Phoenix Rising (Phoenix of the Heart)

By Michelle Stevens

Before the world of Facebook, Chat Rooms and Blogs, there were online communities called Bulletin Boards...

Beth Lynn, devoted teacher and animal lover, has terrible luck with men. That is until Scott Reiner, also known as The Keeper, enters her life through the most unlikely of places – her computer. Scott saves her from a humiliating moment and begins his pursuit of her. There’s only one problem, Beth has an admirer who isn’t willing to let her go.

* The first part of Beth’s journey begins with the two lovers finding each other. Obstacles lie ahead for the young couple and a tragic event stands at the end that will change the course of Beth’s life forever. For you see, she is a Phoenix ~ her future requires the flame.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Stevens
• Release date: Oct 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301952724

Michelle Stevens

Michelle lives by the beautiful Rockies with her husband and children. She grew up in the 80’s and still has fondness for that era. She was a schoolteacher for many years, but always dreamed of writing. "Enjoy life by embracing the sadness as well as the happiness. It’s all a part of being on this earth." ~ Mrs. Pinkerton Feel free to email me at: [e-mail]

Book preview

Phoenix Rising

By

Michelle Stevens

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * *

PUBLISHED BY:

Michelle Stevens on Smashwords

Phoenix Rising

Copyright 2012 by Michelle Stevens

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental.

CONTENTS

The Phoenix Rises

A New Connection

First Impressions

Crash and Burn

The Morning After

It’s Over or Is It?

***

The Phoenix is fated to burst into flames, being reduced to ashes from which another Phoenix will rise, fresh and new, to live again.

***

The Phoenix Rises

You’re the best teacher ever! Kyle cried enthusiastically, flashing a toothless grin as he covered his cupcake with a huge heap of frosting. I’d given my first graders instructions to ice their cupcakes to look like one of the phases of the moon and was startled to see my principal come through the door just as they began the messy venture.

I watched Mrs. Russell walk over to a table of students and asked what they were doing. I blushed when I heard Bobbie whisper matter-of-factly to his classmate, I don’t think there was a moon when the principal was a kid.

If Ms. Russell heard his declaration, she showed great restraint because she didn’t even crack a smile. Instead, she headed straight over to me wearing the grave expression I’d grown accustom to. Under her breath she complimented, Clever way to celebrate your birthday with your students. I turned to hide my grin from the class.

Even though Mrs. Russell constantly wore a severe expression, she knew all 600 students by their full names and remembered small details concerning each of her staff members.

I am a little surprised you didn’t take the day off, Miss Lynn.

I shrugged my shoulders. You know me. I practically live at this school.

Yes, well today I give you permission to miss the staff meeting. She looked at me kindly. Even teachers need a life.

I couldn’t believe my luck. Normally I wouldn’t have cared, but I was excited about tonight! The new guy I was dating hinted that he had a wonderful surprise for my birthday. The fact I even had a date was extraordinary. I’d suffered a dry spell since moving to Colorado, and I was certain my last relationship had a lot to do with it.

My heart still ached from the betrayal; the smug look on my fiancé’s face when I walked in on the two of them, my heart shattering to pieces while I stood before them lying naked in his bed… the ending of our dream. However, that was two long years ago and I was ready to jump back in. After the final bell rang, I waved to my last student and raced home.

It didn’t take much time to tidy up my one bedroom apartment, which left plenty of time to primp and dress. Since it was my birthday, I decided to go all out. I put on my short silver dress that went exceptionally well with my black legwarmers and new high heels. I poofed up my bangs to perfection and spent almost an hour crimping my long red hair. My best friend Angie had given me large silver hoop earrings for my birthday and they complemented the dress perfectly. I smiled at my reflection, trusting Jim would be pleased.

I’d met my new beau a couple of weeks earlier at a dance club. Since that night, he surprised me with small romantic gifts before each date. I couldn’t help wondering what he had in store for my 24th birthday. I envisioned a big bouquet of two dozen roses in honor of my twenty-four years or dinner at one of the fancier restaurants in Denver followed by a night of dancing afterwards.

When Jim arrived, I was shocked to see a stack of cardboard boxes instead. He grinned as he brought box after box into my apartment. I had no idea what his surprise was, but it certainly wasn’t the romantic gift I was hoping for.

Do you know what this is? he asked with child-like enthusiasm. I shook my head rapidly with a plastered smile on my face. It’s a computer, Beth!

My smiled faltered. I was uncomfortable with such an expensive gift and it wasn’t even something I wanted. I actively avoided computers. They were big, complicated and cold - I had no interest in owning one. You shouldn’t have, I said lamely.

Beth, it’s the 80’s. You have to keep up with the times. He pointed to all the boxes, claiming proudly, I got you the only the best. This baby’s got a 450 megabyte hard drive, 8 megabits of memory and an internal modem. Jim looked at me expectantly, as if I should be impressed, but I just stared at him. It was all Greek to me.

I was afraid he spent thousands on the darn thing. A fancy computer, Jim? Don’t you think that’s overkill for a girl who doesn’t even know how to turn one on?

His eyes sparkled when he answered, Having a computer is the best thing in the world. You’ll see!

He insisted I sit as he began taking parts out of the numerous boxes, leaving styrofoam and cardboard scattered everywhere. My pristine living room became a trash heap in a matter of minutes. Cleaning up the mess was so not what I wanted to do on my birthday and I pouted. Jim was oblivious.

He was too caught up in examining and admiring all the pieces. Once he had it all laid out, Jim began assembling the complicated beast. I had to admit, the smile on his face was adorable. He genuinely seemed thrilled to be building the stupid computer for me.

I looked him over carefully as he worked. Jim reminded me of an elf from the series The Lord of the Rings. He was a few inches taller than I was, with a thin face, large blue eyes and a lean physique. I couldn’t help giggling as he toiled. Every time Jim bent over to fiddle with the computer, his long bangs fell into his eyes. Without fail, he’d brush back the clump of blond hair in irritation, only to have it slide back down to the same place.

"Need some barrettes there,