Devoted Hearts

By Hernan Penaherrera

Jonathan, the middle Terzetto brother, meets Samantha and forms a deep connection with her, something he never had with his former wife. Though his older brother Peter doesn't believe in love and cautions him against it, Jonathan falls madly in love with Samantha. Their love and passion for each other deepen as they cook, bake, and explore New York, until a tragic twist of fate intervenes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499008807

Hernan Penaherrera

Hernan Peñaherrera was born in New York City and is currently living in Chicago suburbs.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

The lights flicker as the F train approaches the Brooklyn Heights station. An attractive woman gets on the crowded train. Jonathan smiles at her as a warm welcome gesture. She acknowledges him with a similar expression. They both hold on to the vertical pole as they face each other.

How did your day go? he asks.

Long, but I’m ready to dance on this pole, she laughs.

Ohhh myyyy! A pole dancer! That should be interesting. You must be a stripper, he teases.

I only do private dances, she flirts, and bites her lower lip.

I’m expecting a private dance from you soon. Give me your number, he says confidently. She writes her private number on the back of her business card and hands it to him before getting off at her stop.

He remembers what Peter advised him: Just say anything outrageous as long as it isn’t disrespectful towards them. He has several lines he can use as icebreakers. He wonders if it is possible to find romance in this part of the world, where he doesn’t know anyone. He will find out soon when he calls her.

CHAPTER ONE

A new journey

Standing on a chilly platform above 90 feet, commuters marvel at Manhattan’s magnificent skylines in the distance. The new One World Trade Center, the nation’s tallest building, dominates New York’s stratosphere once again, anchoring the view across the East River. The arrival train is seen in the backdrop, slowly approaching.

The G train slices through the arctic air like a butter knife, as it slides toward New York’s highest-elevated subway station. The white vapor rises from the warm subway and slowly dissolves into the frigid, cloudless sky. Each rail car weighs 85,200 pounds. A string of 8 cars, weighing a total of 681,600 pounds of pure steel, travels at a speed of 36 miles per hour towards the crowded Smith 9th Street station.

Having boarded the train at the Avenue P station in Bensonhurst, near his temporary residence, Jonathan gets off at this stop to see the skylines before heading to work. Soon the Queens-bound G train arrives at the station. He wants to get on the warm train, but patiently waits for the 179th Jamaica line instead. His recent divorce is like a breath of fresh, cold air; his sons are on their own, and he isn’t obligated to anyone.

It’s been a week since MTA hired him as an Assistant Project Manager. So far, he enjoys his new job more than his previous one, where he worked for Paul, his former father-in-law. Here, he has a staff of people who monitor stations and trains within the system. He is also assisting his manager in ordering new railcars from France, Brazil, Canada, and Japan, to replace old, decaying models that require expensive maintenance.

He stands in the crowded train, holding onto an overhead rail, and smiles as he thinks about the pleasant times he had with his brothers, Peter and Harold. Peter’s dating philosophy slowly begins to sink into his brain as he remembers that when they parted at O’Hare International Airport, he vowed to live his life in New York as Peter would.

Next stop, Jay Street! an automated conductor announces over the speakers. Jonathan shuffles through the crowd, ready to exit when the sliding doors open. He slowly climbs the stairs, leaving the subway station. The MTA headquarters is located on Livingston Street, three blocks from the Jay Street station. Even at 6:27 AM, people crowd the streets, making it difficult for them to walk without bumping into each other as they hurriedly head to work. Pedestrians rarely make eye contact with anyone, and when they do, they only nod their head as a form of acknowledgement. He sees a food cart on a street corner and decides to grab something to eat.

How you doin’? an older man greets him with a thick accent.

Great! Thanks for asking. I would like light coffee and toasted bagel, he orders.

Coming right up! Hey kid, you’re not from around here, are you? he asks, while handing him the coffee and bagel.

No, I’m not. I recently moved from Chicago and I’m beginning to adjust. He smiles while he sips his coffee.

Welcome to the greatest city in the world. Out here, we got kulture and best food in the east coast. We as Noo Yawka, we get things done! he arrogantly boasts.

You sound pretty serious. Hold that thought! I’ll be back to discuss more on this exciting topic, Jonathan says sarcastically. Not wanting to get into an argument with him about culture and food, Jonathan thinks that maybe next time he’ll give him a run for his money.

At work, Jonathan is shown several complex operations that help explain how they maintain and provide the most dependable service for commuters. The demand to keep up with current technology is extremely difficult as they work to replace the old fleet of trains without disrupting service. He knows this won’t be an easy task for him, but he realizes that this is a new journey and he is willing to learn everything about it. This motivates him to stay focused on the many projects ahead.

Hey Jonathan, let’s take a ride to Second Avenue, his boss, Frank, suggests.

Sure! What’s on Second Avenue? Jonathan asks.

Our biggest project to date, and it must be completed by 2016! Frank exclaims.

CHAPTER TWO

A different world

At 10:31 AM, they walk toward the crowded Borough Hall Station. Frank hands Jonathan a prepaid swipe card to go through the turnstile. Passengers rush frantically to their trains as they hurry to and from their demanding careers and hectic domestic lives.

Sneakers have become customary wear