Secret Storm

By Edith Lee Chestnut

Navigating the teen years is tough for anyone, but transitioning into adulthood is especially challenging for Callie after losing her mother at a very young age. After Callie finds out that she may be to blame for her mother's death and then later, her best friend moves away, her life seems pretty bleak. Things start to look a little brighter after she captures the attention of a handsome older guy that has recently moved into town. What she doesn't realize is that their paths have crossed before and there is a darker side to him that ends up turning her world upside down.

Years later, Callie has overcome the obstacles from her teen years and seems to have the perfect life. But just when she thinks she has it all, a wonderful family and a career that she loves, another stranger appears that seems intent on destroying the happiness she has struggled so long to achieve.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098362003

Book preview

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Secret Storm © 2021 Edith Lee Chestnut

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.

ISBN (Print): 978-1-09836-199-0

ISBN (eBook): 978-1-09836-200-3

Contents

Part 1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Part 2

15

16

17

18

Conclusion

Part 1

1

We put our hands in the water and spun ourselves around in slow, lazy circles. The pond at the back of my grandparents’ farm was a cool oasis on hot North Carolina afternoons. It was a special place that I shared only with my best friend Andy and my dog Beau. Whenever life got a little too tough and I needed an escape it was the perfect place to go and forget about the rest of the world. As I floated on my inner tube, I tried to let the peacefulness of my surroundings erase the events of the day from my mind, but words had been spoken that could not easily be forgotten

I awoke early that morning. It was my favorite day of the year, better than my birthday, even better than Christmas! It was the last day of school and the end of seventh grade! I threw on the clothes I had laid out the night before, grabbed my books and slid down the bannister of the stairs, ready to get the day started.

Whoa! Somebody’s in a hurry. Why don’t you slow down long enough to come see what I made for you.

I hurried into the kitchen. Aunt Rea, you made my favorite breakfast! Pancakes with sliced banana eyes and a chocolate chip grin. I quickly washed them down with a tall glass of milk. Thanks Aunt Rea! They were great! Got to go! See you when you get home from work this evening, I said and then I raced out the door, hopped on my bike and headed to school. Andy, who lived just a few houses down the street, was waiting for me on the sidewalk with his bike. He struggled to keep up with me as we pedaled down the street.

Andy didn’t share my enthusiasm for the last day of school. He loved school so much that when we were younger his idea of fun was to pretend to be a teacher while I was his unwilling student. After imaginary class I would end up in imaginary detention for launching paper planes at the teacher’s head. At least that phase of our lives was over.

As we got close enough to the see the school, I began to pedal harder. The houses flew by as I raced to the end of the street and into the parking lot, then skidded to a halt just before the bike rack. As I was putting the lock on my bike, Andy caught up, red-faced and out of breath.

Gee Callie! What’s the hurry? Andy asked as he climbed off of his bike.

It’s the last day of school and I don’t want Bridget to ruin it for me. I’m trying to get into class before she gets here so I don’t have to talk to her.

I ran toward the steps while Andy pleaded with me to slow down. Andy’s father was out on the road most of the time earning a living as a truck driver. To make up for his father’s absence, Andy’s mother indulged him with goodies baked from scratch in her kitchen. Her love formed an anchor around Andy’s middle that slowed him down. While he excelled in math, Andy really struggled in gym class.

Oh no! Too late! I thought to myself as I rushed down the hall. Before I could make it to homeroom, a familiar feeling of dread came over me, the one I got any time I spotted Bridget Murphy. It was a shudder that crept from my neck all the way down my spine, similar to the reaction I had when I saw a snake slither out from under the woodpile or a spider crawl up the wall next to my bed, only worse.

Come on Andy, hurry up! Bridget and her two sidekicks Amy and Kristie are coming down the hall.

"Don’t worry about them, Callie. After today you won’t have to see them for the whole summer.

They reached us before we made it to the door of the classroom.

Well if it isn’t Mr. and Mrs. Ten.

That number was not our popularity rating; it was Bridget’s not so funny way of referring to Andy’s slightly chubby form and my beanpole physique. Together we made a 10.

We’re playing softball after lunch today. Our class against Mrs. Dixon’s class. Don’t mess up this time, Callie. In fact, why don’t you two disappear before the game begins.

Finally, Bridget had a good idea! I would have loved to disappear to avoid having to play softball. I was a member of the Willowdale Middle School Sports Hall of Shame, nominated by most of my classmates. If they handed out awards at the end of the year for being a klutz, I would have had a shelf full of trophies. Wearing glasses did not help my reputation either. My only moment of glory in sports had come when someone batting after me had hit a homerun and I slid into home from third. It wasn’t intentional, though. My glasses had fallen off and I ran through a puddle, lost my footing, and slid the rest of the way. For a while after that Bridget called me Miss Piggy because I ended up covered in mud from head to toe.

