Doorway to Home (The Garnet Trilogy - Book 3)

By Willa Jemhart

Trew finds a way to take Martie to Garnet for a quick reunion with her mother. But things don’t go according to plan. He finds himself trapped in a society with rules he strongly opposes and where some would prefer him dead. The worst part is that Martie loves it here and doesn’t want to leave. To stay true to himself he can’t conform to their ways. But will he do it for the sake of love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Willa Jemhart
• Release date: Oct 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301117406

Willa Jemhart

Willa lives in British Columbia, Canada. She enjoys a variety of activities, but her favorites are those that involve relaxing. Sitting in the backyard with a cold cooler in the summer, and cozying up with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn while watching a movie in the winter are at the top of her list. Of course she loves to read, and while she is not picky on the genre, she prefers books that contain romance in one form or other.To date, Willa has written the ebook YA novella series; The Garnet Trilogy, and a paranormal romance; Ridley House. Her latest ebook, the YA dystopian, Drowning in Deception has now been released and will soon be available at most online retailers.For more information, please visit her website: www.willajemhart.com

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The Garnet Trilogy

By Willa Jemhart

Book 3: Doorway to Home

Copyright 2012 Willa Jemhart

Published by Willa Jemhart at Smashwords

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters and events are the product of the author`s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

CHAPTER ONE

Trew was a typical boy, soon to be a typical man. He enjoyed throwing a football around with the guys, he always took a second look when a pretty girl walked by, and he liked tinkering in the engine of his old pick-up truck. He was no wimp; liked doing bench-presses and was not afraid to crack someone across the nose who he felt was deserving of it. He would often suck back a beer or two with friends, belch loudly, and laugh at his own raunchy farts. He was true blue-blooded male through and through.

But a major change had occurred in him when he met Martie, the girl he had known in his dreams since he was just a kid. While he was still the same Trew he’d always been, he couldn’t look at her without feeling tender inside, and the idea of being away from her for any length of time stressed him out. Her petite yet curvy body was firm in all the right places, but soft and tender too. Her long blonde hair always smelled of something sweet and fruity that he could never quite place. And then there were her eyes. They were a deep emerald green, and when she turned them on him, all he could think of was diving into those two beautiful pools. Not only had he become sweet for a girl, but he had fallen in love with her. He knew it, and he would proudly admit it. But what surprised him the most was that he felt no shame in it. If a friend were to harass him and tell him he was going soft or that he was whipped, he would have no problem agreeing wholeheartedly.

He would do anything for this girl, and he knew that was a very bold statement. But right now, she was missing her mother. And now that they had figured out where her mother was, Trew knew what must happen next. He had to take her to her mother. He had to do this for the girl he loved.

His father, Larzel had told them the secret he’d been keeping all of Trew’s life. Larzel, and Martie’s mother, Magda, were from a planet very far away called Garnet. He had given them the facts; what his world was like and how the people lived and thrived there. He had told them about his and Magda’s mission to Earth, and of the complications that arose that had caused them to stay over seventeen years longer than they were supposed to. He had told them of the guarded Doorway that led to Garnet, which was located in the hills of Ireland, although he wouldn’t give specific details. Larzel, a protector from Garnet was trained to uphold the Agenda and tell no one of his world or how to get there. This was engrained in his psyche. He had already reluctantly told Trew and Martie more than he should have, and Trew knew there was no way he would get any more information from him.

But Trew had a photo that he and Martie had found hidden in her mother’s house; a picture of the One City in Garnet, taken high from a cliff top in the distance. When asked about it, his dad had faltered, and Trew knew without a doubt that the notes on the back of the photo would lead them to an alternate way to Garnet - a secret Doorway, and one he believed would not be guarded. They had been to the location near Blink, B.C. once and come up empty, but that was before they knew what they were looking for.

After Larzel had made his confession to Trew and Martie in Martin’s art studio, he didn’t waste one second.

And now that you know the truth, and now that you’re old enough to care for yourself, it is time for me to return, he told Trew.

Larzel hugged his son. This was an exchange that was rare between them, but it was his way of saying good-bye.

Trew pulled back and smirked. I’ll see you in a few days, he said.

Larzel’s face darkened. Trew, you are not to follow me. Do you understand?

I understand. And I won’t follow you. I’ve figured out the other way to get to Garnet. I’m bringing Martie to her mom, Dad. I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but it’s what I have to do.

