{"id":4083,"date":"2022-02-10T14:45:46","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T19:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/?p=4083"},"modified":"2022-02-10T14:45:49","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T19:45:49","slug":"rocky-road-dreams-chapters-1-3-podcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/rocky-road-dreams-chapters-1-3-podcast\/","title":{"rendered":"Rocky Road Dreams – Chapters 1 – 3 Podcast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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ROCKY ROAD DREAMS CHAPTER 1<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
ROCKY ROAD DREAMS CHAPTER 2<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
ROCKY ROAD DREAMS CHAPTER 3<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This blog post is being sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. I hope you will enjoy listening, and reading, the first few chapters of Rocky Road Dreams<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rocky Road Dreams<\/a> has received 5-star reviews from Amazon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rocky Road Dreams is an inspiring romance. This avid reader, mom and grandma related with Kyle and Melanie’s dilemmas – weight struggle, alcoholism, an overbearing Uncle Larry, and verbal abusive. Rocky Road Dreams is a page turner with some mystery, family conflicts, a winter Midwest blizzard, a believable resolution, mouth watering chocolate and can be read as a standalone.<\/em> – Amazon Reviewer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love all of Cecelia’s novels. It was wonderful to have the main character be a male. The author did a great job describing his character, including his faults and weaknesses, to make him humble and interesting. I was in his corner and wanted to see him succeed. Great job Cecelia! I look forward to your next novel.<\/em> – Amazon Reviewer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rocky Road Dreams
The Candy Beach Series
Book 5 (FIRST 3 CHAPTERS)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By
Cecelia Dowdy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Copyright \u00a9 2022 by Cecelia Dowdy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Man, this was hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle Baxter paced on Melanie Richard\u2019s front porch, clutching the store-bought cheesecake he\u2019d purchased for Thanksgiving dessert. He stopped pacing and gulped, set the cheesecake on the ledge, and wiped his damp palms on his pants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ridiculous. He\u2019d known Melanie for most of his life, so, why should he feel so nervous about seeing her today? Lord, give me the courage to talk to Melanie. I want her to see me as a new man.<\/em> Might as well get this over with. He grabbed the cheesecake just as the first notes of Nat King Cole\u2019s A Christmas Song<\/em> crooned through the closed door. A memory, fresh and vivid as newly fallen snow, wrapped through his mind. He recalled his dad telling him once that this was his mom\u2019s favorite song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pushing the memory away, he knocked on the door, silently singing along with the song. Hopefully the music would help to calm his frazzled nerves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cComing.\u201d Oh, how he loved the sound of Melanie\u2019s voice. She opened the door. Whoa. Speechless. She was prettier than the last time he\u2019d seen her \u2013 which, he reckoned was about five years ago when he\u2019d been pumped up on alcohol every night. Her nut-brown skin glowed in the early afternoon sunlight. She grinned, showing off her perfect white teeth. He remembered her when she\u2019d been an overweight kid, sporting braces, stating that she wished she looked like the models she\u2019d seen in magazines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, in his opinion, her wish had come true. \u201cKyle, it\u2019s so good to see you.\u201d Well good thing she wasn\u2019t annoyed that he was over an hour early. Before he could say anything, she hugged him. He gave her a hard, one-armed hug since he was still holding the cheesecake in one hand. She smelled delicious. Like flowers and lemon. Liquid warmth filled him. The urge to kiss her slammed through him like a freight train. Startled, he pulled away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He swallowed, still clutching the Saran-wrapped cheesecake. He managed to smile. \u201cHey, Melanie. I finally made it into town for my vacation this afternoon.\u201d Vacation was an understatement. He supposed he could call his break from work a vacation. Sort of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She glanced at her watch. \u201cYou\u2019re early.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shrugged. \u201cSorry.\u201d His heart continued to pound wildly. Hopefully he\u2019d calm down soon. He presented her with his after-dinner gift. \u201cI thought we could eat this after supper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She glanced down at the cheesecake, and her smile faltered. She groaned. \u201cOh, I love cheesecake.\u201d She shook her head and beckoned him inside. \u201cBut I don\u2019t know if I can indulge.\u201d She patted her flat stomach. \u201cI\u2019m trying to keep trim and cheesecake is not on my list of foods.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before he could comment she touched his arm. As Nat King Cole continued singing in the background, she leaned toward him. \u201cIt\u2019s great to see you again, Kyle. It\u2019s been too long.\u201d Her beautiful dark brown eyes sparkled. Joy flowed through him like liquid honey. She really was glad to see him. He could see it. His nervousness evaporated. Maybe they\u2019d have a nice dinner after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe over the next month, over the Christmas season, he could finally find the courage to tell her his true feelings. \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you, too.\u201d He glanced at her before setting the cheesecake on the table. He recalled when they were kids, when she\u2019d been pudgy, how she\u2019d gobbled cheesecake as if there were no tomorrow. She\u2019d revealed to him once that she\u2019d die if cheesecake were to disappear from this God-given earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He took a deep breath and eyed the counter. Fake evergreen and tiny lights decorated the rim of the kitchen workspace. Amidst the greenery, he spotted an open bottle of wine. He squeezed his eyes shut. Oh no. He should\u2019ve been honest with her, had a talk, told her about his recent sobriety. He inwardly sighed. Hopefully, she wasn\u2019t planning on serving alcohol during their meal. He finally opened his eyes and looked away from the beverage, ashamed of his weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He focused on Melanie at the stove, stirring a pot of food. The enticing scent of tomatoes, herbs and spices filled the air. His mouth watered. He\u2019d focus on the food. Get his mind off of the alcohol sitting on the counter. \u201cWhat\u2019re you cooking? Smells good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re having turkey meat loaf with my special tomato sauce.