Cherry Wood Place

By K. R. Bailey

Recently divorced with no job and no future, Emma Kingman knew she had to do something fast. Her meager savings won’t support her for long. Then her friend Ally asks her to plan her wedding. Ludicrous, but an idea starts to grow.

Destiny led her to the perfect place -- an old home large enough for everything she’s looking for. A call to the realtor is the first step to achieving her newfound dream - Cherry Wood Place, her own wedding center. Emma’s future looks bright. But is it?

Realtor, Matt Graham, is relieved to find a buyer for the family home that has sat empty for three years. He’s fascinated with the changes Emma is making to the old homestead. Even though he doesn’t want to get involved, he is intrigued with the determined woman.

With rumors of the house being haunted, vandals and weird happenings around the property, Emma’s hopes for her new business begin to dwindle. Matt finds himself wanting to help, but neither of them are ready for the unusual events that threaten them and their future together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K. R. Bailey
• Release date: Sep 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370027323

K. R. Bailey

K. R. Bailey loves reading, romance and long drives in the mountains. She’s married to her best friend and together they enjoy traveling or spending time at their cabin nestled high in the mountains where deer live under the deck and hummingbirds flit around all day. She’s grandma to five beautiful grandchildren and “mom” to a yellow lab named Shilo. Even though she’s a Utah girl, she spent a year living in Washington, D.C. and has traveled to most of the states including Hawaii and Alaska. She had the opportunity to travel in Europe and cruise to such places as St. Thomas, Venezuela, and the lower Caribbean Islands. She’s visited the Mayan ruins in Mexico and spent time in Puerto Rico. Raised around Morgan horses, she grew to love a special one – Modeska’s Red Rascal, who was part of her life for twenty-eight years. You’ll notice many of her stories have Morgan horses, a special dog, hummingbirds and wildlife in them because she feels life wouldn’t be complete without them. Writing has become her passion since retiring from a full-time job of over thirty years. She loves to meet new people and gather background information for her writing. There’s always a new story bouncing around in her head, and most afternoons you’ll find her in her “cave” working on her next book. To find out more about K. R. Bailey, go to her website at: www.KRBailey.com

Book preview

Recently divorced with no job and no future, Emma Kingman knew she had to do something fast. Her meager savings won’t support her for long. Then her friend Ally asks her to plan her wedding. Ludicrous, but an idea starts to grow.

Destiny led her to the perfect place -- an old home large enough for everything she wanted. A call to the realtor began the process of achieving her dream – Cherry Wood Place, her own wedding center. Emma’s future was bright. Or was it?

Realtor, Matt Graham, is relieved to find a buyer for the family home that has sat empty for three years. He’s fascinated with the changes Emma is making to the old homestead. Even though he doesn’t want to get involved, he is intrigued with the determined woman.

Emma’s dream is marred by rumors of the house being haunted, vandals and weird happenings. Matt finds himself wanting to help. But neither Matt nor Emma are ready for the strange things that threaten her and their future together.

CHERRY WOOD PLACE

All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2017 by K. R. Bailey (Smashwords Edition)

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise invented hereafter) without written permission.

Cover design by Kelli Ann Morgan at Inspire Creative Services

Editing by Katie Johnson

Publishing History

First Digital Publishing 2017

Smashwords Edition 2017

CHERRY WOOD PLACE

By

K. R. Bailey

www.KRBailey.com

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Acknowledgements

A Word from the Author

Also by K. R. Bailey

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE

Rain poured. Skies darkened. Heavy storm clouds blocked out the sun.

Perfect day to get divorced.

Emma ran from her car, glad to get into her house. The door slammed shut behind her. She flinched as the sound reverberated off her entryway walls.

Closing her eyes, she willed herself not to cry as memories of Ben echoed in her mind. Eight years of marriage -- over.

Failure. Regret. Relief. Emptiness. So many emotions whirled in her heart. The judge made the order, and Emma Mosher was no longer a married woman. She now had a different name. Emma Kingman, her maiden name. It almost sounded foreign to her. But with the name change came a different future.

No longer was she someone’s wife. She could become whomever she wanted. But, she was alone.

Before she could wipe away the stray tear sliding down her cheek, her cell phone rang, a loud sing-song tune that at one time she’d thought was funny. Today it was irritating.

She swiped the screen and took a deep breath before answering, Hello.

Emma, you’re home, Tia Stevens, her best friend, exclaimed. Are you all right? Concern radiated in Tia’s voice.

