Magda’S Arrival

By Aurora Peters

Sixty-four-year-old Dan OHalloran, a once-renowned national sports broadcaster, has made some poor decisions regarding friends, finances, and alcohol. Now a reporter at a local television network in California, he finds himself unemployed, fired from his job for coming in late, being unkempt, and hungover. But his boss, a friend, offers him a chance at renewal.

OHalloran moves to Carmel, where he attacks his fresh start with a positive outlook. Hes intrigued when he meets Magda, his beautiful, young neighbor. She confides in OHalloran, telling him about her questionable family history, a possible connection to the mafia. Magda doesnt know if shes in hiding or just an ordinary person living in a lovely little house in Carmel.

As a friend, he agrees to accompany her to Italy so she can begin to sort out the details of her past. What they learn surprises them. As Magda comes to terms with her new reality, tragedy strikes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973637363

Aurora Peters

Aurora Peters, a first-time author, lives and works on the banks of Lake Michigan.

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Copyright © 2018 Aurora Peters.

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.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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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.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-3735-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-3736-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018909824

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/07/2018

Contents

Epilogue

Dedication

Part I

Part II

Epilogue

The inspiration for this book is not from my imagination. It was sent to me from a guardian whose words and phrases pestered me for three years until I succumbed to writing this book. I do hope you enjoy my endeavors.

Aurora Peters

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my chosen father since I’ve used his family name throughout this book, it is the right thing to do. Bless you, Poppy Dioguardi. Others who have assisted and supported me in making this edition possible: my two daughters. One by birth and one by choice. Also my much loved sister and my dear friend, Sharon.

Part I

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Dan O’Halloran, a once renowned national sports broadcaster, finds himself at 64 years of age employed by a local TV network in the San Francisco Bay area doing a once a week late night sportscasting job. This is due to Dan’s poor decisions regarding friends, finances and alcohol. His prospects for a future in sportscasting seem dim. Dan was once again arriving at the Channel 24 studio at the last minute before going on the air. Later he is summoned to his boss’ office. Hank Dixon says, Sit down, Dan. I’ll try to make this as simple as I can. You keep coming in late, hungover and unkempt. If I can be direct, you are rather seedy looking. The company has decided to terminate your contract as of tomorrow. We have a replacement for your spot already. You, of all people in the sports world, must have seen this decline of yours coming. Unfortunately, we want your office cleared out today. However, the company has put together a severance package that is fairly generous. I hope you will make it last. Do not drink it up!

As one old friend to another, it’s time for you to move on. You have lived for years in that old rented houseboat in Tiburon. You told me that your landlord has been trying to evict you for a year. Give him a break! Call him and set up your move out date.

Years ago I bought a small house outside Carmel on Highway 101. I’ve had it rented for years by two artists, however, they have informed my caretaker they are moving back to New York. So the caretaker asked me if I wanted to rent it again.

Here’s the deal, Dan: I’ll let you live there rent and utilities free for as long as it takes you to resurface as the man and friend I once knew. Don’t give me your answer right now. Get your stuff cleared out of here and call me from the houseboat and tell me your decision. If it’s a go, I’ll give you directions to the house.

Dan arrived at the houseboat, called his landlord, and told him he was leaving in a day or two. The landlord was pleased, saying Since it’s mid-month I can paint and spruce it up in time for another renter by the first of the month.

Emptying the fridge, cleaning out the medicine chest and some files, Dan throws out old shoes, hats and suits he hasn’t worn in years. Everything goes into the dumpster. Then he calls Hank, telling him he will take him up on his offer of the house outside Carmel. How do I get there?

Hank tells him, Take the Coast Highway to Monterey, go through town, over the Highland Road. When you get to the crossroad of Carmel and Carmel Valley, the shopping center with Safeway will be on your left; the Catholic basilica will be on your right; go straight ahead for about a mile. There is a red mailbox and the house is white with flowering window boxes. The keys will be in one of the window boxes. Take care, Dan. Maybe I will come down sometime and we’ll go fishing. Oh, the driveway is steep so drive slowly and don’t go through the toolshed!

Following Hank’s directions, Dan arrives at the house late afternoon after stopping for gas and a taco. He slowly approaches the driveway, and yes, it is very steep. He stops short of the toolshed, parks the Suburban, and walks to the front of the house. Digging in the window box, he finally finds the keys.

Entering the house, he is in the living room. It has old furniture, nautical decorations, lamps, a coffee table, pictures, an old TV, a big recliner chair and brown shag carpeting. But it appeals to him right away. Compared to the houseboat, he thinks he’s really going to like it here. Going through the house, he checks out two bedrooms. The smaller one he decides will be his office and sports gallery. The other one is a good size, with a bed, night stands and a matching dresser. The bathroom fixtures are old, but clean. The kitchen has an apartment-size stove and refrigerator, table and chairs, coffee pot, pots, pans, dishes and glasses. All the usual items found in most kitchens, Dan guesses.

The door off the kitchen leads to a small but nice deck, with a small table and two chairs. He decides to unpack the Suburban. He brings in his bedding first and deposits it on the bed. Next he takes books, files and sports paraphernalia to his office; clothes in the closet and dresser, toiletries to the bathroom, towels to the small hallway closet. He leaves the rest of the boxes in the living room to wait until later to put away. Now he decides to go grocery shopping so he drives to the shopping center and the Safeway. He notices there is also a dry cleaning shop, deli, book store and laundromat. But food is his priority now and he wanders through Safeway from aisle to aisle, picking up various items. Then he stops at the deli for bread, salami, tuna and chicken salad, and a case of ginger ale. Plus the local newspapers, store ads and coupons. Arriving home, he puts it all away except for the deli finds. He makes himself a plate of food, gets a ginger ale and heads for the back deck, taking in the ocean view with the sun going down, and says to himself, Dan, this is good!

The next morning, after coffee and cereal, he decides to wash the Suburban, as it has been a long time since he even noticed how dirty and crusted it is. He saw a curled up hose at the back of the house, and went to the toolshed looking for a pail and wash cloths, which he found among potting soil and fertilizer. He was getting wet, but he was enjoying it just the same. Even without wax, the old car looked shiny in the sun.

Finishing up, he goes to the kitchen to fix