Havenwood: A Novella

By Mira Jeffreys

Benny Jacobs is a faithful line cook who day in and day out, work his fingers to the bone just to afford his mother’s cancer medicine. He’s a lone wolf. He’s misunderstood, overworked, and underpaid. The people of Havenwood can’t see his potential and judge him by his past mistakes. According to some, he’s destined to follow the same path led by his father straight back to the county jail. But the same people who judge him can’t see how much of his life he sacrifices just to care for his mother. No one sees the person he is inside.

Nora Wilcox is a strong, devoted, and brilliant administrator. She’s successful at everything she sets her hands to do. She’s all a Wilcox should be. The only child of Havenwood’s chief lawmakers, Nora plays a key role in the future of the small town. Her family makes demands of her which she’s not too sure she can satisfy. If she does everything right, one day Havenwood will be hers, but she must play by the rules first. Deep down all Nora wants is to live her life on her own terms.

Two Hearts Destined to Reunite...
Years ago, Benny and Nora were the best of friends. They shared everything from hopes and dreams, to heartaches and disappointments. They were each other’s shadow. Their friendship was tested when Benny was arrested and charged with a crime he didn’t commit. Their lives drifted apart, leaving Nora to agonize over the choice she made that landed him in jail. Time inevitably weakened the bond they’d spent years strengthening as the weeks turned into months and the months into years.

A Night That Changed Everything...
What started out as a normal Friday night, quickly turned into a night of terror that the residents of Havenwood wouldn’t soon forget. On this fateful night, people carried on with their lives, completely unaware of the hungry insatiable monster headed straight for them. Lives will be shattered, and lives will be lost. The storm that descends upon Havenwood will change Benny and Nora’s lives in an unexpected way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mira Jeffreys
• Release date: Jul 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005961251

Mira Jeffreys

Mira Jeffreys is a Georgia native, an original Georgia Peach, who recently decided to pick up everything and relocate to the Sunflower State. She's enjoyed writing for much of her life. She was first published at the age of eight, when her short story was selected as the winning piece to represent her school for her grade level. From that day forward, her passion for writing continued to be the driving force behind her creativity. She used her talents as a freelance ghostwriter, serving global clients and crafting thousands of articles, hundred of ebooks, and dozens of books.In Her Own Words:I write because I have a passion to touch many hearts. I can accomplish this through my writing. Those who enjoy my stories, always comment about how different parts of the story touched their hearts. That is my aim as a writer. I live to create characters who will come alive and jump off of the page. I love creating scenes so real the readers are pulled into the action. I enjoy long drives through the countryside, beautiful awe-inspiring sunsets, and a hot cup of coffee. I married my best friend and together we enjoy quiet living in a small town in Kansas. I'm a mom of six beautiful children, & grandmother of two lovely beings who've completely stolen my heart.

Book preview

Havenwood

A Novella

Chronicles of Nora & Benny

Book 1

By Mira Jeffreys

Copyright © 2020 Mira Jeffreys

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Havenwood: A Nora & Benny Story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, locations, business, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Cover Design by JennJ Designs jennjdesigns.com

Dedicated to

JTJ

True love

withstands the test of time.

Chapter Contents

1: The Calm Before the Storm

2: No Peace, No Rest

3: Convenient Loyalty

4: Right Place, Right Time

5: Darkness Falls

6: Leveled

7: The Passage

8: The Choice

9: A New Day

This is not a test.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Havenwood County…

1

Calm Before the Storm

There wasn’t anyone in this godforsaken town who cared about her. Nora was certain of it. Her parents? Maybe. Her fiancé? Nora chuckled to herself. That was almost laughable. She was just a trophy, a symbol of Neil’s success. On the outside, Neil and Nora were the most loving and successful couple in town, but an untold story lurked on the inside, behind closed doors.

A story of unfaithfulness, deception, and manipulation. She played the part that everyone wanted her to play. The part of the fierce businesswoman whose only concerns were money, fame, and power. She played it so well that at times she even believed it herself.

Are you listening to anything I’m saying? Neil asked. From the way his blood vessel swelled on the side of his forehead, she could tell he was annoyed with her.

Of course I am, Nora answered gently.

Her voice was always so soft and delicate, like an angel’s voice. At least that’s what most people compared it to. Her parents nagged her about working harder on her voice projection, saying that the Wilcox voice must be strong enough to be heard!

His eyebrow quirked slightly. So, what’s your answer?

Nora knew this was simply the calm before the storm, and she wanted so badly to hold on to every ounce of peace that she could get her hands on. She sighed and sipped her soda. How would she break it to him that she wasn’t going to take her father’s offer to run for city council chairman?

She swallowed and smiled. Neil, I know you feel as though I should take the job, but I don’t think I’m cut out for politics.

What?

Would you like for me to repeat myself?

I heard you the first time, but I’m not sure I understand. Why wouldn’t you take the job? Havenwood needs the Wilcox and Carter families.

Havenwood will always have my family to help further its interests, but I don’t want to be any part of it.

Neil laughed, and sipped his coffee. You mean to tell me you’re going to turn down your father’s offer after you’ve waited all this time for him to offer it to you?

You’ve waited all this time, not me. Nora found comfort in knowing that in a public place like this, Neil would not show his true colors.

Together we can turn this town around. With your family’s money and influence and my family’s connection to tech and industry, we could bring this sad town into the twenty-first century.

I know that.

Then what’s the problem? He leaned forward and took her hand. He squeezed it tightly, his nails digging into her palm.

That’s not what I want. We are not on the same page.

Are you serious?

Yes, I am.

Where is this coming from?

She glanced around to make sure no one was watching. Only one person was. It was the same person who was always watching her when she came into this particular diner. Benny Jacobs. The head waiter. Their eye contact was brief as always; she always being the first to break away.

We’ve already discussed this, and you already know why I’m like this right now, Nora said. She tried to pull her hand away from him, but he held on tighter.

Is this because of Angie?

Yes.

Neil laughed and released her hand. He sat back in his chair. Unbelievable.

I can’t form any alliances with you, because I cannot trust you.

Trust?

Yes, trust.

This is business.

So you mean to tell me that marrying me is just business to you? she whispered.

No. I love you, but I can’t help what’s going on with Angie.

She leaned forward. She’s pregnant with your child, and you’re telling me you can’t help what’s going on?

What’s done is done.

Are you still seeing her?

I’ve already told you I’m not.

Are you still seeing her? she repeated.

Listen, we are going to be married. The invitations have already gone out, so you can’t turn back now.

I can’t turn back?

Both yours and mine have dished out a lot of money on this thing, so we are going to go through with it.

"How can