Chasing a Dream

By Xlibris US

Have you ever reminisced about the part of life where you were ending your journey as a senior in high school and becoming a freshman in college? In the 70s and 80s era, the book, Chasing a Dream, life begins anew for seven teenagers who have been friends throughout high school with two of them being friends since birth. Add another teenager whose dream does not include college, but he has definitely established his dream as a professional race car driver, you enter a world of self-discovery with relationships that range from survival, validation, scripted, acceptance, and individuation-assertion all wrapped up within the characters of Chase, Stacey, and Eric (the main characters). As with most graduating seniors who are promising to always stay in touch, so goes the story of these eight with their correspondences sort of being a hit and miss from time to time. Some friends are rarely heard of again while others remain close with communication and build a solid tight relationship that shares moments of joy, endurance, tragedy, and romance. Not all their dreams come true and new dreams emerge. However, some dreams are worth chasing no matter the cost as Chase, Stacey, and Eric set their course for their new lifes adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499056990

Book preview

Chapter 1

Mom! yells Mitchell, Eric is here. Mitchell looks at the box that Eric is holding and then goes into the living room. Ok, I say as I come from the kitchen and enter the foyer. Hey, Stacey! Eric says as enters the front door. What brings you over on this fine summer day? I ask. I have been cleaning out my old room at my parents’ house as my kids have wanted to see some things from my past for a project they will be doing at camp this summer. Oh my, I state. Some of the stuff you had would probably scare your children! Hey, go easy on me! Working with a set of twins is not easy! Eric replies.

Anyway, while I was searching through boxes and stuff I found this box in my old trunk that I think belongs to you, Eric remarks. I observe the box and realize it is definitely a major part of my past. Viewing the name of a costume store on the side of the box makes my heart start to flutter. I stare at the box and then at Eric. Are you ok, or do you want me to keep it? Eric asks. I want it, and thank you for delivering it to me, I respond as if I am in a trance. Got to go, Eric states, The twins have a softball game and I am their coach. Goodbye, I say as I am still staring at the box and basically pressing Eric on out the door as if he isn’t there.

Mom, states Mitchell. Mom! Mitchell repeats again. I snap out of my trance and ask Mitchell, What is it that you want? You are in such deep thought, Mitchell exclaims. Is something wrong? No, I pause and say, no, as I slightly smile and slowly walk upstairs clutching to the box that Eric gave me.

I go into the master bedroom and lay the box down on top of the bed. I am acting as if I am afraid to open the box although I definitely know what is inside. Memories, remembrances, and recollections of my past are there in the box and still within my heart.

Reaching for the box, I lie across the bed with it held tight to my chest. Then my mind starts to travel back to where it all began for me and what has brought me to where I am now. I close my eyes and it all comes back.

It all began in 1973 when I graduated from Central High School in the small town of Lexington, North Carolina as the summer was beginning to wind down. I had two more weeks before I would embark on a new journey known as college. All my friends were heading in different directions with their college ambitions. Being a single female with no thought of having a steady relationship, I was ready for the college life. I had my sights set on becoming a high school English teacher with the possibility of later teaching at a community college. I did not need a long distance relationship with a guy who was in a different area code who would lay a guilt trip on me if I met new friends, went out to experience new places, participated in sports, or even dated someone new. Don’t need that kind of drama in my life at this point. I had had enough of that mess in high school. Date one guy for a while and then he thinks he owns you or another guy couldn’t look at you without your boyfriend becoming jealous. No. Freedom for this chick is what I long for. My good friends, Lisa and Eric, were always trying to set me up with someone because they thought I was lonely. I am not lonely. I am a free agent and am not in the market to be tied down. Truly, I was going to miss my main buddies (the gang) Lisa, Eric, Samson, Callie, Sarah, and Daniel, but now is the time to jump into a new adventure. No relationship is going to hold me down.

Ok, it’s Saturday night and the gang wants to do something different since we only have two more Saturday nights until we are all loading up to go into different directions. Eric and Lisa insist we go to the car race at the High Rock Race Track. Racing! Watching cars go around and around in a circle with loud engines and tires squalling is not what I call fun. Then Eric informs me that his cousin Chase from Virginia will be driving and is a champion in his hometown area. Lovely, Lisa, with her long blonde hair, light blue eyes, informs me that he is hot and already has a fan base that follows him. Now that is supposed to impress me with a sport that I don’t know a thing about except cars run fast and the majority of the time, they crash. And I am getting the feeling that this is a setup. However, I don’t think I have anything to fear with this Chase dude, probably having an all female bunch of groupies drooling over his every facial and bodily expression. Let the games begin.

