Broken Hearts: Hearts Series

By Lucy Appadoo

There are many things that can tear a heart apart, but none so great as the weight of grief. This is the trial faced by Jane and Daniel, who find themselves on the receiving end of every parent's worst nightmare. When their beloved little girl, Joy, is diagnosed with leukemia, the family packs their bags and relocates to Perth.

 

In the warm sunshine of the Australian coast, they hope for a miracle to save their daughter and their family. As their greatest fears play out under the big Western sky, Jane and Daniel attempt to hold on to what they have and look to whatever future is in store for them. Grief and loss are key players in a marriage that is already strained and bears down upon them with the weight of the world. In the end, all that remains is the time they have together and what they choose to do with it. It is up to Jane and Daniel to choose hope over grief and learn to grow despite it.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lucy Appadoo
• Release date: Jan 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386185444

Lucy Appadoo

Lucy Appadoo is an author of fiction and nonfiction texts. She writes in the genres of romantic suspense/thrillers with significant life themes, contemporary romance, and historical fiction/coming of age. Lucy is a registered counsellor and wellness coach and works as a rehabilitation counsellor for the Australian government. She draws on her experience to write inspirational stories about authentic, driven women who manage adversity with strength and heart. Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and uses these experiences to strengthen her creative writing. Lucy’s favourite authors include Toni Anderson, Kendra Elliot, Nora Roberts, Ann Christopher, Blake Pierce, Cheryl Bradshaw, Elise Noble, Erica Spindler, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, and James Patterson (to name a few). Lucy’s interests include travel, exercising, journal writing, reading for entertainment or knowledge, meditation, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family. To sign up for a monthly newsletter and download a FREE book, go to http://www.lucyappadooauthor.com.au

Book preview

BROKEN HEARTS

PREQUEL TO FORBIDDEN HEARTS

Lucy Appadoo

Copyright © 2017 by Lucy Appadoo. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of very brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This book is dedicated to our son Jared who never got the chance to grow up. We love you, our beautiful boy!

Jane rested her back against the bench in Kings Park, Perth; the gentle wind fanned her cheeks in the sunlit natural reserve. She smiled at her husband, Daniel, as he pushed their five-year-old daughter Joy on a swing. Joy swung higher and higher into the air, the widest of smiles plastered over her flushed, chubby cheeks. Daniel looked over at Jane with a wink, and her chest fluttered. She had a lot to be thankful for, and was grateful to have her family back.

At the age of three, Joy was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Jane’s heart constricted and her body felt as heavy as a lead weight when the doctor first gave the diagnosis. How could her beautiful, five-year-old daughter have such a debilitating and life-threatening illness? How could Joy miss out on her childhood and live frequently at the hospital? She’d had chemotherapy with its side effects and was now in remission.

Jane craned her neck to observe the narrow, towering trunks of the trees. Some of the leaves drooped and others were so full of life. She drew a hand through her strawberry-blonde hair and relished the freedom she finally felt. The park was their favourite place to visit with Joy, and contained a series of bush trails, picnic areas, children’s playgrounds, cafes and a restaurant. A view of the Swan River held a picturesque view. When standing close to the river, the reflection of the city buildings spread out across the water.

Her reverie broke when Daniel left Joy to tackle the playground. He sat beside Jane on the bench and let out a relieved sigh. He held Jane’s hand and kissed it. She tilted her head slightly upwards to meet his eyes. Whenever he smiled, his eyes lit up, and his dimples made her heart melt. His blue eyes gazed straight into her own, and she warmed whenever she raked her hands through his wavy, dark brown hair.

I am so grateful she’s healthy again, Jane.

Jane nodded. Me too.

He leaned forward and stroked her cheek. He planted a brief but deep kiss on her lips. Jane savoured his sweet taste and smelled his musky cologne. She could never get enough of him.

Joy rushed up to them and wrapped her arms around both her parents. Mummy, Daddy, can we come here again tomorrow? I just love this park.

Jane pulled away, grateful to see those vibrant eyes back. We’ll see, darling.

Daniel squeezed his daughter’s cheeks. If we don’t come back tomorrow, we’ll come again before we move back to Melbourne.

Do we have to go back? Joy turned towards her mother.

Jane shrugged. Melbourne is our home, darling. But we can visit Perth any time. You have your grandparents here, so I’m sure we’ll be back.

Joy nodded, her cherubic face scrunched up as she pondered the situation.

Jane never wanted to return to Perth for the wrong reasons again. She wanted to have the choice to visit whenever they decided to vacation here.

They had come to