Summer Storm: The Elliott Chronicles, #2

By Matt Zachary

“Summer Storm” is the second novella in The Elliott Chonicles, by best-selling author, Matt Zachary. 

Just when Elliott was comfortable in his life and finally coming out of his shell, he found himself once again yanked away from his home.  He went from living in a happy, functional foster home to living in New Jersey with an abusive, alcoholic uncle. 

How will Elliott deal with an abusive uncle, a new girlfriend and new feelings that he’s finding it harder and harder to deny?

This books is a novella of approximately 15,000 words and contains some adult language.

 

Other books by Matt Zachary:

New Discoveries (Book 1 of the New Discoveries series)
Broken Hearts (Book 2 of the New Discoveries series)
Life Changes (Book 3 of the New Discoveries series)
New Beginnings (Book 4 of the New Discoveries series)
The New Discoveries Series: Complete Collection (All 4 Books)
12 Days of Craigslist
A Life For Nicholas (Book 1 of The Nicholas Chronicles)
A Home For Christmas (Book 2 of The Nicholas Chronicles)
A Year For Change (Book 3 of The Nicholas Chronicles)
The Nicholas Chronicles (All 3 Books)
Elliott’s Winter (Book 1 of The Elliott Chronicles)
Summer Storm (Book 2 of The Elliott Chronicles)
Facing Feelings (Book 3 of The Elliott Chronicles)
The Elliott Chronicles (All 3 Books)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Porterlance Books
• Release date: Feb 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781497731837

Book preview

Books by Matt Zachary:

New Discoveries (Book 1 of the New Discoveries series)

Broken Hearts (Book 2 of the New Discoveries series)

Life Changes (Book 3 of the New Discoveries series)

New Beginnings (Book 4 of the New Discoveries series)

The New Discoveries Series: Complete Collection (All 4 Books)

12 Days of Craigslist

A Life For Nicholas (Book 1 of The Nicholas Chronicles)

A Home For Christmas (Book 2 of The Nicholas Chronicles)

A Year For Change (Book 3 of The Nicholas Chronicles)

The Nicholas Chronicles (All 3 Books)

Elliott’s Winter (Book 1 of The Elliott Chronicles)

Summer Storm (Book 2 of The Elliott Chronicles)

Facing Feelings (Book 3 of The Elliott Chronicles)

The Elliott Chronicles (All 3 Books)

www.PorterlanceBooks.com

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Summer Storm

matt zachary

Chapter 1

What? Elliott asked, turning towards Mrs. Lachey for answers.  He was sure he had heard the man wrong. 

I’m your Uncle, and you’re going to come live with me, the man answered instead, not attempting to hide the impatience in his voice.

Elliott had been through a lot.  Not only did his mom die of cancer when he was just six, but just a few years later his dad had died in a car crash on the way to pick him up from school.  He had to leave his friends and the only home he had ever known and go into foster care where, over the past six months, he had rebuilt a life.  Suddenly even that was being ripped away from him.

Elliott looked to Mrs. Lachey, his foster mother, for help.  She stared back into his pleading eyes and wished she could do something.  But, her hands were tied.  The man was Elliott’s Uncle and had a legal right of custody over Elliott. He had come with someone from Child Services...there was nothing she could do.  I’m sorry, baby, she told the grief stricken eleven year-old.  You should go pack your things.

As soon as Elliott got to his bedroom, he closed the door.  He thought about going out the window and running away, but that would still leave him ripped from his home again.  He threw himself down on the bed and covered his head.  He wondered if maybe he fell asleep, he could wake up and find out he had imagined his Uncle’s mysterious appearance.   

Maybe it won’t be so bad, Hunter, Elliott’s foster brother and roommate, offered.  Elliott and Hunter had grown into decent friends and had even begun thinking of each other as brothers. 

I don’t want to go! Elliott cried as he ducked his head out from under his blankets.  He didn’t care that tears were freely streaming down his cheeks. 

I know, buddy, Hunter replied as he sat down on Elliott’s bed and patted his back.  He felt just as helpless as he imagined Elliott did. 

Will you tell Jodi and Ryan goodbye for me? Elliott asked as he wiped his face dry.  Jodi was his tom-boy best friend and Ryan was her brother.  The four of them had grown quite close.  Elliott was going to miss Jodi and Ryan just as much as he would Hunter and Mrs. Lachey. 

Of course I will.  When you get to your new house, you can send me your address and I’ll make sure we all write you back, Hunter offered as he took out a piece of paper and scribbled down both the Lachey’s address as well as Jodi and Ryan’s. 

Elliott had come to the Lachey’s with barely more than the clothes on his back, but as he attempted to pack up his things, he was overwhelmed on how much he had accumulated.  He knew he couldn’t pack it all, so he offered some of it to Hunter.  He made sure to pack the photos and mementos of his mom and dad, as well as the wallet he had gotten from his old best friend, Nick, as well as the t-shirt Ryan had given him.  He also took the handheld game system that Hunter had given him.  He wanted to take the microscope that Jodi got him as well, but there just wasn’t room. 

Hurry up! Elliott heard his Uncle yell from the other room when he was taking too long. 

As Elliott emerged from his room, or what used to be his room, he set his belongings down and ran over to Mrs. Lachey and gave her a big, long hug.  I love you, he told her.

I love you too, honey, she said back.  She held him tightly, refusing to let go until she heard the Child Services worker clear her throat.

Mrs. Lachey helped Elliott out with his belongings as Elliott’s Uncle and the lady from Child Services spoke.  I’m going to miss you, Elliott told her.  In the past, he hadn’t been so vocal with his feelings, but since losing his father he had begun to realize that people should say how they feel because they might not always get another chance. 

We’ll all miss you too, sugar.  And if you ever need anything, you let us know.  We’re always here for you, and this will always be your home, she offered. 

Put that stuff in the trunk, Elliott’s Uncle ordered.  Since his appearance, neither Mrs. Lachey nor Elliott had seen the man smile even once.  Elliott reminded himself of how off the mark he was about Mrs. Lachey the first time he had met her and told himself not to judge his Uncle before getting to know him. 

Before his Uncle could close the trunk, Elliott took a throw blanket out and climbed into the back seat of the