Where the Sun Sets

By Ann Marie

Best friends since childhood, two women are forced to define that friendship when one is critically injured while protecting the other. While one woman must come to terms with past events she never stopped to notice, the other comes face to face with a past she fought hard to forget.

The story takes place during a twenty four hour period. Antonia Dal Santo spent her whole life protecting her best friend. Josephine Ferrero spent her whole life trying to become someone else. Protecting Josephine was Antonia's way of forgetting how no one protected her. Josephine was so busy acting she forgot who she really was. When Antonia is shot protecting Josephine, both women must face their own hidden truths, alone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ann Marie
• Release date: Jun 17, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452427645

Ann Marie

The author has the unique ability of seeing into other people’s emotions. She can hear the thoughts and feelings of others even when nothing is said out loud. Her ability to take unspoken emotions, put them into words, and invite the world in to partake makes her one of a kind. She was told by someone close that she had quiet dignity. It took her some time to come to terms with this observation as she always thought her personality was more on the shy side. She now embraces this unique trait, quiet dignity, and feels this has allowed her to be emotionally connected with a sense of loyalty to everyone and to every situation, good or bad, that has ever touched her life regardless.

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Copyright 2005 by Ann Marie

Smashwords edition

This book is dedicated to my Rock ... always

Many-many-many thanks to God in Heaven...for always being there for me

I thank my dedicated readers...especially --- Anita, Monica, Bailey, Kristine, MeAee, Sharon, Trudy, Kim, Elaine, Linette, Bob, Patrick, Rodger and Stephen

Cover Art by the talented Barry Forbes ...view more of his work @

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21651868@N07/

Copyright 2005 by Ann Marie

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Now read in 54 countries...141 to go

Where the Sun Sets

A Novel by Ann Marie

Prologue

Josephine Ferrero was born in the month of December, of the year 1962. She was the only child of Tristan and Dorothy Ferrero, the only heir to the Ferrero Wine Empire. Throughout her childhood, Josephine continually felt out of place among her peers. She had too many freckles and her front teeth were too big. She was always a bit more tomboyish than most people needed. She went from being the tallest girl in her class at the age of nine, to the shortest at the age of fourteen. Her hair was pin straight and the color of straw. She never had any chest to speak of and her derriere just kind of drooped. Although she had always remained at the top of her class, she had to work very hard at it.

She wanted to be a model, but that just wasn’t in the cards for her. At the age of twelve, while on a family vacation, her mother presented her to Louis Irving, a much sought-after director. As a favor to her parents, Mr. Irving had agreed to allow Josephine to audition for a part in his latest work. The audition went better than anyone had ever dreamed and Josephine ended up with one of the lead roles.

From that moment on, everyone wanted Josephine. She was called for commercials, movies and television as well. However, due to parental control and educational matters, she was limited to what she was permitted to do until she had graduated from college.

Although her parent’s money was still highly desired, Josephine’s lack of Beauty Queen looks and her less than perfect figure kept her out of more motion pictures than she would have hoped. She worked twice as hard as everyone else, but in the long run, she believed it had made her a better actress. She became one of the, if not the highest paid actresses in Hollywood. She had an Oscar under her belt as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award by the time she was twenty five.

Yet she still did not feel as if she belonged. As a result, she tried too hard to fit in. She would go to every invite that was extended to her, in Hollywood or New York. She would drink too much and when she drank, she would talk too loud. She felt the need to sleep with just about anyone, if only to keep the tabloids from labeling her a lesbian. And on top of everything else, her eye sight was going. She refused to wear glasses out in public and she could not get the hang of contact lenses, so she started to squint a lot. The squinting caused severe headaches, which in turn caused her to take pain pills. The pain pills made her extremely moody and then no one could stand to be around her for any length of time, especially directors.

Josephine decided that she was not going to sit around and wait for someone to give her work, so at the age of thirty, with the help of her parent’s wealth, Josephine opened her own production company where she started directing and producing her own work. Her very first film was nominated for an Academy Award.

Now, at the age of forty, Josephine finally felt she was where she belonged. She was finally in the position to make or break careers. She had the ability to make one feel like either an outcast or a star. What she lacked in friends, she multiplied in power. She had become the doorway to fame and fortune for many up and coming stars. She had become Hollywood.

Antonia Dal Santo was born in the month of April, in the year 1963. She was the only child from the marriage of Salvatore and Juliet Dal Santo and the heiress to nothing. Penniless, homeless and without any family to look after her, she became a ward of the state at the age of seven.