Callie, Sarah, and Daniel leave early in Samson’s brand new 1973 Dodge Charger. They want to look cool in a fast muscle car going to the race track. Samson reminds one of the Biblical Samson with medium black curly hair, brown eyes, and his muscular body. Callie could be Delilah with long brown hair, dazzling blue eyes and olive skin with amazing personality. Sarah lacks confidence but she is beautiful on the inside and outside, has light brown, wavy medium lengthen hair with brown eyes and she always exposes a smile. Then, there is Daniel with his strawberry blonde hair, hazel eyes, and his farmer’s accent. Of course, Lisa and I are riding in Eric’s 1969 Jeep Gladiator of which is the most hideous version of a vehicle known to man. However, Eric is in the love with that jeep as much as he is with Lisa. Eric has on an orange baseball cap that has the word CHASE in yellow letters with red flames burning around each letter and on the back of the cap are the numbers 07 with his dark brown hair hanging out of his cap. Lisa has on a matching orange tee-shirt with the same CHASE logo on it. What was I thinking as I had on jeans and a white V-neck Tee shirt. After all, it is a dirt race track.

The track smells like burnt rubber and gasoline fumes that are confiscating my air waves. As I squint to see, Chase has a whole section of CHASEY fans with Eric waving a checkered flag. As Eric loses his ever loving mine, Lisa just glows and flows back and forth with the word CHASE moving back and forth in my face. As a green flag drops, the entire crowd goes wild with yells and chants while the tires scream and my head spins from going in continuous circles. Oh, the glory of 200 laps of this testosterone sport. On lap 37, a blue car with a number 22 on the sides hit the wall where the sign Big, Big Burgers was and erased half of the burger making it look like a Picasso painting. Then number 37 bounced back onto the track and hit numbers 25, 47, and 12. The crowd goes hysterical and the caution flag came out for 14 laps to clear the mess as we all watch the twisted colored metal being paraded to the pit area. Chase, the main man, is in seventh place. He qualified at the 15th position and had worked his way to seventh place and is in the process of passing car number 14. He makes the pass and Eric waves the checkered flag knocking my hotdog out of my hand onto my white tee shirt and jeans. Now I have on a finger painted CHASE tee-shirt. The more I wipe, the more the flames appear. After lap 122 another caution flag comes out for debris. As the cars are pitting, the lead car, number 11’s, engine stalled and he could not get out of his stall in time and that now puts Chase up to third place since he had previously passed three other cars. After lap 162, Chases 07 looks like flames are blazing out of his wheels and he is actually flying around the track. He passes the second place car on lap 173. He stays on the tail of the lead car until lap 197 and he takes off like a rocket around the lead car as if it were sitting still while getting an oil change. His groupies and fan base are wild and chanting Chase, Chase, Chase, will win the race. And the checked flag drops and he wins the big High Rock 200! Eric is uncontainable and Lisa is doing cheers. I’m just glad it is over. Maybe I can breathe now. Oh, but no, because Eric has jumped over the fence and is in the pits. Of course he is having his picture made with Chase and Miss High Rock Race Track of which Lisa doesn’t like because she has always been his number one female with a slight jealous streak within that beautiful blonde hair of hers. However, Eric is Eric and acting like he is the champion of champions from having his picture made numerous times with Chase, the winner of the race. Finally, he escorts his cousin to a hauling trailer as he motions to Lisa that he will be there in a minute. She just looks relieved that he is away from Miss High Rock Race Track. Just think, Lisa says, we could be groupies to a famous race car driver! Us! Best buds traveling throughout America with a hot guy and hot car. Hold one there, missy! Have you even met this Chase guy? He probably is so stuck on himself he carries pocket mirrors in his jeans to gaze at himself. Get a hold of yourself, Lisa. Goodness gracious! I remark and think the fumes have definitely gotten to her and quickly I might add. Who would have thought that my best friends would be so in love with a guy who drives a car in a circle?

