False Love: A Novel

By Lou DeCaro

This is the author’s twenty-first novel. It’s a bittersweet story about the destructive power of love. False Love will capture the reader’s attention from the very first page.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796041507

Lou DeCaro

Lou DeCaro is the author of In The Dim Light Of The Day (Xlibris, November 2012), Marshmallow Dreams And Bitter Tangerines (Xlibris, October 2013), Anthony (Xlibris. January 2014), The Blind Eye of Love (Xlibris, October 2014), Once A Widow, Ever A Wife (Xlibris, January 2015), The Champion of Love (Xlibris, April 2015), Forever and a Day (Xlibris, August 2015), The Rose of Cuba (Xlibris, November 2015), The Writer of Lies (Xlibris}, January 2016), The Lonely and the Disabled (Xlibris, March 2016), Like Father, Like Son (Xlibris, July 2016), Maria (Xlibris, October 2016), The Pharaoh Club (Xlibris, January 2017), The Love Armada (Xlibris, May2017), Infirmed (Xlibris, October 2017), The Anger of Love (Xlibris, January 2018), A Moment in Time (Xlibris, March 2018), Johnny Reb's (Xlibris, May 2018), Jar of Broken Hearts (Xlibris, September 2018),Tears from the River of Love (Xlibris, September 2018),and False Love (Xlibris, June 2019).

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

I NEVER IMAGINED losing my brother at such a young age. He was only 68 years old, and seemed to be on his way to living a happy and productive life. He was engaged to a woman from the Philippines. They appeared to be very much in love with each other. I recalled the conversations they would have when I came to visit my brother. Some of the conversations would last two hours.

The Philippine woman became a part of my brother’s life when he joined one of those foreign dating services. Prior to her, my brother was involved with a woman from England. The first time I met her was at an Italian restaurant called Il Cottile in Little Italy. She was very pretty, and had a pleasing English accent. It was clear to me she was very much in love with my brother.

Unlike the Philippine woman, the English woman wasn’t a result of some foreign dating service. Instead, she worked in the London office of the company they both worked for. Whenever business brought my brother to London, he would take the woman out on a date. It wasn’t long before they became attached. Ironically, she was born in England and spoke fluent Italian. My parents always wanted my brother and I to marry an Italian girl. That was one of the many things they were right about.

Sadly, we both ignored our parents and married a non-Italian. By the time we learned our parents were right, it was too late. We were both anxious to get married. I became engaged while I was in college and got married right after I graduated. My wife was a good woman but didn’t have a clue how important it was to raise a family with Italian values. My brother’s first wife wasn’t so clueless. But some people said the marriage ended because she didn’t want to have children.

As close as we were, my brother wasn’t as liberal minded as I was. In fact, he was far more conservative about things. I’m not sure it was a result of being insecure or having low self-esteem. He would never take the risks that I would. And while I was definitely a risk taker, my brother would always follow the straight and narrow road in life. He would play it safe whenever he was presented with a challenge, and hated whenever he was rejected or proven wrong by someone. He especially hated when I proved him wrong. He considered himself more intelligent by virtue of the fact he was one year older. In my opinion, age had nothing to do with it.

I suppose the turning point in his life came in 2017 when he suffered a massive heart attack. Being a devoted brother, I gave up my apartment in Manhattan and relocated to South Jersey in order to care for him. No matter how inconvenient it was, we were taught to support one another. Family loyalty was more important than anything else.

CHAPTER 2

I COULDN’T BELIEVE my ears the day I overheard him break up with the English lady. He dumped her like a piece of rubbish. All I heard in the background was her crying hysterically. I never imagined in a million years my brother could be so cold and insensitive.

Everyone has the capacity to be cruel. My brother was no different than anyone else. He could charm the pants off of someone when he wanted to. One minute he was a loving person. The next minute he was as cruel as they came. When it came to ending a relationship, he did so without any remorse. He didn’t seem to care how hurt they were.

