The Wall Between Us: An Exciting Sequel to ''The Imperfect Circle'' - Mystery, Murder and Romance

By Alyce F. Norris

Just when she thought it was over, Michelle Andrews found herself facing more
dramatic changes in her life; ones that involved a marriage request, a murder, and a four
generation secret. Her friendship with Dr. Peter Driscoll was becoming more than
comfortable and after getting settled in her own condo and learning how to live alone and
loving it, Pete proposed.
Her time as a volunteer at a Woman's Shelter opened up a whole new world of
relationships creating a circle of friends that didn't know they were related, except by the
appearance of a mystifying birthmark.
The sudden appearance of a dead body, the collapse of a long standing business
and the people involved, began to twist and turn until Michelle finds herself in the middle
of a police investigation, friends in jeopardy and the answer to a long lost child.
The Wall Between Us is the story of Michelle's struggle for a normal life and the
simple things in that life being plagued with outrageous events.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483649399

Alyce F. Norris

Alyce Norris enjoyed writing her first book The Imperfect Circle. But, with the many requests of her friends, had more fun writing the sequel entitled; The Wall Between Us. A Yankee transplant from the state of Delaware, Alyce moved to Miami, Florida in 1958. She raised her family, retired from her career in dentistry after fifty four years and pursued her love of writing poetry and authored her first book in 2012. This second book takes up where the first one stopped because her friends wanted more. Alyce has three grown children with children of their own, is married to a retired fireman and is already thinking of her third story. The move to Florida kept her busy raising three children and working full time in the field of dentistry where she retired in 2009. She served as the editor of the Florida Dental Assistants’ Association newsletter, printed quarterly and also served as the managing editor of The Pinnacle for the Board of Diplomates, published twice a year out of Chicago. Over the years she wrote narrative poetry covering many adventures she and her friend (Bonnie in the book) had, mountain climbing and traveling. When she joined the South Florida Writers’ Association, she was encouraged to write a book. The Imperfect Circle is her first attempt with several more stored up in her imagination.

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Copyright © 2013 by Alyce F. Norris.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

Rev. date: 06/11/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

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CONTENTS

Preface

Thank You

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX

Chapter XXI

Chapter XXII

Chapter XXIII

Chapter XXIV

Chapter XXV

Chapter XXVI

Chapter XXVII

Chapter XXVIII

Chapter XXIX

Chapter XXX

Chapter XXXI

Epilogue

PREFACE

Michelle Andrews was settling down in her new volunteer job with Starting Over; a program designed to assist abused and homeless women. She was volunteering for a children’s center, but found her stamina challenged with active, and often disobedient, children until a position opened up with the women’s program. She quickly transferred and found it much more compatible with what she had to offer. She bonded with many of the mothers there and enjoyed teaching arts and crafts on one of her three volunteer days.

As the program began to grow, so did the problems. Michelle found herself in the middle of a murder, new friends facing extremely severe health issues, a love affair with her friend, Dr. Pete Driscoll, and a four generation secret.

THANK YOU

To my friend and past employer,

Barbara Sims for her time spent editing my script

My friend Blainnie Alderman,

the Bonnie in my story, for many suggestions and

Many of my friends encouraging me to write a sequel to

The Imperfect Circle

CHAPTER I

The closet was in disarray when Michelle opened the doors. The stack of towels she held in her hands would never fit unless she reorganized the entire closet.

Oh well, she thought, seems like the pattern for the day.

This was one of her volunteer days at the Woman’s Shelter. Stacking linens didn’t take much skill, but certainly seemed like a challenge today, along with a half-dozen other challenges that occurred during her eight hour shift. Two fighting mothers started out her day arguing over bread at the breakfast table. Then taking attendance, another one of her tasks, she found three women absent. Helping one mother vomit from morning sickness topped the morning. Now, the linen closet. She set the linens on a nearby table facing the closet with a tenacious stare.

The best way to solve this problem is to empty and start over, she decided.

The day was ending and Michelle wondered why she liked being a volunteer. The Children’s Services was much more organized, but entertaining small children at her age became exhausting by early afternoon. She was thinking of resigning when a need arose in the section for Homeless and Abused Women, and she decided to transfer.

It had been nearly two busy years and she loved it. The women were needy and welcomed her attention. She befriended many of them and was so delighted when she saw them find the help they needed for a fresh start. The shelter offered housing, meals, help in finding employment and advocates for battered women going to court filing restraining orders against their abusers.

