The Road of Deception E-Book

Angel Rupert

• Herausgeber: Bentockiz
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

The day had definitely gotten off to a good start. About to head out the door for my morning run, she told him I would call him later that night when I got the chance, not knowing what my schedule would be. Butterflies flitted around in my stomach all morning. I might as well have called the whole day a loss, because I didn’t catch anything.

Leseprobe

Title Page

The Road of Deception

Passion and Promises

Angel Rupert

The Road of Deception / 9th 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: 9789198848786

e-book editing: Athens, Greece

Cover Images created via AI art generators

Table of Contents

Title Page

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

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

Sitting at my desk, chin in hand, staring out at the gray skies, I hoped the rain would at least let up while we were at the cemetery.

Preferring to wait in my room for the limo to arrive, I figured Mom and Mark were downstairs, blonde heads close together whispering about me, wondering if I was about to snap...again.

Glancing out of my window, I noticed the limo had pulled up to the curb, and I reluctantly headed toward the stairs. Mark was halfway up, choosing to come and get me rather than having to yell. None of us had the energy or inclination to project anything much above a whisper.

I shot Mark a grimace that was supposed to be a smile. Mark grimaced back. We needed no words...understanding was immediate. Being there for Mom was the most important thing to both of us so by mutual silent agreement we would try our best, if not to make it easier for her, at least not make it any harder. I had done enough of that already.

My main frustration was that Mom wouldn’t let me apologize. Every time I tried, she would cut me off with a tired smile and change the subject. Finally, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, I unloaded to Mark. Surprisingly, I received no support from him.

“Just drop it, okay? Mom is barely holding it together as it is, and I don’t think she could handle an emotional scene from either of us right now.”

Translation: behave yourself and stop causing trouble.

I dropped it.

Getting into the limo wasn’t any easier for me than the last time I’d tried. I would never get the hang of it. Mom, on the other hand, was incredibly graceful and looked like she had ridden in limos all of her life.

If I had known that before, I would have asked her for tips on limo entrances and exits. I still wouldn’t have done it justice, but perhaps it would have prevented me from falling into and out of the limo every time.

Mom was absolutely gorgeous. True, she had lost quite a bit of weight, and her skin looked extremely pale with no sign of the healthy tan she used to have in better times, still there was no denying that she was beautiful. She wore a lot more makeup than she used to in order to cover up the dark circles under her eyes that had become even more pronounced while Dad was in the hospital.

Dad had always said that she was the most enchanting creature he had ever laid eyes on, and makeup only detracted from her natural beauty. He was right. Lipstick was the only cosmetic she had used for as long as I could remember.

I knew that she only wore so much makeup for other people. Mom hated for anyone to feel uncomfortable around her so makeup was an important part of her mask. She used it and her personality to hide most of her grief and pain from outside eyes.

Regrettably, most people had no idea what to say or how to act around victims of tragedy, but somehow Mom always seemed to know just what to say or do to ease others’ discomfiture. People loved her because she always knew how to make people feel good even under the most rotten of circumstances.

Mark and I were determined to be whatever she needed us to be realizing that it was the best way to help her. I certainly owed her that much, and more.

The funeral was at the church building, and the auditorium, which seated close to three hundred people easily, was more than halfway full and still filling up by the time we arrived. Even though we had only lived in the DFW area for three years, Mom had a way of drawing people to her.

There were many church members, of course, but also most of Mom’s fellow teachers, quite a few of her students, and Frank. For some reason seeing big, strong Frank with tears in his eyes was almost my undoing.

The biggest surprise of all was the people from our old hometown. Teachers who had taught with Mom and Dad, former students, parents of former students, and members of our old church had loaded into chartered buses to attend the funeral. Mom couldn’t help the tears that filled her eyes at the sight.

Right before we got to the door of the activity center where we would wait until time to walk in, I heard someone calling “CeeCee!”

It can’t be, I thought as I turned my head toward the sound, she’s in Canada on vacation.

It was!

“Felicia! What are you doing here? I thought you were in Canada!”

We were hugging and laughing, and it felt good.

“Dad left our number with Mr. Forsythe in case of an emergency; he’s my parents’ lawyer, too. He let us know your dad was in the hospital not doing well. We didn’t know he...we didn’t know about...the funeral...until we got home.”

“I am so glad you’re here. Can she walk in with us, Mom?” I asked as we entered the activity center.

“Of course she can, if her parents don’t mind,” my mom smiled at Felicia warmly and squeezed her hand.

“Thanks, Mrs. Wilson,” Felicia returned the smile.

My parents had been overjoyed when Felicia had become the friend I needed so badly and had a soft spot for her.

Actually, I had always thought that Felicia looked more like my mom’s daughter than I did. Interesting how that didn’t bother me. If it had been anyone else, it would have. Sad that I was so obsessed with physical beauty; obviously envious of what I didn’t have.

“I’m Mark, in case anyone is interested,” he casually introduced himself to Felicia. “Nice to finally meet you,” he added.

“I am so sorry. I forgot you hadn’t met,” I said apologetically.

“I’m always gone when you come in for a visit, and you always leave before I can get back home,” Felicia reasoned, “but I know all about you from CeeCee.”

“Well, that can’t be good. Hope you’ll give me the benefit of the doubt anyway,” Mark teased.

“I’ll try to keep an open mind,” Felicia promised.

The funeral director showed up to lead us into the auditorium at that point.

I was relieved to know that Mark and Felicia seemed to like each other. I had regaled Felicia with Mark’s many, many dates, and Felicia had occasionally made snide remarks about guys who date that much.

Numerous “dating machines” had asked her out in her short dating career, and they’d never turned out well. Although she was not a cynic by nature, that would be me, she generally avoided those types of guys.

The funny thing about Mark was that usually girls asked him out, and he was just too nice to say “no” and risk hurting their feelings. Because he had been raised a gentleman, he also insisted on paying, but warned them up front that it would have to be an inexpensive date, since he was having to help pay for his college education. The girls never seemed to mind.

Another unexpected arrival interrupted the short walk between the main building and the activity center.