The Invitation

By M.A. Courtney

Millie, a widow is visiting her daughter and on a walk in the woods when she comes upon a mysterious portal that takes her to another dimension of time. The mother-daughter relationship is shattered since the death of Millie's husband. While Millie attempts to mend their relationship her visit only creates more tension between them.
One morning Millie decides to take a stroll when she encounters Romulus a magical buck. He protects his world from unwanted visitors and offers Millie an invitation to enter. She follows the buck and enters another dimension of time. Millie is struck by the pure beauty of the countryside and is shocked that she has become a time traveler. She meets Sean and there is an instant connection. After a few visits they fall in love but it becomes more difficult for Millie to re-enter Sean's world. She discovers that the portal remains open for a short period of time and time is running out.
Elated and dismayed over her new found love yet heartbroken about the relationship with her daughter.
The story explores the mother/daughter relationship mingled with blame and accusations. Chloe doesn’t accept that her mother couldn’t help prevent her father's death, and the visit creates a hostile atmosphere.
After Millie's attempts to reconcile with her daughter fails she makes a decision when she is in an automobile accident and develops amnesia.
Millie faces challenges that are not only physical but emotional since she must stay at her daughter's home until she recovers. The volatile arguments between both women erupt during her convalescence and the hate and blame her daughter feels for her surfaces.
Millie’s eventual full recovery of her memory occurs with the help from flashbacks. Thankful she remembers she's terrified that so much time has passed and Millie has no idea if she can get back to Sean.
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• Language: English
• Publisher: M.A. Courtney
• Release date: Sep 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370433766

M.A. Courtney

I have been writing since 2008 and love it!. .I have written on numerous Blogs and articles for various sites on a variety of topics until I decided to write for myself and ventured into ebooks. I enjoy writing romantic fantasy stories with interesting characters that I have encountered in my journey in life. I enjoy interacting with people who have read my books and those on my Blog. My first short story was Even Exchange and my second Another Lifetime. I am currently publishing my third The Invitation. I live in the Pennsylvania mountains region and I get a lot of my inspiration being out in nature.

Book preview

Thank you for reading The Invitation If you enjoyed it please let me know and leave a review or comment I would really appreciate it.

My love of writing had laid dormant for many years until I began to write again in 2008. I wrote Blog posts and a few articles for several online sites. I began to write books in 2012 and fell in love creating stories. I was able to let my imagination run wild! Now this is my third book and I am so excited .I look forward to hearing from you. Send me an e-mail or write a review. I have been told that many people have no idea how to write a review Just say what you liked or didn't’ like Simple isn't’ it

Millie wonders if she made the right decision as she strolls along the quiet Pennsylvania Mountains. An attractive woman in her late 50’s she prided herself how she kept in great shape. Walks always made her feel better and helped to improve the loneliness of being alone. She breathes in the fall air as she saunters along the mountain road happy to be visiting her daughter. It had been over a year since she last visited Chloe. Their relationship strained, she hoped this visit this would help repair the damage.

Living in Florida, Millie didn't get to visit her daughter often and her daughter doesn't attempt to visit her. Sadden that their relationship has declined since her husband's death, Millie always recognized the close bond Chloe had with her father. But she hadn't expected Chloe to lock her out of her life. Bringing her thoughts back to the present Millie- admires the start of the fall

season and loves the change of the landscape. The hue variations of the leaves are stunning. Nearing Chloe's house she doesn't see her daughter’s car and noticed it growing late. Sighing, another evening at work she mutters. Millie enters the side door that leads to the kitchen and the silence is deafening. I could have remained home!.

She makes herself a cup of coffee and moves out onto the deck to watch for Chloe The tranquility of the neighborhood has her feeling melancholy. Wondering why Chloe is holding her at a distance?.After a while she sees headlights approach and an automobile drives up the driveway, at last, it's Chloe. Millie smiles and waves as Chloe gets out of the car

Hi, hon, long day?. Chloe shrugs as she gathers her folders and reports then slams the car door. Same ole same ole she groans as she walks past Millie and into the house; behaving as if Millie were a piece of furniture. Millie follows Chloe inside wondering why the somber mood. Chloe drops her things on the kitchen counter and goes to the frig for a refreshment. Millie leans by the counter, I have a thought..how about we go out to eat, my treat?. Chloe faces Millie,Too much work to do, but you go mom as she gulps down a bottle of water. You need to eat?. yeah, I’ll take something later.

Chloe walks past her without a second glance .Millie watches as her daughter walks toward the den and wonders why did she bother coming for a visit?. I’m alone here, I could be along at home!. Unhappy that the visit shows no improvement in sight Millie sighs and makes herself a light dinner alone again!. Another evening with no interest from her daughter or wish to spend any time with her. What is it that causes Chloe to act this way?.

The next morning Millie finishes her breakfast as Chloe swallows the last of her coffee. Chloe gathers her things ready to leave, I’ll be late again so don’t expect me for dinner.With annoyance, Millie responds Again!.Are you sorry I came, Chloe,? You don’t seem to have any time to spend with me.Not concerned that Chloe's anger will flare up Millie continues. We don’t see one another that much during the year. Her daughter makes a face and moans, Oh mom don’t start that again. I’m busy and I am not sorry you came.Well, it sure as hell seems like it!. Annoyed Look, mom, I don’t want to argue and I don’t have the time grabbing her papers Chloe leaves for work slamming the kitchen door.

