Better Every Day

By Rita Hestand

Joe Garcia was finally coming home from Afghanistan. Shannon O'Hara was there to meet him at the airport. When he passed right by her at the airport without a word, Shannon was sure he didn't even remember her. She put Joey, her son in the stroller and left, crying. Unable to face her brothers with her tears, she and Joey spent the night in a motel, until she could get a hold of herself. What has she expected. She's spent one glorious night with Joe before he had to get back to the war. How could she expect him to remember her after three long years.

But hiding from Joe in a small town wouldn't be easy.. And when he saw her in a burger joint he stopped to say hello. He noticed Joey and asked if he could hold him. He seemed very curious, but he hadn't guessed her secret. That was a good thing.

After talking to a friend though, Joe's eyes were opened. Joey was his kid! How could he have missed it. Determined to get to the bottom of it, he spotted her delivering papers and told her he wanted to talk.

No matter how good it was seeing Shannon, and how much he wanted to make her and the baby part of his life, his mother had other plans for her son. Plans that did not include the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. The more he saw of Shannon the more he wanted to see her. Fighting with his mother though wasn't something he was prepared for.

Somehow he had to make Shannon and Joey part of his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rita Hestand
• Release date: Apr 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463092903

Rita Hestand

Hi friendsI'd like to ask a favor, not just for me but for all writers. PLease when we offer a free book, it would be wonderful if you'd take the time to rate the book. This doesn't take much time out of your day and authors really apreciate your time to do this. I know not everyone wants to sit down and write a review, but rating the book will help as well. And a big thanks to all who do this. You never know how much an author appreciates you taking the time to do this.I finally finished The Car Stalker. Hope you'll check it out. This is the second book in the stalker series. Like I said mystery is much different from romance all though there are elements in romance in my stalker books too. Today I finished an another book in my series of Vets coming home, Better Every Day. This book takes the angle of when family interrupts your plans. When a one-night stand is much more. I love this story as it hits home. So two new books out now and more coming.I'm taking the time to write while confined at home. But lack of seeing people outside, and living alone all the time is not new to me. I've got lots of stories to tell so be on the lookout for my newest releases. You might check out my Searchin g for You Indian romance on Amazon too.There are several new free books for you enjoyment, since your stuck at home. Home you enjoy them.As for a bio, suffice it to say, I'm a Texan tried and true. I have grown children and grandchildren and already some great-grandchildren. I've done multi jobs in my lifetime giving me a variety of experiences to write and talk about. I've done many different kinds of work from Texas Instruments, to City of Garland, to working for the Wylie Independent School District. I've worked for a hat factory, filing insurance claims, secretarial work, to waitress work. My writing reflects my varied background. Another note I've had a in home day care for twenty years too. So when I write about something I have a general knowledge of it too, which is a real bonus for me. Just like my public work, my writing varies too from contemporary to historical, I write romance, thrillers, children's. A lot of people might say gee, that's a lot of different jobs, and it is, but, I've learned from them all, and I use that experience in my writing.I want to thank all the readers over a length of time that have tried some of my books. I hope I've enlightened and entertained you. I hope I've shared some love in this world. Sharing love can't be bad, it's God given.God bless.Other places to see my bookshttps://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/rita-hestand/https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/rita-hestand/id365799219?mt=11www.scriptsforschools.com/rita-hestandhttps://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/search?query=rita%20hestand&fcsearchfield=author

Book preview

Better Every Day

Better Every Day

Book Two of the Coming Home Series

Rita Hestand

Smashwords Edition

Copyright© 2020 by Rita Hestand

All Rights Reserved

ISBN # 9780463092903

Cover Design by: Coverinked Book Cover Design

License Note

This book, Better Every Day is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without express written permission of the author. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy or copies. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Better Every Day is a work of fiction. Though some of the cities and towns exist they are used in a fictitious manner for purposes of this work. All characters are works of fiction and any names or characteristics like any person past, present or future are coincidental.

Dedication

So many times, people fall in love only to find out the family doesn't approve. Most of the time these problems can eventually be solved. But sometimes it takes a different turn. For all lovers who have faced this problem this book is dedicated.

God Bless

Rita Hestand

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

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

About the Author

Rita's Other Books

Chapter One

Shannon O'Hara watched him stand on the platform, look around, then walk down the steps. He looked so good to her. She had the urge to run up to him and grab him, but she refrained. She didn't have that right. But she couldn't stop her heart from leaping at the sight of him. Standing there in his uniform, looking out at the crowd of people she couldn't stop her heart from lurching.

