Move Forward

By Sylvia Harvie

MOVE FORWARD is a story about how, 'domestic violence,' affects the victim. Susan Anderson, who had led a charmed life until her first husband died in an accident many years ago. Susan was lonely after her two sons went away to university. She met and married Joe, she now finds herself subjected to violence by her new husband. The whole experience has left her with phobia issues. This story tells how Susan dealt with these issues, with the help of friends and doctors; she was then able to Move Forward ' and enjoy her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jul 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483673226

Sylvia Harvie

My first published story was a short story published in a book of short stories, ‘Generation Inspiration’ in 1999, an anthology of stories by twelve new writers about how older Australians inspired the writers to do voluntary work. My first Novel ‘Move Forward’ was the book I was always going to write to help me understand why people continues to assault their loved ones, then, how the victims of domestic violence moved forward from this unacceptable violence. This, my latest book ‘Haunting at the Beach’ was the product of my joining writers from all over the world in the National Novel writing in November in 2013 where the writers were asked to write 50,000 words in 30 days. It was a frantic joyous journey.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Sylvia Harvie.

ISBN:            Softcover            978-1-4836-7321-9

Ebook            978-1-4836-7322-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 08/15/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-800-455-039

www.Xlibris.com.au

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504604

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 31

CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 33

EPILOGUE

For My Partner Deane,

My very own critic,

You are an absolute delight.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to dedicate this book to all of the people who made it possible.

Thank you to Val Moorhouse, for grabbing me in my time of need and filling my days with community work, her words to me were, ‘while helping others you forget your own problems’. She was right, as always. I first wrote ‘her story’ how she foundered the H.O.P.E. foundation. Her story was told in a book called ‘Generation Inspiration’ which was a collection of short stories told by 12 authors that revealed how these selfless people inspired the 12 authors of the book to work for their community. Published by Pluto Press, Bryce Courtney wrote the foreword. Val and I travelled together to Melbourne Victoria for the book launch what fun we had!

Thank you to all my lovely friends who read and re-read my drafts of this book, Bev, Pauline, Pam, Maureen, Kathy, Antoinette and my sister Jeanne.

Thank you to the lovely Sylvia in N.Z. for encouraging me to pick up my paintbrushes to paint the painting used on the cover of ‘Move Forward.’

Thank you as well to Kathy, Lesley, Pam, Michelle, Rose, Debbie, Andrew, Annabelle. My daughters as well as my beautiful grandchildren, Bec, Trent, Mitchell & Rhys, who encouraged me to have faith in myself! Some of you wanted your names in my book for fun, I hope you like the fictional characters I named after you.

Thank you to Ronlyn Domingue, what a great author you are. After, I read your first novel, ‘The Mercy of thin Air.’ You inspired me to write my book. ‘Move Forward.’ Your words have kept me going this last year; you told me, ‘A writer toils alone.’ I agree we do, it is an unusual journey. Ronlyn’s new novel is now available, ‘The Mapmakers War.’ I have just read it. It is a brilliant book, captivating! Watch out in 2014 for her sequel, ‘The Chronicle of Secret Riven.’

Lastly, Deane, I thank you so much for giving me space to follow my dream. You amaze me.

I love you all.

Sylvia.

CHAPTER 1

The sun was exceptionally warm on this September day on the north coast of Australia where Jake Brady had built his mountain retreat years earlier. He was thinking how he had the best of both worlds. He had built his home on a mountain, overlooking a beautiful valley and ‘was blessed’ with an abundance of wildlife, especially down near his creek. He could also go fishing, as he was close to the river. However, it was only a short drive up the Oxley Highway to Port Macquarie airport, then the world.

Today he was thinking about his mountain, why would anyone want to live anywhere else he pondered, this is a paradise; he was watching the king parrots flying through the trees until he lost sight of them, when they flew into the rainforest on his friend Susan’s property down in the valley. His attention then moved onto some yellow tail black cockies sitting high in the trees on his mountain. Lucky me Jake thought, ‘I am at peace with the world’. He then sighed, ‘except for my worrying about Susan.’

Jake Brady is a writer, a tall man of 6'2" has black hair that shines, his eyes are an extraordinary dark blue, set off by very long black eye lashes, quite a handsome man in a bohemian sort of way; He has a lovely laid-back sort of style and is very generous with his time and consideration. As well as being a remarkable writer, he is also very artistic. When he is not too busy writing, Jake loves to entertain his friends. He cooks them all of their favourite foods and hosts extraordinary parties. Right now Jake is standing looking out the window of his home on his mountain loving the view, soaking up the sun and thinking of his neighbour Susan Anderson in the valley below.

Most of the morning Jake had spent preparing salads in his kitchen; he loved entertaining and was ready for lunch with his guests. He hopes the gathering will be enjoyable for them all and enlightening for himself. While Jake was waiting for them to arrive, he was gazing out of his large windows, which wrap around the top story of his home; giving him a truly panoramic view of his mountain. Jake was running his fingers through his thick hair, which was much in need of a good haircut, ‘daydreaming.’

