Heart Storms

By N. Christine Samuelson

Three people's lives collide in a perfect storm of heartbreak and ruin, betrayal and love. One woman and two men are drawn to coastal South Carolina to an oceanfront Victorian B & B inn. With losses from divorce, lies, secrets, cheating spouses, and abandonment, all three characters do not seek love or relationship. As they move into and through the emotional storm of their lives, destiny brings them together in an extraordinary way. But will they be destroyed or transformed by their fates?

An enchanting seaside inn complete with mystical elements lifts the characters' spirits and helps them on their journeys. Their passionate triangle must be broken for them to move on with their lives, but who ends up with whom, or do they, and when?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9781543974300

Book preview

Chapter 1

JADE ARMSTRONG

Jade married the wrong man. But it took five years and one morning to find out. As she gathered her things to leave for her job managing a hotel in Los Angeles, her husband said, We need to talk… now.

I’m going out the door. Can’t it wait?

No. He sat on a stool at the kitchen island. And you might want to tell your boss you’ll be late. This might take a while. He looked down at his hands, wringing them together.

While Jade grabbed the phone to text her boss, her stomach sickened and her nerves tingled. Something awful was about to happen. Scenarios whirled through her mind—Did he lose his job, is he sick, did someone die, is he in trouble? Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it, we’ll survive and go on. She stood across the island from him.

Still not looking at her, he spewed out statements so fast she heard only certain words, only the most impossible, devastating words: leaving for good… have to… the end… sorry.

His sentences were drowned out by the shattering white noise of her denial and heartbreak. This wasn’t happening. No, no, no, this wasn’t her husband speaking even though it was his face and voice. This was no ‘talk;’ it was a bomb dropped in the middle of her life with the words no woman ever wants to hear.

Inside her head, Jade’s reaction was, ‘This is not my life, not the one I agreed to, not the one I planned on and saved for, the one I envisioned since I was a girl.’ While outside of herself, her husband’s words burst like firecrackers in her head, … other women… you and I hardly ever together… drank too much… drugs… gambling… I love someone else, didn’t mean to, sorry… addicted, need help.

In the same way a deep scratch on a CD causes the music to halt and skip until silenced by pressing the stop button, Jade’s brain skipped at the deep cuts of his revelations. With shock magnifying at hearing each confession, Jade’s desperate thoughts skipped to: If he cleans up, he’ll come to his senses; SKIP: He’ll revert to the man I married. Another SKIP: We’ll have a second chance. SKIP again: I’ll help you, she pleaded, we’ll do this together. But there was no magic button to stop his words.

His uncaring expression froze into a grimace while he slung words like darts, her heart being the target. No. Nothing will change how I feel. I don’t need your help. I don’t want it.

Through sobs she asked, But why? I love you. We’re partners.

He finally looked into her eyes. "Because I love her. She’ll be my partner as soon as our divorce is final."

Jade’s knees buckled and the room spun around. When they’d married, her mother, Maggie, had given her a fairytale wedding because she’d never seen her daughter so happy as with this man who lit up her world. Now Prince Charming was leaving, taking his light and love, making her world go black as she crumpled to the floor. She became conscious a minute later and found herself in his arms, her head still spinning. Please tell me this isn’t real; it’s some kind of nightmare.

He leaned Jade against a kitchen cabinet and told her she wasn’t dreaming. He sat on the floor beside her gazing straight ahead to avoid seeing the agony in her eyes.

Jade’s breath turned shallow; her mind swam in a fog of disbelief. When he spoke, his voice showed no emotion. I don’t mean to be cruel, but this is real and you need to deal with it.

Stunned and grasping at anything to fix this, she placed her head on his shoulder and her hand on his arm hoping he’d feel her love and respond in kind. Why are you doing this? Now? So fast? You don’t have to do this. With no response, she said, Please tell me why. You owe me the truth.

He wiped perspiration from his forehead through his hair, and muttered, There’s no easy way to say it. I have to do this. She’s pregnant. I’m going to marry her.

Jade yanked her head and arm away as if he were a leper and shrieked, A child? You bastard. Why would any woman want a cheating, drug-addicted man for a husband and father to her child?