His hair was still thick and black, he had a shadow of a beard, and those dark piercing eyes could still make her shiver. He'd lost some weight, she noticed. But somehow, he looked more like a man now than ever. He filled his uniform as though it was made especially for him. He looked out over the crowd once more, and for a split second it looked as though he might have recognized her, but his expression changed, and he turned away.

Shannon's heart fell.

She stood waiting, immobilized. She didn't realize she held her breath.

The busy airstrip had several planes coming and going. People gathered at each gate. The sun was shining, and it was a nice April day.

Joe Garcia was moving toward her now, and yet their eyes never met. Something sighed within Shannon as she watched him walk right by her and never said a word.

Disappointment lingered in the air, as her worst fears were realized. Either he didn't recognize her, or he wanted nothing more to do with her. Why else would he walk right past her and never say a word.

She kicked herself mentally. She shouldn't have come.

She stared after him until he was out of sight. All the excitement of being here to greet him faded now. There was no one to greet him. No one was there to welcome him home, except her. And the saddest part was, she had been there, and he hadn't even noticed. That spoke volumes to Shannon. What had she expected, it had been three long years ago, and only a one-night thing between them? A one-night stand was all she had been! The fact that he didn't stop, didn't look at her really, clarified that much for her. Well, she could stop dreaming now.

Still she had stood there a full five minutes before she moved. Stunned, disappointed, and hurt, she fastened Joey in his stroller, and she began to walk toward the entrance to the lobby of the airport. She didn't realize she was crying.

Well, Joey, I guess that is that. He didn't even recognize me. I must be nine kinds of stupid. Putting all my hopes and dreams of the future on a one-night stand. How silly is that?

They went inside the terminal and down to the lobby to get her car in the parking lot.

Her heart did a nosedive. What had she expected after all this time? Three years was a long time to wait for someone to come home. And now she felt her heart fall to her stomach. He hadn't remembered her. That was that!

She stood there, staring into the terminal feeling like the fool. A tear fell to her cheek. She wasn't sure what she expected, but not this.

Everyone was whizzing by her, as people were being hugged and greeted by their loved ones. Conversations floated through the air.

She saw him briefly lugging his luggage behind him, still alone. He looked a bit sad for some reason. She wondered why. Perhaps he felt he had no one to come home to. Little did he know.

Perhaps now she could put her foolishness behind her. She could put closure to it all. But could she? Joey was still his son, now she debated whether he deserved to know it.

With a sigh that seemed to tear her heart open, she left the terminal, found her car, put the baby in his car seat and drove away. It was all mechanical movements. She hadn't realized she'd even done it.

She beat her hand against the steering wheel of her car and lowered her head to it. What had she expected? Joe Garcia was a one-time thing. He was her past, and best left there. As quickly as he had come into her life, he was gone. Everyone had told her not to ever get hooked on a service man, but she wouldn’t listen. She told her best friend Trish about a soldier she'd fell for, but how it didn't work out. At least no one knew she came here today. No one even knew she had pined for him all those years. And more importantly, no one knew that Joe Garcia was the father of her baby. That was a good thing. She just had to get a hold of herself and not let anyone know now, not even her best friend Trish, nor her three brothers, Paul, Samuel, and Ronnie. Especially not them. They'd be angry, first at him, then at her for being so foolish.

She couldn't blame Joe for this. It had only been a one-time thing. She'd pined for three long years, he probably forgot her the minutes he stepped on the plane. A handsome soldier home on leave, a starstruck girl that listened to every word he spoke. It had led to one night of total bliss, but that's all it was.

She'd always heard guys didn't put much importance on one-night flings. They probably never gave it a second thought. Why were women so foolish?

Okay, okay, Joey, we're on our own now. I didn't want it this way, but I guess I deserve it. Only, you don't. I was so hoping…

She shook her head and let the tears flow down her cheek. Somehow, she had to cry this out and then look as though nothing had happened today. Three years of praying it meant something, was lost today. One mistake that would last her a lifetime. And yet, she'd never looked at it as a mistake. She cared for Joe then, and now too.

Would she tell him of his child? Should she?

She felt a headache coming on. There was a responsibility there, but he had a right to lead his own life.

When Joey would ask her about his father, she'd just have to be prepared with some answers.

Joey cooed and gurgled, smiling all the while. Mama plane? Joey repeated when the big plane flew overhead, making a loud noise.

She had taught him to say plane. He was talking well now. Putting words together. She loved to teach him new words.

You're such a good baby. I must realize I'm blessed to have you. And I must go on without your daddy. I was gonna approach him, but I didn't have the nerve. I thought, just for an instant he might approach me. Maybe it's better this way. He'll never know what a wonderful child he has. And under the circumstances, it's probably best I never tell him.