\u201d She gestured toward the oven. \u201cThe meat loaf is in the oven. I\u2019m cooking the tomato sauce on the stove. Cooking a turkey seemed wasteful since there\u2019s only three of us for dinner.\u201d She placed her spoon back on the stove and placed the lid over the simmering pot. \u201cSo, what have you been up to lately?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shrugged. \u201cNot much. I\u2019ve got a lot on my mind.\u201d He still missed his Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor Earl. Earl had been like a brother to him. Earl\u2019s passing was part of the reason why he\u2019d ended up taking a one-month work hiatus on the Outer Banks. He didn\u2019t want to talk about his AA sponsor during dinner. Maybe he\u2019d mention him to Melanie later \u2013 after they\u2019d gotten to know one another better. He plopped into a chair. Hopefully this dinner would end on a positive note. The Nat King Cole song ended, and Jingle Bell Rock<\/em> now played through the speakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can tell me all about what\u2019s on your mind during dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A young pretty, brown-skinned woman sauntered into the kitchen and lifted the wine bottle. Her voice slurred while she tried to sing along to Jingle Bell Rock<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She sounded awful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The young woman poured the rose-colored liquid into her empty glass and took a huge gulp. \u201cHey, you must be Kyle.\u201d Oh, no. This woman was sloshed. Maybe he shouldn\u2019t have accepted Melanie\u2019s Thanksgiving dinner invitation. She held her hand toward him. \u201cI\u2019m Chloe. Melanie\u2019s cousin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle shook her hand. \u201cNice to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChloe, why don\u2019t you go back upstairs?\u201d Melanie\u2019s voice hardened as Chloe narrowed her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d She sauntered around the table and hummed along to the music. She eyed Kyle. \u201cHey, you kinda cute. You need to get rid of that beard, though. I don\u2019t like beards on men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChloe\u2026\u201d Sounded like Melanie was giving Chloe a warning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, shut up already, Mel. Your loud voice is makin\u2019 my head hurt.\u201d She made herself comfortable in a chair beside Kyle. She took a gulp of wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He wanted to suggest she stop drinking but doubted she\u2019d listen. Chloe continued drinking, tapping her foot, singing to Christmas carols off-key. The scent of her overpowering perfume poisoned the air. Whew, the smell almost made him lose his appetite. Maybe when she sobered up Melanie could tell Chloe not to wear so much fragrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps he could go outside a bit and say that he needed some air. He was about to get up when Melanie brought the food to the table. She leaned toward Kyle. \u201cSorry about Chloe.\u201d She whispered the words into his ear so that Chloe would not hear her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chloe\u2019s eyes were closed as she tapped her foot and listened to the Christmas music. Her eyes shot open. She looked right at him. Chloe grinned and stood on her high-heeled shoes and leaned towards him while her tight shirt strained against her chest. \u201cWould you like a drink?\u201d Her voice slurred as she lost her balance. The red liquid shot out of the glass and splashed onto Kyle\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUgh!\u201d A river of wine spilled into his mouth and the sweet alluring taste beckoned him, warming his tongue and throat, making him want to guzzle several glasses of the forbidden drink. Unable to help himself, he licked a few stray drops from his lips. Man, this wine tasted so good. He had to keep his sobriety.<\/em> Just calm down and do not focus on the alcohol. Earl\u2019s advice popped into his head. He jumped up and bumped the table. A glass toppled onto the floor and shattered into pieces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChloe.\u201d Melanie\u2019s voice cracked throughout the kitchen like a clap of thunder. \u201cKyle, I\u2019m so sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heaven help him. He needed to do something before he lost his mind. Melanie pressed a wad of napkins into his hand. He mopped the wine from his face. He had to get some air. He left the table as shards of glass crunched beneath his shoes. He went through Melanie\u2019s small, fragrant herb shop toward her back deck. He pushed the doors open. The warmth from the sun and waves crashing on the beach made him feel a bit better. Felt good to smell the fresh briny air. The wind picked up and blew across the water on the outer banks of North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He closed his eyes and lifted his head toward the sky. The unseasonably warm sun felt so good. Chloe\u2019s childish laughter echoed from the kitchen. He wondered if she got drunk often. How did Melanie put up with this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie followed him outside. She touched his shoulder. \u201cSorry, Kyle. I hope Chloe didn\u2019t ruin your Thanksgiving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He wasn\u2019t sure what to say. He took a deep breath and dropped into a two-person deck chair. He needed to calm down. He figured Melanie thought he was strange since he\u2019d rushed out of the kitchen. To relieve his anxiety he closed his eyes and took several deep breaths \u2013 just as they\u2019d taught him in rehab. After he\u2019d calmed down he opened his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you sick?\u201d She looked worried. He figured she wasn\u2019t used to seeing him do his deep breathing exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shook his head. He supposed he could be called sick<\/em> but not in the way Melanie was probably thinking. His alcoholism was like an incurable disease. \u201cIs your cousin old enough to drink?\u201d She looked like a teenager. He figured Melanie wouldn\u2019t have an underaged drinker in her house, but he had to ask. Thoughts of how he\u2019d started drinking as a teen filled his mind. No way did he want Chloe to start relying on alcohol at such a young age. He wanted to help if he could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChloe is twenty-one but she still acts like a child. I\u2019m sorry she spilled wine on you. She\u2019s never acted this bad when she\u2019s drunk before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He took a few minutes to digest what she\u2019d said. He focused on the golden, bright orange sun as it set on the waves crashing upon the sandy white beach. Melanie dropped into the seat beside him. He took another deep breath and resisted the urge to hold her hand. He needed to tell her the truth. There was no reason for him to hide his weakness. \u201cI didn\u2019t leave the table because of Chloe. It\u2019s the wine I can\u2019t stand. It\u2019s hard for me to be around alcohol.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI remember you used to drink a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His life had been a mess. Surprising that Melanie welcomed him into her home like this. He\u2019d caused his twin brother Keith a lot of worry when he\u2019d been drunk. He could only imagine what Keith had told Melanie about his drinking problem over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been sober for a few months now.