This particular program was called Starting Over, run and financed by a group of fifteen Hispanic business women. These women had a passion to serve the hopeless. They came from Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and Peru, who made their vision a reality nearly ten years ago. The program was licensed by the state and trained personnel helped the women in various areas of need. Michelle was one of many volunteers and worked two to three days a week. She first started with helping in their small library, taking attendance, serving meals and organizing supplies. But, the owners found she could sew, knit and crochet and asked her to conduct classes once a week for all sorts of crafts that got the women excited and focused on something other than their problems. That class was scheduled for tomorrow and Michelle had seven women signed up to begin learning how to knit. She planned to teach them how to make a coverlet, a type of small afghan.

The closet was finished and Michelle reported to the office staff, letting them know she was checking out to go home. Her shift ended at 4:00pm. She waved good-bye to several of the women she knew and looked forward to her drive home. Her friend, Dr. Pete Driscoll had invited her to dinner and she was happy she didn’t have to cook. She was going to join him and his aide, Teddy, for homemade lasagna.

During the drive home she began thinking about some rumors she heard buzzing among the residents in the program. The waiting list for other women to enter the program was growing longer the last six months, and there was talk of adjusting the exit time for some residents.

I wonder what part of the program it will be? thought Michelle. There were more than 40 residents in the program already and that was five more than they usually allow. But, the demand for space seemed to be increasing each month. More and more women were facing homelessness. Divorce, spousal abuse, loss of jobs, pregnant teenagers; these all qualified as desperate situations leading women to seeking shelter.

Monica Bromley was the chairperson of the Board and often mentioned to Michelle the budget crunch the program was facing. They wanted to help every woman in need, but, as always, the bottom line was money. Viability of the program depended on its fifteen sponsors and their generosity was at an all-time high. The state offered a small donation so it could be declared state-assisted, but it barely amounted to the cost of the electric bill.

Michelle began thinking about one resident in particular; Margarita. She was seventeen years old and pregnant. Her parents were overwrought when they found out she and her boyfriend were having sex. The boy was barely seventeen himself and his parents refused to help, denying the pregnancy was his fault. DNA testing proved the child was his, but the family was not prepared financially to assist with any expenses and refused to take responsibility. Being minors, the onus of the burden went to the parents and the families fought bitterly. Margarita turned her back on everyone and left home on her own, ending up in Starting Over when she exhausted many of her friends’ generosity. A night in the local hospital with fever and malnutrition put her on the list for eligibility to enter Starting Over. She had been there for two days when she met Michelle and immediately the two of them seemed to bond.

What would happen to women like these? thought Michelle.

The drive was pleasant, in spite of the traffic. Michelle just let herself unwind and went with the flow of traffic. She had music on the radio and in the background her thoughts were about getting wound up, as Pete called it. It was true; she did get wound up when she had an agenda. She found herself dwelling on the program and what it would take to expand it. Surely, there was something that could be done. She would talk to Monica in the morning and see what plans might be in the works.

The entrance to the Warrington Villas came into view and Michelle immediately felt at home. It was a wonderful retirement community that provided nearly everything she needed, including her sweet Pete Driscoll whom she met after her husband died suddenly more than two years ago. The events bringing them together were part of their history she didn’t really like to remember. His niece went missing in Cairo, Egypt where Pete’s brother and wife were vacationing. They were involved in a fatal automobile accident. The niece, only a toddler, was the sole survivor and was, supposedly, placed in Children’s Services. But, when Pete went to Cairo to bring his family home, the child was missing.

On the other side of that horror, the death of Michelle’s husband opened a hidden life that exposed his involvement in an illegal, international adoption ring. Michelle and Pete were pulled together quite accidentally during the investigation. Over a period of several months they became key players in solving the adoption ring crime and finding Pete’s niece.

In the retirement community, they were known as the odd couple ever since. They dated, spent time together in the community projects and were often seen together with other friends in town attending special events.

Pete suffered from optic nerve atrophy, making him legally blind. He didn’t pass the driver’s test anymore, and although he had good peripheral vision in good light, it ended his career as a physician two years ago. He had an aide named Teddy, the son of a good friend, who attended classes at the nearby college and was his chauffer, cook and, as he jokingly put it—his fetcher.

