearance of impropriety. Kentucky court reporters fought long and hard to make contracting illegal in Kentucky. It is, but unfortunately the law is not followed by everyone, nor is it enforced in a way that would stop it.
Over the years we jumped from just court reporting services to legal consulting services and trial preparation services and national data banks were set up to store the depositions taken, including medical records of the deponents.
Something sent to me today, both frustrates and terrifies me, as the corporations are once again moving in a direction that clearly will harm citizens. They are now getting access to your personal data which includes according to claimscout.com the following information and statement:
"Using proprietary methodology...which means, A methodology that a trader keeps to himself because (1) he doesn’t want to share its secrets or (2) he doesn’t want to answer questions about what he does.
Claimscout monitors: Facebook, Myspace and other social networks. Blogs and journals, online communities, twitter, message boards, Reddit, Digg and social sites. Personal websites and much more.
They state they can: Scout out whether a person's claim is in fact valid.
Imagine this: You're talking to your mother online or facebook and you say something like, I fell this morning and my back is hurting. You're injured in a car wreck and it hurts your back. They're going to bring up your comment to your mother stating--your back was already hurt.
Or you tweet, "On vacation, having a great time." Humm....doesn't sound like you're too injured if you're on vacation and having a great time. You don't say in your tweet that you're having a great time watching the kids because your leg is broke and you can't get involved with them. But no one is going to care about that.
We're often warned to watch what we say because it's out there forever. You may think you're never going to be involved in an accident or that your comments are too innocent to hurt you. No comment now is too innocent to hurt you. Someone who has no right to those comments is monitoring you.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Harsh winter, but puppy love!
Those who know my family know that myself and my sons have always been dog lovers. We love them from the puppy stage to old age. Some were surprised when Coby and I got together because he wasn't a dog lover. In fact, he made it very plain to me that there would be no dogs in our house. Because I loved him, I agreed for a long time. Actually about fifteen years.
Two years ago our grandson came to live with us. He was 4 1/2. Of course he wanted what? A dog. About six months in to our residence Coby took us to see a litter of Shih Tzu's. There were seven of the cutest little puppies you could ever want to see. We told Chaz he could pick the one he wanted. He was in puppy heaven. He sat down on the floor and while six of them bounced around him one crawled into his lap and looked up at him with those big puppy eyes. That's the one we took home and Chaz named him Popcorn. Long story there, but he really wanted a pet named Popcorn.
Two years ago our grandson came to live with us. He was 4 1/2. Of course he wanted what? A dog. About six months in to our residence Coby took us to see a litter of Shih Tzu's. There were seven of the cutest little puppies you could ever want to see. We told Chaz he could pick the one he wanted. He was in puppy heaven. He sat down on the floor and while six of them bounced around him one crawled into his lap and looked up at him with those big puppy eyes. That's the one we took home and Chaz named him Popcorn. Long story there, but he really wanted a pet named Popcorn.
It was really quite funny to watch Coby slowly change from a non-dog owner to totally captivated by this little ball of fur, who has grown a lot since we first got him. We take turns walking him, and last week on one really cold, snow covered day Coby left with Popcorn for his nightly around the block walk. I happened to look out the door as they were coming back and Popcorn was nowhere in sight--until I saw this little head sticking out of Coby's jacket. When he finally got home I asked what happened and he said "his little feet were cold so I just picked him up and carried him." Oh, does that puppy have him wrapped around his paws, because he loves it outside and he doesn't care how cold or snowy it is. The more snow the better he likes it. Truth be told--Coby thought he was cold and wanted to keep him safe and warm. How sweet!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Can a mystery writer write a romance?
I've recently found myself indulging in romantic fantasy. Well, truth be told, my characters are indulging in romantic fantasy. So I asked myself that question: Could a mystery writer write a romance novel? Not romantic suspense, which in truth could be classified in many cases as a mystery, but a true romance novel. I wasn't sure, but the characters refused to be silenced so I put them on paper. In days I found myself amazed at my progress and a little disappointed that I couldn't quite keep out a mysterious passage and dark character. I could take it out, but it seems to fit. Should I or shouldn't I?
A short synopsis:
Six months after her mother's death, Gabriella Carson receives a package from her mother's best friend and a letter from a law firm in Madrid requesting she immediately come to Madrid to settle a business arrangement between Armand Ruiz and her mother. The package contains a letter from her mother, her mother's diary and an antique locket she requests Gabriella return it to its rightful owner, Armand Ruiz. After a fight with her boyfriend Gabriella decides to go to Madrid and return the locket. Upon arrival she learns the locket was not the unfinished business between her mother and the Ruiz family. Her mother had arranged her marriage to the debonair, handsome Ruiz heir, Antonio.