Emma smiled tentatively. It was nice knowing someone cared. Biting her lip, Emma watched the rainwater from her coat pool onto the tile floor before she answered. I’ll live.

You need company?

Naw. She needed alone time. She wanted to figure out what came next. She needed to figure out her life as a single woman. Maybe tomorrow. Right now, I just want to settle in next to the fire and have some hot chocolate.

Tia laughed. You always did turn to chocolate when your spirits needed lifting.

Guess you’re right.

So it’s over? You have the paperwork?

Emma closed her eyes for a second before answering. Yes. It’s over. The clerk told me I should get a certified copy of the divorce decree next week.

Neither spoke. Emma listened to the silence and wondered what it was that Tia needed to say. Tia was easy to read. Whenever she hesitated, she was trying to figure out how to tell Emma something. Usually something she didn’t want to hear.

Emma waited a few seconds before blurting out, Tell me.

It’s really not the time.

Tia. Tell me.

Uh, well, okay. I’ll just say it. Ally and Sam have set their wedding date, and they want you to decorate. Actually, Ally is going to ask if you will plan their wedding.

Emma snickered. It was ludicrous to even think about. The day she got divorced was the day she found out Ally wanted her to plan their wedding. The idea made her giggle, and soon, she was laughing out loud as if someone had told a joke.

Emma?

She tried to stifle her mirth. I heard you. Then she let out a belly-busting laugh. Just what she needed -- to help someone else enter into matrimony when her marriage was ending. How could she act enthusiastic about planning Ally’s wedding when, right now, all she thought about marriage was – for others, not her.

Those eight years with Ben had been a sham from day one. A flash of memory hit her. Even on her wedding day, Ben had disappeared and returned with his hair mussed and the scent of perfume on his collar. She should have realized then it was wrong. She should have run, escaping what she knew would never work out, but she had been determined. She wanted him -- no, wanted to be married so badly that she’d ignored the warning signs and taken the jump. The moment she’d said, I do, she’d known she’d made a big mistake.

Did you hear what I said?

Oh, yes, I heard. Emma shook her head and knew she couldn’t talk about weddings and marriage and planning. She just wanted to be alone and sort out her life. Hey, let’s talk later. Right now I’m soaking wet and well, need some time alone.

I’m sorry. Call me if you need anything, okay?

Sure ‘nough.

Emma hit the button ending the call. Shivering, more from emotions than her wet, clammy clothing, she walked through her house, leaving her coat and purse on the floor, then smiled. Ben hated that she let things drop all through the house. Now, she could do whatever she wanted.

Stopping in front of the kitchen window, she stared at the bleak, stormy afternoon and wondered what to do with her life. A neighbor pulled into her driveway and lugged an armload of groceries into their house while her son took time to jump in the puddle in the gutter, giggling so loud his childish laugh echoed across the street. She grinned. Such mundane things.

She knew all the small things in her life changed today. No longer would she have help with the groceries. When she came home, it would be to a dark, cold, empty house. Closing her eyes, she tried to envision her new life.

Turning, she made her way to her bedroom where she collapsed on her bed and let the tears fall. She cried because she felt like a failure. Her marriage had been a sham. Ben hadn’t loved her. He’d wanted another woman, but it didn’t make her feel any better. Eight years of her life had gone down the drain, and now here she was, thirty years old and starting over.

Finally, there were no more tears. Her head pounded, and she sat up, wiped her eyes and nose. I’m not a failure, she said aloud trying to convince herself. She’d given her marriage her all. She’d been faithful. He hadn’t. She’d tried hard to be a good wife, but he hadn’t been a good husband. Time to accept it and move on.

She took her clothes off and walked into her bathroom. A hot bath would soothe and warm her body, then she’d light a fire and make that hot chocolate and decide where to go from here. It might take a while, but she vowed to go on and find a new purpose.

After pouring some bubble bath into the steaming tub, she stepped in. Her skin tingled while the sweet scent surrounded her. Immersing herself deeper, she relaxed, letting the heat and the steam and the water soothe.

Thoughts of the future without Ben left her feeling empty, but soon she realized without him she could do anything.

She sat up with a start. Since she no longer worked for her husband’s trucking company, she was now unemployed. Biting her lip, she realized her small nest egg wouldn’t pay the bills for more than a few months. Mulling over her options, the only thing that came to mind was she wanted to create something on her own. But what?

