S.I.L.O. Internment: Heather's Anguish

By C. L. Piacquadio

Threatened with reputation murder by a rarely-seen friend, Heather impulsively relocates to a remote mountain village. Her only family member, a priest, is forever assigned in Europe. Gods grace protects Heather through past heartaches and future challenges. However, her troubled past haunts her, ready to annihilate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 27, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449780630

C. L. Piacquadio

C.L. Piacquadio has an inherent passion to write. Her long aspiration, to complete her college education, is realized in her three SILO series about protecting and preserving life and faith in God. S.I.L.O. (Survival Inhabitants and Living Organisms) INTERNMENT, ESCAPE FROM S.I.L.O., and S.I.L.O. RECLAMATION. are her BS, MS, and PhD.

Book preview

S.I.L.O. Internment

is broken into three parts:

HEATHER’S ANGUISH,

OBSCURE NEMESIS, and

JENNIFER’S ARBORETUM.

9781449774936_TXT.pdf

C. L. Piacquadio

9781449774936_TXT.pdflogoBlackwTN.ai

Copyright © 2012 C. L. Piacquadio

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1-[phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Bible translation, Copyright © 2002 by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4497-7493-6 (sc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012921055

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/20/2012

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Epilog

Acknowledgement

About The Author

S.I.L.O.

(Survival Inhabitants and Living Organisms)

INTERNMENT

HEATHER’S ANGUISH

BY

C.L. PIACQUADIO

S.I.L.O. Trilogy Series

is about enduring hope in God.

This hope survives,

INTERNMENT,

ESCAPE,

and

RECLAMATION,

for family,

for a society,

for this world.

God greatly loves all of us.

He inspires us through His insight and many gifts.

God inspires me to know: Love creates,

hatred devastates.

God’s love is expressed in His gift of Jesus to us and the beauty of all His creations.

Because of His love, I have written this story about individuals who strive for a better existence. They are devoted to caring for life around them; especially the valued life of the unborn child.

I thank God for His many gifts including my husband, Michael, who is my protector, mentor, prayer partner, and loving companion.

" For we know that the whole creation groaneth

and travaileth in pain together until now.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen

is not hope: for what a man seeth,

why doth he yet hope for?

But if we hope for that we see not,

then do we with patience wait for it.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth

what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession

for the saints according to the will of God."

Romans 8: 22-27 KJV

S.I.L.O.

INTERNMENT

HEATHER’S ANGUISH

Chapter 1

Heather was excited preparing

for her Fall Science and Math classes at the local Beach High School. Summer vacation seemed too long even though Heather taught four summer courses of Algebra 101 rather than travel.

She had her fall quarter lesson plans done, neatly placed on her desk, and ready for use. New outfits lay spread out on her bed for the first week of school. In the South, a teacher’s attire can be casual and Heather loved cotton, light colored clothes and comfortable shoes.

Returning to school after vacation was always exciting for Heather even as a child. Her gift of teaching was evident before she attended pre-school.

While her older brother, Robert, attended school, Heather pretended to be a teacher at home. She set up her stuffed animals and dolls as her students. She mimicked television teachers pointing to a small chalkboard and repeating letters, numbers and words that she learned.

Her parents and brother sometimes imitated students to please Heather. They asked questions that she would have to analyze and research for the answer. Their playful encouragement inspired her to go into the education field.

When Heather finally attended regular school, she looked to certain, impressive teachers as role models. She emulated their style of inspiring students to love Math and Science. She also took upon herself tutoring of fellow students who needed extra help.

Heather always needed new challenges in her life. Art had various challenges that pleased her. Pottery was a relaxing skill to release any daily tensions she might have.

She grew up with a talent to play the flute and played it for any occasion. She made a point of entertaining her students with light-hearted tunes. This relieved classroom tension and stimulated the student’s minds to absorb their Math lessons.

This fall, Heather signed up for an evening course in French. She already knew Latin and Spanish. Now, she wanted to challenge French. This was a safe project and would not interfere with her thinking or cause other mental pressures. Heather mainly wanted to focus totally on her students and their lessons.

At this time of day, her phone was usually ringing off the hook. She and the other High School faculty members were relieved to return to their classroom routine. Friends usually called to make get-together plans before the beginning of the school year. Heather’s answering machine recorded calls that she planned to answer later in the day.

As anticipated, the phone did ring. Heather was in the middle of planning her week and paused to listen to the message.

Hello, Heather. Are you there? the soft, silky, feminine voice from Heather’s past asked pausing, listening, If you are home, please pick up……… This is Carol.

The mint in Heather’s mouth almost choked her as she rushed to grab the cordless phone shouting, Carol….. Carol, hold on!

Stunned by the call, Heather fumbled at pressing the Off Message button and connecting with Carol.

Carol, where are you? Heather asked excitedly. I haven’t heard from you for so long. Are you all right? Are you close enough to visit? Do you need me to pick you up? When can we get together?

