Circle of Life: A Love Story

By Denise Peake-Tucker

All Monica Thompson wants is to love and be loved in return. After growing up with emotionally aloof parents, Monica strikes out on her own, graduates from Georgetown University, finds a best friend she can count on, and secures a job as a financial manager. From the outside, it seems Monica has everything she needs. But on the inside, Monica is still missing one thing.

After Monicas quest for love leads her to an online dating site, she is soon contact by two vastly different suitors. James Bond 007 is mysterious, attentive, and lives in Florida. Keith is sweet, straightforward, and calls Pennsylvania home. As both men challenge her existence, show her what it is like to be loved, and set her on a path of self-discovery, Monica begins to feel the impact of her previous choices. While attempting to overcome feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment, she must face unresolved past issues. Will Monica ever be able to release her emotionally baggage or will she remain on a seemingly endless path in search for love?

In this contemporary romance novel, a woman on a quest for love is led on a journey back into her past where she reconciles her feelings and discovers the power behind the circle of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Sep 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781480836693

Denise Peake-Tucker

Denise Peake-Tucker was born in Staten Island, New York, as the seventh of fifteen children. A mother of three and grandmother to three, Denise worked for most of her life as an executive assistant on Wall Street. Now retired, she lives and writes in White Plains, Maryland. Circle of Life is her debut novel.

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CIRCLE

of

LIFE

A Love Story

Denise Peake-Tucker

33108.png

Copyright © 2016 Denise Peake-Tucker.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-3668-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-3669-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016914349

Archway Publishing rev. date: 08/26/2016

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Dedicated to my parents, children, and grandchildren.

To Isabelle Etheridge-Peake and Calvin Peake. Thanks for giving me life.

To my children, Marcus, Cygana, and Chandra.

To my grandchildren, Marcus Jr., Tyisha, and Jabril.

To my family and friends. Be the love that you want.

I believe that love is the greatest gift a heart can hold.

To all my readers. I hope you enjoy reading my first novel as much as I enjoyed writing it. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I finished knowing every life is precious and deserves to achieve its best self. Live life, love you, and know God, the spiritual force of life form.

I’d love to hear from you. Your comments and feedback are appreciated.

Contact me at [e-mail].

Special thanks to Kevin Peake, author of Finding Chisolm and The Nevels Girls, for sending me his collection of Writer’s Digest to jump-start my project.

INTRODUCTION

Someone should have told her that love has a strange way of showing itself. Nothing she learned prepared her for the hard-core reality of events that will challenge her existence. All she wants is to love and be loved in return. Her parents are the perfect example of what love should be; it is so natural for them. Their admiration for each other is enviable; it just works. Perhaps one day she will ask for the recipe.

However, getting them away from their busy schedules and high society lifestyle is a problem. Giving her a nanny is probably the best thing they have ever done for her, and she doesn’t know what she would do without one.

Their strict parenting lands her in a private school, the Academy for Girls, where she starts in the first grade and finishes in the twelfth. Always working hard to please her parents and get good grades, she’ll do anything to get their attention. They give her anything she wants, except for the one thing she needs the most: their love. Spending so much time alone with her books and the nanny, she develops a love-hate relationship with her parents, which often causes disruption in their home.

When her father is too busy studying for his doctoral degree, she breaks expensive vases, throws her toys, and pounds on the door to get back at him. Of course, such behavior is not tolerated in their home. It’s cruel of him to take away her privileges, she thinks. Her mother always agrees with him, never sticking up for her. It is very hard to understand her parents and the reason they stay away from home so much. Someday she’ll move out and live life on her own terms, although that will prove to be no easy task.

Bewildered by her own state of mind, she has several bad relationships. She often questions her ability to maneuver in a world where young men have compromised their integrity for the sake of their selfish desires. She has a lot to learn about survival in a world where standards are low and traditions have lost their value. Wanting that wholesome unification, a shared partnership with love and respect, she hungers for the intimacy a committed relationship offers. As much as she enjoys her single status, she also craves attention, and thus begins her pursuit of love.