\u201d He swallowed and folded his hands in front of his chest. \u201cI had a bad drinking problem and recently I\u2019ve found the courage to finally stop.\u201d Well, he\u2019d gotten sober a few years<\/em> ago. But that all changed when Earl died. He\u2019d fallen off the wagon and he was ashamed of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie squeezed his shoulder. \u201cThat\u2019s wonderful, I didn\u2019t realize—\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He turned toward her, cutting her off, trying not to stare into her dark eyes. Her smooth skin looked appealing in the late afternoon sunlight. He longed to touch the small mole above her upper lip. \u201cThere are lots of things about me you don\u2019t know. It\u2019s been years since we we\u2019ve spent any time together.\u201d His identical twin brother Keith used to be Melanie\u2019s best friend for years. Oh, how he\u2019d envied Keith\u2019s connection with Melanie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKyle, you coming back in here?\u201d Chloe\u2019s slurred voice carried onto the back deck. Melanie winced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry about Chloe,\u201d she repeated. \u201cShe was a little upset earlier when she was talking on the phone to one of her friends. She disappeared in her room for a couple of hours before dinner. I had no idea she was drinking the whole time she was upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He touched her shoulder. \u201cDon\u2019t be sorry.\u201d He swallowed. The intoxicating taste of the wine lingered on his tongue. He needed to get rid of it, fast. He\u2019d noticed a liquor store when he\u2019d first arrived in town. The urge to visit the store to purchase some booze swept through him. He figured Melanie knew how ugly he used to act when he was intoxicated. He glanced at her profile, realizing he needed to gain her trust before he revealed everything about himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She patted his shoulder. \u201cYou\u2019ll need to tell me more about what\u2019s been happening with you. I\u2019m surprised Keith didn\u2019t tell me this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle balled his hands into fists. \u201cDo you still talk to Keith regularly?\u201d He hoped that Melanie\u2019s affection for his identical twin brother would\u2019ve dwindled since he was now married with children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shook her head. \u201cI don\u2019t really talk to him much anymore but we email each other sometimes. He sent me pictures of his twin babies when they were born.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, good.\u201d Relief swept through him. He cleared his throat as the breeze blew, sending waves of coolness over his heated skin. Nervous, he placed his hands into his pockets, tilting his head toward the double doors. \u201cI can\u2019t stomach eating dinner with your cousin if she\u2019ll be drinking like that. I\u2019ll eat at home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie stood and walked toward the doors. \u201cI don\u2019t blame you. I\u2019m wondering what I\u2019ve gotten myself into, living here with Chloe.\u201d She looked directly into his eyes, changing the subject. \u201cDo you like the house across the street that you rented from my cousin Dale for your vacation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s nice, functional. It\u2019s a great place to stay for a month.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood.\u201d She paused, placing her hand on the doorknob.  \u201cWell, I made this turkey meatloaf and potatoes for us to enjoy tonight. We\u2019ll eat dinner at your house. Go on over and I\u2019ll bring our plates over there.\u201d Kyle opened his mouth and before he could speak, Melanie said, \u201cChloe\u2019s not coming over. I\u2019ll be sure of that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle rushed across the street to his temporary home. He went into the bathroom and washed his face, removing the wine that has spilled onto his skin. He then brushed his teeth, still trying to erase the taste, and the feeling of longing that had flowed through him, when the first few drops of wine had landed into his mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After rinsing with mouthwash, he plopped onto the top of the closed toilet, using it as a chair, holding his head in his hand. \u201cOh, I need help,\u201d he whispered. His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He removed it, pleased to see his brother Keith called. \u201cHi, Keith.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKyle? You okay?\u201d Normally, Keith\u2019s worried tone would bother him, but, right now, he welcomed the distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m\u2026no, I\u2019m not okay. I want a drink, bad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat happened? Just take a deep breath and calm down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow did you know something was wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t. I just called to see if you\u2019d made it to the house you rented from Melanie\u2019s cousin Dale. When you answered the phone, you sounded upset.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle told him what had happened at Melanie\u2019s. He ended by saying, \u201cChloe needs help. I don\u2019t know why Melanie feels responsible for her cousin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keith sighed. \u201cI\u2019m sure she has a good reason. Do you feel better now that you\u2019ve talked about what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surprised, Kyle nodded, his admiration for his pastor twin brother growing daily. Talking to Keith proved to be soothing. \u201cI feel better.\u201d He took a deep breath. \u201cI told her I was on vacation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s stretching the truth a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m on a break for a month.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know how long you\u2019ll be on a break. Did you tell her what happened at the law firm?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He ignored the question. \u201cWell, I\u2019m here for a month.\u201d He mentally sighed. No way did he want to further discuss why<\/em> he had felt the need to leave Maryland to stay in North Carolina for a few weeks. \u201cThanks for talking to me, Keith.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome. Hey, how\u2019s Melanie doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle bristled at Keith\u2019s caring tone, even though he knew Keith thought of Melanie as a close friend. \u201cShe looks stressed to me. I still don\u2019t understand why she moved down here to open this health food and herb store. It\u2019s a little bit weird.