A Family Affair

By Denise Cory Blake

A Family affair, could just be a play on words. About an affair? About a family? In this case, about both. Which takes precedence? The family or the affair? In this, sometimes whimsical, humorous, poignant, heart- felt story, it can be said, to be all this, and more. Many diverse, vibrant, true to life plethora of characters, paragraphs of peopl

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookTrail Publishing
• Release date: Oct 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9781953731012

Denise Cory Blake

I have been writing historical novels for the last four or five years now. This is my latest offering, born of an inquisitive, inquiring mind, which despite my advancing years refuses to lay dormant. I keep coming up with new storylines. Long may I do so!

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Copyright © 2020 by Denise Cory Blake

Paperback: 978-1-953731-02-9

eBook: 978-1-953731-01-2

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020919272

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of nonfiction.

Ordering Information:

BookTrail Agency

8838 Sleepy Hollow Rd.

Kansas City, MO 64114

Printed in the United States of America

Into every life

A drop of rain

Must fall,

Tis nature’s call,

Whether it be

A trickle or a flood.

An everyday comedy

Or tragedy of errors,

Tis not always ours to decide.

Good intentions litter one’s way,

governed by the dictates of the day,

Discarded like the rotting leaves

Underfoot.

CHAPTER ONE

Liam lay quietly dozing in the sun- bleached sands, his firm golden tanned skin soaking up the last of the sun’s rays, before it disappeared below the horizon, heralding in their last night on the sun kissed island of Gozo.

Behind him lay a rocky path which led up the cliffs to the summit on which nestled a stone-built chalet bungalow with the most glorious views, out over the turquoise, green seas, on which bobbed the odd colourful fishing boat, it’s dark skinned occupants naked to the waist, friendly locals, as colourful as their boats, talked amongst themselves, shouting insults, which occasionally reached Liam’s ears. As he understood one or two words, a grin quirked at the corners of his mouth, as he rested his face on his folded arms. Their language was as colourful as they were. Most of their remarks directed at his girlfriend’s attributes! Cheeky so and so’s! He turned over onto his back and watched as his girlfriend made her way down the cliff path to join him on the beach. As suggestive as their remarks undoubtedly were, he couldn’t say he blamed them. He could add a few himself!

Paula in her bright bikini top, and shorts, showed legs, which went on and on and that was without her voluptuous loose- limbed body, glistening strawberry blond hair, and bright vivid blue eyes. Wow! It was enough to make any man sit up and take notice. Behind the dark designer shades, he wore, it was impossible for anyone to see the raw emotions which lurked inside him. But they were there, turning over and over in his stomach, his heart beating fast. It was what Paula did to him, nearly every time he saw her. So strange, just how vivid everything was. How intense his feelings. He guessed that was what love did to a man. Couldn’t speak for Paula of course but he was pretty sure she must share some of his feelings. It was not something one could pretend to feel. He could honestly say he was a lucky man, for once in his life. How he had ever managed to capture her heart, he had no idea. He was just thankful he had, and she reciprocated his feelings. Didn’t she? Just a moment’s doubt flicked across his consciousness, but he dismissed it, just as soon as it occurred.

How he wished this holiday could go on and on. The two of them just encapsulated in this place, this moment; no world, no people to intrude into their lives. He, would be more than satisfied with that, but Paula? She was such a restless spirit, always on the go. Always searching. She never stopped. It made him feel so intrinsically sad. As much as he loved her, it gave him pause for thought. How could he possibly be the one to stop her emotional upheaval. To make her truly happy? The thought that possibly, he wasn’t, made him feel inadequate somehow. Anyway, he knew, deep down, Paula didn’t want that kind of in- depth relationship, certainly not from him, at any rate. It just wasn’t what she was. It wasn’t what she said she needed in her life right now. What about his needs? Liam groaned. It was beyond him to try and sort out. Best to just enjoy their last evening together. No point dwelling on the fact that he wanted more from their relationship. She didn’t.

Then another thought assailed him. All that hassle at the airport? Whilst he understood the need for it, damned security these days was inclined to put a bit of a dampener on travel, with things having to be made visible through customs. Everything in clear plastic bags, no water bottles allowed, or containers over a certain size. With so many rules and regulations, packing was a nightmare, especially when all he wanted to do was throw stuff in bags and be gone. How Paula coped with it all when she had so much more to lug around, he didn’t know.