Now be nice, Bridget! Everyone is going to get a chance to play.

Our teacher, Miss Davis, was standing at the door of the classroom to greet everyone as they walked in.

Yes Miss Davis! Bridget said with a smile which changed into a frown when she turned to look at me.

As Miss Davis walked into the room she said Now come on y’all, let’s get this day started. We’re going to have fun!

I loved Miss Davis. She always had something nice to say and a smile for everyone. I started to follow her into the classroom but was rudely shoved out of the way.

Nerds go last. Bridget said. Amy and Kristie laughed as the three of them walked in first. Bridget was a head taller than the other girls. She was naturally a big girl, but in addition to that she had been held back a year in the third grade, so she was also a year older than the rest of us. She was easy to spot, with long, wavy, flaming red hair, like the she-devil herself. I pushed up my glasses, tucked away a stray strand of hair that had escaped from my pigtail as I rode my bike and walked into the classroom. Andy followed in behind me, shaking his head. Just ignore her, he said.

In the classes that followed homeroom we discussed books that we had been assigned to read throughout the year and reviewed equations in math class. Instead of paying attention, I struggled to come up with a way to explain my poor math grades to my dad. After classes were over, we went to lunch. All during lunch I was dreading the game that was to follow. While Andy and I were eating, Bridget, Amy and Kristie would look over in our direction and snicker at some secret joke that only they shared. Just one more day, I kept telling myself.

I managed to hold my own throughout most of the softball game. I even scored a couple of runs for my side. If you bunt lightly enough and run fast enough, you can fake your way through a game. Andy scored a couple of runs too, one of which was a homerun. He was pretty good with a bat but running around the bases was a challenge for him. It didn’t take long for him to become red-faced and sweaty again. As we headed out to the outfield, I caught up with him.

You doing okay? I asked him.

Yeah, the game’s almost over; I’ll be fine, he said as he tried to catch his breath. How about we go swimming in your grandparents’ pond after school?

Great idea, I can’t wait.

I almost made it through the game painlessly enough. Almost. It was close to the end of the school day. Our side was ahead by only one point and I was silently pleading for the bell to ring and end this game and the whole school year. The other team was up to bat and there was someone on both first and second base. Amy was pitching and had struck out two players already. The next player walked up to bat and Amy wound up and threw her fastest pitch yet; it didn’t help though. There was a loud CRRRACK as the bat made contact with the ball. Even though I had positioned myself as far out in the outfield as I could go and still be part of the game, that kid purposefully aimed his fly ball at me. Keep your eye on the ball, keep your eye on the ball, I chanted to myself, just keep your eye on the ball. As the ball soared high in the air, I had to shield my eyes from the bright sun that was directly overhead. As I was trying to spot the ball in that blinding light, all of a sudden I heard a thud directly in front of me and then watched helplessly as the ball bounced over my head, hit the ground behind me and rolled away. As I scrambled to chase it down there was a collective groan from my teammates. Three points were scored by the other team just before the bell rang. If everyone had not run off the field in their excitement about school being over, I would have been facing a small, angry mob.

Andy ran up to join me as I walked off the field, trying not to make eye contact with my other teammates. Hey, don’t worry about missing that ball, it’s just a game. Let’s go--

Just a game? Bridget and her two friends had appeared from behind the small set of bleachers next to the ballfield before Andy could finish his sentence. The last game of the year and you blew it! We almost had it and you blew it! You are such a loser Callie. Amy and Kristie nodded in agreement.

Andy stepped in to defend me. Leave her alone. The game is over. School is over. Just go home and leave her alone. We’ve got better things to do than worry about one stupid game anyway.

Yeah, that’s what losers always say when they lose.

Bridget would just not drop it. She and Amy and Kristie followed us as we walked away from the field.

She ruins everything she touches. Bridget said to her friends, loud enough for me to hear. Her dad is probably sorry she was born. Did you know that it was her fault that her mother died? I spun around, ready for a fight.

What did you say?

You heard me. It’s all your fault that your mother died when you were little.

Take that back! You don’t know what you’re talking about! You are a liar and nobody believes a word you say! I screamed at her.

Amy and Kristie were suddenly very quiet. They knew that Bridget had gone too far that time. Amy touched Bridget’s arm, Come on Bridget, leave her alone. Let’s go to Jack’s Diner and get something to eat.

Bridget shrugged her off. Go ask your dad if you don’t believe me. Go ask him to tell you about how his wife would still be alive today if it wasn’t for you.

