The Descended: Book 1

By D.C. Smith

Sunny Meadows has no family members left after her dearly beloved grandmother dies three months after her fiance had died in a car accident. She decides to leave the life she lived in Boston and live in her grandmother's house when an elderly neighbor befriends her and she falls passionately in love with a local businessman.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.C. Smith
• Release date: Jan 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301241910

D.C. Smith

From the moment I learned to read, I loved books.The emotions and thoughts of the characters in a book can be expressedso much better that it puts you in the mindframe of the characters.I am fascinated by angels and like to look at pictures of them as well ascollect figurines of them. I also collect dolls.I've always wanted to write, and finally decided to go after my dream.Those things that I love inspired me to write my first novel, The Descended.I am currently working on my fifth novel.

Book preview

The Descended

Book 1

by D.C. Smith

Copyright © 2012 by D.C. Smith

Smashwords Edition

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

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Chapter One

It was over, another closed chapter in her life. The past few months of Sunny’s life had gone by in a whirlwind. She felt numb; she wanted to deny the truth that her dearly beloved grandmother was dead. Oh Gram, Sunny whispered to herself, How can I live without you? You raised me since I was twelve years old. You were always there for me no matter what. You comforted me through my mother’s death, and just three months ago the unexpected death of my fiancé Paul. You stood by my decisions and had faith in me. You always knew the right words to say to make things better. Now I have no one left, no family members. Tears spilled down Sunny’s face and puddled on the top of the white Formica kitchen table where she sat.

Sunny was suddenly brought back to the present with the shrill sound of the teakettle whistling on the stove. She walked over to the old green stove, turned off the heat and made a cup of tea. She sat at the kitchen table looking around at all the familiar things. The little wooden shelves over the chipped porcelain sink which sat various little knick-knacks, one of which was a little statue of a cat that turned blue when the temperature got cold or pink when it was warm. That statue had fascinated Sunny when she was young. She smiled at the memory and started to feel better. Okay, Gram, I know you are with me in spirit. I can feel your love.

Just then the doorbell rang. Sunny walked swiftly to the door, while running her fingers through her medium length blond hair and straightening her shirt. She stopped at the hallway mirror by the front door and quickly took an assessment of her face. Her beautiful blue eyes were somewhat swollen and red from crying. She looked a little pale from not getting enough sun. But despite that she didn’t look bad. In fact she looked to be so much younger than her age of twenty-seven.

She opened the door and found Dovie, Gram’s old friend and next-door neighbor, standing there holding a container and smiling. Hi Dear, I thought I’d stop by and bring you some freshly baked pumpkin bread I made.

Oh that sounds delicious! Please come on in, I could use some company now. Sunny said as she held open the door for Dovie. She sat Dovie down at the table and got a knife to cut them each a slice of pumpkin bread. Excuse any tears that may fall Dovie, I was just thinking about my Gram and how much I miss her. She meant so much to me.

I understand honey; your grandmother Blanche was a dear friend of mine. We had many happy years of friendship. I know how proud she was of you. You know I was there with your grandmother when she went into labor and I helped her deliver your mother when she was born.

Really? I didn’t know that. Sunny said as she served Dovie. Would you like a cup of tea with that?

"Yes dear, tea would be great. Just a little honey and milk added to it, thank you.

Here you go, Dovie. Let me know if it tastes to your liking. She passed the cup over to her and took her own plate and cup to the table and sat down. I’d like to hear more. Was the birth of my mother an emergency delivery?"

Dovie took a sip of her tea, and with a gleam in her hazel eyes said, Oh I’d love to. I was a registered nurse and midwife and had already delivered some babies back in those days. I met your grandmother through one of my friends named Sophie, whom worked with your grandmother at the restaurant that my husband John and I would often go to for lunch. Sophie invited your grandmother to join our quilting bee, which she did. We met every Saturday and made quilts that we donated to the church to give to the poor. We had such fun, lively conversations while quilting. Your grandmother’s husband had just left her for another woman when right afterward she found out she was pregnant. I told her if she wanted I would help her through her pregnancy since I was a registered nurse and midwife. I knew it had to be hard for her since she would be a single mother and sole support for herself and her baby. It took a while but finally your grandmother agreed. Months later, as we were sitting on my big porch doing our quilting, your grandmother’s water broke. Now how’s that for good timing? Both Dovie and Sunny chuckled thinking about it. So I took your grandmother into my house where she promptly delivered a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Dovie’s eyes now had a hint of happy tears filling them. That was one quilting session I’ll always remember. I had your grandmother stay a week with John and me. I talked her into it. I wanted to make sure she was strong enough to go back to work and take care of her baby too. One of our quilting partners named Edna volunteered to baby-sit when your grandmother went back to work. She lived close by your grandmother and she loved children. Edna would not think of asking for money, she told Blanche she had plenty of money. Blanche would be doing her a favor providing her with the precious company of a child to fill her days with since all her children were grown and moved far away. So everything worked out fine for everyone involved. Dovie grabbed her cup of tea with gnarled, shaking hands and while sipping it had dribbled a little bit of it onto her lavender colored housedress. Oh dear me, I’m such a klutz in my old age!

Sunny got up, tore a piece of paper towel and gave it to Dovie. I do the same thing once in a while. Actually there have been times when I completely miss my mouth! Sunny said and they both laughed. "This pumpkin bread is so delicious Dovie, so moist and it just melts in your mouth. You’ll have to give me the recipe. Just sitting here talking to you has lifted my spirits. You are such a joy to talk to. I never knew about my mother’s birth. Of course I never asked my mom or my grandmother about it.

You’re welcome, dear. The feelings are mutual. I want you to know that I am always here for you. Are you staying or are you going to sell the house?" Dovie’s eyes lifted and caused the wrinkles on her forehead to deepen even more.

Sunny looked down at her cup of tea and in a quieter tone of voice said, I decided to stay here. My grandmother left me her house and an ample inheritance. I don’t have anything to go back to. I had a small apartment in Boston and a job that I didn’t care for. My fiancé Paul had just passed away less than three months ago in an automobile accident. A tear slid down Sunny’s cheek and her body shook a little.

Dovie immediately took Sunny’s hand in hers and said, I’m so sorry. You have been through a lot of heartache recently. I wish I could take the sadness away for you.

"Thank you, Dovie. It’s just so much has happened within a short period of time that I feel so numb with grief right now.

I understand, Sunny, Dovie said as she patted her hand. I am so glad to hear you’re staying. I believe we will have some good times to share. I know it’s hard to understand right now but God never gives us more than we can handle."

Sunny looked up into Dovie’s eyes and could sense true caring and love in them. She then smiled and said, "I know God is with us. I know that my loved ones are in a better place.