Although her name screamed Italian descent, her looks begged to differ. Her hair was a deep auburn color and her eyes were hazel. Her skin was a soft cream tone. She was of average height and shape. She was mentally gifted and considered by some a complete academic prodigy. And she would have fit in anywhere had she had the desire.

By the time Antonia was ten years of age, she could speak six languages fluently and was working hard at conquering the Portuguese dialect. She never had to study, although her nose was always in a book. She was beyond the top of her class, finishing most college courses before the age of sixteen.

Antonia never denied anyone her attention but spent as much time alone as she could. She loved to read and write and could often be found just sitting outside under a tree doing just that. She had no career ambitions, much to the dismay of everyone who knew her. She could have been anything she wanted. She could have been a very wealthy woman if she chose. Instead, Antonia joined the Peace Corps, directly upon leaving school. After which, she traveled the world as a missionary, temporarily joining up with whichever group was in the area at the same time as she. She worked with Audrey Hepburn in Bangladesh and Mother Teresa in Calcutta. She worked in Tanzania, Azerbaijan and Zimbabwe. But her heart belonged to the people of Congo and the Literacy Awareness Program she helped to initiate there.

At the age of thirty however, Antonia found herself sucked back into the world she had worked so hard to escape. Responding to the call of a friend, she left the world she loved, her people and their needs. She put her life aside and committed herself to a new purpose.

Now, at the age of forty she deeply desired the peace of the Congo again; the smell of the jungle air, the total lack of notoriety. She missed having the ability to be invisible. She would give anything to return to where the sun sets.

Chapter One

The air was crisp and clean. The temperature was a beautiful seventy-eight degrees. The afternoon was coming to an end and the coolness of the evening air was drifting in from the ocean. It was the perfect weather, the perfect atmosphere, for the annual end of the summer gathering. Simply decorated, the yard ran into one of the many outlets of Long Island Sound on the far side, having its other three sides, edged with eight feet of cedar privacy fencing. The green of the grass was accented by the pinks and whites of the Oriental Lilies hanging gracefully along the fencing. There were two oversized Mexican chimineas burning on either side of the yard and a small Jazz band playing off to the right. To the left were both the open bar and buffet along with two 130 pound pigs suspended over the hot coals of an open pit. Everywhere you looked there were smiles. Everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The rays of light from the setting sun reflected off the water’s surface giving the illusion of a thousand little sparklers burning brightly. The only disturbance to the spectacular light show was a single, small paddle boat, resting in picturesque water. To the party guests it appeared as if the gentleman onboard was fishing. The fishing pole was cast; the tackle box lay open and ready for a quick change of bait. However, Billy was not so easily misled. He saw the video camera and he knew the routine. He set off to persuade the individual to fish elsewhere. The paparazzi were always eager to crash a private party.

This was a private, by invite only affair for forty to fifty of Josephine Ferraro’s closest acquaintances and co-workers. In attendance were plenty of the highest paid professionals in Hollywood. Only they weren’t in Hollywood. They were all in Connecticut and happy to be away from all the attention for a while. Josephine had bought the resort specifically for the privacy. Yet, even with the more than adequate living area of this shingled roof, turn of the century, New Canaan Landmark, Josephine still had to go out into the world, and that was where they waited for her. Like a flock of seagulls waiting for a discarded burger. There was always someone waiting outside the fence, lurking in the street, waiting for the perfect photo. Antonia had suggested Josephine hire Billy as a body guard. And although he wasn’t the sharpest pencil in the holder, Billy did his job with no complaints. He wasn’t hard on the eyes either. Josephine could always count on him in the sack if, more importantly, when she felt the need.

Antonia was playing the perfect hostess for her friend, who specialized in making late appearances, even at her own affairs. Antonia was far from being a Hollywood anything, yet she knew everyone at the party and was loved and admired by all. She always greeted everyone by their first name, their given name. If your name was Patrick, she would call you Patrick. If your name was Elizabeth, she would call you Elizabeth; the only exceptions being that of Josephine, who had always been just Joe and Bernie, who pleaded with her to not call him Bernard. More than one guest considered Antonia their closest friend. But everyone knew her best friend was Josephine. You very rarely saw one without the other. Antonia was a people person. Although if you asked her, she would tell you she would have rather been a hermit. People came natural to her. She often called it her curse. People were attracted to her. She could never be alone. Not in Joe’s world anyway.

Josephine grabbed a glass of champagne as she emerged from the house. She was the total opposite of Antonia. Her hair, a lovely shade of seasonal cinnamon and her strikingly bold blue eyes made her a photographer’s dream. Yet she was far from everyone’s closest friend. Her hellos were often just tight lipped smiles. She could not remember your name to save her own life. She needed to be with people, needed to be the center of attention. Everyone who knew the two could not understand how they could be best friends. Joe made her money in films. She made lots of money. But money was not what she was after. She wanted power. She wanted to be the woman Hollywood needed. She wanted to be the road to success for up and coming stars. She wanted people to step back when she entered a room. She wanted to be able to make or break careers. And she was well on her way to establishing just that.