The water cooled, and she still didn’t have a plan. Stepping from the tub, she toweled off and pulled on a fluffy pink robe, one she’d had before their marriage. She tied it closed, enjoying the warm softness against her skin, then her eyes riveted on the beautiful lavender silk he’d given her for her birthday. It was soft and silky and she’d been thrilled. Frowning, she remembered how devastated she’d been when the small card tucked inside fell to the floor. He’d bought it for someone else. Grabbing it, she tossed it on the floor never to be worn again. Her fingers touched the warm blue fleece robe Ben had given her for Christmas. She’d been thrilled, pulling it from the box and slipping it on, but as she’d turned to show him, he’d put on his jacket, telling her he had an errand. She’d later found out he’d gone to his lover’s home.

Yanking the fleece robe off its hanger as heat flushed through her, she threw it aside. As she stared at the two gifts lying in a heap, she made up her mind. First thing on her agenda -- get rid of anything Ben had given her.

She snickered as she saw other pieces of clothing. Grabbing a silk blouse, then a jersey sweater, she soon had a pile stacked in the corner. It felt good stomping on the bad memories of their life. Smiling at how good it felt, she kicked at the clothing one more time before heading for the family room to think and plan.

The flames jumped as she pressed the button to the gas fireplace. Warmth radiated around her, giving the room a soft, comfortable ambiance. She hugged her body letting the peaceful feeling surround her. There was no reason to mourn for a marriage that had been over for years. There had been no love between them for longer than that. This was a new start for her, and she realized she’d never really liked helping with the trucking business, stuck in an office answering calls. That had been Ben’s dream, and she’d done her best to support him. Now, she wanted to find her own dream.

Tonight she’d do what she wanted. Tomorrow, she’d start picking up the pieces to her life.

Then she remembered Ally and Sam and an idea came to her.

CHAPTER TWO

Stepping out of the Driver’s License Division, she tucked the new plastic license into her wallet and made her way to her car that had been recently washed and stood sparkling in the mid-day sun. Nearly a month had passed since the divorce, and she’d finished changing all the legal paperwork to her maiden name. The first few weeks had been hard, but now relief slid over her. Now she could look forward to the future. She had something to celebrate.

She needed a treat. Yes, a double chocolate cone would work just fine. A wicked grin surfaced. Ice cream – something she’d denied herself for a long time because Ben had been so adamant that she not gain any weight.

Almost feeling giggly, she drove to the corner fast-food joint and ordered the cone. Make it extra-large, she said.

Yes, ma’am. The young woman taking her order looked up and grinned.

Emma chuckled when she grasped the cone and was pleasantly surprised when it seemed larger than usual. Licking her lips in anticipation, she paid for the cone and drove away from the window. Before she pulled into the street, she licked the double scoop of chocolate, relishing the gooey, rich flavor. Heavenly.

This last month had been nice. She liked doing what she wanted and not worrying about what Ben thought. When she dropped her coat and purse on the sofa, she didn’t even think about Ben and feel guilty any more. At the grocery store, she bought what she wanted, not the low-fat, calorie-free items Ben wanted. Oh, she knew she’d have to be careful about gaining weight, but she’d worry about that later. Right now, she felt free.

Taking a second lick, she pulled onto Main Street. A block from the ice cream store, a lovely old home caught her eye. It stood looking forlorn, windows boarded up and empty. A For Sale sign stood on the front lawn.

She licked her cone, but had a hard time pulling her attention from the beautiful place. It drew her, and soon she found herself parked under a huge Sycamore tree that shaded most of the property behind the house.

Her head buzzed with excitement. The home was charming, and she wanted it. Her eyes took in the rounded windows as she wandered around the property. Over the doors were carved wooden headers that gave it an elegant look. Her finger trailed over the silky feel of the painted wood. Her heart pounded with excitement. Another pass around the house showed the foundation appeared sound – no cracks or broken cement. The doors were sturdy oak, but needed to be refinished. There was a small building alongside the driveway and a big barn out back.

Remembering her conversation with Tia earlier that morning, she smiled. An idea started formulating in her mind. It would be perfect. This could be a wedding center, something she’d always wanted.

With a big grin, she returned to her car and jotted down the phone number, once again chuckling at the absurd idea. The ink of her divorce decree was hardly dry and here she was thinking of starting a new business to help others get married.

Shaking her head at the thought, she started her car, but paused to look around one more time. I still believe in love. Just because my marriage failed doesn’t mean I can’t help others reach their dream.

*****

Matt Graham watched the red Taurus pull away from the old house and frowned. What did the woman want? It had been three years since his mother passed away, and the house had been empty since. It was the bane of his existence. Located so close to the shopping center, there was too much traffic for