I wasn’t addicted when I met her. My affair with her differed from the others…

Others?! Jade screamed so loud he jerked his head back. Her voice was part sobbing, part gasping for air like being punched in the gut and stabbed at the same time. You had other women?!

With his head hung low, he uttered a barely audible, Yes.

Jade’s mind paralyzed like he’d slammed her head with a bat. Incapable of speech and struggling to accept this new reality, she asked herself, ‘Why?’ Her heart split in half as she wondered how and why her husband did this to her; how did she not see it coming? Her rational mind said, ‘He was never home long enough. He hid his true self and actions.’ Then her conscience argued, ‘You didn’t see it because you didn’t want to. You wanted the fairytale; you lived it and trusted him.’ Jade closed her eyes and clutched her head to hold it together. She delved deep into her memory where she’d tucked suspicions of him away but never let them out, never confronted him, and barely whispered, Why?

He shrugged. I guess because I could. We rarely had time together and you know I can’t be alone or bored or serious. I did what made me happy.

Jade was afraid to say or do anything because she wanted to kill him, to get him out of her face and off the planet except she wasn’t capable of murder. Her dreams were the only things dying now as she realized she’d expected the fairytale—so much so it blocked the truth of him out. Jade vowed to never trust the too-good-to-be-true guy again, or the storybook life and the happy ending. There were no such things.

With Jade’s silence, her husband assumed she waited for further explanation. Her family owns one of the largest vineyards in Napa, it’s how we met. I drank a lot, still do. I hid the drugs from her as I did you and gambled away a small fortune. So, when this wealthy woman wanted me, it solved the problems of my miserable life. She’s paying for my rehab because she wants a clean and sober husband. The pregnancy was an accident, changing birth control methods, or so she said. In any case…

Jade stood and cut him off. In any case, whether she tricked you or not, you’re marrying her for her money, right?

He stood, too, hands jammed into his pockets, head down. Yeah, partly; but she’s got the whole package I need to turn my life around—prestigious family, a career at her vineyard, social connections, great homes, cars, travel. A kid cements the deal. He stared at Jade. It’s what you wanted to hear, isn’t it, the whole truth? Now you can officially hate me forever.

His words shredded her insides. Jade’s spirit twisted and snapped, leaving her jagged and raw. Her usual compassionate, loving soul gave rise to a shadow that morning, a dark side had to express itself or eat her alive. "I hated you when you said you loved someone else. Now I detest you. And I’m taking everything since you’ll be ‘Mr. Rich Bastard’ now. I’ll need the house and car and bank accounts to start over. You’ll have to deal with that."

He opened the liquor cabinet, grabbed the vodka, poured himself a full glass and drank half of it in three gulps. About our assets. There’s something you need to know.

Jade’s body raged like fire inside anticipating his next words. She wrapped her arms around her waist and ran to the sink, about to be sick. You didn’t. No, please, don’t say it.

I have to, better you hear it now. There’s nothing left. The drugs and gambling took all the savings. I mortgaged the house and now we can’t sell it for enough to pay both mortgages. In fact, I stopped paying them months ago. I hid the bank notices from you using a P.O. Box. Everything was in my name and phone, so only I got the creditor calls. I paid utilities and cell phones so you wouldn’t suspect anything. While gulping down the vodka his cheeks and nose flushed cherry red, and he shot Jade an accusatory look. Maybe if your damn job wasn’t more important than me, if we’d seen each other and enjoyed life, this wouldn’t have happened.

Angry flames rose from her gut to her head so fast her body felt boiled and her head wanted to explode. We agreed to this situation! She recalled how their plans for the future resulted in the marriage working like a revolving door where they passed each other coming and going, their schedules allowing for only a couple days together each week. Her management job in the hospitality field meant working most nights and some weekends. He traveled five days a week as a wine sales executive up and down the coast. But by mutual agreement, they accepted that way of life because it was the price of admission to their grand future. They intended to devote most of their time to careers and making money. They’d planned to sell their house for a huge profit in a couple years, then buy a bed-and-breakfast inn. After becoming financially successful and stable, they’d start a family.

He said nothing, his eyes downcast.

He’s coming up with a rebuttal. Jade’s arms tingled with rage because he had always seemed happy. She’d been happy, too, but she’d believed his lies and excuses. The indications of something amiss had been there and grown slowly over time like a hidden cancer. She’d been in denial until now, until this stage four with death closing in.

