The Winter Palace: A May December Love Story

By Victor A. Wilkie

Two people in two prisons without bars, but captive nonetheless.

Time and circumstances had kept them apart, but now they are about to be brought together by fate.

Mara Johansen runs away from her Maryland home to search for something missing within, to search for purpose, for herself. Instead, she finds herself stranded in a winter storm in the great northwest. Sanctuary comes in the form of a wooden mansion on a distant hill, but who is the mysterious owner?

Thomas is a handsome, wealthy man who lives alone in this beautiful, colossal structure. As witty and charming as he is mysterious, Mara soon learns that he has a most sordid past. And yet, she is strangely drawn in, and what follows is a tale of romance and intrigue, a story of two souls – one on the verge of giving up and the other believing his time is over - who face danger and find love, together.

The Winter Palace is a beautiful romance, the story of a monument to the hopes and dreams of every decent man, woman, and child, a story that reminds us that we never know what may show up at our door, including true love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Victor A. Wilkie
• Release date: Dec 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393903123

Victor A. Wilkie

Victor A. Wilkie lives in Greenville, South Carolina, where he works as an insurance agent specializing in helping senior citizens and has also done volunteer work with the homeless. He enjoys reading and writing, fishing, camping, and college sports, and his friends and readers can attest to his gift for storytelling. With his passion for history and romance, Victor has a somewhat unique ability to immerse readers in his stories. As many have observed, his characters and scenes become real – they vividly play on the movie screen of the mind. Victor is the author of Once a God: The Spirit of Miriam, The Bishop and the Rose: A Family Saga, Enemies of the Greater Good, and the newly-released book, The Winter Palace: A May December Love Story.

Book preview

"While they all

Fall in love

With her smile

She waits for one

Who will fall in love

With her scars."

- The Dreamer

Part One: Shelter from the Storm

At the age of twenty -nine, Mara Johansen was running away. From what and to where, she wasn’t exactly sure, but circumstances would soon remind her that she had picked a less than ideal time to see the great northwest. She’d had breakfast in a quaint mountain town not far from the ski resorts. Now, as she continued her journey – to somewhere – Mara realized that she should have opted for a room at the motor lodge she’d seen back in town. It was only four or five miles behind her, she guessed. Should she turn back now? No. This sojourn was supposed to be a new beginning and an adventure. Mara couldn’t decide what she believed about God, but, as soon as she decided to leave Baltimore, she’d determined to trust things to fate. She was tired of living without feeling alive, tired of carrying an old soul in her young body. She’d come here to live, or die, to start over and, hopefully, find that somewhere over the rainbow. Now, against what felt like her better judgment, something was beckoning her forward.

The road she traversed headed in a northwesterly direction and was already covered in about six inches of snow. Time to change the station, she thought. Driving out here the entire distance from Maryland, she’d tired of her downloaded playlists and opted for what radio stations she could pick up, but didn’t need them to tell her about the storm; the white stuff was coming down harder with each passing minute. No problem, she reasoned. She was in an all-wheel-drive SUV, and SUV’s love conditions such as these, she thought.

When she came to a straightaway on the curvy road, Mara noticed another vehicle's headlights at a distance behind her. Just then, every light on her dash started flashing; every gauge was going crazy. She pulled to the side of the road and came to a slow stop. She did so just in time to see the vehicle behind her do a U-turn in the road. Just as it vanished from sight, her vehicle died.

Oh, no, wait! she said as she looked over her shoulder. A moment later, she shifted into Park and tried to restart the engine. Nothing. Over and over, nothing and her shouts did no good. Obviously, it mattered not to her chariot that she’d filled it with gas before leaving town.

Dammit! she shouted when she discovered that, in addition to the breakdown, she had no cell service either. Wait, 911 still works; that’s right! It did, but, as she soon learned, all units were out on other calls. They would alert the highway patrol, but it could be a while before help arrived.

Do you have any emergency equipment, ma’am? asked the lady on the line.

What? Like what?

Like flares, blankets, or candles?

No, I... what in the world would I need candles for? Mara demanded.

Okay, ma’am, forget about candles. I’m unable to get a fix on your phone. I need you to give me your location.

I don’t know; just somewhere on the road. I was in this little town, and I had breakfast. I left the restaurant and just started driving. White Pines, yes; that was the name of the town! Oooh... now you’re going to ask me which way I headed. I don’t know! North, maybe?