When Jake heard the knock on his door it brought him out of his ‘daydream,’ he had been thinking of Susan again, he muttered to himself; ‘how can she not see that her husband Joe has some sort of personality disorder which I believe are connected to his angry outbursts.’ Jake had tried to keep a watchful eye on Susan ever since she brought home her new husband over four years before. Susan has been having too many accidents, he thought, since she has been married and recently she seemed very unhappy. Now I am worried, although, what can I do? ‘She is married now there is nothing much I can do.’ Jake went to open the door, his friend Sandra Coleman and her friends from her work had arrived first, Julie Harris and her group from the historical society followed them; they were introducing themselves to each other when he eventually opened the door. ‘I am so sorry for taking so long,’ Jake explained, ‘I was daydreaming,’ they all laughed when Sandra said, ‘working out your next plot for your next best seller already.’ ‘No just reminiscing,’ he replied, as he led them through to the sunroom where he had laid out lunch and refreshments. He had opened the blinds to let the sunlight in so it was bright and cheerful on their arrival.

As always, Jake had set the table with ‘today’s theme in mind.’ He had placed 21 copies of his latest published book, which had arrived from the printer that week, as a centrepiece. He was expecting 20 guests, one book for each of them and one for himself.

The seating around the table was marked with twenty notebooks and pens with the same design as his latest thriller; the notebooks and pens he had labelled with his guest’s names on each of them; he had used a printing website to make these up using the artwork from his latest book cover.

When Julie saw how the table had been set up, she made a comment as she took her place, ‘Jake are the book club people coming as well?’

At that moment they all heard a 4WD vehicle chugging along the driveway at the back of the house, ‘here they are now I will let them in.’ Jake replied to Julie. They have taken the ‘scenic route,’ Sandra told the rest of the group, ‘it is really pretty up here on the mountain there are so many roads and trails, fauna and flora; an artist’s delight.’ Once they had all found their marked seating, Jake introduced the newcomers and while they settled in and began eating and drinking, Jake explained to them that he had completed his latest psychological thriller.

Jake enlightened the group on why he had invited them to join with the book club members to enjoy a ‘book reading,’ although this time he added, ‘with a difference.’ He continued to explain, ‘It will be my latest book straight off the printing press,’ he joked. Jake then told his friends that he was giving everyone at the table a first edition leather bound hard copy, to thank them for their professional advice and friendship throughout the writing of this book. ‘Like on Oprah,’ cried Sandra, winking at Jake. Jake replied, ‘What?’ All of his friends laughed, as they knew Jake hardly ever watched television, as he was always too busy. Jake then signed and presented to each of his guests their copy of his book as they chatted and ate the sumptuous lunch that he had served, which was chicken in a fresh mango sauce with many varieties of his special salads, Jake, explained about his characters, settings and plots without giving too much away.

After lunch, Jake cleared the table with Sandra’s help and advised everyone where the bathroom was, while his guests talked amongst themselves, Sandra packed the dishwasher. When Jake and Sandra sat back down Jake asked them if they would do him the honour of being the first to read his book. He explained how he would value their thoughts before he launched it in the New Year. ‘Let the book reading begin,’ said Sandra using her fingers on the beautiful glass table to play a drum roll, ‘me first! take notes now everyone,’ she giggled. Sandra was a rare beauty, petite, blonde-haired with blue sparkling eyes; she also had a wonderful love of life and fun. Sandra began by reading in her delightful voice how Jake had dedicated this book, ‘To My Unbelievable Book Club Members, Historical Society Guests and Dear Friends who never cease to amaze me with their insight, illumination and dedication to the written word.’ Then he had listed all of their names.

The afternoon was a joy, the laughter and suspense intermingled as they took it in turns to read a few pages of the first chapter, the others taking notes and making comments, their thoughts and discussions were flowing about the characters and the setting in the beginning of the book. They talked about what they had written in their notebooks during the reading. The hours flew by and at the end of the first chapter; everyone wanted to read more, which they did. As Jake’s guests read more and then discussed the book, Jake served a light desert of ‘fresh strawberries from his garden in a delightful Vermeer Dutch chocolate cream liqueur,’ with fresh cream piled high; they were all eating this when they agreed they could not wait to get to Jake’s ‘twists and turns,’ as Sandra called his plots. At the end of the afternoon Jake thanked each of his friends for an inspiring ‘book reading’ as everyone left taking their notebooks, pens and their copy of his signed book with them, promising to ring or email him when they had finished reading his novel.

Sandra was to return that evening for dinner with Jake as he had explained to her that he was now at a ‘loose end,’ after being involved in the writing, artwork and publishing of his new book, now that it was already printed he had nothing left to do until next year. As he loved to entertain his friends, he said that is exactly what I need to do to relax. This will return me to reality after writing for six months solid.