While Jade had worked hard, sacrificed and kept their dream alive, he’d been conducting a life separate from hers. Her gut churned, violently releasing bile and anger into the sink. He moved beside her and rubbed her back. Still bent over, she yelled, Get away from me! and jabbed him hard in the ribs with her elbow. He groaned and rubbed his chest, looking at her as if she were a lunatic.

"You’re damn right, I’m crazy. I’ve always loved you and been loyal. But I hate you now. I trusted you with everything—our house, our money, my money, and this is what I get? I worked hard and thought you did, too, for our future, not to indulge in every bodily compulsion to keep you entertained when we were apart. And you have the audacity to throw it back on me? To blame me? You got a real brass set and if you don’t get out of my sight now, one good kick will take care of those, too."

He put his hands up, like a thief caught. Okay, enough. I admit it, I’m a shit. I am.

You’re so much worse than a shit there are no words for what you are. Don’t fucking say you’re sorry again or I’ll kick your alcoholic, drug-addicted, lying, cheating ass to a pulp!

He flew to the door, grabbing his jacket on the way. As he opened it, he glanced back and said, You can get a lawyer but there’s nothing left to split. I have no money and I’ll be out of work and in rehab for God-knows how long. Cut your losses and move on, Jade.

She followed him, crying and screaming while he ran to his car. You’ll pay for this! I’ll get you back somehow. I don’t deserve this, and you deserve to burn in hell!

While opening his car door, he yelled, I’m sure I do, and I’m probably there now. He hesitated, weighing whether he should say the words in his mind or not, but then added, "And I am sorry," slamming the door shut on ‘sorry.’

Jade reached into her ornamental garden, grabbed two fistfuls of small rocks and threw them at his car as he backed up and sped off. Your apology is as worthless as you are! Even with slinging the rocks hard she didn’t damage the vehicle, only herself with what she’d become—a crazed, violent person. But she needed that huge release for her emotions, of an anger so deep she felt hell burning in the pit of her gut. Inside the foyer, she closed the door behind her and collapsed against it, this time in agony with a flood of tears. The pain and sobbing went on and on until she thought she might die, forcing her to reach out and call the only person who might help—her mother.

After hearing what he’d done, Maggie, the loving, compassionate, free-spirited artist and believer in karma, told Jade, "You are not an insane, terrible person. If I had been there, I’d have helped you throw rocks. But her mother’s next words Jade liked best, Don’t worry, he’ll get his. He’ll get what’s coming to him, he will." Jade’s silent response was, Oh, I can’t wait for the day. But I might have to help fate along with my own brand of revenge.

Chapter 2

GABRIEL MONTORO

At twenty-eight, Gabriel figured his luck was changing, hopefully with his father’s death the abuse would stop along with his vile behavior, and none of it would follow Gabe anymore. His life was peaceful for the first time with a good job and social life. On one of his usual night-off forays into the club scene with drinking, dancing and flirting, he met a woman. Not just any woman. He met Consuela—a hot, young Latina beauty who worked a room and the men in it like a more experienced woman, like a vixen.

At nineteen, Consuela moved the ample curves of her body to sway with the beat of her hips and long, dark hair cascading down her back. Her eyes were dark and exotic, drawing Gabriel in with lush sensuality. While running her finger along his cheek, she cooed, Oh, I love this face. You are sooo handsome. She put her hand on his well-muscled stomach. And this hard body. I love it, too. Her eyes fixed on his with a searing stare, luring him in. But it’s your eyes—they capture me. Their lovely blue reminds me of the sky, of heaven. She put her arm around his neck and her body against his. Would you take me there? Would you take me to heaven with your body and those blue eyes?

Sex with Consuela was almost heart-stopping and unlike anything Gabriel ever experienced. A fair number of women had crossed his path, but he never got too close or attached to any of them with always being guarded and on the move. Consuela was the first to give him pause. They couldn’t get enough of each other, like starving wolves going in for the kill—all passion and lust with nothing gentle, loving or subtle about them.