Frequenting Facebook and Twitter, she spends her time texting and posting pictures. In social media, she finds solace for her loneliness. Stumbling across a dating site, she meets several prospective candidates to fill the void. Through e-mail and texts, she gets to know two strangers who stimulate her imagination, and she eagerly awaits face-to-face meetings with them. Their electrifying personalities will motivate her cunning behavior, taking her to the depths of her soul in search of decisions that will challenge her endurance.

Enthusiastically, she prepares for what is yet to come, holding nothing back, stepping forth with every effort to conquer her fears. She moves forward on a path of encounters, enduring trials that will challenge her emotions, values, and self-respect. Her unwillingness to accept the truth about herself and the men she loves takes her on a journey of compulsive behaviors and undeniable truths. A sequence of events sparks an epiphany, an emerging reality, which is a bittersweet surrender.

CHAPTER 1

Monica Thompson celebrated her thirtieth birthday on January 4, less than a week ago. Having reached a milestone in her life, she is confident the future will bring good things. It’s been a long time since she was in a relationship, and she’s eager to regain that status. With every passing day, being single weighs heavy on her mind. She is beautiful and poised, attributes she believes should be enough to get her a date. When she smiles, she attracts attention to her dimples and straight white teeth. Monica is five feet, seven inches tall, and it is only natural to want a man who is taller. She might be willing to negotiate if he is really kind and loves her. Taking pride in her appearance, she works out at the gym to maintain her slim, curvy figure and her weight at 125 pounds. Her professionally styled, shoulder-length, black hair complements her brown complexion. She is gifted with beauty and wears it well.

In spite of her eye-catching appearance, Monica graduated summa cum laude from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., with a 3.9 grade point average, receiving a bachelor’s degree in economics. Now working at a government agency as a financial manager and consultant, she lives comfortably in her three-bedroom condominium.

It is 7:30 p.m. on a Friday night. After a busy day at work, Monica is home nursing the flu. Slipping into her blue silk pajamas and preparing for a restful night, she takes a couple of Tylenol before crawling into her queen-sized bed for refuge. Relaxing, she reaches for her iPad on the nightstand beside her bed. Logging in to her Facebook account, she glances through the numerous posts from advertisers and entrepreneurs. Scrolling down the page and reading comments posted by friends and acquaintances, she posts a few comments before her eyes become weary. The Tylenol is taking effect. Before cuddling her pillow, she turns off the iPad and returns it to the nightstand. She soon falls asleep.

As the day is dawning, Monica wakes to the sound of rain tapping on her window. Feeling as if she has a hangover, she is woozy from the flu, which seems to be getting worse. Getting out of bed, she is dizzy and pauses before strolling to the window. She pulls up the blind and watches the rain pouring down and hitting the pavement. Losing herself in the moment, she attentively listens to the sound of nature seducing her into appreciating her surroundings. Monica thinks how tranquil it is to hear the rhythm of torrent rainwater streaming through the neighborhood. Then she withdraws from her absorbed state and looks at the clock ticking on the soft pastel-rose painted wall. It is 8:00 a.m.

The irritating flu won’t let her sleep, and she is up early for a Saturday. Gingerly she walks to the bathroom. Turning on the cold water faucet, she lets it overflow her cupped palms, splashes it onto her face, and looks into the mirror. Grabbing a blue hand towel from the rack, she gently pats the dripping water from her revived face. Unable to shake the unsympathetic microbe that has disrupted her health, she is not pleased. Sneezing again and again, Monica searches the cabinet drawer for the Kleenex and wipes her nose.

Sitting on the toilet seat with the lid down, Monica takes a moment to regain her composure. Then she gulps down two Tylenol with water, hoping to alleviate the symptoms. Confronting her aches and pains is only a minor setback. Regrouping to brush her teeth, she squeezes the tube of toothpaste until it squirts onto the toothbrush. Brushing slowly and tenderly, then swishing with mouthwash, Monica completes the first phase of her daily routine. She wants to go back to bed, but her mind is telling her to have a cup of hot tea with honey and lemon. Following her mind, although with hesitation, she goes downstairs to the kitchen. She fills the teakettle with water, places it on the burner, and waits.