Michelle and Pete enjoyed keeping people curious about their relationship and neither one of them would openly confess they loved each other. But, time spent together was pressing them into an enjoyable bond neither would admit, but knew was there. Michelle pulled through the entrance of the Villas and around the lake where her condo was located.

She plopped in her easy chair and dialed Pete.

So, what has Teddy scraped up for us this evening? laughed Michelle.

One of your favorites, responded Pete. Lasagna, salad and coconut custard pie.

Hmmm, I’ll be there in an hour. Can I bring something? she asked with her thoughts spinning as to what she might have in the house to offer.

Just your beautiful self, laughed Pete.

Michelle sifted through the mail she had picked up in her box when she came into the house, tossed most of it in the trash and lifted her feet to the hassock. She drifted into a fifteen minute power nap that often followed her surrender to her favorite chair. But she felt as if she barely closed her eyes when the phone rang. It was her friend, Bonnie.

What’s up? asked Bonnie, starting the conversation abruptly.

"Ugh! I just closed my eyes. Going to Pete’s for dinner in about an hour. What’s up with you? she muttered.

Oh, sorry Mick. I was calling about our lunch date this weekend. I have to cancel.

Why?

My sister’s coming in town and she wants me to take her shopping for a new car, replied Bonnie.

Michelle and Bonnie had been friends for many years as neighbors and professionals in the field of dentistry. When Michelle moved to Warrington Villas, it separated them by more than thirty miles. They had a standing lunch date on Saturdays and everything usually revolved around that special time. For Bonnie to cancel was very unusual.

Yeah, she’s really giving me a hassle about going with her and reminding met I owe her one from me borrowing her car for a week last year. Gotta’ do it.

No problem. We’ll be seeing you and Jake tomorrow night for the dinner date and comedy show, replied Michelle

Right, that’s still on. Another dinner with Pete, huh? teased Bonnie.

Don’t go there, came Michelle’s reply. You know we get together occasionally, she said in defense.

Seems like more than occasionally to me. When are you two guys going to hook up like real people who are in love? she teased again.

We are in like not in love. Then the both of them laughed heartily.

Michelle did love Pete, in a very special way. He had become part of her life and she was enjoying their relationship just as it was. She had been married most of her life and to be single and independent was unique. A kind of difference she was comfortable with, not having to please anyone, or live according to their needs. Her home was always in order as well as her schedule. She loved spontaneity but always with an option. She took one day at a time and tried not to think too far ahead. Bonnie accused her of being OCD and frankly, she admitted it was more true than not.

Okay, see you at dinner Saturday, Bonnie concluded.

Michelle readied herself for dinner with Pete and began thinking about the program at Starting Over again. Her thoughts focused on Margarita and what would happen to her and some of the other women like her. It was nearly 5:00pm and quickly, on a whim, she went to the phone to call Monica. She surprised herself.

When Monica answered the phone she was more surprised and wondered why it wasn’t one of the staff.

Monica; how come you’re answering the phone? I’m glad you’re still there, said Michelle.

Oh, day staff is gone for the day. The next shift just came in and I was passing the switchboard when I heard the phone. I was waiting for a call from my mom. How can I help you? she asked.

I was thinking about the program and some rumors I heard that you might be shortening the time for women to be enrolled there. Is it true?

Well, I’m not sure. We have such a waiting list and no more available space. We have to do something. We’re having a board meeting tomorrow to talk about it. Would you like to sit in?

Can I? asked Michelle surprised.

Of course. We welcome the interest of our volunteers. They sometimes have some good ideas. Come join us.

CHAPTER II

Pete was tall and his white hair sparkled in the evening lights. He had just shaved and primped for Michelle. His aide, Teddy, watched him polish the scuff on his shoes and the tucking in of his shirt tail.

You look fine, Dr. D. he smiled.

Pete smiled and continued to tug on his collar to make sure it was straight and even. Dining with Michelle was always enjoyable. He loved her peck on his cheek and crazy little laugh when they greeted. He wanted to swoop her up in his arms and hold her forever. But, pecking her back and a brief hug was all he dared, fearing he might push her away and out of his life. He had been cautious moving into her life too soon. She had been so burned by her late husband’s involvement in the illegal shenanigans with the adoption ring, that stepping too close too soon, he felt would not be wise. He knew time was a great healer and he wanted it to be right between them. When she arrived, his heart skipped a beat.