Chapter One:
A short synopsis:
Six months after her mother's death, Gabriella Carson receives a package from her mother's best friend and a letter from a law firm in Madrid requesting she immediately come to Madrid to settle a business arrangement between Armand Ruiz and her mother. The package contains a letter from her mother, her mother's diary and an antique locket she requests Gabriella return it to its rightful owner, Armand Ruiz. After a fight with her boyfriend Gabriella decides to go to Madrid and return the locket. Upon arrival she learns the locket was not the unfinished business between her mother and the Ruiz family. Her mother had arranged her marriage to the debonair, handsome Ruiz heir, Antonio.
Chapter One:
CHAPTER ONE
Gabriella
Carson stretched as she enjoyed the view of Saguria Canyon
The
blare of a horn broke her reverie and she turned to wave at Maddy. The
heaviness lifted for a moment. Being down in the dumps when Madeleine
"Maddy" Jones was around simply wasn't allowed. She couldn't help the
grin that spread across her face as Maddy extricated herself from the fire-red
jaguar. Even dressed in over-sized sweats without a touch of makeup, Maddy
looked like a movie star, or super model. Her long blonde hair had been tied
back carelessly in a pony tail and the baggy sweats did little to disguise what
everyone called a "curvacious" figure.
"Ready?"
Maddy asked before swinging into a set of stretching exercises that would have
left Gabriella gasping for breath. "A good four mile hike will get your
blood pumping and your artistic juices flowing. Spring has sprung and love is
in the air."
Gabriella
tried to smile, not quite pulling it off. "Life is all around me and yet I
still feel dead inside."
Maddy
wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "It's only been six months, Ree, and
most of that you've spent finalizing your mother's estate. Another month and
you'll be back to writing sizzling romance novels for all your fans."
"I
hope so. I finally finished Cold Heart and sent it off to Marjorie last
week."
Maddy
pulled her toward the hiking trail. "Good. Let's go find some inspiration
for the next one."
Gabriella
followed, thankful the friendship between the two didn't require a lot of small
talk. She'd woke up frustrated and angry without an outlet for either. The four
mile trek up the trail might help with the frustration, but the anger was
something totally unfamiliar. New territory she didn't know how to navigate
through. And she definitely didn't want to dwell on the reasons behind it.
She'd almost called off the hike, but she didn't want to disappoint Maddy.
"Have
you thought about going back to school?" Maddy stopped on a small
outcropping of rock, bending to examine a small stonecrop flower growing beside
the boulder. "Beautiful isn't it?"
Gabriella
studied the small flower clinging to the side of the boulder. It look lonely
and vulnerable. Just like she felt. She wanted to hide it, protect it from the
hikers that like them, would stop on the boulder to enjoy the view. "And
like most beautiful things, endangered because people want to possess them. I
wish there was some way to hide it."
Maddy
sat on the boulder and patted the spot beside her. "I wondered when that
was going to happen."
"What?"
Gabriella sat next to her but moved as far from the edge as possible.
"The
anger and resentment." Maddy shot her a sympathetic smile. "It's
perfectly normal. You gave up two years of your life to nurse your mother. Now
that the grief is subsiding other emotions are fighting for control."
"That's
not...." Gabriella stopped to examine her feelings. Did she resent the
time she'd spent taking care of her mother? Was that why she was so angry all
the time. "I loved my mother."
"Of
course you did. But you were jerked from a life of fun, parties and friends to
a life of seclusion, sickness and pain. No matter how much we love someone
there's a part of us that's just a little selfish."
"You're
going to make a great doctor, and therapist." Gabriella stated. "It
wasn't all bad though. I became a bestselling romance author and I met
Robert."
Maddy
stood up and dusted off her sweats. "The writing I totally get, but Robert
is something you're going to have to explain to me. He's the most unromantic,
emotionally unresponsive man I've ever met. He's not right for you, Ree, and I
wish you could see that before it's too late."
Gabriella
searched for words to defend Robert, but came up with nothing. Fortunately her
cell phone interrupted the conversation. "It's Marjorie. Should I take it?"
Maddy
laughed. "Definitely and put it on speaker. I love her accent. She sounds
like one of those old movie drama queens. I can just see her with her long
cigarette holder waving it around as she exclaims "But darling...."
Gabriella
placed her fingers across her lips, mumbled "shh" and pressed the
speaker button. "Hi, Marjorie."
"Helena
Gabriella
bit her lip to stop the giggle rising in her throat as Maddy waved her
imaginary cigarette in the air.
"The
story, as always, is superb. But, darling, where is the passion? The spice? Our
readers want to feel their blood boiling and their toes curling."
She
turned her back to Maddy but couldn't quite keep the laughter out of her voice.
"I have another call coming in, Majorie. Send it back and I'll work on
it."
"All
right, darling, but don't forget we have a deadline. Your readers are waiting,
and waiting readers are fickle. If you make them wait too long they'll simply
move on to someone else."