Mara went on to tell dispatch that she’d eaten at a place called the Great Northern, something or other. Which way had she turned when she left the parking lot? Right. After that, she turned left somewhere, then right somewhere else. As she’d said, she guessed she was about four or five miles out of town. She was in an Audi Q7, she added.

Ma’am, I advise you to check the immediate vicinity. Stay close enough so that you don’t lose sight of your vehicle, but see if there’s any shelter nearby. If not, get back in the vehicle and bundle up with whatever you have until help arrives.

Congratulations, Mara. You’re a real genius. Wanted to break free. For once, you wanted to be adventurous, maybe even do something stupid; well, it looks like you’ve succeeded, at least with the stupid part, she said aloud after hanging up with the dispatcher.

A short time later, she made her way through the tree line and spotted a large house in the distance. The home sat high up in the mountains, and Mara knew she was in for a good hike. But wait. What if she trudged all the way up there, and no one was home? Should that turn out to be the case, better to face charges of breaking and entering than to freeze to death, she reasoned. She then went back to her car, grabbed her gloves and purse, and locked the doors. She’d sold everything she had before leaving Maryland. All she had left was the vehicle and the personal belongings crammed inside.

Mara liked to stay in shape. In Baltimore, she enjoyed a daily three-mile run and went to the gym two to three times weekly. However, her current circumstances were pushing her physical prowess to the limit. The wind picked up, and it seemed that the way got steeper and the snow deeper with each step. When she finally reached an area where the ground leveled, she saw that she still had a good hundred yards or so between her and the house. It might as well be a hundred miles, she thought. Her legs were heavy, her body nearly frozen. Nearly out of breath, she finally reached the front door of the massive wood home.

Oh, no, please! she called after knocking and ringing the bell several times.

Katia, said the tall man who finally opened the door.

Mara’s eyes closed. She could hear dogs barking inside. Who? No, my car.. Please, may I use your phone?

Silently, the man at the door stared at her for a long moment. Forgive me, please. Come in, my dear, he said finally.

Once inside, a small white dog, a Chihuahua mix, barked while a fat brown and white English bulldog waddled to her slowly. Wow, she whispered as she took a quick look around. Three open stories rose above the great room with railings all around. Not counting the vaulted area, the ceiling rose thirty feet above her, the woodwork was exquisite, and fine art adorned the walls. Whoever lived here was definitely not on public assistance, she thought.

I’m so sorry to intrude, sir. This home is beautiful, by the way. My car broke down. I was able to call 911, but I couldn’t really tell them where I was, and it looks like it could be a while before they get anyone out here. But if I could just use your phone to let them know where I am, I’m sure I’ll be out of your hair soon.

The man smiled at her. He was tall, an older man in his fifties, Mara guessed. Very handsome with a dignified appearance, his thick hair was salt and pepper and well-groomed. He wore black dress pants and a light blue cashmere sweater that set off his blue eyes. She stared at him as he reached into his pocket and retrieved a flip phone.

Still no service. Par for the course here, especially this time of year, I’m afraid. However, I do have a landline up in the study, he said.

Oh, great! Oops, look at me, I wiped my feet, but I’m still getting your lovely floor all wet. Want me to leave my boots by the door?

A splendid idea, yes. After your call, you should give me your clothes.

Excuse me?

Your toboggan, jeans, and blouse are soaked. I thought perhaps I might offer you a robe and throw them in the dryer for you.

Um, no, thanks. I’m sure they’ll dry quickly enough. After I make the call, I can wait by the door. With any luck, someone will be out soon.

As you like, but I can assure you that it will likely be some time before anyone arrives. There’s only one ranger in the vicinity, and the patrolmen will have their hands full with stranded motorists and accidents. Do forgive my manners, by the way. My name is Thomas. The big fellow staring up at you there is Skipper. The little one guarding my ankle here is Gilligan.

Mara smiled. Nice to meet you, Thomas, Gilligan. And, hello Skipper, she said, and she then knelt to pet the fat bulldog. I’m Mara, by the way, she added.

Mara, what a lovely name! Shall I escort you to the communications center now?

Still looking around and in virtual awe of her surroundings, Mara followed Thomas upstairs to the second floor. She made her call and gave her location to the authorities a few minutes later, but they repeated Thomas’s assurances that it would be a while before anyone could get to her.

"Look, I know you guys are busy, but it’s only about five miles back to town, and