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMelanie\u2019s been through a lot over the last couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keith hesitated. \u201cShe broke her engagement. She was pretty messed up when she was dating her fianc\u00e9. He was abusive to her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle blinked, startled. \u201cHe used to hit her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, not abusive like that. It was more of a mind control thing. It was pretty bad. She was miserable so she broke up with him. She said it was one of the roughest times in her life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Kyle rang off with his brother, he slipped the phone back into his pocket, still digesting this new information about Melanie. Awful that she\u2019d been in an abusive relationship. She deserved better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 2<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a broom Melanie swept shards of glass from the kitchen floor into a dustpan. Afterwards she placed the cleaning utensils into the kitchen closet and faced Chloe. \u201cYou should wear shoes in the kitchen for the next few days. I think I cleaned up all of the broken glass. I\u2019ll vacuum when I get back to make sure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chloe shrugged. Her brown eyes were glassy as she took another drink of wine. Melanie swiped Chloe\u2019s car keys from the table and slipped them into her pocket before grabbing the dinner plates. She didn\u2019t want her cousin to drive while intoxicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chloe gripped her wine glass. \u201cWhere ya goin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie glared at her wayward cousin before exiting the kitchen and crossing the street to Kyle\u2019s place. When she reached his house seconds later, he opened his door. \u201cHi, Melanie.\u201d When he spoke, she caught the faint medicinal scent of Listerine. She wondered why he bothered to use mouthwash since they were about eat dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, Kyle.\u201d She held the plates up. \u201cI\u2019ve come with our dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gestured into the house. \u201cCome on in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still holding the plates, she followed him into the semi-dark house into his kitchen. The white room practically sparkled in the weak evening sunlight. Melanie wondered if Kyle had done any cooking since he\u2019d been in town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She set the warm plates on the table. They sat. Her heart skittered when Kyle grasped her fingers, bowing his head. \u201cLord, bless this food. Thank you for this wonderful day. I\u2019m glad to reconnect with Melanie. Please help Chloe with her problems. Amen.\u201d Oh, his strong voice caused vibrations to run through her gut all the way to her toes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAmen.\u201d She squeezed his hand. Holding his hand felt so good, so warm, so comforting. She reluctantly released his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking her fork, she sliced into the meatloaf. Thick, fragrant tomato sauce covered the meat. The cubed potatoes and mixed vegetables were dotted with pepper, basil, and spices. She sniffed, loving the aroma of her meal. She sampled her meatloaf, taking extreme pleasure in the way the herbs and spices danced on her tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle removed a loaf of wheat bread from the counter and slathered it with butter. \u201cWould you like some bread and butter?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shook her head. Bread would taste good with the meal, but, she didn\u2019t need more carbs. \u201cI\u2019m okay. This should be enough for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle bit into the bread and cut a portion of his meatloaf. He spooned the food into his mouth. \u201cThis is so good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks.\u201d Melanie grinned. She tried not to stare at his muscled biceps while he ate. Kyle was certainly easy on the eyes and it had been a good long while since she\u2019d been out on a date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He ate bite after bite and soon he scraped his plate, finishing his meal in minutes. \u201cIf we were back at your house, I\u2019d ask for seconds.\u201d He enjoyed another piece of bread with butter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie smiled. She remembered how Kyle and his brother Keith had always eaten their meals quickly, as if the food would disappear if they didn\u2019t stuff it into their mouths fast enough. \u201cI\u2019m glad you like it. I could go back and get the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shook his head. \u201cDon\u2019t bother.\u201d He stood and started a pot of coffee. Soon, the aromatic, chicory scent of the hot brew filled the kitchen. Kyle filled two coffee cups with the steaming drink. He opened a cookie jar on the counter and plopped some kind of treat onto a plate. He served the coffee and, well, it looked like dessert. \u201cTry some of my candy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, this was a surprise. She stared at the treat and sniffed. The concoction had marshmallows, chocolate, peanuts\u2026and well, looked like there were pretzels in there, too. Each round treat was bundled together. Smelled amazing. No way could she indulge. \u201cLooks homemade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He chuckled. \u201cYeah. It is. I made it myself.\u201d He pointed to a book on the counter. \u201cI bought a candy cookbook. When I was in rehab they made us do different activities. I learned to make candy.\u201d He then gestured toward the table. \u201cI made up my own recipe for rocky road candy. I call them Rocky Road Dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She widened her eyes. Surprising. She never figured that Kyle Baxter would have a hobby of making candy. His brother Keith was also a candymaker. \u201cSmells amazing. Probably too many calories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou worry too much. Just try some. Besides it\u2019s sugar free and low on calories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She frowned. \u201cAre you sure?\u201d She had to wonder if he was telling her this just to entice her to try the dessert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, I don\u2019t lie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She selected one of the treats and bit into it. The taste of roasted nuts, bittersweet chocolate, salty pretzels and marshmallows exploded into her mouth with decadent sweetness. \u201cOh my. This is delicious.\u201d Unable to resist, she gobbled two of the treats before sipping her hot coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle chuckled as he consumed the remaining treats on the plate. He sipped his coffee and sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sitting here with Kyle felt so warm and comforting. She kind of wanted to sit here with him all evening instead of going home to face Chloe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He lifted his dark eyebrows and took another drink of coffee. \u201cMelanie, you\u2019re staring at me.\u201d He softened his words with a smile and a quick wink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She cleared her throat and finished her drink. \u201cSorry for staring. It\u2019s been so long since I\u2019ve seen you and you look so much like Keith\u2014\u201d His smile dimmed when she mentioned his twin. \u201cBut you look different, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stroked the rim of his coffee cup, not responding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re going to be here for a month for vacation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He finished his coffee, topping off their cups. \u201cWell, I\u2019m not on a real vacation.