Humph! Looks as if I have been dismissed. Angry at the thought as Chloe pulls out of the driveway Millie strolls into the large open living room her hands tucked in her pockets and admires the elegance of the home. So much space for one person, she muses. Her daughter sure has expensive taste and liked to display it. Oriental rugs scatter along the rich walnut wood floors. Glass tables with shiny black bases hold the unattractive glass.

A large white L-shape sectional faces a huge stone fireplace. Why in the world white!. Millie Thinks- but then, she has no kids or animals to dirty it She continues on her stroll not knowing what else to do with herself. She stops at the abstract paintings in black and white. Admires that they are encased in silver frames that gleamed and hung on cream- colored walls. The added color was the splash of pillows on the couch. The home had a sterile, and cold feel. Millie gazes out the huge bay window overlooking the endless mountains. What a beautiful sight she murmurs admiring the view.

The only features of the of house she praised was the view!. Misty mountains appear to go on forever and the changing colors create a perfect setting. Oranges, reds, and gold. The color palette produced by nature is spectacular. Well" nothing else to do I guess I'll go for a walk.

Millie enjoyed the cool morning air as she strolled along the mountain trail .Listening to the birds chirping providing a melodic sound, and squirrels sitting chomping on acorns. Millie realized that she hadn't been on this path before and it became an adventure. It was fun to discover new terrain. Along the path a faint sound of running water becomes audible.

Curious, Millie follows the sound and discovers where it's coming from. Intrigued, to explore further but realizes there's too much thicket for her to trample through. When she finds a clear path that leads through the brush and comes alongside the stream.  Amazing crystal clear water sparkled as it flowed over the rocks.

The sunlight peeking through the trees gives the water the appearance the heavens are blessing the brook. Rippling waters cascading over the rocks with such speed furnishing a soothing sound, with small white caps flowing over the jumbled rocks.

She walked to the edge of the stream kneels beside the water and placed her hand in the flowing rapids. It was cold and she could see her reflection in it. Millie enjoys the gentle water gliding over her hands and the peacefulness of the area, when suddenly, senses, she's not alone.

A crackle occurs in the woods and she’s startled. There stood a striking large silver buck with a luminous light encircling its entire body. Stunned at the sight Millie blinked a few times to be sure of what she is seeing. The beauty of the animal caught her off guard. The buck was massive it stood on the other side of the brook staring at her. It was the most magnificent animal she has ever seen!.This splendid buck was not frightened of her presence. The animal's regal stance and antlers were huge. Not able to recall ever seeing a silver buck nor one that size

.Millie eases herself up from her kneeling position careful not to scare the buck away .On impulse, she speaks to it. Hello, she whispers as not to scare it away admiring the majestic look of the animal. It's, large milky brown eyes penetrated hers as they each focused on one another.

Then a suggestion occurs in her head Follow me. Startled she muttersHmm, that's strange. What gave me that idea that?!. Why would I follow the animal?. The buck turns looks at Millie and again the thought Follow me" invades her thoughts. Am I crazy she wonders. She watches the buck saunter into the thicker part of the trail on the other side of the stream. Millie searches rocks sturdy enough to use to get to the other side without getting wet.

Successful she follows the animal mumblingThis idea is crazy,but fascinated she follows. The brush was thick as Millie makes her way to keep up with the buck. Careful to avoid being scratched from the branches and thorns she parts them and trudges along. Struggling to keep the animal in view Millie abruptly stops in her tracks.

A mysterious mist hung in the air. It was thick as mud and as wide as two garage doors joined. It hadn't engulfed the entire area only a small section. How strange….it hung there in the middle of the trail. There was no fog today she recalls yet it hung there!. The day was sunny and bright without a cloud in the sky. The buck stopped and stares at her then glides through the haze. Hesitant to follow the buck through the mist yet

curious she decides Oh what the hell it's just fog and walks through it.

When she exits the fog she's in a clearing that faces a meadow. Millie's eyes widen and a low muffled sound is uttered from her. Oh my god... how beautiful. Bright blue skies, white puffy clouds and sunshine that welcomes you. Amazed at the sight and in awe of the view she stands and takes it all in. Emerald green fields, that spread out for miles, flowers as far as you can see with a powerful enticing scent.

Everything is vibrant in color!. Small groups of trees sprayed throughout the field supplying shade for those that seek to sit under them. Possibly to picnic or enjoys the shelter from the sun. A light dew sprinkled the meadow so that the sun's rays has it glistening. Millie looks for the buck but no sign of it. Now where did it go?.

Unconcerned she continues to walk through the meadow this meadow is amazing she murmurs. Strolling further she is in awe of what she sees next. Millie hears the soothing sound of water and observes a small waterfall nestled between two mountains. The colors of emerald green trees and blue water along with the soft gray of the mountains takes her