Smells good in here, she remarked when the aroma of lasagna reached her nose. She headed for Pete and they greeted each other with the traditional peck on the cheek and light hug.

It’ll be on the table in five minutes, came a voice from the kitchen. Teddy was pulling the large pan out of the oven and walking toward the dining area.

He’s been talking about this meal for hours, laughed Pete.

Looks like he’s planning to feed ten people. That pan is so big! exclaimed Michelle.

Well, leftovers keep me out of the kitchen for a day or so, laughed Teddy.

Teddy shuffled around with the salad he prepared, set out the bowls and poured the iced tea in tall ice filled glasses. He held out his hands to the two chairs indicating where Pete and Michelle were to sit and gave a big grin.

Looks wonderful, Teddy, smiled Michelle.

The two of them sat as directed. Pete said a short blessing and eating began. They chatted back and forth through the meal and before long the only sound was Teddy placing dishes in the dishwasher.

Pete, spoke Michelle.

Yes, my dear.

You know the program I volunteer for? she asked.

Yes. You’ve been there for sometime now. You like it?

Very much. But, I was talking to Monica Bromley, the chairperson of the program. It seems some big changes might be brewing. They are talking about possibly downsizing.

"Really? Why? asked Pete as he rested back in his own version of an easy chair and Michelle sat across from him.

Seems like budget concerns and a long waiting list of women needing help is putting pressure on the program.

That doesn’t sound like downsizing. It sounds more like up-sizing.

Well, the downsizing means shortening the residency time of the women who are there. They can house forty women by doubling up a few. But, they really only have space for thirty-five. If they shorten the length of time a woman can live there, they can accept and assist more women.

And, why are you concerned? asked Pete almost knowing what the answer would be. He knew Michelle was a ‘doer’ and would want to help somehow.

I’m concerned because there are some situations these women face that if they have to leave the program, they’ll be devastated. Say, a woman comes in that’s three months pregnant. The exit time is one year. The baby is born and she is faced with being on her own with an infant. Or, worse yet, she has to give it up for adoption to make it on the outside.

What’s your remedy?

Like you say, expanding the program.

That takes money, Michelle. Do they have it?

Well, I don’t think so. They are talking about changing the exit strategy.

And… . ? questioned Pete, determined to let Michelle perhaps answer some of her own questions.

I think they should concentrate on finding more support, stated Michelle rather emphatically.

From where? He knew Michelle was fishing.

You serve on a board at the hospital. Do you think you can talk to the physicians there and ask if anyone is interested in starting a private support group that would be interested in helping in this situation?

The words rolled off Michelle’s lips like she had the solution planned for months. She raised her eyebrows and rolled her lower lip under her front teeth as if she were almost sorry she was mentioning it. Pete smiled. Inside, he thought it was a marvelous idea. This would be a great tax write-off for many of the physicians and he was sure he could convince some of them to participate. But, he wanted to challenge Michelle to make her think of the work it would entail.

You mean donating money?

Michelle nodded and sat quietly. Pete sat upright in his chair, turned his head sideways and twisted his lips.

We have a board meeting on Monday, he stated rather quietly.

Pete, tell me what you are thinking. Michelle said, moving forward in her chair.

It’s a great idea! Let me see if I can get it on the agenda. You know, I serve on this board only as an advisor. I’m no longer on staff at the hospital. They only keep me on because of my tenure on the board and my experience with the hospital issues.

"Yes! I know. It’s a great position and a man with your experience could make this happen, Pete. The Starting Over program is having a Board meeting tomorrow and Monica has invited me to sit in on it. I can get more details and… ."

Whoa! interrupted Pete. Let’s take one step at a time. Let me find out if they are willing to look at the program first and then we can evaluate the issue, see what it would take to expand the program and who of the board, might be interested. Let me call our chair tomorrow and see if I can even get it on the agenda, explained Pete.

Of course, of course. I’m sorry. But, our meeting is tomorrow morning. What shall I tell them? asked Michelle as she looked longingly at Pete.

"Tell them? How about asking them. Find out what their plans are, what solutions they might have and how do they plan to proceed."

Right, responded Michelle as she pantomimed a finger snap. She knew she was moving fast. The ideas were just entering her head all at once and she found herself winding up—the usual, number one thing she tried not to do. Pete sensed her enthusiasm and found himself calmly walking her through the steps of such a