\u201d He looked away and fidgeted as if he were nervous. He used to fidget like that when they were kids. It usually meant he was up to something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pointed to his laptop. \u201cI\u2019m going to be working on a special project. If I stopped working for a month I\u2019d go crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That sounded strange. \u201cIf you didn\u2019t want to stop working then why did you go on vacation for a month? Why not just take a week off and then return to work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust felt like something that I needed to do.\u201d It was none of her business. Her questions seemed to make him uneasy. Folks had told her over the years that she asked too many questions. She thought about his sobriety, wondering if working helped him not to drink. She drained her coffee cup and glanced into the living room, eyeing several cardboard boxes stacked on the floor. \u201cDid you need help unpacking?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not responding, he finished his drink, stood, and set their cups in the sink. He then gestured toward the adjoining living room. \u201cCome on, I want to show you something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curious, Melanie followed. It had grown darker since they\u2019d arrived. He flipped the light on. \u201cThese boxes belonged to my mother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie stopped, glanced at Kyle, her mouth dropping open. \u201cYour mother? She\u2019s been dead since you were three and you\u2019re just now going through her stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He touched her arm. \u201cKeith and I didn\u2019t know this stuff existed. Remember my dad got sick from cancer a few of years ago and lived with Keith before he died?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, after he died, Keith sold my father\u2019s house and hired someone to move most of our dad\u2019s stuff in his attic. We never looked through the stuff until recently. That\u2019s when we found these boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puzzled, Melanie furrowed her brow. The clean citrus scent of Kyle\u2019s cologne teased her nose as he stood nearby. She shrugged. \u201cYou took a month off to come down here to look through your mother\u2019s boxes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking a deep breath, he sat on the leather couch and she joined him. \u201cI\u2019ve been going through a lot over the last few years. I had a drinking problem. I had a lot of personal problems and then my dad died.\u201d He paused and fidgeted. Now she was pretty sure he was hiding something. Well, it was none of her business. If he wanted to talk about it later then that was his choice. \u201cI just need to rest for a while and I didn\u2019t want to stay back home in Annapolis. I like the beach, and I figured I could get a lot done while I\u2019m here in North Carolina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gestured toward the boxes. \u201cI\u2019ve often wondered about my mother since my dad didn\u2019t talk about her much. I remember her a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so sad that you never got to know your mom.\u201d She just couldn\u2019t imagine what her life would\u2019ve been like if she\u2019d not known her mom at all. The connection she had with her mom was bold and strong \u2013 but the connection with her dad had been tenuous over the years. His drinking and womanizing had wreaked havoc in their small family. Keith had often spoken about being worried about Kyle. Was it possible that Kyle not knowing his mother may have had a negative impact on his well-being? No way could she ask him a question like that. She pushed the negative thoughts out of her mind and refocused on their conversation. \u201cYou were only three when your mom died. I\u2019m surprised that you remember her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shrugged. \u201cI know. People have said it\u2019s just my imagination \u2013 nobody remembers stuff from when they were three. But I remember her and I want to find out more about her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know anything about her?\u201d She still found it hard to believe that he didn\u2019t know anything<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shrugged. \u201cNot much. My dad wasn\u2019t much of a talker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid your mom have any relatives?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle shook his head. \u201cDad told us our mom had no family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie frowned. \u201cThat\u2019s weird. Did her parents die?\u201d It was rare to hear about somebody who had no family at all. She wondered if Kyle\u2019s mom was estranged from her family and he simply was not aware of the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shrugged again. \u201cDad mentioned that her parents died in a car accident when she was in her twenties. That\u2019s all I know about her family. Over the last few years I\u2019ve been reflecting about my life and this is one thing that\u2019s been bothering me for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He looked so serious. Serious and troubled. Maybe his taking a vacation wasn\u2019t such a bad idea after all. Hopefully being in a new environment would help him. \u201cSo you haven\u2019t looked through the boxes yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shook his head. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her phone vibrated. She removed it from her pocket and glanced at the number. Chloe. Goodness, this was frustrating. Couldn\u2019t she have the luxury of visiting with a friend without being interrupted by her cousin?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Chloe. I think I need to go back home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy is it your job to take care of your cousin?\u201d His voice brimmed with annoyance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn\u2019t feel like explaining the terms of the agreement she had with Chloe\u2019s dad. \u201cIt\u2019s a long story. I\u2019ll tell you about it sometime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next day Melanie dusted off the shelves of her health food store. She touched the bottles and thought about the health benefits for each item. Cayenne and black pepper pills could be helpful with weight loss. Ginger could help with digestion, upset stomach, and may speed up metabolism. After she\u2019d finished scanning the shelves, she eyed her large selection of herbal teas. A good cup of lavender tea always helped her when she was stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far she\u2019d sold several products that morning. Hopefully her profits would continue to pour into her coffers and she\u2019d make enough money to earn a decent salary within the next few years. She certainly didn\u2019t want to be beholden to the agreement she\u2019d made with Chloe\u2019s dad, her Uncle Larry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She scanned the shelves again. Some of her items were low on inventory. She expected a shipment to be coming in soon. Hopefully she\u2019d receive it within the next couple of days. The stairs creaked. Well Chloe was finally awake \u2013 two hours late. She\u2019d not gotten up for her morning shift. She\u2019d tried to wake her up but her cousin slept hard, snoring, refusing to get out of bed. If she\u2019d not made an agreement with Uncle Larry then Chloe would\u2019ve already been fired from her job of working in the health food store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still sporting her robe and slippers Chloe slipped into the shop. \u201cOh, hi.