Monica sighs, knowing that she must go back upstairs to retrieve the iPad she left in the bedroom, despite her aching body. Every morning she checks her Facebook page to see the latest trends. Logging in on her tablet, going directly to Facebook, she sees the same old propaganda. But then a link to a dating site raises her curiosity and she clicks on the link. A placement ad pops up: This is a blind dating service; the users on this site may or may not reveal their true identity. Photos may not be of the person with whom you are communicating and descriptions could be false, so proceed with caution. You must be 21 or older to use this site. Do not give your personal information to strangers. Have fun and play safe.

Monica’s interest intensifies, and she opts to set up a profile page. Searching through her photo file, she finds a sexy photo of herself. She’s wearing a grayish-blue cashmere sweater with a V-shaped neckline and a silver herringbone necklace, and the photo is one of her favorites. But then deciding not to go with that photo, she instead selects an image of a cactus plant, convinced it will attract attention. The cactus is a spiny plant but known for its succulent nature, and its specific type is often unclear. Monica writes a brief self-introduction:

Hi! My name is Cacti. I am a young, single, and spineless woman seeking an intelligent man with a sense of humor. I enjoy succulent dinners at the finest restaurants at least two or three times a month. Can you handle it? I like dancing, good conversation, and long walks on the moon. I don’t drink much water and I often go through dry spells. My prickly nature warns you of what might happen if you get too close, so beware of this woman who wants to enjoy you.

Viewing the profiles of handsome and not-so-handsome men, intrigued by the content, she can’t help wondering if the photos are real. Some have images too.

A whistling kettle interrupts her thoughts. As she logs out and pours water into the cup, her cell phone rings. Hello?

This is Simone. How are you doing? We missed you last night at the National Harbor. I called you several times, but got no answer. Thought maybe you had a date you didn’t tell me about.

I wish I was so lucky, but I went to bed with Tylenol. This nagging flu is attacking every part of my body.

Simone laughs out loud. You are so funny. Sorry you are not feeling well. I can come over and wipe your nose and tuck you in. I make a good chicken noodle soup.

I am managing fine, and besides, it is raining like crazy out there. Wouldn’t want you to drive in this weather.

I don’t mind. If you need something, I will get it for you. Not a problem.

I know you will, but I am really fine. If I need something, I will call you.

Feel better and get some rest, and I will call you later, says Simone. They say good-bye.

Monica sips on her tea, which is just the right temperature. Knowing that she missed an evening out with friends does not make her day. She knows she missed a good time, but it’s best she didn’t go out last night. Looking for things to do with her time, she thinks taking a nice warm bath might be soothing. She goes upstairs to get ready for her bath and places candles around the edges of the tub for a peaceful bathing experience. She pours several tablespoons of Epsom salts into the tub, hoping it will aid in relieving her aches and pains. Waiting for the water to reach a comfortable level, she lights the candles and turns on the music, Will Downing’s favorite hits.

Taking off her blue silk pajamas, Monica climbs into the tub and immerses herself in warm water. She listens to Will’s smooth voice singing Stop, Look, Listen to Your Heart, a reminder of her present situation, but the soothing atmosphere has her reveling in the moment. The coziness of the bath causes her to fall asleep. Waking later to the sound of Will’s voice, it is time for her to leave behind the gratifying solace.

Lifting herself from the tub, she steps out onto a fluffy gray bath mat. Using the lavender cotton towel to dry off and wrapping the towel around her body, Monica feels weak. She doesn’t have much of an appetite, but she needs to eat something to regain her strength. Opening a can of soup, she thinks about Simone’s homemade chicken noodle soup and regrets that she did not take her up on the offer. She leisurely ingests one spoonful at a time with failing taste buds, but manages to get it all down.

Monica intends to spend the rest of the day in the bedroom checking her e-mail and resting. Surprisingly, since not even twenty-four hours have gone by, she has messages from two guys on the blind-date site. Excitement arouses her attention as she reads the first message, which is short, but sweet. His name is Keith and he likes her style.

The second message is from James Bond 007: I am interested in you. Your choice of words tickles me. Would you like to dance? Or would you prefer a walk on the moon?

Finding him very amusing, Monica replies, Hello, James Bond 007. What’s your story? Either one is fine with me. I can dance and walk on the moon. I am pretty good at it, so watch out.

