Picking-up-the-pieces

By Caroline Dancel-Garcia

Kaye Ervin sealed her wounded heart and swears never to love again until Lucas Reyes catches her attention. After their first encounter, will Kaye capture Lucas' heart? Destiny, whether one believes it or not, will change their lives forever. Will it be Lucas who will pick up the pieces to heal Kaye's broken heart? Or the other way around? An unexpected event in their lives will make you wonder about true love and eternal love. Will you believe in destiny?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365793219

Book preview

Picking-up-the-pieces

Picking Up The Pieces

By:

Caroline Dancel-Garcia

Copyright 2017 by Caroline Dancel-Garcia

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopy, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of a brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial requests. Write to the author for permission, Attention: Permissions, at 6618 Carlsbad Rio San Antonio TX 78233.

Acknowledgement

To my son, Ruben Arturo Garcia

You are the sunshine in my life.

Thank you for always reminding me to look ahead.

Dedication

Roses for Lisa

I lay a bouquet of roses to say goodbye

You were strong

You were brave

You were blessed

You are going to be remembered

My dear friend you are now with God

My heart aches but I know that you are now free of pain

You embraced life like no other

Even in pain you laughed, smiled, hoped

The strength you showed was endearing

I lay a bouquet of roses to say goodbye

Keep a watchful eye on us from heaven for now

Until we see you again

Contents

Acknowledgement4

Dedication5

Misfits9

First Class11

Sneaking In12

Stranger No More14

Sandwich Shop17

Macey's Home18

Falling Hard21

Remember Me22

Being Disappointed23

Mystery Admirer24

Ron and Peggy's Sandwich Shop25

Meet Jackie28

Sleepless Night31

Infatuation31

Lunch Date with Friend34

Butterflies in Stomach40

Lunch Date49

Blow Back59

Hiccup60

Turn Back the Clock63

Spit It Out66

Shockwave71

Getting it together74

Dinner Date 101 77

Sleep Over81

Reveal84

Flirting 87

Smitten 92

Lingering95

Making Memories98

Overnight Bag99

New Beginning102

Falling Hard107

The Forgotten Notes109

Goodbye Old Friend111

Mr. Phillips Gifts115

Back to Campus117

Catching-Up119

Second Surprise123

The Box126

Too Much Emotion130

Lucas Reyes134

Epilogue139

About the Author141

Misfits

Huh, I'm sorry. You said what? I am not sure what exactly my best friend, Kate Wilson, said or asked while we are seated at the school's common room. I am focused on one person despite having several students and faculty members in the room going about their business. All this time, I am in the room but my mind is simply hanging out with that handsome man in the small computer room attached to the common room. He appears busy working on several computers while talking to that petite student I have seen around in the campus. Her long jet black hair hangs just below her shoulder. She talks to him with ease. They laugh with each other from time to time. She is definitely smitten.

With an irritated growl, Kate simply says Have you even heard a word I said for the past ten minutes or am I just wasting my time here? I could not tell Kate that the only reason I volunteered to join the study group is to have the means to view this mystery man's handsome face. My infatuation of him is becoming more intense over time.

His dark brown or maybe black eyes are gorgeous. They have this hue that just reminds me of seeing the world under the moonlight by the beach. It is perfect. It is interesting. It is mysterious. His eyelashes are long and they curl just at the right length to highlight his eyes. I have only seen him few times last semester but this time; I could not get enough of him. It bothers me that each time I see him, this petite student is hanging out with him. She appears flirtatious with him. Why am I bothered by it? I am for sure that he did not even know I existed.

To avoid being confronted by Kate about the whereabouts of my brain, I convinced her that I am hungry and I could use her company to go across the building for a sandwich and soda. Kate did not notice my little daydreaming. I am safe, at least at the moment.

Kate has been my best friend for three years now since I enrolled to Rosewood Community College. With not much luck at making friends with my introverted personality, Kate makes it easy for me to come out of my shell. She is heaven sent. She approached me about starting a study group at the start of the semester and I joined. Kate is well known by a lot of students. She has a bubbly personality. She could converse with anyone with comfort and ease. I, on the other hand, get tongue tide when dealing with others. It comes easy to be friends with Kate as she understands me from the inside out. It is an added bonus that Kate and I live in the same neighborhood so hanging out either at my house or hers is easy.