And then the tears came again, and she had to pull over to stop crying. She couldn't see.

Why didn't he recognize me? I haven't changed much. She glanced in the mirror at her red swollen eyes. I've worked hard to keep slim and not let myself go. Of course, I don't have any lavish clothes. My makeup isn't perfect. I've to face it, I don't have what it takes these days to compete with other females. He just needed someone to listen to that night, that's all.

Joey cooed and smiled at his mother.

I can't go home tonight Joey, I just can't. They'll take one look at me and know something is wrong. I need time to pull myself together.

She turned the radio on, and Joey got excited. He loved music, just like his father.

I can't go home, but where can I go? Shannon cried. They'll all know something is up. I'll get us a motel room for the night, that's what I'll do. We'll eat out, and I'll clean myself up so no one will know I've been crying. Shannon told her baby.

Joey was practically bouncing out of his car seat at the music.

She couldn't help but laugh. Oh, Joey, I love you. No matter how down I am, you pull me up. I'm so happy I have you in my life. I'm not sure I could go on, if I didn't.

She found a little out of the way motel and got a room. She took Joey inside and changed his diaper. It wasn't fancy, but it was clean. She washed her face and stared into the mirror. Well she looked at Joey, for three years I thought maybe when he came home, we could get back together. I was wrong. Obviously, we were never together. Now I've just got to adjust my thinking and realize it will never happen. I was stupid for thinking he'd remember me after all this time. I'm just another girl to him. I really can't expect him to remember or care, it was only one night. And sweetheart, he doesn't have a clue about you.

A man just doesn't remember one-night stands. She told herself. And, she sat Joey up on the bed and pulled his teddy bear out of the diaper bag. that's all it was a one-night stand. I've got to wake up and smell the roses honey. I'm not the first girl to feel this way. She looked at Joey who was cuddling his bear and jabbering to himself. But Joey, I want you to know this. I did love him. And I really thought he liked me too. I must have loved him, as I've spent three years not dating a soul. I've got to quit daydreaming, Joey. Your father is a beautiful man, but I guess not meant for me, or you. And I'm sorry for you Joey, he is such a special man.

Maybe he had a girl now. But where was she? She wasn't there to greet him. His parents weren't even there to greet him. Still, he probably did have girl. He was too handsome to not have a girl. Maybe he had a new girl in every port, like the old saying went.

God, she really didn't want to know. But in a small town, the chances of seeing Joe were real. Now, all she had to do was pull off being cool around him, if she was around him. His folks had money, so maybe she wouldn't be bumping into him. Maybe there was nothing more to fear. If he didn't recognize her, maybe she could just go on with her life and forget him. But for three years she hadn't forgotten that wonderful night in his arms. How could she let that go? They say a woman never forgets her first. I believe it! They were nothing to each other, she told herself. If he could forget her and not acknowledge her, she could do the same. How stupid could she get?

She laid across the bed and played with Joey a while. Then she went in the bathroom and drew a bath.

She took Joey's clothes off and got into the tub with him. He loved playing in the water, so they played, and her mood lifted a little. Joey could always get her out of a funky mood. She had to store the memory away. Forget it, she told herself. She'd think about him in her old age. He had forgotten her, hadn't he?

After cleaning up, she and Joey went to a little restaurant around the corner to eat. Joey ate some of her peas and mashed potatoes. She always got a kick out of watching Joey chase a pea on his highchair. She ate the rest of the chicken fried steak. She sipped her tea and looked outside the window. They weren't that far from the airport and she had to visibly shake the memory of seeing him again from her mind. He looked better now than ever. He didn't look like a skinny, sad, soldier. No, on the contrary, he looked like a real man now.

Feeling more than a little blue, she headed back to the motel and after getting Joey to sleep, she watched television. I Love Lucy was on and she laid across the bed laughing. But when it was over, she cried.

Oh Joey, what am I going to do? I can't stop thinking about him.

Pining so long for Joe, how could she suddenly forget him? She wasn't good at this. She hadn't dated anyone. The one-night stand with Joe was her first and only encounter with a guy. And after he left for the service the next day, she thought she'd be true to him, until he returned.

Although, when she thought of it, he hadn't promised his undying love to her. He'd been sweet, but it obviously didn't mean the same to him as it did to her.

She got up finally and took her clothes off, deciding to sleep in her underwear. Perhaps this was a closure of some kind.

Her brothers would wonder where she was at. It didn't matter how angry they would be at her. She needed this alone time.

But the problem was, how would she explain it? Joey was asleep by the time she laid down beside him. She cuddled with him and she heard his whimper. She went to sleep finally, assured there was one man in her life, Joey.