Lisa, before you have a heart attack, I am going to the restroom to see if I can get this hotdog stain off of my shirt and jeans, I say as climb down wooden bleachers and view a sign pointing Women to the right and Men to the left. This can’t be a restroom as I enter a concrete center block room that has a cracked mirror over a sink and two small commode stalls that are engrossed with graffiti written all over them. There are three sheets of toilet tissue in one stall and the other stall has none. No paper at the sink either. Through the cracked mirror I view a mixture of red, yellow, orange, beige, and some shiny stuff that resembles onions! Great! Oh, what do I care? I look like I got into a fight with a hotdog and the hotdog won! My long dark hair that I pulled in a ponytail will just stay there because I really don’t care what I look like when I met this Chase guy. Hopefully, his groupies will have him carted off by now and I can go home and rid myself of this onion patch on my chest. They are starting to open my sinuses up!

Out the lovely restroom I exit and venture over to the other side of the building were the concessions are sold. No line. Yeah! One thing is going my way tonight. I’ll take a Coke and Butterfinger, please, I say as I reach into my smelly hotdog jeans to locate my money. I’ll have what she is having and it is on me, a strong voice from behind me echoes out. As I swirl around to check out this voice and see who is trying to purchase food for me, I am astonished! Could it be! Hello, Miss Harrison, the strong voice said. Eric, Lisa, and the rest of your friends said I would find you here, said a smiling blue eyed, light brown haired guy with a Chase 07 ball cap on his head and an orange Chase tee shirt on. My night just keeps getting better! I manage a smile as I say, Nothing like being deserted by my race car buds, I say sarcastically. My name is Chase Milliken and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, he says. Likewise, Mr. Milliken. Eric is really into your racing skills and probably your biggest fan, I comment with a polite smile. And what about you, Miss Harrison? What brings you to a dirt track on a Saturday night without a smoking hot date for such a lovely lady? comments Chase. Oh, who needs all that when you can have flames a burning, gas fumes spinning in your head, and you wear your hotdog as token of your love for food on your shirt. I wouldn’t want anyone interfering with all this when I can just savor it all for myself, I say as I pretend to wave invisible fumes from around me. He just shines his pearly whites as if he is intrigued by my intelligence and grinning at the hotdog stain on my chest. Ha! Good answer for a college bound freshman, he replies. And you Mr. Milliken? What direction do you plan to embark upon on the next chapter in your life? I ask. I am going to be a NASCAR Driver in a few years and I am going to win the championship like the Pettys and Allisons. My blood has the need for speed in it and the drive for competition, states Chase. I am going to make it big one of these days. A man with a plan and a woman with college tuition, I quote with a bigger smile. Most freshmen have some dreams but the two of us seem to have a plan, returns Chase’s quote.

That will be $3.50 please, says the concession man. Chase reaches in his jeans and pulls out a $10.00 and gives it to the concession man. $6.50 is your change Mr. Milliken. Really enjoyed your racing tonight, said the concession man, and hope you come back here real soon. As Chase is trying to say he will be back, eight or nine screaming girls come running over and start conversations about how wonderful the race was and how they had never seen such driving out of such a cool young man at High Rock Race Track. Oh please, these girls haven’t ever seen a car race little a long know anything about the sport of race car driving! Chase remarks that someone has to race and perform it well. What a showman! Where in the world are my so called buddies?

As hot shot Chase continues to entertain the ladies, I manage a finger wave to Mr. Milliken, grab my free Coke and Butterfinger, and slide on around the corner of the concession stand to set my sites on my so-called friends. I hear a commotion in the gated parking lot and of course, it is Eric with his checked flag and the rest of the gang hanging in and out of the jeep. Hey! I yell to my friends of desertion as I run toward the jeep. Why did leave me and not tell me where you all were going? I ask with disbelief. Oh chill out, Stacey, comforted Lisa. Eric and I wanted you to meet Chase without us around so it wouldn’t be awkward for the two of you, said Lisa. Wait a minute, I respond. Do I really know you people? Are you really supposed to be called friends when you leave me to be introduced to someone that I know nothing about and have nothing in common with? Oh, by the way, thanks, I say sarcastically. You’re welcome, laughs Eric.