My brother’s relationship with the Philippine Lady began in May of 2017. In a letter entitled, "One in a Million……Chance of a Lifetime!, my brother stated he was asked to provide a brief oversight concerning his loving relationship with Mary. He began by writing he had the good fortune of meeting Mary back in January through the auspices of Filipino Cupid, a well-known Asian internet dating site. While not a tremendous fan of the internet dating scene, he was exposed to the beauty of the Philippine people while on a business consultant assignment in Manila during the spring of 2016. His fond memories from that experience inspired the hope that he too, could meet a sincere and loving Filipina woman through this internet portal.

After nearly two weeks of reviewing Filipino Cupid’s offerings, my brother received a Company-generated email that simply said, Perhaps one of these individuals might be right for you. After reviewing a number of profiles of no interest, my brother came across a lovely lady dressed in a beautiful blue blouse. This lady preferred to be known as G. This lady’s site photos were absolutely stunning to behold. However, my brother stated it was her tenderly written and truly profound profile that captured his heart.

Like my brother, Mary was not interested in a superficial relationship. She was looking for a true soul mate with character, conviction, trustworthiness, solid upbringing, and the true desire to be a loving partner until the end of time. In times of strife, Mary wanted a mate who had the capacity to works things out and seek a common ground. All of these qualities and more were a direct reflection of of her own inner self and lifelong desires. My brother continued by writing he felt like he was struck by a thunderbolt. For at long last, he said he had finally found the girl of his dreams.

My brother and Mary corresponded initially via Filipino Cupid’s email server. However, after that they swiftly progressed to personal emails and real time video chats via Viber service. Since mid-January, they have spoken via Viber. Their conversations lasted for 2-3 hours and have allowed for a beautiful deepening of their relationship. Like most couples, they spoke about their daily lives, and the immediate concerns and hopes for the future.

CHAPTER 3

O N FEBRUARY 22, 2017, my brother traveled to the Philippines to meet Mary for the first time to meet Mary. My brother wrote in his diary their immediate chemistry demonstrated she might finally be the woman he had always been looking for. Following a romantic two-night stay at the Crimson Resort & Beach Inn on Macorn Island, the two traveled to her home island for the balance of his two-week stay. While together, my brother wrote their days were full of laughter, tenderness, and happiness.

They had the pleasure to host two wonderful dinners for family members, stayed two nights in Mary’s hometown, visited many places of notable interest, including Magellan’s Cross and the Church of Santa Nina, and had some wonderful dinners with Mary’s close friends and contemporary cousins.

On Monday, February 27, 2017, my brother asked Mary. to marry him. She sweetly accepted. After carefully searching, my brother came across a magnificent .75 carat diamond engagement ring at the local mall. Once sized, the ring was given to Mary. with much love on March 2, 2017, before a widely approving jewelry store staff full of smiles, and of course, a hearty round of applause. My brother called it a thrilling moment that will remain with him for the rest of his life.

My brother then told me he was going to travel to Mary’s home town on May 29th. This trip was under a fully approved Multiple Entry Philippine Tourist Visa. He planned on spending two months with Mary., and meet with the folks at Ultimate Visa to finalize all of the paperwork requirements to complete her US Fiance Visa Application. After ten days on Massepequa Island, they planned to stay in two long term hotels to enjoy and live life as a loving couple.

They even made plans to look at some viable condominiums for potential purchase after they got married in the States. My brother was well aware of the ninety-day stipulation attached to Mary.’s visa, and planned to marry before family and friends well within its confines. Following a honeymoon cruise in the Caribbean and ample time for Mary to settle in the States, my brother told me they were going to return to the Philippines to renew their vows before God, family, and friends in a formal Church ceremony at Sacred Heart Church. They planned to meet with a parish priest sometime in June 2017 to understand all the church requirements so they could set their date. Following the ceremony, my brother told me they planned on hosting a wedding reception for approximately one-hundred twenty five family members and friends.

My brother told me he and Mary were very much in love. They were also very much indebted to the people at Ultimate Visa and the US Embassy for making their dream a reality. Who says dreams don’t come true?

CHAPTER 4

I CAME ACROSS a lot of photos of my brother and Mary in the early days of their courtship. My brother looked like a different person. He wore the best sport shirts, jackets, slacks and shoes. He even got a new haircut that mae him look ten years younger. I guess he wanted