When Consuela announced she was pregnant, Gabriel stood by her—to marry and raise the child. Gabriel didn’t say he loved her because he didn’t fathom love. The closest he’d come to it, he guessed, was the warm, connected feeling for his mother and siblings but never for a woman he dated. The way he understood Consuela best was in bed. They were mind-blowingly ‘in lust’ and Gabriel hoped sex led to love, whatever love was.

Gabriel’s mother encouraged him. "You’re ready to be a husband and father—marry Consuela and settle down. I believe in you, mi hijo." With her support, Gabe believed in himself. This marriage might be the start of a good life and relationship unlike the many abusive ones he witnessed growing up.

The baby girl was born before Consuela turned twenty. They named her Graciela because she was so beautiful and perfect, Gabe was sure she was made of pure grace. But the grace of God didn’t extend to Gabriel for long. To make extra money for his new family, he worked a second job as a breakfast line cook in a diner, along with his part-time job as a sous chef at a restaurant for dinner service. This meant he was gone every day plus several nights a week. Consuela liked the extra money, but she resented being alone so much and unable to party with her friends. She saw her life with Gabriel as a novelty, as if ‘playing house,’ or trying out a different life for a while. But like a kid with a new toy, when the new life became the ‘same old, same old,’ she got bored with it and Gabe.

Gabriel had no clue about Consuela’s frame of mind until the night he came home two hours early. He opened the front door to find his wife’s clothes strewn around the living room, leading into the bedroom. His internal alarm bell turned to blood-red rage when he opened the bedroom door to see the naked ass of a man pounding away at his gorgeous wife, who moaned with pleasure and held the stranger the same way she’d held him. Gabriel lost it when he heard her say, Oh, baby, don’t stop. Take me to heaven. No one takes me there the way you do.

Blinded with rage, he walked to the bed, pulled the man by his ankles and slung him to the floor like the piece of garbage he was.

Consuela screamed, Gabe, no! I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry!

She lay naked, her body moist and steamy from sex, and instantly Gabe realized everything good about her was all bad and all a lie. He threw clothes to her and wanted to kill them both. Overcome with fury, a fist formed in his hand to pound at the man. But just before throwing a punch that might have led to manslaughter and changed his life, baby Grace cried out. The sound of her innocent screams stopped Gabe. Gracie needed him; she was more important than anyone else and she saved him from making a terrible mistake.

Gabe shrieked at Consuela, You meant it and you’re not sorry! Get out of my house, you whore and take your skinny, white-man pimp with you. You’re both trash. He threw them and their clothes out the door, shrieking, I never want to see your face again. Burn in hell, you bitch. Consuela sobbed and pulled on her clothes, begging him to let her explain. He slammed the door in her face, then opened it again. You really think there are words to explain and forgive what you did? You’re not just a whore, you’re a stupid whore. He kicked the door shut, yelling, puta estúpido, and walked away from her, and from marriage forever.

In the following weeks, the angel on Gabriel’s good shoulder was drowned out by the devil’s voice on his other telling him he’d never have a good life. He’d never be a good man or father and would always be out for revenge for all the wrongs done to him. There wasn’t enough therapy in the world to fix the damage inside. His only option was to run forever.

Chapter 3

THE AFTERMATH

For the next few months, numb with shock, Jade wandered through her days looking for clues to why and how the end came, and for how to go on. Well-meaning friends tried to encourage her, but their words were lies because love did not conquer all, and time had not healed her. In her world, the road to hell wasn’t paved with gold but with a golden boy who took her straight there—to a hell of a life. And when all those doors slammed shut, God didn’t open a window, ‘the devil’ did.

Devlin. Jade used to love his name. It was unusual, strong and spoke of his Irish heritage. She assumed the man, Devlin Donoghue, would be the same—as honorable as a hero in medieval times fighting to the death for his woman, family, and freedom. But Devlin was the antithesis of good things. When signing the divorce papers, Jade realized how vile he was to break her trust, heart, and life. His name was unspeakable now, like poison on her tongue. So instead of seeing ‘Devlin’ written on the paper, her brain flipped the letters and she saw only ‘Devil.’ Now there’s a name perfectly suited to him. Since that day, Jade referred to him only when necessary, and only as ‘the devil’—the intentional cause of pain and destruction, the epitome of evil.