Trew, you have always been a good boy, but you have a strong rebellious streak in you. I know from experience that there’s no stopping you when have your mind set on something. This time, I will expect obedience from you. This is important. If you come to Garnet, you are only asking for trouble - for all of us.

He felt bad. He really didn’t want to upset his dad, but he’d made a promise and he wasn’t about to break it. Dad, how about for once you try to understand my point of view? He crossed his arms and tilted his head at Larzel.

Rrmph! was all that he could say.

Trew was surprised to see Martie walk up to Larzel and wrap her arms around him in a loose hug, because his dad had done nothing but intimidate her from day one. He reluctantly hugged her back. She looked so petite with his large muscular arms behind her back. Thank you Larzel, she said. Thank you for telling me the truth. When you see my mom, please tell her I love her.

Larzel nodded and stepped back. Good-bye Martin. Good-bye Martie. Bye Trew. Take care of yourself son. And he swung out the door. Trew heard his heavy footsteps beat down the stairs that descended from Martin’s studio above his garage.

Trew wanted to head out right away, but it was getting late and Martie wanted to spend some more time with her newly found father, Martin. The place where Trew believed the secret Doorway to be located was in the forest near Blink, which was only about a four hour drive from where they were. They agreed to stay with her dad for two nights and then head out in the afternoon. This would give Martie a full day to get to know her father better.

Martin and his wife were very hospitable. They fed them and gave them beds to sleep in and were quite simply nice people. Watching the conversations, Trew could tell that Martin’s wife Susan was happy that her husband and his daughter had been reunited, although she wasn’t aware of the secrets surrounding the reason they were estranged. Martin and Susan’s son, Adam, took an immediate liking to Trew and clung to him the entire time.

You would have made a good big brother, Martin said to Trew.

Or maybe someday you’ll be a good father, added Susan with a teasing smile.

On the day they were to leave, Martie sat down in the morning, and with help from Trew and Martin, wrote two letters; one to her mother’s best friend, Fran, and one to her own best friend, Becky. She loved them both and didn’t want to leave them hanging. She explained that she had found her father in British Columbia and he had provided information that helped her locate her mother. Her mom, she lied to them, had taken a top secret job in a far-away country. She was alive and well. She wasn’t allowed to tell them anymore than that, other than she was on her way to go see Maggie, and wasn’t sure when she would be returning. She hoped that was sufficient enough to put their minds at ease.

After lunch they said their good-byes and headed out on the highway for Blink.

It was an uneventful drive, and when they arrived, they found the cabins at the end of the hiking trail to be booked for the night. But they hit the trail anyway, hoping they would figure out how the Doorway worked right away.

Are you positive this is a Doorway? Martie asked when they approached the tree.

I am, he said. By the way my dad reacted when I asked him if it was, I have no doubt.

As they had done the last time they were here, they spent a great deal of time looking and feeling around the tree. Again, this accomplished nothing.

Looking up into the high branches, Trew said, We have to get up into the tree. That must be the answer.

It took a long time, and with the help of some ropes they had brought along, they managed to inch their way up. By the time they both sat in the sturdy branches of the old tree, it was pitch dark outside.

From their perch, Trew and Martie could look down to the center of the tree, and there they saw a very dark area. That must be it, Martie said pointing. He nodded in agreement. So what do we do? she asked. Just step into it?

I guess so, he said.

Martie’s lips were pressed together hard. Her skin glowed pale white in the moonlight. Do you want me to go first? Trew asked.

She nodded.

Okay, but if it works…if I disappear or something…

I’ll be right behind you Trew. I love you. Thanks for doing this for me - for helping me get to my mom.

Love you too, he smiled and pressed his cheek quickly to hers.

He lowered himself from his branch down into the dark crevice. When his feet hit the sweet spot, everything went completely black. He felt momentarily like he had no body. He was just a floating entity, swimming in a sea of nothingness. He heard a swooshing sound that came from far away, increasingly getting closer, closing in on him until it was right on top of him. His body found his mind with a snapping elastic sensation, and he was thrust forward and upward at a crazy speed, landing shakily on firm ground. He froze, stunned by what had just happened, and looked around.

It had worked! He was on the cliff in the picture. He had been catapulted from mid-air on the right side of the little bush that sat on the ledge. It was very dark, but he could see a very soft glow of light in the distance where the