Transforming the Pieces

By Caroline Dancel-Garcia

Kate and Jake's friendship turned into a lasting partnership as they promised to love one another as husband and wife. Their marriage is the envy of most. They surrounded themselves with friends who say would do anything for them. When Kate and Jake's lives are turned upside down from unexpected events, who will be there for them? Will their love for one another be enough to keep them together?

Life is a roller coaster. You will never know when an unexpected curve jolts you the worse or how long will you be on top before you hit rock-bottom. Join Kate and Jake as they experience the roller coaster they call life. Prepare yourself as you experience the ride with them. Are you ready?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387376032

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Transforming the Pieces

Transforming the Pieces

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Kate and Jake’s friendship turned into a lasting partnership as they promised to love one another as husband and wife. Their marriage is the envy of most. They surrounded themselves with friends who would do anything for them. When Kate and Jake’s lives are turned upside down from unexpected events, who will be there for them? Will their love for one another be enough to keep them together?

Life is a roller coaster. You will never know when an unexpected curve jolts you the worse or how long will you be on top before you hit rock- bottom. Join Kate and Jake as they experience the roller coaster they call life. Prepare yourself as you experience the ride with them. Are you ready? ENJOY. 

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 [e-mail].

Names and events are FICTIONAL. Any mention of locations are coincidental to create the story.

ISBN 978-1-387-37501-1

Acknowledgement

I told myself many times that if I could dream it, I could make it possible. This book is the result of my family, work family, friends, and readers believing that I could deliver the last piece of the story. This third book of the pieces series started via a single idea from a poem.

Poetry writing is my escape from the stresses of life but book writing is now helping me create stories from these poems. Thank you to all who have encouraged me to tell stories using these poems.

Thank you to my son, Ruben A Garcia, for the love and admiration. You always encourages me to move forward. I love you. To my brother, Sonny, you have sacrificed so much for the family and I thank you for it. To my sister, Leng, you have shown strength in ways that I could not and I look up to you. To my dad and mom, thank you for the opportunity. You opened doors for me which helped me become very independent. Thank you.

10.09.1997 Love. Forgiveness. Resilience.

Thank you

Dedication

Walk with me by the shore

Hold my hands to the end

Listen to the seagulls sing

The lullaby from my heart

The tide is calm

And our hands, still holding on

Feel the water

The caress from my heart

You and I will bring

Such an adventure

To our children as we move forward

This is our journey with love and passion

I see new escapades

As our journey continue to unfolds

Oh I can't wait to hear you say yes again

Your smile and laughter

Will continue to fill our home

I love you then

I love you now

I love you ‘till the end

With your loving hands we are entwined

Forever with your love

Forever with my love

Forever together

Chapter One: Jake

Have you ever met someone and felt like you have known that person all your life? People say that love is something that you develop over a long period of time. Perhaps they are right. But then maybe they are wrong. Love came as a surprise for me. Over the last seven years of being with Kate, I have come to believe that love can strike at any time to anyone. One thing is for sure, love is what I have with Kate from the moment I met her. Love is experiencing life with my beautiful wife. Love is Kate.

It was a beautiful Friday evening at thirty-four street in New York’s Path Train station when I saw Kate for the first time. I was seated on one of the benches in the middle of the subway platform. It was past eleven o’clock in the evening so the train service already slowed down from the Friday rush hour. I sat there pretending to be reading a book. Kate was standing at the platform closest to the train heading to Newark, New Jersey. She looked so confident and with so much life in her face. She had her earbuds on and swaying her hips. I wondered what music she was dancing to. I wondered. I hoped that the train gets delay so that I could watch her some more. I hoped and wished for the train never to come.

For thirty minutes, I watched her gracefully dance to the music that only she could hear. Her hair was pulled in a messy bun. Her almond skin tone looked magnificent with her dark brown hair. Her sleeveless blouse showed her long neck and slender shoulder. Her hips swayed from left to right without any thought about the rest of the world. Her lips moved silently singing along to the music from her iPhone. Flat shoes adored her feet but her red stiletto peeked from her tote bag placed between her long legs.

There is a fifteen minutes delay for Newark bound train. We appreciate your patience. the overhead speaker announcement.  I think it was only I who appreciated that the train was running late. More time for me to spend gawking at this pretty lady I thought to myself. Kate pulled the earbud from her right ear. She lowered herself to grab her tote bag. She moved to take the bench opposite to where I was seated. It took all the control that I could muster to put myself in check not to stare at her. I was bordering between creepy and stalking. I chuckled at my thought. I glanced at my watch just to be reminded that I hoped and wished for that train to be delayed some more. So now what? I could not just stare at her without possibly being seen as a stalker or creepy. A young mother with her daughter entered the train platform. I stood up and offered my spot on the bench to them. Whew… Saved by the mother and daughter. Kate looked up when I stood up. She smiled at me. Oh that smile lit up like fireworks. I felt excited and warm from her beauty. I gave her a half smile. At exactly eleven forty-five, the train arrived. Everyone lined up to enter the train.

The train platform was packed more than usual. As soon as I entered the train, I looked around to see if Kate entered the same train car. It must have been my lucky night because Kate was seated by the conductor. Please stay clear of the closing doors the conductor warned before the final beep sounded indicating the door closing. I was so close to her. If I just move three steps from where I stood, I could be next to her. Literally elbow to elbow. I could ask for her name. I could introduce myself. I could…

Next Stop. Journal Square station the conductor announced. Majority of the passengers prepared to disembark the train. I held my spot and allowed the passengers in front of me to exit first. I was surprised to see that Kate was still seated. I questioned whether this was her stop. I patiently waited for her then to my relief, she pulled her earbuds and stowed them in her tote bag. She texted someone before heading to the door of the train. I gestured for her to go ahead of me. She smiled. Wow! I felt something that I have never felt before. It was like an electric shockwave. I felt it all over my body. Warmth. It was magnificent. She looked ahead then walked out of the train. She took the escalator to the street level. She was walking in front of me. Just few steps ahead of me. The breeze blew jasmine scent to my direction. Her perfume. I inhaled slowly to savor the moment. For the first time I felt like I was stalking her.

I heard a short giggle from her then a scarf fell from her tote bag hanging at the fold of her arm. I was stunned. I was speechless. What was I supposed to do? I picked up the silk ocean blue scarf. Excuse me. Miss you dropped this one I yelled to her. She turned to look back. Her eyes pierced at me. They were the most gorgeous shade of brown. I did not notice it at the train platform but somehow under the street light, they were noticeable. I extended my hand to give her the scarf. She met me halfway. She was so close to me. The scent of her jasmine perfume engulfed the air. Thank you the two words that started it all. She flagged for a taxi. I was speechless. Give me your hand she commanded. Like an idiot with wide eyes, I did. She turned my hand so that the palm of my hand is flat to hers. She placed a permanent marker to her mouth with her other hand and uncapped it