***

Gabriel had nowhere to run or hide from the relentless demons howling through his life. They made demands of his days he couldn’t fulfill. No matter how good he was or acted, his life seemed predestined for trouble and heartbreak. In trying to change his situation, worse circumstances arose. He ran from a culture he loved and respected but had also caused pain and torment. The deepest truth, though, simmered underneath the obvious facts—Gabriel knew he’d never have a life of goodness, of love and family. Those things were fairytales in books and movies. He’d never witnessed those good things in real life and, since Consuela, for sure they didn’t happen to people like him.

***

The destruction of Jade’s life by a devious, conniving husband didn’t happen to people like her. She’d always been a loving, hard-working, devoted daughter and wife who deserved better than what she got.

At twenty-seven, instead of living the dream they planned, Jade lived alone in a studio apartment, in a nightmare where questions screamed through her dreams. Where are you… How could you do this? Why did you do it? Every day, rage tumbled down her life like a waterfall. Come back… fix this… make it right! Her world stood still while a vortex of depression sucked out her life force, replaced by a new emotion—hate. With all the good she was and did, she received the opposite in return. But for all the agony and loss the devil wrought, he didn’t get an ounce of it back. As far as Jade saw, only good things went back to him. How is that fair in the laws of the universe, the eyes of God, or in the karmic balance of right and wrong? Jade decided if those things wouldn’t balance the scales of justice, she would. She’d pay back ‘the devil.’ Retribution and vengeance—previously unknown concepts in her world—now thundered through her every waking moment as she vowed revenge.

***

Gabriel should have listened to the red flags in his intuition telling him not to trust Consuela or any women. But there weren’t many people in his life he did trust. With experiencing some of the worst of life events, Gabriel lived with everything being fine one day, and all hell breaking loose the next. Which is exactly what happened. He never forgot the day Consuela cheated and his world shattered.

After that fateful day, Gabriel’s life became one of nothing but work. He worked his body hard to cover his pain, to stop replaying the scenes of the betrayal. Time didn’t heal his wounds as his mother promised. Wherever he went, unending memories followed of ‘the witch,’ the only name his brain would allow for Consuela. The only path to survival was to leave his hometown of San Antonio and get as far away as possible from the wreckage of his life.

Yet with firming up plans for a new start, the nagging voice inside his head, the angel looking over his ‘good’ shoulder asked, "How can you have a good life when all you want is to retaliate and cause suffering as you’ve suffered? You need to stop living this way if you want a better life." The voice of truth was right. But most of the time it was safer to listen to the devil on the other shoulder who, when anything good threatened to take hold reminded Gabe his life’s greatest desire was to seek revenge, to move through life breaking hearts and spirits as his own had been broken. The devil’s voice reinforced his life should be one of balancing the scales of pain and injustice inflicted on him. Gabriel Montoro knew getting even was his best revenge because ‘living well’ was not a viable option in his world.

Chapter 4

Survival for Jade meant leaving the west coast where remnants of the devil were everywhere, where a constant reopening of the wounds reminded her of everything he’d robbed from her life. She planned to run as far away from California as possible, straight to the opposite coast. Santa Barbara had been home all her life except for the five years while married and living in Los Angeles. She felt out of place in L.A., disliking the masses of people and traffic. She had friends in New England, but the cold climate was too drastic a lifestyle change. A temperate place, quiet and warm, would provide peace and stable ground to grow a new life. But reality set in quickly of not having the resources to start over and depression sank in.

In wanting to ease her daughter’s suffering, Jade’s mother, Maggie, came up with a solution. At Sunday brunch, she laid it out. My house is paid for and I have a good nest egg put away for retirement. Plus, your ninety-year-old bachelor great-Uncle Dennis is leaving me his house with an ocean view. So, I have no financial worries and I want to help you with…

Jade interrupted and put her hand up in front of her. No, Mom. I appreciate it, but I can’t let you help me with money.

"I didn’t ask if you could or couldn’t. I will help you start over. Listen, I’m Uncle Dennis’s only heir, and you’re my only child and heir, so everything I have will be yours someday. Think of it as an advance on your inheritance."

Jade shivered with the thought of her mother dying. This is so depressing. I don’t want to talk about it. Besides, you could live to be one-hundred and you’ll need your money.