\u201d she mumbled. She just couldn\u2019t respond to her cousin\u2019s lukewarm greeting as she followed her into the adjoining kitchen. The leftover coffee she\u2019d made earlier that morning still sat in the pot. Chloe poured a cup and took a sip. She spit out the concoction. \u201cThat stuff is almost cold. Could you make a fresh pot of coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her hands together. Lord give me strength. <\/em>\u201cWhy don\u2019t you<\/em> make the coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chloe folded her arms in front of her chest and leaned against the kitchen counter. \u201cI know you\u2019re mad because I got up late, but I\u2019ll make it up to you. I don\u2019t feel well this morning.<\/a>\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She glared at her cousin. \u201cYou don\u2019t feel well because you were up half the night drinking wine and talking on the phone to your friends. Can\u2019t you be more responsible? Uncle Larry wants you to learn to take care of yourself\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about Dad right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She grabbed Chloe\u2019s shoulder, forcing her to turn around. \u201cWe\u2019ll talk about your dad because he\u2019s supporting you while you act like an ungrateful fool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chloe winced, shaking Melanie\u2019s hand away. \u201cI\u2019m going back to bed,\u201d she mumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, you won\u2019t. You\u2019re supposed to be helping me.\u201d Her voice cracked through the kitchen like a whip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She gasped when Chloe got into her face, her bad morning breath making her cringe. \u201cMel, you can\u2019t tell me what to do! You\u2019re not my boss!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t talk to me like that!\u201d She grabbed Chloe\u2019s arm, but Chloe pulled away and pushed her before racing up the stairs. Gritting her teeth, her heart raced while she forced herself to calm down. She took a few deep breaths. She wanted her herb store to be successful. She wished Chloe would admit to her problems and get the help she so desperately needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could this day get any worse? Lord, what am I supposed to do? This store means everything to me. If I fail, I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m going to do.<\/em>
<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huffing, Kyle lifted the dumbbells one final time. Whew that was the end to the weight-lifting portion of his late-evening workout. He placed the items on the mat and grabbed a bottle of water and took a long drink. The cool liquid quenched his parched throat. He guzzled the entire container of water before tossing the empty bottle into the recycle bin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After wiping his face with a towel, he grabbed his keys, exited his temporary home and stepped outside. The slap of the waves crashing against the beach relaxed him as he locked the door and glanced across the street at Melanie\u2019s house. The shop was closed, but Melanie\u2019s car sat in the driveway. He stared at her house. Maybe he should stop by for a visit. No, he\u2019d go for a run and then decide if he should visit later. They\u2019d just seen each a few days ago. He didn\u2019t want to seem too pushy by showing up at her house unexpectedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking a deep breath, he planned on getting the cardiovascular part of his workout completed. He dropped the keys into the pocket of his shorts and started running. He traipsed toward the white sandy beach and ran into the direction of town. The brine of the salty air smelled enticing. A few people congregated around the beach. Some couples strolled by holding hands and a few folks traipsed by taking their dogs for a walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He eyed the ferry gently moving along the water. He\u2019d been glad that the house he\u2019d rented was on the Outer Banks mainland. He liked that he was able to drive directly to the house from Annapolis. To travel between the islands the residents used the ferry. He figured he\u2019d take a ferry ride sometime during his stay. Hey, maybe if he and Melanie spent more time together they could go on a ferry ride as a date or something. Since it was Sunday evening, most of the shops and restaurants on the nearby boardwalk were empty. He continued running. Seagulls dove through the sky, frequently landing on the beach, searching for stray crumbs of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He ran hard for a half hour before he stopped. Whew. What a hard workout. He really needed it. Breathing deeply, he thought about the Thanksgiving dinner he\u2019d shared with Melanie a few days ago. He kept thinking about what Keith had told him about Melanie\u2019s failed engagement. Figured Melanie would confide to Keith since they were so close. Well, it was probably for the best. Keith had always been there for Melanie and he\u2019d not been in the best shape when Melanie was going through her breakup. At the time he\u2019d been a functioning alcoholic who was grieving over his own broken engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He lifted his head toward the sky. The warmth from the sun and the sound of the waves made him feel good. His life was such a big pathetic mess. Being here at the beach made him forget his problems. He wiped the sweat from his face. If he wanted to start something with Melanie, he eventually needed to tell her everything about the past few years of his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He approached the boardwalk, about to trek home, when he spotted a familiar female figure hunched on a bench. The short, tight skirt and provocative blouse gave him a good view of Chloe\u2019s slim body. She clutched her phone. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she yelled into the phone. Her arms shook as her shouts rang along the shore. Several people looked her way and some stopped and whispered, pointing at the young, distraught woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle trotted over to Chloe. He touched her shoulder. \u201cChloe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She pushed his arm away, glaring. Suddenly recognition dawned in her brown eyes as she looked at him and her expression lost some of its\u2019 hostility. Sniffing, she wiped her nose with a tissue, still clutching her phone in her other hand. \u201cOh, hi,\u201d she mumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He glanced at her phone. \u201cYou okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She nodded. More tears poured down her cheeks. \u201cI\u2019m fine. I\u2019m just trying to get everything straightened out here.