Revelations

By Pamela Kay Noble Brown

Melanie has finally met the man of her dreams, but life is never easy for one who has suffered a lifetime of horrific loss. She was compelled to return to her hometown, sure that enough years had passed since the tragedy. But why does she keep having those same horrible nightmares? Was domestic abuse a curse that was passed on from one generation to the next with no escape?

And her boyfriend's mother Mrs. Harriet Cornelius seems to be a sweet person, but there's something about her that Melanie just can't put her finger on. A shameful family secret may just keep Melanie from becoming too deeply involved, yet she longs for the kind of life and love others have. Will she find a way to overcome her fears, or will she simply walk away?

EXCERPT: Her picture perfect life changed in an instant...

Ellen had met Nita the first night she’d arrived at the Oak Ridge Battered Women’s shelter, which was located about 15 miles outside of Hampton, South Carolina. That was the night three weeks ago when a bleeding Ellen had called 911. After five years of serving as a punching bag to her stressed-out husband, Ellen had known that she had to get out when her 4-year-old Melanie had jumped on her father’s back in a futile effort to save Ellen from the barrage of fists pouring down upon her. She would never forget looking over her husband’s shoulder and seeing Melanie’s horrified face as she screamed “No...no...no...Mommy” over and over again. Oblivious in his fury, her husband Sam had continued to pound her face and shoulders until a sudden snapping sound made them all freeze.
Sam had beat Ellen so hard that the knuckle of his ring finger had popped out of joint. It had long ago weakened from years of boxing. He looked from his fist to Ellen several times like a man waking from a deep sleep.

“Oh baby, I’m so sorry,” he moaned, his eyes welling up with tears. “You know I love you so much. I don’t want to lose you baby. I’ll do anything,” he said standing up abruptly, ignoring the thud as little Melanie fell from his back to the floor.

A has-been boxer, who’d fallen out of public favor after losing 10 fights in a row, Sam Hightower had begun using his fists at home. Ellen had tried her best to be supportive and pray for him and encourage him, but more and more often he flew into these rages. This time Ellen knew she had to flee, if not for herself, then at least for their child’s well-being.

“Baby, I’m gonna swing by the emergency room and get this hand looked at,” said Sam, ignoring Ellen’s rapidly-swelling eyes. “When I get back, I’m gonna take my two favorite girls out for some ice cream cones. How does that sound?” Sam looked at Melanie as if surprised she wasn’t jumping up and down with happiness at the thought of ice cream cones, one of her favorite treats.

Trying to divert his attention away from Melanie who was now cowering in the corner, Ellen spoke up and said, “Good. Ice cream sounds just fine.”

“Just fine what...?” Sam snarled as his eyes snapped back to Ellen.

“Just fine baby love,” answered a defeated Ellen. She could barely bring herself to utter the endearing term she had coined for Sam in their earlier and happier days.

“That’s what I like to hear sugar pie,” said Sam walking towards the door. “I’ll be back in a few if they don’t keep me sitting in the waiting room all night”.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pamela Kay Noble Brown
• Release date: Aug 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465733757

Pamela Kay Noble Brown

Pamela Kay Noble Brown is a resident of Columbia, South Carolina, where she resides with her husband Virgil Brown. She enjoys reading, writing, acting, and attending church. Pamela also enjoys bowling, roller-skating, traveling, dancing, and singing (mainly in the shower). She would love to read your thoughts and reviews on her stories.

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REVELATIONS

by Pamela Kay Noble Brown

Copyright 2011 Pamela Kay Noble Brown

Smashwords Edition

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Now

I hope I can see you again really soon, Mike said as he helped Melanie into her sweater.

Hmmmmm….a gentleman too, Melanie thought, taking time to formulate her answer.

Well, I certainly have enjoyed our dates, Melanie replied. But let me give you a call in a few days ok? I’ve got a lot going on right now and need to get some things situated.

No worries, Mike replied. Take your time. I’m really starting to have some strong feelings for you and I want you to be sure of what, if anything, you feel for me. So give me a call when you’re ready. I’ll be waiting.

Melanie watched Mike walk off after he’d helped her into a cab and she couldn’t help but smile as she thought over their short but promising budding relationship. It had all started about five months ago. After recently moving back to Hampton, South Carolina, Melanie had immediately become active in community theater. With all of the turmoil going on in her real life, she’d loved immersing herself into the various characters and losing herself for a few hours. One day, as she was leaving the theater after a Sunday afternoon matinee, she stopped short upon hearing her name.

Melanie….Melanie Walker? called a well-dressed woman who appeared to be in her sixties.

Yes, that’s me. Have we met? asked Melanie.

No...and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I just saw the play you were in and wondered if I might have a few minutes of your time? The woman took a few steps towards Melanie with her hand extended. My name is Mrs. Harriet Cornelius. You might have heard of Colton Cornelius Industries?

Why yes…I uh… yes we can talk and yes I have heard of Colton Cornelius Industries, Melanie faltered for words even as she shook the hand Harriet extended with a gracious smile.

How old are you my dear? Harriet asked out of the blue. At Melanie’s astonished gasp, Harriet chuckled and continued. Forgive me for being so blunt, but at my age, we get right to the point. So we’ll skip that question for the moment. After seeing the production, I was very taken with your presence onstage. I read in the playbill that you have recently moved back to Hampton. You seem to be a woman of some charm and if you are not otherwise spoken for I would like to have my son contact you and invite you to a dinner we’re having this weekend. We are great theater patrons and there will be all sorts of interesting people in attendance that you should get to know. And…well to tell the truth, I think you would make a fascinating dinner companion for my son.

What’s wrong with him Melanie wondered. He can’t find his own dinner date? Oh well, seeing that her own social calendar was far from full, Melanie figured why not? At least she’d meet some new people and get out of the apartment for awhile. After exchanging contact information, the two ladies parted ways. Well she seems nice enough Melanie thought. And Colton Cornelius Industries was certainly a leading manufacturing company known and respected all along the eastern United States. So it’s not like she would be walking into unheard of dangerous territory. But just to be on the safe side she decided she would definitely drive her own vehicle to the dinner. Mrs. Harriet Cornelius seemed a little upper crust, but at the same time Melanie had been drawn to an inner kindness that radiated from the impeccably turned out Mrs. Cornelius.

Several days later as Melanie was running errands, her cell phone rang, showing an unknown number on the caller ID.

Hello, Melanie answered with her finger at the ready to disconnect the call should it be from yet another telemarketer.

Hi, this is Mike Cornelius. May I please speak with Melanie Walker? Mike drawled in a warm deep voice that brought an involuntary smile to Melanie’s face.

This is Melanie, Melanie replied as she decided to let him take the lead in the conversation.

First of all let me apologize if my mom came on kind of strong and roped you into accepting a dinner invitation, Mike said with a chuckle in his voice. I love my mom to death, but she is determined to fix me up. Please don’t think I’m some kind of charity case.

No apology needed, Melanie laughed. Moms can be like that. And no, she didn’t rope me in. As she probably told you, I’ve recently moved back to Hampton, so I’m open to getting out and meeting people.

Glad to hear it, replied Mike. Mom probably has a bit more in mind for the future, so if you don’t mind my asking, are you seeing anyone right now?

Like mother like son, Melanie thought to herself. They both get right to the point. But