Taken in by James Bond 007, Monica almost forgets about the other caller. Hello, Keith. Nice to meet you, she replies.

Neither guy has a photo of himself. Keith has a photo of an NFL logo, and James Bond 007 has a 007 symbol. It would be nice if she could see their faces.

Lying on the bed, she receives another message. To know my story requires a woman I can trust. I am an excellent dancer and don’t mind moon walking.

Monica is really not in the mood for texting, but she sends James Bond 007 another message: The secret agent man has spoken. To know your story requires a woman you can trust. In your line of work, that must be tough. I can be that woman, if you let me in on your secrets.

Time will tell if I can trust you with my secrets. If you are the one, we can walk on the moon together and I will tell you my story. Prickly creatures can be dangerous.

LOL. Not feeling well. Have the flu. Can’t wait to hear your story.

Get well soon, he closes.

Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

A week goes by and Monica has recovered fully from the flu. After a week of confinement, she is feeling healthy again and ready to get back into the swing of things. She wants to have lunch and see a movie, so she dials Simone’s number to see if she wants to join her.

Simone answers, How are you feeling?

Doing very well.

Glad you are feeling better. I miss you.

That’s why I am calling. I miss you, too. They talk for almost half an hour, deciding to meet for lunch at Cheddar’s, a three-and-a-half-star restaurant serving quality food and drink at a reasonable price. Monica occasionally goes there after work on Wednesdays for happy hour, to mingle with the crowd and make new friends. Pleased that Simone agreed to meet with her, she can’t wait to see her.

12:30 p.m.

Monica showers, dresses in her blue jeans and mauve button-down shirt, and slips into her black Sketchers. She is very comfortable. Then she sprays on her favorite perfume, Sensuous by Estee Lauder. Grabbing her black suede jacket, black hat, and blue scarf from the hallway closet, she puts on the jacket, wraps the scarf around her neck, and puts the hat on her head. All geared up, she gets into her 2015 gray Toyota Camry, positions her mirror, and off she goes. As she drives along 301, Crain’s Highway, the traffic is moving at a normal pace.

The parking lot at Cheddar’s is full as usual, but she finds a parking spot and hopes the waiting time inside is brief. She has arrived early, at 1:15, having agreed to meet Simone at 1:30. Seated immediately in a booth for two, Monica orders a raspberry lemonade and waits patiently. Removing her phone from the snug side pocket of her black leather Coach bag, she checks her messages.

James Bond 007 has sent her a message. What’s up, Cacti? How is your day going?

Eagerly she responds, It’s good. I am waiting for Simone. We are having lunch together.

Sounds nice. Wish I could join you.

Really?

Yes, really. He explains that if he did not live so far away, he would be sitting right beside her. She is taken by his charm, smiling as they converse and pass the time. During the previous week, when she wasn’t feeling well, he sent her messages every day. His comforting words were appreciated and made her feel better. He amazes her.

Monica notices that it’s 1:35, but Simone is often late. Having a two-year-old daughter takes up a lot of her time. It is not always convenient for her to get away. Monica understands.

Arriving at 1:50, Simone apologizes. Sorry I am late, but traffic was heavy.

The old traffic excuse, says Monica, and they both laugh.

Simone is taking off her jacket when the waiter arrives. Dressed in a dark blue uniform, the young man asks if he may take their order. Monica will have the fish tacos with another raspberry lemonade. Simone has never had fish tacos but would like to try them, so she orders the same. The waiter jots down their order, then walks away. It’s been a week since they have seen each other. As the two sit Monica is ambivalent about telling Simone that she met two guys online. Simone believes online dating is for losers and cannot be trusted, but Monica doesn’t agree with her. She is convinced those people you meet online are the very same people walking the streets and hanging in clubs and bars. They are everywhere, and she and Simone probably even know some of them. But she won’t say anything about it this time, wanting an enjoyable lunch without controversy.

What did you do without me? Monica asks.

Not much. You know I can’t live without you.

Monica is smitten by her comment, which is so like Simone. With serious expressions on their faces, they look at each other. Monica reaches her hand to touch Simone’s and softly says, "Best friends and