"Bye
Marjorie." Gabriella hit the end button and glared at the number ringing
in. Robert knew she was hiking with Maddy this morning. And she really didn't
want to deal with his reservation confirmations at the moment. Maddy leaned
over her shoulder. "Let it go to voicemail."
She
let it go to voicemail and stood, turning to face a grinning Maddy.
"I
was waiting for the cheerio,
darling."
Ignoring
her, Gabriella dialed her voice mail and listened to Robert's droning voice. "Wanted to give you a heads up. We
can't get reservations for Girando's until tomorrow night so we'll cancel
tonight and I'll see you tomorrow at seven."
She'd
forgotten the phone was still on speaker until Maddy piped up, her voice filled
with disgust. "You should play that for Marjorie. Maybe then she'd
understand why there was no passion or spice in your writing. That guy would
have a heart attack if you even mentioned blood boiling or toes curling."
She
shook her head, biting her lip again to stifle a giggle. She lost the battle as
an image of Robert's prim and proper face popped through her mind and she
laughed out loud. He probably would have a heart attack if she mentioned
wanting him to "curl her toes". "Stop it Maddy. Robert's a good
man and I was lucky to find him. He'll make partner by next year."
Maddy
snorted again and took off walking. "You're selling yourself short,"
she paused for emphasis, "again."
The
trail grew steeper and the two fell into a comfortable silence. Gabriella tried
hard to concentrate on the sounds of nature around her, keep her breathing
even, but Maddy's words kept coming back to haunt her. She was fond of Robert,
and their relationship didn't take up a lot of her time. Dinner once a week, a
movie on the weekend sometimes followed by a half hour of hand holding and
Robert telling her about his latest case. He'd explained his need to work
almost every night and weekends. If he was going to be a Supreme Court justice
he had little time for anything else. Until now that had been enough. Caring
for her mother and writing had filled the lonely hours from dusk until dawn.
She
hadn't realized how deep into her own thoughts she'd been until she bumped into
Maddy at the top of the trail. "Sorry."
"There's
something I need to tell you." Maddy walked a few feet off the trail,
putting space between them. "I'm leaving for England
Gabriella
felt her heart skip a beat, a feeling of loneliness settling over her. She
wouldn't have survived without Maddy to lean on the last two years. And she
certainly would never have submitted her first manuscript to Harcourt without
constant prodding. She'd been more surprised than anyone when Harcourt not only
bought the manuscript with a hefty advance, but offered a contract to purchase
her next four novels. The extra money had allowed her to hire help with her
mother, and over the next twenty four months she'd managed to publish six more
books.
Staring
down at the canyon below she concentrated on the vast golden fields before
pasting a smile on her face and turning back to Maddy. "Sounds like a
great opportunity. You'll do wonderful there."
The
smile faltered as she took in the stiff stance, set jaw of her best friend.
"Go with me, Ree. Remember the nights we sat up talking about the great
adventures we were going to have. The places we would see? After England I'm going to Africa ."
Her light blue eyes darkened. "It's not too late. We can still have those
adventures. You should be living romances not writing about them. This isn't
you. Robert isn't you."
For
a moment the old feelings of excitement threatened to emerge, but two years of
penny pinching to afford her mother's expensive pain medications after the
insurance had denied her claims had created a sensibility she couldn't quite
overcome. Even with the advances and sales of her books she'd barely managed to
keep them out of bankruptcy. "We'll see."
The
trip back down the trail was much more somber than their past trips, the
parting in the parking lot quicker as if both were anxious to put distance
between them. "Call me and we'll celebrate the night before you
leave."
Maddy
waved at her as she pulled into traffic. "Next Wednesday then."
Gabriella
stood watching the car until it was out of sight. The hike had been planned to
ease her feelings of loss. To jumpstart a new life and overcome her writer's
block. Opening the car door she climbed behind the wheel. Maddy was sailing off
into the spring of her life, leaving behind the cold, stark winter that had
suddenly enveloped Gabriella.
Dark scene after breakup with boyfriend: This scene sort of snuck up on me in the writing. Do I keep it? Do I toss it and forget Robert Gray? What do you think?
Robert
Gray drove slowly past the house, his hands tightening on the wheel as he noted
the red jaguar in the drive. It was all that bitch, Madeleine's fault.
Gabriella had been perfectly malleable before she came back on the scene. He
cursed silently as he headed back into town. He'd wasted six months on this
deal. Six months of chaste hand-holding and kisses when what he'd really wanted
to do was push her down, rip off her clothes and watch her eyes widen as he
took her, hands wrapped around her throat. Hear her hoarse voice as she begged
him to stop. But he couldn't do that. Not yet. His client wanted that property,
and he wanted to please that client. This was his future and no blonde bimbo
was going to ruin it for him.
The
thoughts of what he would do to Gabriella once she was really his excited his
desire and he turned down a well-known street and headed for the last house on
the right. He'd have to be careful this time. The last time he'd almost gone too
far and killed the girl.
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