What do you want for supper darling? She called as she approached him.

All taken care of. He responded, holding up some fresh caught fish. Courtesy of the local fishermen. I’ll get the barbie going. We still have some fresh bread and a couple of bottles of plonk left, don’t we?

Just about. She sighed. I’ve finished the packing. Yours as well, lazy swine. Such a shame, we have to leave first thing in the morning.

If we got up early enough, we might just manage a last swim before we go. He suggested, a little half-heartedly. He was not an early riser by inclination, normally, certainly not, when he was on holiday. Without Paula’s organisation and effort, Liam knew everything would have been a last minute rush to catch the plane.

We’ll see. She turned to look out across the sea’s expanse, regret in her eyes. I haven’t felt this relaxed in a long time. I don’t want this holiday to end.

That’s just what I was thinking. Liam replied softly. How do you always manage to read my thoughts?

Oh, I am a mind reader, of course! She laughed, as he caught her hand and pulled her down beside him, pressing his mouth gently against hers, savouring the taste of her lips, and the salt spray on her skin. Cheers and wolf whistles rent the air from the fishermen as they pulled in their nets for the day.

She smiled as she pulled away from him. Could do without the audience. You’d best not get too amorous!

Why not? Liam’s frustration getting the better of him. It’s nothing they haven’t seen before!

Maybe not. Some annoyance in her tone. But I don’t intend putting on a show just for them! She pushed away from him. Now behave yourself!"

It still surprised him, that as beautiful as she was, she disliked flaunting herself in front of others. She was such a private person at times, even with him, who had known her, it felt like, for years now.

They will be gone in a few minutes. Nothing very much rattled Liam’s good nature.

He was right. The fishing boats made for home; their catch safely stashed away.

He, and Paula went skinny dipping in the moonlit sea, one last time. The full moon cast its shadows on the watery peaks of the waves as they gently crashed onto the seashore and then receded back the way they had come, to become one, once again with the seas foaming mass. It was a process which repeated itself day after day, week after week, month after month, year on year back into the millennia of time itself. It would go on doing so, long after they left, until all trace of them had been washed away, as if they had never been. Their presence, but a brief interlude.

Liam was not a man, who dwelt on fanciful thoughts, but the feeling stayed with him, making him uneasy, as the plane banked away from the small, sandstone, Island of Malta. Their plane was delayed, and they had to await their allotted slot to take off. It appeared as if Malta was very popular now, holiday makers thronged the island’s hotels. Touristy haunts were good places to steer clear of, like the blue grotto for instance, Valletta the capital, with all its ancient, historical buildings, Medina, the silent city, the catacombs, one or two golden beaches, if one knew where to find them, Malta, drenched in history, and different wars, from different ages, the second world war for starters, and others going back to the time of the Turks, and beyond.

Not quite the secret hideaway they would have liked it to be. Why did he suddenly feel as if all his happy memories had been left behind on the dry windswept reaches below? He was too wonder afterwards, if he had had a premonition of sorts. As if Satan himself, had plucked the golden sun from the sky and flung it far away from him. So far out of sight, he could no longer see it, let alone feel any of its warmth on his skin. The sensation numbed his body, making him anxious, alone, for what felt like a long time, but was in fact only a few moments. It was not dispelled until he felt Paula’s hand in his. Had she, caught his sense of foreboding? Had she shared it? It proved beyond any doubt, that the attraction they shared for each other went beyond merely the physical. It was deeper, more meaningful than that. It certainly was to him.

You will marry me, won’t you? He was prompted to ask suddenly.

Paula sighed. We have been through this Liam. Lots of times.

And you have never given me a definite answer! You have always avoided it. Came his frustrated reply. Why, must you always run away from it? Makes me feel as if there is something wrong with me. Something, you find wanting in me.

As I have told you so many times before, I have no desire to marry anyone. Isn’t it enough that I love you? She countered almost through gritted teeth.

Liam heard the aggravation in her voice but continued regardless. "No, it isn’t! It