I couldn’t stand to be around her any longer. I ran to where I left my bike that morning, fumbled with the lock, hopped on, and rode home as fast as I could. I didn’t even wait for Andy. I struggled to maintain my balance as I wiped the tears that were streaming down my face. He showed up a little while later, out of breath. I hadn’t bothered to lock the door. I just ran upstairs and threw myself on my bed. That’s where he found me.

I hate her! I said between sobs. I have never met anyone so cruel! What do you think she meant when she said it was my fault that my mother died?

Andy sat down on the bed next to me and put his arm around me. I’m sure she just made that up, he replied. She would say anything to get under your skin. That’s just the way she is. You can’t let her bother you so much; she’s not worth it.

I didn’t know what to believe. I just knew that the day I looked forward to all year had been ruined.

Come on Callie, let’s go to the pond. That will make you feel better. Then when your dad gets home you can talk to him about what Bridget said. I bet none of it is true.

Yeah, I thought, he was right. It probably would make me feel better to go hang out at the pond. And why ruin Andy’s afternoon too. Of course, Andy was right. He always gave me good advice. He had always been a true friend, ever since the first day he and his parents moved in down the street seven years ago. No matter what kind of day I would be having, Andy was always able to put a smile on my face.

I sat up and wiped my face. Okay. Let’s go. I jumped down off the bed and gave him a hug. His face and ears turned a bright shade of red.

What was that for?

Just for being you. Why don’t you go home and put on your swim trunks. I’ll put on my swimsuit, grab our inner tubes out of the shed and get Beau and meet you out front.

Beau was the chocolate lab I rescued as a puppy a couple of years before. Andy and I were out on our bikes one Saturday morning when we saw a burlap sack that had been dumped by the side of the road. Something inside was moving and making whimpering noises. We tore the sack open and found five puppies, three black females, one yellow male and one chocolate male, the runt of the litter. I rode home with all five of them in the basket on my bike, struggling to keep them from falling out and hoping my dad wouldn’t be too upset. I didn’t have a choice; I couldn’t just leave them there. Aunt Rea was the first to come home from work and immediately fell in love with all of them. With her on my side I talked Dad into letting me keep one and we found homes for the others. He wasn’t the first animal that I had rescued or nursed back to health. Most I found homes for, but along with Beau, Dad also let me keep a black cat named Ebony.

Andy was back at our house in his swim trunks in just a few minutes. Beau trotted behind us as we rode our bikes to my grandparents’ farm. Neither one of us did a lot of talking on the way there, but the peace and quiet that existed ended when we reached the path leading to the pond. Beau began barking with joy and bounded ahead of us to the water, making a big splash as he leapt in. My grandparents hardly spent any time at the farm any more, instead they were out on the road in an RV seeing the country. A hired hand named Ben worked the farm for them. He was out in a field on a tractor near the old horse barn and we waved at him as we rode by. With a big grin on his face, he took off his straw hat and waved back. When we reached the pond, I quickly pulled off the clothes covering my swimsuit and we launched ourselves off the bank in our inner tubes. Beau swam around us for a few minutes until he was distracted by a bright blue dragonfly. I watched him chase it for a little while, then lay back and closed my eyes. I was lost in my own thoughts when I heard Andy ask, Where do you want to go today?

You decide this time.

No, it’s your turn.

That was a favorite game of ours. My grandparents may have been traveling throughout the country but Andy and I could go anywhere in the world, even if it was only in our imaginations. We did a lot of traveling without ever leaving that small North Carolina town.

Okay, well, I think I would like to own a horse farm in Kentucky and breed famous racehorses and race all over the world.

Okay, I’ll be your trainer.

You can be a jockey too. We’ll race each other.

I can’t be a jockey, I’m too fat.

You’re not fat, you’re just a little...chunky. Besides in our dreams you can be anything you want to be. You can be a skinny jockey and we’ll both win lots of races and become famous. Everyone will cheer for us and our horses too.

Thanks, but I wouldn’t want to ride that fast any way. I’d rather be a trainer.

Suit yourself.

I was just about to decide what racing colors I wanted to wear when I felt a big, wet drop of water splash on my cheek. I opened my eyes to see that the sky had turned an ominous dark gray-blue. Raindrops began making little circles in the water all around me.

I didn’t think it was supposed to rain today.

You know how it is this time of year. A storm can pop up any time.

It’s just a shower, not a storm. There’s not even any---. Before I could get out the word thunder I heard a low rumble in the distance.

We’re going to have to go home Callie.

But we just got here.

You know we shouldn’t be on the water in a storm.

"Great, why