Silent Danger E-Book

Angel Rupert

• Herausgeber: Bentockiz
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

They came rushing to see me, their faces filled with excitement and joy. I was confused, wondering what could have possibly happened to make them so thrilled. It took a moment for their words to sink in, but as I realized what they were saying, my heart filled with happiness for them.

Leseprobe

Title Page

Silent Danger

Passion and Promises

Angel Rupert

Silent Danger / 7th of series: Passion and Promises / By Angel Rupert

Published 2023 by Bentockiz

e-book Imprint: Calkden Norsh

e-book Registration: Stockholm, Sweden

e-book ISBN: 9789198848762

e-book editing: Athens, Greece

Cover Images created via AI art generators

Table of Contents

Title Page

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Introduction

Through books we come into contact with everything important that has happened in the past, analyzing also current events and putting our thoughts together to predict the future. The book is a window to the world, acquiring valuable knowledge and sparking our vivid imagination. It is a means of entertainment and is generally seen as a best friend, or as a slave that carries together all valuable information for us. The book is a friend who stays together without demands, a friend you call upon at every moment and abandon when you want.

It accompanies us in the hours of boredom and loneliness, while at the same time it entertains us. In general, a book does not ask anything from us, while it waits patiently on a dusty shelf to give us its information, to get us out of dead ends and to travel us to magical worlds.

This may be the travel mission of our books. Abstract narration, weird or unconscious thoughts difficult to be understood, but always genuine and full of life experiences, these are stories of life that can’t be overlooked easily.

This may be the start of something amazing!

Chapter One

We were in the library at our customary table trying to study—at least I was trying to study, Nat seemed more intent on grilling me—while Becky, as usual, silently watched me. That girl gave me the creeps.

Nat had spent two months alternating between throwing hints at me and pumping me for information. I had actively tried to avoid her and whenever that wasn’t possible fielded her questions as best I could, but I could see she was through pretending to be patient.

“I’m not the sneaky one,” I retorted thinking that offense was the best defense and at least Nat had the grace to look shamefaced.

“You didn’t tell me you were engaged,” she accused recovering quickly. “I had to figure that out on my own.”

“I tried to explain to you that we hadn’t even told my parents yet, and, thanks to you, we didn’t get the chance.”

“I still don’t understand why they’re okay with you marrying a housekeeper’s son.”

“I love him.”

“Like that matters,” she sniffed. “By all means, sleep with the guy, just don’t marry him.”

“Affairs are your MO.”

“Well excuse me, Miss Holier-than-thou!” Nat snapped. “I’m sure I’m not worthy to wipe your shoes.”

Taking a deep calming breath, it wouldn’t do to totally alienate her, I began in a conciliatory tone “I’m sorry, Nat...”

“Her name is Natalie,” Becky broke in harshly, speaking for the first time.

“I know what her name is. We’ve known each other since we were in diapers.”

I could see that my attitude had angered Becky, but I didn’t care. Her uncharacteristic outbursts were starting to annoy. She used to listen in on our conversations, not participate, but something had changed. Shrugging it off disinterestedly, I turned back to Nat, intent on continuing with my apology, to find her scrutinizing my head.

“What’s that in your hair?” she asked reaching over to hold a strand in her hand.

“I don’t know,” I replied straining to see.

My hair was shoulder length, but the part she was interested in was around my ear, making it impossible for me to get a good look.

“This...it looks like green paint,” she said intrigued.

“Oh, that, I’m redecorating,” I explained. “It’s actually called sage.”

“Doing your own painting?”

“You know I enjoy things like that.”

“True,” she admitted, “you’ve always been weird that way. But I don’t understand why you aren’t answering your phone.”

“I can’t stop or else the paint will dry on the brush. I always call you back. Besides, I’m almost done, and then I’ll have more time. Okay?”

“I suppose.”

“Now that the mystery is solved, do you mind if I get some studying done? I have a test tonight, and I really don’t want to flunk it.”

“Why are you taking two night classes? There are plenty of daylight hours for that type of thing.”

“I’ve already explained that my...practicum takes all morning, and the classes I needed weren’t offered in the afternoon. I only have an hour to get this down, so if you don’t mind...” I left the sentence dangling hoping Nat would take the hint.