When do we load up and move out? with an inquisitive voice I ask. I have to get out of this hotdog that I am wearing, I say. Stacey, you are always eating and what’s with the Coke and Butterfinger. You know we always head to Rick’s for burgers! speaks Eric. Drop me off by my house and I will catch up later with you all at Rick’s, I respond. Yea, you can have ketchup, chili, mayonnaise, and mustard to go with that outfit, Stacey, jokes Eric. Ha, ha, laughs Samson as he point and dances around me singing, Armor Hotdogs, what kind of kids eat Armor Hotdogs? Stacey does, Stacey does. Ha! Ha! chants Samson. Go away Samson, back to Delilah. Since she cut your hair, your brain took a cut also, I say. Yea, but I come back and take all the walls down. I will take you and your little dog, too, says Samson. You’re too funny Samson and with therapy, you might be able to receive some help, I snapped back. Callie and Sarah moan, Come on, let’s go! We’re hungry! Alright, let’s hit the road, Eric makes the command. I told Chase to meet us at Rick’s and I’ll drop Miss Hotdog off on the way. Sarah, Daniel, Callie, and Sampson all leave in Sampson’s Charger while Eric, Lisa, and I hop into the jeep. Down the High Rock Lake Road we go jamming to the radio with The Doobie Brothers and Long Train Running.

After being dropped off at my house, I go bobbing through the door only to be greeted by dad, my brother Owen, and his new girlfriend. My dad surprisingly says, What in the world happened to you? Did one of the race cars run over you? No, dad, I sarcastically say. I fell in love with a hotdog and it loved me back! Hey sis, I would like for you to meet Susie! She is from West and plays point guard on the basketball team which is the same position that you played. Hello, Susie, I say with a smile. You must be really entertained with the Harrison boys working on that old antique bicycle that they found at that creepy old house on Elm Street, I say without enthusiasm. It’s a classic, chimes in my dad, and will make a great gift someday for one of my kids as a conversational piece in their home when they move away from here. I’ll pass and you can share that lovely artifact with Owen as he will remember his bonding time with his father, I say with a smile. His home will probably be a fossil cave somewhere out in the desert anyway, I add. It’s very nice to meet you Susie, I politely say. I have to rid myself of this smelly hotdog outfit. Racetracks and I have a weird relationship, I say shaking my head. It is very nice to meet you too, Stacey," bubbles Susie.

Wow! Susie was a really nice, sandy, blonde headed, sweet young lady and what was she doing with my brother and an old antique bicycle? Oh, whatever floats your boat as I am dashing upstairs to get into my closet of shirts. I grab a red and white striped tee shirt, pull out another pair of jeans, and run into the bathroom to wash off any extra hotdog smell that might be lodged on my skin. Dab on a little perfume, change clothes, and shake down my long brown hair from out of my ponytail. First night at the race track and I manage to encounter a hotdog and meet the winner of the race. I don’t know which one thought they were the hottest, the hotdog or the race car driver! It would have to be a tossup.

Bye to all, as I rush down the stairs and by the living room. Whoa, there young lady! says dad, looking surprised at me. Where are you darting off to like a streak of lightning? he asks. The gang is already at Rick’s Burgers and I’m going to meet them there, I reply. Not many more nights that the gang can all be together, I say smiling. Remember the time to be home is still eleven thirty and not one minute later sweetheart, says my smiling dad. Yea, yea, big daddy and I will be a good girl as always, I reply with my; I have you wrapped around my finger voice. Be safe Sis, chants Owen. Back at you my little brother, I say as I push the front screen door open and fly down the steps.

I just love my orange 1970 Beetle Volkswagen that my parents bought for me. I can’t believe dad bought it at such a steal. Mrs. Yokeley bought it new, brought it home, and drove it for a year and a half. One evening, before Mr. Yokeley got home from work, Mrs. Yokeley had parked the VW out on her front lawn, and put a for sale sign on it. The sign read, The best offer can drive it home. My dad bought it and gave it to me. Mr. Yokeley was so mad at her that we could hear them in their driveway for weeks. Finally, one afternoon, Mr. Yokeley pulled up in a new red Cadillac and all has been well at the Yokeley home for over a year now. She later told me it was her plan all along and how she knew she would get a Cadillac if she would just endure the VW for a little while. Smart Lady that Mrs. Yokeley and very clever to know how to maneuver her man. She also told me I could learn a lesson or two from her about men. That was fine by me because I had a super car and the radio was great as I listen to Shambala, by Three Dog Night.