The two, now both forty, had been best friends since they were seven years old. Joe was famous, even then. Antonia had been all alone in the world. They met by fate and became instant friends. But there was more to it than that, more than just average friendship. They weren’t lovers, although the tabloids seemed to make more money claiming they were; for as much as Josephine enjoyed a good lay, Antonia all but avoided the issue altogether. They were each other’s hearts. They needed each other, lived through each other. And although no one could explain it, everyone knew they were meant to be together, as though they were somehow cosmically connected, perhaps joined from a prior lifetime.

Antonia felt Josephine’s presence as she entered the yard. She turned from the guests to search out her friend. She felt a coldness that overwhelmed her. Something was wrong but she was not at all sure what it was. She was sure, however, that she had felt this feeling before. She could not recall just when or where. She excused herself and started across the yard. Goose bumps covered her arms as she involuntarily scanned the yard for Billy. Catching Antonia off guard Josephine came up quickly from the side. She grabbed Antonia’s elbow rather firmly. Seething, through clenched teeth she passed her hellos to her guests as she tugged on Antonia’s arm beckoning her to follow.

What’s up Joe? Antonia greeted her friend, but her attention remained on scanning the yard.

Like you don’t know.

Huh?

Where is it?

Where is what?

Stop fuckin with me. Joe had temporarily obtained Antonia’s attention.

Joe . . .

I want the . . .

Yo Anthony, Joe was cut off as someone asked, Anthony, where is Danny?

I don’t know. Antonia never took her eyes off Josephine. Josephine was still speaking through clenched teeth.

Putting on a few pounds I see, is this the kind of image you want our guests to see?

Joe what is your problem? Antonia pulled free of Josephine’s grip.

My problem? You are my problem. Joe’s tone was rising. People were starting to stare. And Antonia’s eyes remained fixed on Josephine.

Look Joe, I seriously do not understand what has gotten you so upset, but perhaps this is not the best time to discuss it.

Perhaps? Josephine stuttered incredulously, When then do you think it would be a good time? When do you think you can chat with me, huh?

Antonia finally broke eye contact when something caught her eye. There was movement by the fence. The gate was unlatched; it swung open to a stop. ‘Where is Billy?’ Antonia thought. Her stomach twisted into a painful knot. Antonia turned back to face Josephine once again and was greeted by a slap that stunned her as well as several of the guests, whom had stopped chatting and were now staring. Antonia did not move her hand to her face as one would normally do in response to being slapped. Instead, she starred directly at Josephine and asked, Where is Billy? as she took a step backwards. Once again she looked to the fence. And again back through the crowd looking for Billy. She turned to search him out. She started to walk away from Josephine, when Joe screamed at her.

Where the hell do you think you are going? Don’t you walk away from me! Grabbing her arm, she swung Antonia around to face her. Not a moment too soon. Antonia saw the gunman by the fence. Josephine was in his sights. Antonia grabbed Josephine forcefully and seemingly without effort, tossed her to the left as gun blasts rang out. The first shot should have nailed Josephine straight through her neck. But as it turned out, it landed neatly in Antonia’s right shoulder.

Where the hell is Bill... she was cut off as the second shot ripped straight through her abdomen, from the right to the left. Still spinning from tossing Josephine to the side, Antonia took one more shot in her back and another in her thigh, as she covered Joe through her forward momentum. Everyone was screaming and in the hysteria no one saw the gunman exit.

A crowd formed around the two women. Joe was bleeding from her forehead.

Oh, my God! someone screamed. Josephine’s been shot!

At first Josephine found it impossible to sit up. She felt the wind had been knocked out of her and could not fill her lungs with enough oxygen. She could not focus her eyes, everything was a blur. When she had managed an upright position the pulsating throb in her head sounded like a freight train. Josephine managed a response, though she directed it at no one. No, no I’m alright. I just banged my head when she pushed me.

People pressed themselves in-between Josephine and Antonia. Someone was helping Joe to her feet. Are you sure you’re OK? They asked her. She nodded her head a few times and brushed herself off.

Anthony...Anthony? Joe could not see Antonia, lying but a few feet away from her. She could not see Antonia, lying in a pool of blood.