Heather did not give Carol a chance to answer the first question before asking others.

Heather…. Heather…… Heath-ER! Carol shouted as best she could over the questions. I am calling from Columbia, S.C. airport. I rented a car and I will be heading to my hotel. I’ll see you at your townhouse if you don’t have set plans.

Any plans I have for this weekend can be rearranged for another time, Carol, Heather responded calming down her tone of voice as she grabbed a pen and notepaper. When should I expect you? Do you need directions?

I’ll find your place easily enough. No need for directions, Carol answered calmly flipping through pages. I should be there around one a.m.

Heather stopped and put down her pen and notepad. She had forgotten that Carol was a nocturnal creature. Unless she had changed greatly, Carol was a true night owl and a late morning sleeper.

Why not stay here and forget the hotel, Carol? Heather asked. You will have a private room and bath. You can sleep in, undisturbed in the morning. We can spend more time together.

There was a silence on the other end of the phone conversation as if Carol hung up. Heather was just about to ask, Carol, are you there?, when she heard page flipping sounds again. Then,

Hummm. Thank You, Heather. I’ll do just that, Carol answered after consulting her appointment book. See you in about four hours.

OK! Heather said excitedly. Have a safe trip, Carol.

Sure. Bye. Carol said before ending her call.

Heather had not seen Carol in years. They went separate ways after graduating St. Clair’s private school in Chicago. Both girls were orphans. Heather was an orphan after she lost both Missionary parents in the jungles of Africa. However, she had her brother, Robert, who became a Priest and a Guardian-Uncle, Bruce, who was a Bishop.

Carol chose the orphan status because she was a discarded product of a one-night stand between an ambitious, political lobbyist and a prominent, Supreme Court Justice Member.

Carol’s parents never attentively followed her developmental progress. Nevertheless, her mother wanted her to have proper care and the best education possible. Carol’s closest contact to her parents was the Attorney who paid the private school, university bills and Carol’s allowance.

For the first five years of Carol’s life, she was reared by a loving, elderly, Nanny-Nun, Sister Emily. Carol lost Sister Emily around the same time Heather lost her parents. This tragic loss in their young lives is what seemed to bind them forever as sisters.

Carol did not invite her parents to her graduations and she did not attend either parent’s funeral. Her inheritances from both parents remained accruing interest in various banks in the USA and overseas for her future use. This was her Hush and No-love money.

Heather went to Clemson University and Carol went to Harvard and Yale. The friends kept in touch briefly through their University years. Heather taught High School math and science classes, while Carol was successful in various prominent medical facilities specializing in Genetics and Cryogenics. Heather could not imagine Carol’s depth of research. However, she would soon brush the surface.

As Heather freshened up the spare bedroom and bath for her guest, she tried to think when she had last seen Carol. It had to be when they graduated St. Clair. They took that trip to Scotland with Heather’s Uncle Bruce and brother, Robert. After that, Carol seemed to cut Heather off as if to forget a past life that only Heather really remembered.

Heather understood earlier, that she might not fit into Carol’s new life style away from their life at St Clair’s. Now, Heather was thinking, things must have leveled off a bit and Carol might have been missing her old friend. Or…. at least that is what Heather wanted to naively believe.

Carol did sound strange on the phone…older and quieter, as if she should not have called Heather.

Heather’s heart would be truly broken if Carol did not show up as planned. This had happened many times before. Heather kept this in the back of her mind as she went through the motions of preparing for this get-together.

Afterward, Heather called friends to opt-out of plans for a get-together over the weekend before school began. She explained her childhood schoolmate was making a rare visit and she wanted to spend as much time as possible with her.

Heather finished her house cleaning and left to go shopping for a few items. She jumped into her Jeep Wrangler that was already clean and shiny. The recent paint job, new tires, top and seats made Heather feel good about her transportation.

Her brother, Robert, invested in a new motor for the Jeep as a Christmas present. Heather loved him for that. He also blessed the Wrangler and they officially named it Michael, so this particular angel would protect anyone who drove or rode in it. That included Robert when he made occasional visits.

Michael’s gas tank was full so Heather was ready to travel wherever Carol desired. The short trip to the grocery store would use just a drop of gas. Heather could have walked to the store, but driving made her feel good.

She crossed herself and said a silent prayer before turning the ignition. Slowly, she pulled out of her driveway and softly, uttered a prayer,

My God, please help us to have a safe visit. If Carol needs a listening friend, please, My Love, help me to listen with an open heart and not be judgmental or heartless in any way. Amen.

Heather played her John Denver CD and slowly made a few turns four blocks away. Somewhere between the words of Rocky Mountain High, Heather envisioned herself holding a baby boy in her arms. In this same vision, Carol was looking on with sadness in her eyes.

Heather could not understand why she had this clear, mental picture of Carol and a child.

Of course, Heather said slapping her thigh. Carol could be married now and she may have a son. How nice if this is true.

"God help me not to allow