Life Through Windows: Isolated At Home After 9/11

By Melanie Ambrose

Ultimately a story of one woman's journey of self-discovery and revelation, "Life Through Windows" includes not only elements of deception, fear, adultery and heartbreak, but also love, friendship, and devotion.

This is the story of Gwen Lambert, who, in the wake of the traumatic events of 9/11, is suddenly struck with a condition that terrifies her and throws her life into turmoil from which she fears she will never recover. No matter how hard she tries, she cannot venture outside her home.

While feeling isolated inside the house, Gwen keeps herself busy and accidentally stumbles upon a family secret that had been intentionally hidden from her.

Each revelation is explosive on its own, and cumulatively her belief who she is and where she came from is shattered.

As you reach the climax, expect your eyes to tear up as Gwen learns the full truth of her family’s past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9780973936254

Book preview

Author

CHAPTER 1

As I sat in the reception room waiting to be called into Paul Lambert’s legal office, I was suddenly overcome with a feeling of being very much alone.

While waiting, I took the time to reflect on how my life had changed over the past few years. I thought about it all—not with sorrow—but with a fleeting feeling of wonder. Unbeknown to me it would change forever when September rolled around.

I was an only child and was raised in New Jersey. My parents, Frank and Rose Lambert, bought the house where I grew up, about six months after I was born. I lived there until I finished college. It was the only place I knew as home.

I had always been good with computers and art, so I wanted to do graphic design as my major. During my last year of studies, my friend Carry told me she had landed a dream job.

She had seen a notice on our College bulletin board that asked for anyone who was interested in joining a new graphic design firm, to grow with it, and help make it into one of the best in New York City.

She had promptly ripped the page from the board and made an appointment.

The person she met had been attending the same college as we did, and had then worked for four years in his parents’ basement, setting up his own firm.

His name was Terry. He had recently scored some big names in the corporate world, and suddenly found himself needing staff to keep up with the increasing workload. He had decided that he wanted fresh new ideas rather than hiring people who may have set ideas from having worked for other firms. So he decided to try employing fresh grads.

When Carry got the job, Terry told her he had another four positions to fill and if she had anyone else in mind to send them to see him. Thanks to Carry, I was one of the fortunate ones to get a job before I even finished my studies.

Other friends who were also about to graduate filled the other three positions. We were all going to be working in New York City with a new and upcoming firm with people we already knew. This was very appealing to all of us.

We actually started work before graduating, since Terry needed us to start on projects immediately. He also needed to find office space large enough to fit all of us.

He found a very funky office. Instead of each of us sitting in one of those God-awful cubicles, he chose to sit us, including him, at desks that were placed in a circle, so that we could all see each other and bounce ideas off one another.

It was a great job for someone straight out of college and the freedom to offer ideas added to our creativity and sense of accomplishment. Because of all this, we got on well together and started to see the company grow.

During this time, we all graduated and needed to find places to stay in New York. Carry and I were very lucky to find an apartment that we could afford and that also enabled us to walk to and from work, saving in taxi fares. It was small, but we each had a room to ourselves.

I still made a point of traveling home on the subway at least every month to visit my parents.

My life up to this point had been very easy going without much drama. But all that changed one day, when on a visit home, I could sense something was wrong as soon as I walked in.

CHAPTER 2

It was always good to go home again to see my parents. As I opened the door, I would always get a smell of freshly baked cookies.

It was such a comfort to me when I entered the home. It always smelled of something good that Mom had baked or cooked.

I am home!

The cookie aroma permeated the air as usual, but I could sense something was not quite right. I tried to block the thought from my mind, thinking that I was just being silly.

They were both so happy to see me, although Dad had a vacant look in his eyes and Mom seemed on the verge of tears. When I asked what was going on, they said it was nothing to worry about, to come and have a cuppa and cookie, and to tell them about my job and how life was in the big city.

Over dinner, my parents broke the news that my mom had been diagnosed with cancer and that the prognosis was not good.

It took a while for me to absorb what they were telling me. Then I just burst out crying, and between sobs, tried to ask all the questions that were crashing around inside my brain.

The shock was almost too much to bear. I could not come to terms with what was happening. My mother had always been healthy and full of life. She was only fifty-five years old. She was going to die soon and here I was being such a baby about it, when she needed the support and probably a good cry too! I pulled myself together and gave her a big hug. I told her not to worry since I would move back home to take care of her and Dad.

She would not hear of it. She told me that she had been through all the stages of grief already. She said that she was now at peace with things the way they were, and she was just worried about what this would do to my dad and me.

Apparently, Mom had battled to fall pregnant and I was what they called their miracle baby; so it was just me. Despite trying, they were never able to have another child.

They had decided to try chemotherapy but it did not seem to be working. They then made the decision to just live each day and celebrate their life together until the end came.

Mom had already made peace with the whole thing, but for Dad and I, it was too terrible for words. Later that night, I sat with him and we both had a good cry.

"What are we going to do, Dad? How are we going to cope without her? Will