Bernie is with Antonia. Someone responded. Joe heard the voices that tried to comfort her, but she did not know where they were coming from. Everything was blurry. She put her hand to her forehead. The pain was there and then it was gone. It will be OK; everything is going to be OK, you just relax. A voice assured her.

Barely audible and with a great deal of effort, Antonia’s voice whispered out to the shadow loaming over her, Joe...where is Joe?

Don’t you worry love.

Is...she OK?

Sure she is honey, The shadow returned, holding Antonia’s hand as he held back tears. Bernie had seen the whole event from start to finish. His eyes had been on Antonia since his arrival. She was the only woman in the world who had ever caught his eye. Shock was the first thing he felt. He couldn’t move, for what seemed like forever for him. When he finally came back to himself and understood what had happened, he felt anger. Anger as he watched Josephine brush Antonia aside, without so much as a glance to see if she was OK. Then an overwhelming sense of fear that came with seeing the amount of blood that was coming from Antonia. He looked up, angrily in Josephine’s direction.

Josephine is just fine. You saved her life. He was cut off as Antonia squeezed his hand hard. Antonia moved her free hand to her abdomen.

It hurts... It hurts real bad. Antonia whispered.

I know honey, but it will be OK, everything is going to be OK.

Antonia tried once again, Where...the… hell...was...Billy? Joe...Jo. Her hand fell to her side. Darkness overcame her.

The boat on the water sat empty now, faintly rocking side to side, barely causing a ripple. The fishing pole, still extended fought to stay in the boat as the fish on its hook tried desperately to escape his fate. The tackle box, still open, was now abandoned. There was no sign of the man with the video camera. No sign of the camera. No sign of Billy.

Everything was happening so fast. The ambulance arrived, followed by a single police vehicle. People were pushing and shoving to escape any residual danger.

Go on Josephine, we’ll take care of everything here. ‘Who said that?’ Someone was grabbing Josephine’s elbow. ‘Who?’ She couldn’t seem to find a face. She scanned the yard with her eyes. Searching for what, she had no clue. She felt nothing. All she heard were mumbles, people talking but she couldn’t understand what they were saying. She strained her eyes, looking to hear better but she knew that wouldn’t help at all.

She stepped up into the ambulance with the help of a steady hand. It was dark inside. She was escorted towards the front to sit away from the doors. ‘What is happening?’ Slam. The doors slammed shut. She suddenly felt crowded as the siren wailed. ‘Oh my God, that hurts.’ she thought to herself. Covering her ears with her hands, she tucked her chin to her chest. ‘What the hell is happening?’ Josephine was losing control and she could feel it tightening around her chest.

Miss. Someone was talking to her. Miss, here. They placed oxygen in front of her face. She bent her head back and let it rest on the wall of the ambulance. She breathed deeply and slowly filling each fiber of her lungs with the much needed oxygen. As she finally felt herself coming back, she lifted her head back up and removed the mask.

And then she saw her. She saw Antonia laying not even two feet in front of her. Blood. There was so much blood. ‘What the hell happened?’ She couldn’t remember. There were two people standing between her and Antonia. They were working frantically. ‘Why? What was wrong?’

Anthony... Joe called out in little more than a whisper.

The ambulance pulled into the hospital parking lot.

Anthony… This time a bit louder, as Josephine tried to stand a hand grabbed her arm.

Sit down miss. Miss, you need to sit down. she dutifully responded as the ambulance came to a stop and its doors were thrust open.

Wait. Where are you taking her? she asked desperately as Antonia was whisked away. Through the doors, the hand came again and gingerly helped her down out of the ambulance.

Come miss. Miss, you need to see a doctor. There was no response as Josephine dutifully followed the stranger’s lead. Her eyes were searching frantically for Antonia. ‘What the hell happened?’ She thought as she struggled to make sense of the manic scene playing in her mind. The stranger led Josephine into a waiting cubical in the emergency room of St. Bartholomew Hospital. With the exception of a few employees, this part of the hospital seemed vacant. With the majority of the staff running to the aide of Antonia, Josephine was seen by the local pediatric doctor, who happened to be in the hospital checking patients.

Hello...Ms. Ferrero, isn’t it? The good doctor inquired, nervously.

Am I? was her only response.

Slightly irritated by her attitude, the doctor turned on the bright overhead light with a snap. Please lay back, ma’am.

Reviews for Where the Sun Sets

[maryann12_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story was well written, well thought out, and flowed smoothly as it gave us different characters' perspectives. The story and characters were awesome! It was the right amount of excitement, and intrigue. I loved it. And will recommend it.Engaging characterizations, suspenseful story, and sharp writing, makes Where the Sun Sets novel feel fresh and exciting. Can't wait for the next novel from this writer, Ann Marie.