As we walk back to school from our lunch, Kate and I separated to go for our next class. It is only two o'clock but I am getting sleepy from over eating during lunch. I am dragging myself to class on the second floor of the Social Service building. I am excited to be in this class because I already know the instructor. Dr. Josey Roster is a very strict and no bullshit type of instructor. She could eye the students in her class who are not serious about their studies and often picks on them when they started to slack off. I enjoy her class. As a nerd- at least that is what my sister calls me- I enjoy any class that deals with human behavior, mental illness, and so forth. I live for it and hope that after graduation, I could land a better job. My current intern placement is good but I want something more challenging than just referring clients to community services. I want to be able to work with people first hand.

First Class

As I enter Dr. Roster's classroom, Oh shit I grab my hand to cover my mouth. I look around and hope that no one from class heard me. Why the hell is she in this class? This student who was flirting with my mystery man is in my class. My class, I hiss. Of all the classes in this college, why in my class? I scooted to the second row seat. I never sat at the back of the class for any class and I am not about to start doing it because she is in this class. I like being up close to the instructor because I enjoy hearing the lectures. I am in school to study not to ---- what was I thinking? What was I feeling? Was she a threat to me?

Hey Kaye, remember me? A voice from behind is familiar. I turn around. Cassie Gomez meets my gaze. She was in my Algebra class from two semesters ago. She moves to the seat next to mine. How have you been stranger? I ask as I position my seat closer to hers. I have not seen her since our Algebra class but we kept in contact via text messages and emails for the past several months. I took a semester off I needed a break from school but I decided I had to return to finish since I'm so close to getting all my credits to graduate she says.

As Dr. Roster enters the classroom, the room suddenly became quiet. Two hours of lecture later, Cassie and I walk out to meet Kate at the school's lobby. Kate appears excited to see Cassie. It is a reunion of three misfit friends. That's Jackie Kate nods to point towards the student who was flirting with my mystery man. What? in response to her question. You have been looking at her since you and Cassie walked out of your classroom What is the deal? Kate asks. Nothing I was just curious I lie and look away. I do not want my best friend to ask any more questions. Kate, Cassie, and I decided to grab coffee and donuts before separating for the day. It is nice to catch up with Cassie and know that I have her as a friend as well.

Sneaking In

For the next month, I sneak to watch my mystery man work on those computers each time I am at the common room. I do not know if he notices me looking at him. Female students flock around him which makes me jealous. I want so bad to approach him. I want to hear his voice and to see his handsome face up close. Will that day ever come? I am again in my own little world fantasizing about my mystery man.

I have two more months before the semester is over and I have too much to do before graduation. Although, Rosewood Community College has been good to me in terms of helping me get started in my education, I want to go further. I want to earn my Bachelor's degree. I want that B.A. diploma so that I could land my dream job- whatever it is? I do not think that I have figured it out yet.

I do not have the time to chase this handsome man who obviously has no interest in me. My academic focus at the moment however is railroaded by the presence of this handsome man. I feel giddy when I am around him. He is so darn handsome with those beautiful eyes and luscious eyelashes. I am lost for words.  I fantasize of hearing his voice up close to my ears. I imagine him calling me by my name. Oh! how sweet does it sound coming from him?

Rosewood Community College is situated in Lackland City, New Jersey. It is a small community college with a diverse student population. It does not have five-star campus amenities as compared to the bigger colleges and universities in the area but its faculty and students cultivate a close bond that many of its students treasure. In this college, students rely on their instructors to guide them to the path of higher education or employment.

I made the decision to attend Rosewood Community College three years ago because I wanted a place that made me feel significant and seen. I like that my instructors know me by my name instead of just a number on their class list. They take the time to get to know their students while they deliver their lectures in front of their classroom. It is a cozy school with the ability to transform any student like me and my misfit friends into a professional.

Stranger No More

Hi Kaye! An unfamiliar voice catches my attention while I am busy working on my paper for Dr. Roster's class. It is