Driving out of my driveway I think of how I love the freedom of driving. Heading down the road I begin to imagine what it might be like to be behind the wheel of a race car that is speeding around in a circle and getting banged, hit, cut off in the corners, and everywhere else for that matter. Must be a great feeling but for now, I just enjoy the putter of my VW’s engine as I pull into Rick’s Burgers.

As I open the glass door to enter Rick’s Burgers, Daniel yells, There she is our one, and only Hotdog Queen! It seems as everyone in the place stops and stares at me as I hurriedly slide into a rounded booth seat beside Sarah. Glad the booth section seats eight or more people as I grab a menu to cover my face. One of these days I am going to knock what sense you have left out of that head of yours! I protest as I give Daniel a mean glare. You better do it soon Ms. Stacey because I am State bound in fourteen days and you will miss my beautiful face and torso! Daniels brags. In your dreams big boy, in your dreams, I ironically pronounce.

You sure clean up pretty Stacey, said Sarah. I would still be trying to get this curly hair out of a ponytail and yet yours doesn’t even look like it was in a ponytail. Your hair just flows into place like a gentle breeze blowing. Ha, it reminds me of our farm horse Ben with his horse mane and tail caught in the wind, laughs Daniel. I’m warning you Daniel! One more comment and your head will replace your old horse Ben’s head! I scorn. Boys and girls, interrupts Samson, Let’s call a truce and order. Just messing with you Stacey because I am going to miss you so much when I am at State and I have to get a few gabs in before there won’t be any to get in, Daniel says sadly. I hear you big farmer Daniel, I say in a sweet voice. Go to State and make us proud. Daniel is grinning from ear to ear as if he won another County Fair Ribbon for first place with one of his prize bulls.

Oh what to order, what to order, contemplates Callie out loud. I want to order the double deluxe cheeseburger, get some large tater babies, and a large Coke, says Eric as he points to Lisa and asks, What for you my love? I want the same thing and how about you Stacey? questions Lisa. Sounds like a well rounded meal for me, too, I reply. Well don’t leave us out! comments Samson. Daniel, Callie, and Sarah, are you all in on the same order? asks Sampson. All nods their heads as our favorite waitress Betty appears with her sunshine smile and says, What’s my Central gang going to order tonight that I will surely get confused on and bring back the wrong order for everyone? Well, Betty, since we all love you dearly, we are going to make it the easiest that we have ever made it on you and order seven double deluxe cheeseburgers, seven large tater babies, and seven large Cokes, responds Eric with that radio announcer voice of his. What? Have you all lost your marbles? says Betty as she looks as though she has had the shock of her life. We always order different items and sodas and by the time Betty gets our orders to us, no one remembers who ordered what and Betty will just tell us to eat and be happy. No, replies Sampson. We have gasoline and burnout fumes stuck in our brains and we just can’t think. Hallelujah to you lovely college bound kids for making my night easier, responds Betty as she cheerfully writes the order down and twirls over to the kitchen order wheel.

As everyone seems to settle back down into our padded booth, Trouble Man, by Marvin Gaye comes on and Eric gets up and starts his Marvin Gaye impression. He uses the mustard bottle as his microphone and we all perform backup with our uh, uh, uhs. Who would know that a third through the song, in walks the boy wonder in person, Chase Milliken. Eric stops dead in his tracks with his performance and runs to grab Chase and bring him to our booth. He looks very different from the race track tee shirt with that messy hair style he adorned. His wardrobe now is a red shirt, and blue jeans. The highlights in his hair are glowing with those pearly whites of his shining like the pearly gates. Callie, Sarah, Lisa, and all known females in the restaurant melt with their stares. The males just grin and watch him proudly walk up to our booth. Room for another? Chase asks as Eric points to the end where he was sitting. Lisa has that I am going to have a heart attack look again.

Sorry it took a while to get here. I had to speak with my crew chief and crew about my staying here with Eric for the weekend and the crew needed to head on back to Virginia, says Chase. There seems to be another race in Reidsville next Friday so I might get to see some of you before you load up and take off to college, states Chase with his white teeth still shining. I wonder how he gets them to be so white. He must have a dentist appointment every month.

Betty comes by our booth and says, My, my, my, and who do we have here and will he be ordering what you all ordered? Well, whatever they ordered, I will have one, too, and it will be on me. I got some extra cash from the race winnings and I need to spend it on my supportive fans, as Mr. Chase responds in a very blissful voice. I really don’t know if I like this Chase as a person or not. Is he bragging, is he just being nice, or is he really just overjoyed that he has won another race and that puts him one step closer to his dream? Whatever, Eric is eating it up like it is candy! Surveying the rest of my gang, they seem to have that same radiance as Eric. Oh, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, EAT!