\u201d She turned away, as if he were being dismissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle stroked his beard. What should he do? \u201cDid you want me to walk you home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her mouth set in a tense line as she turned around and glared at him again. \u201cNo, I\u2019m fine. Just leave me alone.\u201d Her voice lowered and it sounded like she was defeated. Her shoulders drooped as she whispered good-bye into the phone before slipping it into her pocket. Not wanting to leave her alone he sat beside her on the bench. \u201cI told you to leave me alone,\u201d she said in a hard voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gestured toward the phone she\u2019d just slipped into her pocket. \u201cWho was that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her eyes narrowed. \u201cNone of your business.\u201d She glared at him from head to toe. \u201cYou\u2019re just like Melanie, asking me questions. I\u2019m not a kid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He sighed. How did Melanie live with this emotionally distraught woman? He placed his hand on her shoulder again. Hopefully he could calm her down. \u201cChloe, you\u2019re sitting here shaking and crying and you look a mess. You were yelling so loud that people were staring. I just want to make sure you\u2019re okay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine. Just leave me alone so that I can think.\u201d She pressed her forehead into her hand. Her shoulders hunched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He removed his hand. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you let me walk you home? I promise I won\u2019t ask any more questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI said no.\u201d Good grief. Her loud voice hurt his eardrum. Several people looked toward them so he scooted away from her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs there a problem over here, miss?\u201d A large, tall, beefy muscular man towered over their bench. He looked at Kyle as if he wanted to punch him in the mouth. \u201cIs this man bothering you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shook his head. What a high price to pay for trying to be helpful nowadays. \u201cI was just leaving.\u201d He stood up and walked away. Glancing back, he was relieved when the huge man also left Chloe and sauntered off. There was no way he wanted the people in this beach community to think he was harassing Melanie\u2019s cousin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he arrived home he glanced across the street and saw that Melanie\u2019s car wasn\u2019t there. Too bad she was gone. He\u2019d wanted to talk to her about Chloe\u2019s strange behavior. After showering and eating a microwaveable dinner, he sat in front of the living room window and answered a few texts. He then accessed his email. He was working with a job recruiter \u2013 seeking new opportunities. She\u2019d pinged him while he was out running. This recruiter was aggressive. Surprising to see her working on a Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He glanced across the street again and witnessed Chloe walking to her front door. He abandoned his chore and walked to the window to get a better view. She wiped her face, still crying. She looked toward his house and caught him staring. She glared at him before entering her home, slamming the door behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie\u2019s alarm buzzed. Time to get up and start the day. She pulled herself out of bed and peeked into Chloe\u2019s room. Where was she? Maybe her cousin had surprised her and had gotten up on time for a change. Her heart lightened when she figured that Chloe was suddenly growing more responsible and was probably downstairs getting ready to start work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen and living room. Empty. No Chloe. Where would she go so early in the morning? She glanced outside. Chloe\u2019s black sports car was not parked in the driveway. Pushing thoughts of Chloe aside, she started a pot of herbal tea. Minutes later, sitting at the table, sporting her robe and slippers, she spent a few minutes reading the news on her phone. After eating a couple of pieces of whole wheat toast coated with a thin layer of blackberry jam, she prepared for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, she came downstairs and checked the clock. Only about an hour before the shop was scheduled to open. Chloe was nowhere in sight. Hopefully she\u2019d not made a mistake by agreeing to her Uncle Larry\u2019s deal for opening the shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She pulled her box cutter from the shelf. Someone knocked on her door while she sliced open the boxes from her recent herb shipment. That was probably Chloe. Maybe she\u2019d forgotten her key. She opened the door. Goodness. She\u2019d not been expecting Kyle. She smiled as she looked into his gorgeous caramel brown eyes. She resisted the urge to run her fingers over his mustache and beard as her stomach dipped with pleasure. She swallowed, saying the first word that came to her befuddled mind. \u201cHi,\u201d she breathed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHi, Melanie.\u201d He touched her face with his index finger. Her heart skittered with pleasure. She stepped back and gestured him into the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat brings you by?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust checking on Chloe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie frowned. She sat at the kitchen table. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He straddled the kitchen chair, sitting on the seat backwards, resting his arms against the back of the chair. \u201cI saw her yesterday evening when I was in town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally? What happened?\u201d Melanie\u2019s heart kicked into overdrive as a new thought occurred to her. \u201cWas she drunk?\u201d Horrified, she wondered if Chloe had been driving while intoxicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle placed his large hand on her shoulder. The warmth from his fingers immediately calmed her down. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t think she\u2019d been drinking.\u201d He told her what happened the previous night. \u201cShe didn\u2019t tell you about it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie ignored his question, asking one of her own. \u201cDid you talk to her after she yelled at you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He nodded. \u201cI tried but she was starting to make a scene. She was yelling NO at me and people were staring.\u201d He then told about the large man who approached, misunderstanding the situation. \u201cI wasn\u2019t going to start a fight with a stranger so I walked home.\u201d He then told her that he\u2019d seen her come home. \u201cI\u2019d wanted to talk to you last night, but I saw that your car was gone and I didn\u2019t have your cell phone number.