Family Reunion: Journey Back Home 3

By Rachel Gilberts

From the Publisher that brought you popular adult short story series Ralph's Gift, Seasons of Love, Come With Me, A Whisper of Love, Dangerously Moving On, and The Doctor's Patient. Now, here is Journey Back Home...

LOOKING FOR THE FULL STORY ISN'T AS EASY AS IT SEEMS

A DAUGHTER IN SEARCH OF A TRUTH SHE DOES NOT EXPECT

At last, Erica is going to Naples to visit her half-brothers. But it is where their father also lived, and he is very sick. How can she hold off not seeing him when he is very close, and she has so many questions to ask him?

And as Erica gets to know Jesse and Nathan and how they interact with their families and friends, she sees sons the single parent who raised them can be proud of. She couldn’t help but compare this to what she had believed all her life about the man who had abandoned her before she was even born.

When she learns about a tradition the boys have had in the family since they were little, the Friday Family Dinner, she suddenly decides -- it’s the time to meet Eric, her father, and the person whose name her mother had taken hers from. It is time to face her demons, and see if he will be able to meet her expectations.

But what if he doesn’t? And what will she do when she finally realizes that her expectations are really based on lies and illusions, and not from the whole story, in which she knows only a small part of?

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EXCERPT

Her relationship with her mother was completely different from Eric. Her mother was completely different from Eric. She was kind and loving and caring and had raised her with love and he... well, he was bad.

He was a liar and a cheater and didn’t care about anyone but himself. There could be no comparison between the two. It wasn’t even apples and oranges; it was more like comparing apples and rotten meat.

And there was the voice again. Not the mechanical GPS lady, but Erica’s own small, tentative voice coming from that little place of doubt she had created earlier. “What about the boys?”

What about the boys,she thought to herself. What about them?

But she already knew the answer. As a tear slipped down one cheek, another started from the other side.

As she drove on towards Naples and her brothers, she sobbed and the tears flowed freely.

She knew that this man she had hated her entire life, and had believed cared about only himself, had raised her brothers and loved them. And they loved him.

More than that -- they respected him. She could tell by the few things they had said about him. And they were there, after all, in Naples, close to him. How bad could he be?

But I hate him, she told herself, crying.

And with good reason, the smaller voice said, but maybe there’s more to the story.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandra Ross
• Release date: Feb 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310924576

Rachel Gilberts

Rachel Gilberts was born in Nashville, Tennessee - her hometown, then and now. She works as a Humanities professor and as a freelance self-published Christian book author. Her parents are Frank and Jemimah. Frank, now deceased, supported the family by tending their family farm while Jemimah worked as a local bookshop supervisor. Jemimah, now retired, helps supervise work at the farm. Rachel has three other siblings – Ruth, aged 42, and twins John and Jacob, both 36. Ruth, husband Paul, and daughter Martha now tend to the farm. John, still single, is a civil engineer, while Jacob, now married to college sweetheart Marie, is a hotel front desk manager. Rachel has a child named Maryanne, aged 12, by her husband, Keith. Keith was once a one-hit country singer but is now a comptroller at an insurance and financial services company. Rachel and Keith parted ways for “personal differences." Rachel, as alleged by Keith, is content with “small town” life, and he is not. Custody is not an issue as Keith participates actively in raising Maryanne.

Book preview

Family Reunion

By Rachel Gilberts

Published by Publications Circulations LLC.

SmashWords Edition

All contents copyright (C) 2013 by Publications Circulations LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, companies and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

The following story is for entertainment purposes only. This book contains sexually graphic scenes depicting consenting adults above the age of 18 engaging in passionate sexual acts. This story is intended only for persons over the legal adult age. By downloading and opening this document, you are stating that you are of legal age to access and view this work of fiction. Mature readers only. Reader discretion is advised.

Limit of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty:

The publisher has used its best efforts in preparing this book, and the information provided herein is provided as is. Publications Circulations LLC makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

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Chapter One

ERICA AND PETER had decided to take Erica's car to Florida for several reasons.

One, it was newer. Two, it was bigger and they could cram more stuff into it.

Lastly, Erica was planning to drive to Naples from the Keys to visit with her brothers for a week and just wanted to have her own vehicle. Peter's car was a standard shift and although Erica knew how to drive a stick, she was more comfortable with an automatic.

Peter had taught her how to drive a stick shift when he had gotten his car. He still teased her about it. Most people, when they are first learning, either stall when they come to a stop sign or red light at an intersection, or they roll through it.

Erica had done both. For the first two weeks, every time she tried to stop at a crossroad, she would roll into the middle of the intersection and then stall. She finally got the hang of it but still didn't like to drive the damn thing.

First thing in the morning after the going away party, they took a couple of hours to pack up the car. They had been packing suitcases and boxes all week so it was just a matter of fitting all the stuff into the vehicle.

You're only going for two months, Peter's father had said, not a whole freakin' year! Just before they left Peter's house, his dad slipped him an envelope with cash inside, Just in case. If you need more, just call, he said privately to Peter.

The trip itself from upstate New York to Summerland Key, where the Dolphin Research Center was located, was just over 1,600 miles and would take them about twenty-four hours of driving, assuming no major delays occurred along the way. Their plan was to switch off driving every couple of hours. One would drive while the other slept. At first they had thought they could drive right through, but then agreed it would be okay to stop at a cheap hotel half way.

Erica's stepfather asked if they had maps; Erica held up her cell phone and said, It has GPS.

And what if the battery dies? John King asked.

Erica held up her other hand that held the car charger. Peter's got one, too, Dad. Stop worrying. She thought he was so analog. Who used paper maps anymore?

It's what I do, okay? her stepdad said.

Erica walked over and hugged him tightly. And I'm so glad you do, she whispered.

Her brother actually tore himself away from his computer long enough to say good-bye and to ask Erica if she would text him as she crossed each state line. I want to keep track of your progress, he had said. In reality, he just wanted to make sure she was okay.

Finally loaded up and on the road, they were both uncharacteristically quiet.

After only ten minutes, Peter said, I'm hungry, and they both started giggling. He started rummaging around in the back seat and came up with a small cooler. No, I really am hungry. Mom made some sandwiches. Want one?

You're always hungry!