Sandra arrived back to Jake’s later than she had meant to, because she began to read his next chapter when she had arrived home and found it hard to put down. As Jake was preparing the salad to go with the fish, Sandra confessed to Jake what had kept her late, he laughed as he smiled at Sandra, ‘I thought it was because you were making yourself, more beautiful, for this old friend’ he then quipped, ‘although! That is a good omen.’ Jake rationalised that he hopes the rest of his readers will also find his book hard to put down, and then I will know I have written a winner. While Sandra and Jake had been friends for many years, they did not see much of each other because they were both busy people and their lives were full of work, family and friends. This night was a rare occasion and as such, they took full advantage of this night just being the two of them for dinner, ‘catching up on each other’s lives.’ After the dinner of Atlantic salmon, that Jake had prepared especially for Sandra, which was her favourite and his delicious salads. ‘Perfect Dinner Jake and salads as only you can prepare,’ Sandra exclaimed! when she thanked him for being so thoughtful.

Later in the evening while they were drinking their coffee, Sandra was watching Jake who had a pensive look on his face, she asked him, ‘well now Jake I will be leaving soon so tell me what is worrying you?’ Jake’s face lit up as he smiled, ‘it is Susan.’ Sandra laughed, ‘when is it not,’ ‘she seems to be having trouble at the farm. He rushed to add, ‘I think Joe is the wrong man for her. I believe he has a personality disorder; there is something sinister about the man. I cannot put a label on it. Don’t you find him strange?’ Sandra replied, ‘in the way he looks at people as though he is summing them up,’ Jake said, ‘yes that too.’ ‘Although, what I meant was he makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck, scary stuff.’ Sandra who had been best friends with Susan on the neighbouring farm all of her life nodded to let him know she understood. ‘I know Jake, that you think you are the man she should have chosen.’ ‘Well I am.’ with that, Jake winked at Sandra, ‘we know that; it is just her that does not,’ he sighed.

Jake detailed his concerns to Sandra while she lit a cigarette and settled back to listen to him. Jake explained how he was excited when Sandra had first introduced him to Susan when he first moved to his mountain. ‘I met you first at a local community meeting, in Port Macquarie after you had been giving a speech about women’s services in the area; you introduced me to your friend Susan Anderson. Whom you later told me was a widow who had lost her husband in a road accident a few years earlier. One day as I was looking out of the window of my new home, I saw Susan in the valley and realised we were neighbours.’ ‘Later,’ Jake told Sandra, ‘I became friends with her as well, I found her to be a happy pretty landscape artist enjoying her life, her children, home, and farm; much laughter and happy yelling rang through her valley. She always said to me, I love the Australian bush it makes my heart sing. I hope you love and appreciate it as well Jake.’ Jake told Sandra how he laughed at her seriousness and agreed it was special to him as well. As she, also was. Susan said on that and many other occasions she was not ready to be, special, to anyone in a romantic way so I agreed to be, special friends.

We would walk and talk as friends do, Jake told Sandra about his special friendship with Susan, she would reminisce about her first memories of her beautiful Australian bush, and the spectacular gum trees, the smell of the eucalyptus on a walk through the bush she said were like heaven to her. Susan would listen to my ideas for books, my characters, my plots and especially the scenes about which I was writing she would give me a woman’s point of view. She also told me on one of our talks that her love of the gum tree came from her grandparent’s farm. She informed me that I had chosen the right place to build, because there was nowhere as beautiful as the North Coast of Australia; I agreed this is a paradise and I thanked her for teaching me to love and appreciate it as she did.

Sandra laughed and joked with Jake about how Susan was always talking about how she had spent her holidays with her grandparents, she loved their farm from the time she was a baby. Then after we grew up, we spent a lot of time at the Anderson’s Farm; she fell in love with John Anderson, I with my professor at uni. Then she married the love of her life and best friend John. Jake asked Sandra if he was a good husband and father, Sandra replied, ‘Yes! He was a true Aussie farmer, easygoing and was full of love and laughter.’ ‘A bit like you Jake, always happy.’

Jake laughed at Sandra’s remark and told Sandra what had made him fall in love with Susan. ‘It was her laughter,’ he smiled, ‘always happy and excited even as she described the bush to me.’ Susan would get me to ‘squint my eyes,’ and look at the bush again and she would ask me if I could look at the tops of the gum trees and gaze at their beauty, she would then ask me if I could see shapes like tiny little umbrellas; I did. Now every time I look at a tree, ‘I squint,’ see umbrella shapes, and think of her…

The friends mused over how their friend Susan brought beauty and awareness of their surroundings to them both. Sandra informed Jake, how Susan has always been there for her. ‘When I lost my husband Bernie it was Susan’s friendship that helped me cope with his death. My daughters were still in primary school and his death was such a shock to us all, it should not have been, as he was much older than me; he worked long hours at the university as well as being involved with many organisations and research.’

There was still something on Jake’s mind. Sandra knew this and let their conversation stay on his chosen subject. Sandra then commented to Jake how after Susan had, ‘put me in the picture,’ of what to see in the bush, it made her look at the earth and all of its beauty from Susan’s angle and how she would now notice the earth as Susan described, with the richness of the deep shades of brown and ochre. In addition, our rivers and creeks like our oceans she told me are splashes of blue, white, green and browns; magic when the sun is setting and the reflections from the sky throw out every shade of pink, yellow, purple, orange and red on the water.

As the night wore on Sandra was still waiting for Jake to get to his point, he was still