Nat fell silent but, try as I might I couldn’t concentrate on the words in front of me. Over spring break I had almost finished painting the cottage—I just had the cutting in at the ceiling and baseboard in the bathroom left to do—and cringed to think of Nat figuring out what was going on. She had already proven herself to be untrustworthy, and even though my parents knew I was engaged, they didn’t know any details. They had no idea things were going to happen so quickly.

My parents had cornered me the day after my father’s confrontation with the Fowlkes demanding to know details. Knowing how James felt about honesty, I hadn’t lied to them except by omission. I prayed God would understand and forgive me for that.

Once again, I found myself making deals with them. I promised James and I wouldn’t marry until I graduated from college—although I left out the part about graduating early—and I guaranteed my continued good behavior and participation in my father’s quest for a justice appointment. In return, they would outwardly accept my engagement and continue to support me financially until I graduated.

My school was paid up through the end of the semester so April and May rent plus my allowance was all that my parents were going to have to pay for me. I could have pulled money out of my savings account but I didn’t want them to know I had one so I thought it best to allow them to continue under the delusion that I was broke and they were still supporting me.

Soon I will be Mrs. James Wilson.

Maybe then I could relax. I was getting paranoid about everything. I even thought Nat was following me around just because I had seen a black Benz behind me a few times during the past couple of weeks. Casually mentioning it to Richard, he assured me that Nat was with him on most of those occasions because she had a paper due and he was helping her write it as usual. He was our savior when it came to writing or speaking. I would have never passed Speech if it hadn’t been for him. His grades were nothing to write home about, evenly split between A’s and B’s, but he managed to get them without even cracking a book most of the time.

Richard asked why I thought Nat would be following me and, because James had made me promise not to tell him anything, I simply said I was doing something I would rather keep secret for the time being. The disappointed look on his face was more than I could stand so I assured him he would be one of the very first to know when I was ready to tell. That seemed to temporarily appease him.

Checking my watch, I realized I only had ten minutes to get to class.

“I’ve got to go,” I said hurriedly gathering my books.

“Mustn’t be late,” Becky taunted.

Becky was definitely becoming...belligerent. Nat either hadn’t noticed or didn’t care enough to say anything. That’s one person I won’t miss, I decided, relieved that there was only a little over a month until graduation. Surely I could last that long.

While I was taking the test, my thoughts kept straying to James. I wondered what he was doing at that moment. Probably mowing, I decided. It was amazing to me how much money people spent on watering their lawns knowing that it would need constant cutting.

Astonishingly enough, James seemed to thrive on that type of thing. The Fowlkes had a huge riding lawn mower and it was like a fun toy to him. He had to use the push mower for part of the lawn and then the weed eater for trimming, but he seemed to relish the physical labor. I shuddered, better him than me. I would take painting over outdoor work anytime.

I missed him. Our schedules were so hectic, there was very little time left over for us. I did my student teaching in the mornings while James had classes and during the afternoons while James was working out at the track field, I painted the cottage. He had agreed to start his job for the Fowlkes in March, so his evenings were totally taken up with that, and I had night classes on Mondays and Thursdays. Saturdays were track meets and Sunday as soon as we returned from church James was at the Fowlkes in order to get the rest of his work done. We had barely seen each other in March until spring break the previous week. Being together so much then had been...exhilarating.

Handing in the test, I knew I hadn’t done well, but I hoped it was good enough to get a passing grade. Driving back to my apartment, I tried to fight the depression that engulfed me. Whenever James and I were apart, I felt like half of me was missing.

I let myself into the apartment and after locking the door, felt myself being grabbed from behind. Before I could scream a familiar voice whispered, “I’ve missed you,” in my ear.

Gasping, I turned and launched myself at him. Picking me up, James carried me to the couch.

“I thought you were working,” I said in wonder.

“I finished early and couldn’t think of a single thing to do with my time,” he teased.

“Well, I might have some ideas about that.”

“Hmm, sounds interesting...suggest away.”

“Good answer.”

Dropping all pretenses at levity, I buried my face in his neck.

“I’m so glad you’re here. I was depressed thinking we wouldn’t be able to see each other until Sunday.”