The next morning, she determined that nothing in her life had changed. She was raising Joey, she had help, her brothers and life would go on. She resigned herself to the fact that Joey didn't have a father. Somehow, someway, she'd explain this to Joey when he was old enough to ask. She had a while before he started asking questions, before he noticed other children, and that he had no father. She'd think about that, and how she would answer him.

When he woke up, she took him in her arms, hugged him and played with him for just a bit. Kissing his cheek, she laughed with him when he chuckled. She was in no hurry to go home. It was Sunday and the boys would soon be into a football game on television and wouldn't even notice when she came in. That was a good thing, she decided.

With her parents both dead, it was just her and her three brothers. She was the cook, the maid and the mother. She also worked at a hat factory and usually delivered the paper on her brother's bike on Sundays.

She gathered her things up and went home. She lived in Wylie, a small town on the outskirts of Dallas. It was a wonderful place to live all your life, except for one thing. The gossips. And there were a bunch of them too.

Just like she figured, her brothers didn't even see her come in. Why was she invisible to men?

Sighing she went to the front bedroom that she and Joey had claimed when their parents died. She put down the diaper bag and walked into the living room with Joey at her hand.

She made them all sandwiches and chips and then told Paul to watch Joey, while she went to deliver her papers.

Did you sleep in this morning? Paul asked her before she headed out the door.

Yeah, I did.

She left with a sigh and kissed Joey on the cheek, I'll be back soon.

Paul nodded and held Joey in his lap as she left. On Sundays the boys all watched football, and Joey was usually right there in the middle of it, cheering with the boys.

She set out to deliver the papers and threw everyone in the trailer park one, then went to the better neighborhood and threw the rest. It took almost an hour to complete her run.

Joe lived at the end of her run with his family. It was a rather large house with an upstairs too. He was the only child of Jesse and Louisa Garcia. His father was a welder and made good money, as he built horse trailers. There were always ranchers in the area, buying new trailers, and Jesse would always give new customers a good deal, so they'd come back. They lived in a nice upscale neighborhood. As she came close to his house, she put her hoodie on, pushing her thick red blonde hair back, so he wouldn't see her. She wasn't ready to face Joe, just yet.

But she saw him, he was out in the yard, hugging his mother and talking with his father.

She heard them apologize for not meeting him at the airport. Shannon had wondered why they weren't there.

Just glad to be home, Mom. Joe told his mother.

She patted his stomach, You've lost weight.

Maybe, but he's sure gained some muscle, his father added.

Joe glanced at Shannon as she threw the paper.

But with the hoodie on he didn't see her face.

She was glad. It would have been embarrassing.

She was pedaling slowly so she could watch them.

How was she going to live this close from now on and not see or talk to him? It would be difficult. It wasn't right to shun him just because he didn't recognize her.

But the girl next door, Pamela saw him and came running out to greet him. She jumped in his arms and kissed him silly. Shannon got to the end of the block and turned around and started for home. Well, that was that.

Shannon realized that somehow, she was going to have to see him at one point or another and acknowledge him. But as she turned around, he waved, Thanks kid for the paper! he called to her.

God! she murmured to herself. He thinks I'm a kid.

She waved back but didn't turn around.

But she did hear his mother, Let's get you inside and settled. Heather is coming over in a bit. She tried to make it to the airport, but her cousin came over and she couldn't make it. She knew you'd understand.

Heather? Joe's head twisted. Who is Heather?

You know the girl I invited to your going away party.

Oh yeah, sure. Well, to tell the truth Mom, I'm not ready to date yet.

What are you talking about dear, Heather is perfect for you.

Why don't you let me be the judge of that. He said, guiding his mother toward the front door.

See you later Pam, Joe called.

The girl walked back to her house with a huge smile on her face.

Shannon returned home to a house full of brothers and friends and her baby in the middle of them all, playing.

She knew she was fortunate to have brothers who loved her and the baby. And they happily watched him for her, occasionally.

Now that Joe was home, and there was nothing between them she decided it was time for her to get out more and meet other men. But truthfully, it held no excitement for her. It was time for her and Joey to have a life, to maybe find someone else. But the truth was, she wasn't interested in anyone else. It would take a while before she could even think of going out with someone. If ever!

Still, Shannon's love for Joe was so deep, she knew it would take quite a person to ever replace him in her heart. Closing off the possibility of another man in her life though meant her and Joey would have to go it alone. Would it be so bad to not have a man in her life?

And what of Joey? Would he miss having a father?

She ran a sewing machine at the factory. She made decent money. She was known around town, and several guys had been interested