Maggie straightened up tall in her chair, waved her hands like a fairy godmother brandishing a magic wand. Nonsense! There’s plenty even if we both live to be old bats! This is the best plan for you. You’d make me happier by accepting this than buying me any gift from a store. Maggie pointed to the air above her. And your father agrees.

Mom! Do you always have to invoke Daddy’s spirit when coercing me into something? Geez, he’s trying to rest in peace and you drag him back. It’s just plain weird.

With a sweet, knowing smile, Maggie said, It’s not weird, and I know you sense his spirit around us, too. He’s watching over you.

Jade sipped her mimosa. "Is he? Where was he when the devil tore up my life?"

Maggie rubbed her hand over Jade’s. The events in our lives are part of a greater plan, like making the required steps through school to graduate. I hate how your life was devastated. I was the same way when your father died, but I focused on growing, learning, and finding a way to live life differently. So, I pursued art and painting; and now I run an art association and have lots of wonderful friends. My life is full and happy versus sitting at home, sad, angry, living in the past and waiting to die.

Jade rolled her eyes. I suppose you’re right, again. She slumped into the back of her chair. But I don’t feel comfortable taking money from you.

See it as a loan then.

I don’t know when I could pay you back.

I don’t need it paid back soon. And I’m not talking about a huge amount of money—just enough for you to start over. You figure out how much you need to relocate; for rent, food, bills and miscellaneous for six months until you find a job. Come up with a figure.

Jade shook her head. It still doesn’t seem right.

Forced to use Jade’s own logic against her, Maggie said, You talk about getting even with Devlin. What better revenge than having money in the bank to do whatever you want next in life? You’ll triumph over your losses and you’ll be free. There’s no better way to start over.

Jade weighed her mother’s words. Hmm… good point. She envisioned a life free of the devil’s wreckage, free to travel and start life anew. You make sense. I’d be pretty stupid to turn down your offer. Thank you, Mom. She drummed her fingers on the table. "Freedom is something the devil always prized, and he’ll never have it in his new, self-inflicted life. Yes, perfect revenge is having the funds and freedom to live life as I want." So as not to upset Maggie, Jade didn’t speak her next notion: But ‘the devil’ deserves worse.

***

Jade had kept in touch with a good friend from college, Amy Parish, who lived in Charleston, South Carolina. Amy told her how beautiful the city was and posted photos of the historic homes, the ocean and sunsets. Jade thought the lush, sub-tropical southeast with its gentle climate, rich history and low country charm would be perfect for her. It was time for Jade to reconnect beyond social media. She called Amy and they caught up on their lives over a couple hours on the phone. Amy was sad for the recent breakdown of Jade’s life but overjoyed at the prospect of her living near her in the Charleston area. She offered her home as a base, promising road trips to explore the South Carolina coast.

***

A tearful but optimistic goodbye with her mother sent Jade off on the cross-country drive to Charleston determined not to dwell on the past. After two boring days on the road, though, Jade ran out of visions for the future and the demons of the past crept back. Exhausted from driving, she thought stopping to rest and sight-see would rejuvenate her. Signs on the Texas interstate for San Antonio appeared and her intuition said this was the place to stop.

As Jade drove around the downtown, she found the city to be vibrant with life and color. Even though it was late February, the weather was balmy; the city filled with a festive air, alive with lights, music, and good restaurants. She stayed downtown, splurging on a nice hotel on the San Antonio River, ate at a riverside café, and walked the paths along the river for a couple miles. Jade felt safe and comfortable yet kept looking over her shoulder as if someone watched or an acquaintance or friend were close by. But no familiar face sat at a table near hers, or on a park bench, or stood next to her in the elevator.

The next day she took a boat tour on the river, learned the city’s history and felt at home with the Spanish-inspired architecture. The riverfront looked magical lined with stores, outdoor restaurants, music and thousands of lights shining into the night. Her spirit came alive, her body rejuvenated and happy. The sense of calm was a relief from her recent months filled with anger and despondency. San Antonio might be a

Reviews for Heart Storms

[nancyluebke · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this triangle of romances. I received this for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I've given it a 4.7* rating. This is not for the under 18 readers because of adult content. But along with this, it certainly had all the feels as it touched on several issues. I must admit I needed tissues toward the end and an unusual ending it had too. The heroine had a roller coaster of a life, a life of mixed blessings.