Take it away, Janet!
Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your blog!
I’m very excited to be a part of the SWEET, but SEXY Boxed Set, published
through Turquoise Morning Press.
It
is always thrilling to work with other authors on a project, so I am so
delighted to team up with Maddie James, Jennifer Johnson, Constance Phillips,
Jennifer Anderson, Amie Denman, Magdalena Scott, and Jan Scarbrough to be a
part of his sweet collection of romance novels.
My
contribution, CROSSROADS, (a Ladies of Legend series novella) is about a young
woman who faced many trials and tribulations in her young life. Raised by the
town whore, Sharon Clark made some pretty bad choices of her own, but, by example, a mentor gave her hope for a
better life outside of the quaint little town of Legend, Tennessee.
Unfortunately,
Sharon went from the frying pan into the fire by quickly marrying a man who had
his own agenda in taking her and her unborn child in. Even after giving it her
best, she now finds herself once again in need of a change. Destitute and at a
crossroads, Sharon reluctantly accepts the inheritance gift of a home from the
now deceased mentor, and returns to Legend to search for a job to sustain her
and her son until she can figure out what to do next. But once there, she must
once again face the realities of her past, and decide if the wonderful man who
hired her, is worth risking her heart… all over again.
“A single mother returns to a small Tennessee
town in this Ladies of Legend novella. Despite the length constraints, Eaves
crafts believable settings and characters. Not only is this a quick read, but
it works successfully as a stand-alone story.” Karen Sweeny-Justice, RT
Book Reviews (September 2014 edition)
Excerpt:
8:00 a.m. Courtroom 204, Memphis Municipal
Court
“As to
the matter of spousal support, the petitioner’s request is denied. Ms. Gilbert,
given your statement that you have been the one to maintain the family income
without expectation of support from Mr. Gilbert during the course of the
marriage, it is the determination of this court that spousal support is
unwarranted.
“As to
the matter of child support, the petitioner’s request is warranted and
therefore granted. Even though you state, Mr. Gilbert, that the minor, Kyle
Gilbert, is not your biological child, he was born while you and Mrs. Gilbert
were legally married and you have represented yourself as his father since.
Therefore it is the determination of this court that you will pay child support
at the standard percentage rate until midnight the date before the child turns
eighteen years of age. Have proof of your income to my clerk this afternoon at
the latest.”
The
judge turned to his bailiff. ”Who’s next?”
****
10:30 a.m. The Cock and Crow Sports Bar and
Grill
“I’m
sorry, Sharon, you’ve been great, and dependable, and I’ll be happy to write
you a letter of recommendation, but I have no choice. We aren’t making enough
to stay open. I’m really sorry but you’re out of a job just like the rest of
us.”
****
2:10 p.m. 2120 Pricilla Street, Apartment 310
“Look,
I’m sorry, but your husband signed the letter of Intent to Vacate a month ago. I’ve already rented the apartment.
You have to be out by the end of the month. I know that’s only a couple of days
away and I’m sorry about that too, but it’s done. I assumed you knew Mr.
Gilbert released the apartment.”
****
"What's
that?"
Sharon
looked at the envelope she still held out in front of her and shrugged.
"I'm not sure. It's from a lady I knew a long time ago."
For the
first time since entering the apartment he actually looked at her. "Are
you going to open it?"
Sharon stared
at him helplessly before she nodded and quickly slid her finger under the
sealed flap then winced when it sliced her fingertip. She stuck it between her
lips for only a second before opening the flap.
"It's
a letter," she said, shaking out the single page with one hand while
returning the burning finger to her mouth.
"Duh!"
Sharon
silently counted to ten then focused on the letter with the staple in the upper
left hand corner that held a business card against the letter’s back. Ms.
Addie's large script had always made her think the woman sang songs in her head
while writing.
"What's
it say?"
Sharon
glanced up without moving her head. Given his attitude she wanted to tell him
it wasn't addressed to him, but since he rarely if ever expressed interest in
anything she decided to read it out loud.
“My Dearest Sharon,
It has been such a long time since I last laid
eyes on you, but I am sure you are as beautiful now as you were all those years
ago. I, on the other hand, have dwindled with age and heart illness these last
few years."
Sharon's
eyes filled, remembering how robust and healthy Ms. Addie was the last time
she'd seen her. She cleared her throat and continued, "But God has blessed me with a very long and fruitful life and
blessed me with more than I deserved by the people He brought into my life. You
were most definitely one of His greatest blessings, as well as mine."
Warmth
surrounded Sharon as if Ms. Addie's arms were encircling her. Hugs were
something Ms. Addie had always had in abundance, and she was the only person in
Sharon's young life who ever bothered to make her feel worthy.
She sniffed
and continued reading. "I'm writing
you this letter today because I may not be able to tomorrow. I grow weaker by
the day and know the Good Lord is about to call me home. I'm ready. Although
many of the children who came to live with me for a period of time thought I
lived in a mansion, I know the one waiting for me will make this place look
like a shack in comparison.
My poor grand-nephew will inherit this
monstrosity as long as he's willing to take care of my cats, (He'll be so mad
to learn that! Ha!) but I have other properties to disperse as well, and I have
a special one just for you."
Sharon
was torn between amusement at Ms. Addie's wicked sense of humor and the heart
thumping anticipation of what was to come. She glanced up at Kyle, seeing he
too was intrigued with the missive. She cleared her throat again, more loudly
this time.
"There is a little cabin up on the
mountain overlooking Legend Lake my husband took me to the night we were
married. At the time it was owned by someone else, and we just rented it for
that one night. But years later my love bought it for me as an anniversary
present, and though it has stood empty all these many years, I made sure it was
well tended and properly maintained. The appliances are old but functional. The
plumbing recently updated. But it is yours, dear. Free and clear. To do with as
you will.
I know you couldn't get away from Legend fast
enough all those years ago, and understandably so, but I also know the heart
sometimes leads us back home. If you don't want it, sell it. But if you do, you
know you will always have a home to come back to. You can contact my lawyer at
your convenience. His card is attached.
I know you are going to wonder why so many
years have passed between my getting to meet my Maker and you receiving this
gift. That, my dear, is because I know you. And I know you are not yet ready to
consider coming back to Legend.
I'm tired now, and my hand grows weak, but I
want to tell you one more thing. Whatever life brings, grab the good stuff and
let the other stuff go. Even as many years as I have been given, it really was
all over in just a blink of the eye.
Be well, my lovely. Be well.
Addie"
Sharon
didn't realize she was crying until Kyle's arms were suddenly around her. She
inhaled the scent of him and, for the first time in a very long time,
remembered she was loved.
Amazon
Best Selling Author of the Ladies of Legend series and
Unforgettable Heroes boxed set, Janet Eaves is a wife of more than three and a
half decades, a mother of two, a grandmother of one (unless you count her
grand-pup – then two). She lives in the beautiful Tennessee countryside where she
watches deer, rabbits, and other wildlife from her gazebo office while spinning
tales. Currently, Janet has seven Ladies of Legend stories out, and is sure
more will come in the future, as well as other books she’s written off and on
over the years. CROSSROADS is her newest release, and she was happy to include
it in this boxed set.
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