Betty brings our lucky seven meals out and informs Chase that his will be last but will be extra special. Oh please! He now even has charmed the thirty year old mother of two with his charisma. Eric, Daniel, and Sampson soak in every account of the race as Chase recaps his finer moment of his battle for the victory. Lisa dials in as if she has knowledge of race language while Callie and Sarah fight over the ketchup. I must be different because I just chomp down on my deluxe cheeseburger and savor the taste. My Coke and Butterfinger bar have long gone and I need my nourishment. What did you think of that quick pass on lap 197, Ms. Stacey? asks Chase. Stacey, Stacey! says Callie as she looks at me with cheese dripping down the sides of my mouth. Chase asked you what you think? quotes Callie as she stares at me looking disturbed. The burgers are great tonight and the tater babies are melting in my mouth, I respond as the gang stares at me with disbelief. Lisa states, Chase was talking about the race, the one we went to tonight, and the one that he took the checked flag from his pass on the 197th lap. You see some of us pay attention. That was really cool, I say as I try to manage a nice big smile not knowing that they were even speaking because I was so hungry and into my food.

Thank goodness Betty shows up and brings Chase his food as we all huddle together in the booth and eat as if it is our last meal. As we all are devouring our meals, a few students from West come over and introduce themselves to Chase and also congratulate him on his victory. Chase politely thanks them and encourages them to continue to support race car driving as a sport. His eyes seem to get lost in the moment when he speaks of racing. Must be that dream thing he was discussing earlier.

Looking at the antique Coca Cola Bottle Cap Wall Clock beside the counter where Betty is standing, I realize that it is ten minutes past eleven. I’m thinking that I really hate to leave because this will probably be the last time, The Gang,’ as we are all known as will ever be this age, be in this spot, and be who we are at this exact moment in time ever again. I have to admit, it hurts. I love these wacky people as if they were my own family members. Someone said at graduation that this was part of growing up, to find out who we really are and to find out what we are made of. All part of what you want your dream to be and how far will you go to achieve that dream. This is it. The end of life as we all have known it and no matter how much we tell each other that we will write, phone, and stay in touch, deep down I know that will fade away. Daniel will be attending NC State, with Sarah going to UNC-Wilmington, with Callie close by at East Carolina, Sampson (Mr. Brains) will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill, Eric is heading to UNC-Charlotte, while Lisa will be attending High Point University, and I am climbing up the mountains to Blue Ridge State University (BRSU). With all that said, I think, The Gang, will have covered the state of North Carolina.

Where you at in that pretty dark haired head of yours, Stacey? asks Eric. I am right here for right now, I reply. Going to church with my grandmother in the morning and I have to be home early tonight or dad said he would turn me and you into pumpkins, comments Lisa. I haven’t gotten on your dad’s bad side and I don’t what to start now, Eric replies. We all stand up and head for the door. Betty yells, And what about me? The one who has catered to your every burger need, sobs Betty. We all huddle around her with hugs and kisses as we each slip her an extra $1.00. Betty is another fixture that I will miss. She always carries a smile no matter what the weather or how testy a customer can

Reviews for Chasing a Dream

[wndy2011 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

He's chasing a dream; she's running from a nightmare. Tess escaped an abusive husband and was determined to get as far away from San Antonio as possible. But little did she know, someone had other plans in the form of a tall dark drifter on the side of the road who just happened to be there for her in her hour of need. Justin slung his guitar over his shoulder and tipped his cowboy hat back and stared at the woman before him. She reminded him of someone...his dead sister Rebecca. Scared, hurt, running...and that was all it took for him to fall. Whatever the reason, a sense of honor, or a vow to right a wrong, Justin wasn't going to let Tess go through this alone. So the two ran from Tess' husbands hired thugs and somewhere along the way they fell in love. I enjoyed this story very much. It brought to light a very difficult story line...domestic abuse...and how people deal with it differently. It made me feel very lucky to have people in my life that I can turn to in a situation that I would need help. But like Tess, many women have no where to turn. I am a supporter of my local women's shelter and have the utmost respect for those women who do find the courage and strength to get out of the abusive situation.