Spicing Things Up

By Samantha Rae

Fleeing from a violent husband, Jules runs to her Grams farm, where she spent the best times in her life. Jules arrives in time to help out with her ailing Gram. Saddled with a few too many secrets, Jules doesn't want anyone to know she's home. But her meddling Gram has other plans, knowing it's time to right the wrongs of the past.Charlie is the "townie" that finally got everything he ever wanted. Except for one thing...Jules. Ten years ago, Charlie was left with more questions than answers. Facing Jules again Charlie realizes that she left with more than just a piece of his heart. Will the secrets of the past destroy any chance at a future for Jules and Charlie?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fiery Vision Publishing
• Release date: Aug 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201999216

Samantha Rae

Samantha Rae completed writing her first novel on her 16th birthday. New Beginning is her first novel in the Twiddle series. She grew up in Clifford Ontario. When not in school or writing her novels, she finds herself reading, drawing, and playing her guitar. Follow the Twiddle Series on facebook for all up-to-date information.

Book preview

The Dream

The sign saying Welcome to Sulpher Springs didn’t feel very welcoming to Jules Carter. She had left almost 10 years ago and hadn’t looked back. She didn’t really want to come home, but she couldn’t run from the past anymore.

She looked through her rearview mirror watching her almost nine-year-old son sleeping in the back seat. He had spent too much time trying to be the man of the family; it was time to face her past, and it was time that Charlie met his son Ben.

Jules had left town at 17 years old and never looked back. Charlie Gibson was her boyfriend at the time, and she caught him passed out in bed with Debbie, her archenemy. That was the night she was going to tell him she was pregnant, but instead, she ran. She never told her parents that Charlie was the father. She’d called them after she gave birth, telling them the father was a one-night stand. But her father wasn’t too thrilled about that, but he certainly loved his grandson.

Are we almost to the house, Momma? I’m ready to be out of this car, Ben said as he slowly opened his eyes and stretched out his arms until they almost touched the ceiling.

Yes, Benny, we are almost there. She slowed down to look for the driveway of her grandma’s house.

She couldn’t believe she was home again. It seemed like yesterday she was sitting on the porch swing with Charlie. Gram was also there for her, and that woman loved Charlie. She was also the only one who knew for certain that Charlie was Benny’s father. Unfortunately, Gram had gone to sleep one night six months ago and never woke up.

Jules drove down the driveway, looking at the house. It was hard to believe that Gram had left her the house. She knew why; Gram was a romantic and wanted to reunite her and Charlie. Jules agreed to a certain point. She knew it was time for Charlie to know that he was a father. She had heard that he was living at the Spice Island Animal Shelter, working as their onsite vet.

The house looked the same, porch swing was still intact. It needed some work but that was ok, she was tired of living in an apartment. Benny deserved a home, a real home. This house was so important to Jules growing up and she wanted Benny to know that feeling.

***

Charlie Gibson worked at Spice Island Animal Shelter; he had been there for five years and still absolutely loved it. Betty Langford and Lucy Sweeny the owners of the animal shelter were usually traveling to different animal shelters to help their foundation to be set up correctly. They told him that he needed to hire a receptionist to help answer the phones and make appointments, but he just didn’t have the time to do it.

Charlie, we have a problem. Stephanie, a kennel worker walked into his office.

What’s up, Steph? Charlie didn’t bother looking up.

Paprika is missing again. I have looked everywhere. Stephanie set the small collar on the counter.

Charlie shook his head; that duck was more trouble than he was worth. He had threatened Lucy that he was going to serve her duck soup one day.

That damn duck is a pain in my ass. How does he keep escaping? Charlie headed to the door with Stephanie following behind him.

He walked towards the barn where Paprika lived. The duck couldn’t fly anymore because someone had broken his wing in several places and left him on the side of the road. He was leery of people and made it difficult for him to get adopted. Lucy said he was untrusting of people, Charlie chalked it up to just being a pain in the ass.

He knew exactly where that damn duck was headed, to Carters Lake. Bea Carter had recently died, but like Paprika, Charlie still loved going over there to just sit at the lake. The memories at the lake were sometimes too hard to handle. He was still in love with Jules, Bea Carter’s granddaughter.

I will go to Carters Lake and catch the damn duck. Charlie picked up the carrier and strapped it to the 4-wheeler. This was the fastest way to get across the land to Carters Lake.

Charlie, you know that duck hates you. Stephanie stood there with her hands on her hips.

Steph, the feeling is mutual. Don’t worry I will have him back for dinner. I mean before dinner.

Stephanie laughed. You know how Ms. Lucy loves that duck,

Charlie rolled his eyes. I know but he is still a pain in my ass. He started the 4-wheeler and pulled out of the barn. He could hear Steph still laughing as he pulled further away from the barn.

***

Benny was yelling from the backyard, something to do with a duck. Jules was trying to get all their boxes unloaded or at least sitting on the porch. Unloading the last box, she could still hear Benny screaming his lungs out about a duck, she walked around to the backyard.

Benny. for crying out loud, what’s with the duck? She stopped to watch the scene playing out in front of her. Benny was playing a chase game with a duck; it almost looked like a game of tag. She sat there just watching Benny playing with the crazy duck. From a distance, she heard what sounded like a truck coming across the field. She looked around trying to figure out who it was.

Benny, come here please, Jules yelled over Benny’s voice and the ducks quacking. When he didn’t respond, she yelled again. Benny, now!

He stopped playing, leaned over to pet the duck, and started walking towards his mom. Mom, we were just playing.

"I know, Benny, but someone