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was out visiting some of my friends. I didn\u2019t get home until midnight. When I got back Chloe was gone. I sleep pretty soundly, so I just assumed she\u2019d gotten home late last night and I didn\u2019t hear her come in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle frowned, resting his chin in his hand. \u201cThat\u2019s weird. I wonder where she went.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good question. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019ve never been a parent, but I now have a taste of what some parents go through when they have a teenager in their home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle glanced at the open boxes on the counter. \u201cDid you need some help since Chloe\u2019s not here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She honestly didn\u2019t think Kyle wanted to help her unpack boxes but she\u2019d accept his offer. \u201cI\u2019d appreciate the help if you don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shrugged. \u201cI\u2019ve been up since five o\u2019clock checking email and doing a bit of work. I have no plans. If you need help, I\u2019m available.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie slipped Kyle the black box cutter and he sliced the cardboard open. Glancing through the items, they companionably took the merchandise into the shop and worked together, placing bottles of vitamins and herbs on the appropriate shelves via Melanie\u2019s direction. She stepped up on a ladder as he handed her a bottle of multi-vitamins to place on the shelf. \u201cHave you started going through your mother\u2019s stuff yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle nodded, lifting two more of the dark-colored bottles. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019d you find?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stopped passing the inventory to her as he responded. \u201cLetters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLetters?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He chuckled. He looked really cute when he smiled. \u201cLove letters. My parents had a long-distance relationship for a while and they wrote to each other for about a year. I\u2019ve been reading through those letters.\u201d He made a face. \u201cThey\u2019re kind of sappy. Makes me feel good knowing that my mother and my father were in love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melanie stepped down from the ladder. This sounded like something she\u2019d like to see. She loved hearing about people falling in love. \u201cThat\u2019s so sweet. I\u2019d like to read some of the letters one day if you don\u2019t mind sharing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her heart skittered when he grinned. \u201cThat\u2019d be great.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She stacked the empty boxes and he helped her. The clean citrus scent of his cologne overpowered the unique smell of the herbs and vitamins lining the shelves. \u201cHave you told Keith?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His smile faded a little as she spoke of his twin. \u201cYes, I told him about the letters. I even read a little bit of one over the phone. He said when he has time, he\u2019d like to sit down with me and we can look at the letters together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She folded her arms in front of her chest. \u201cHave you found anything else in the box besides the letters?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shook his head. \u201cThe letters were the first thing I found. So who knows what else is in those boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Together, they opened more boxes. \u201cI\u2019ve been trying to lose a bit of weight. I\u2019ve been exercising and trying to watch what I eat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have some stuff that might help. It\u2019s best to take natural stuff that\u2019ll help you to lose weight.\u201d After she\u2019d recommended some supplements for him to take, she checked her watch. \u201cIt\u2019s time to open the store.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay. I\u2019ll buy these things you recommended.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to. I want to see if this natural stuff really works.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She touched his shoulder. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about paying for it. Since you\u2019re helping me out this morning until Chloe gets back, you can have the herbs for free.\u201d It appeared he was about to object but she didn\u2019t give him a chance as she marched over to the cash register and pulled the cash box from the drawer. A customer knocked on the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan you place the OPEN sign on the door and let that person in?\u201d she requested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He dropped his bottles onto the counter and rushed to do her bidding. He was about to unlock the shop when Melanie\u2019s sharp cry echoed throughout the store. Abandoning the door, he rushed over to her. \u201cKyle\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She gestured toward the empty cash box. \u201cThe money for the register is all gone. We had close to five hundred dollars in here and I was going to go to the bank to make a deposit today.\u201d She clamped her teeth together and closed her eyes. She forced herself not to cry. Could this day possibly get any worse?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rocky Road Dreams<\/a> is available in Kindle & Kindle Unlimited! Download this wonderful e-book today! Tell a friend by sharing this link<\/a>! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rocky Road Dreams<\/a> has received 5-star reviews from Amazon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rocky Road Dreams<\/a> is an inspiring romance. This avid reader, mom and grandma related with Kyle and Melanie’s dilemmas – weight struggle, alcoholism, an overbearing Uncle Larry, and verbal abusive. Rocky Road Dreams is a page turner with some mystery, family conflicts, a winter Midwest blizzard, a believable resolution, mouth watering chocolate and can be read as a standalone.<\/em> – Amazon Reviewer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love all of Cecelia’s novels. It was wonderful to have the main character be a male. The author did a great job describing his character, including his faults and weaknesses, to make him humble and interesting. I was in his corner and wanted to see him succeed. Great job Cecelia! I look forward to your next novel.<\/em> – Amazon Reviewer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This blog post is being sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. I hope you will enjoy listening, and reading, the first few chapters of Rocky Road Dreams. Rocky Road Dreams has received 5-star reviews from Amazon: Rocky Road Dreams is an inspiring romance. This avid reader, mom and grandma related with Kyle and Melanie’s dilemmas […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiction"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paovYP-13R","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4083"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4104,"href":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4083\/revisions\/4104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ceceliadowdy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}