Two Kids Three Dollars and Four Suitcases

By Carol Farris

This book was written for women of any age but mostly for young women who are not aware of the many personali-ty traits of an abuser. You will see many of these traits in Willow Rossi’s husband, Francesco. Willow was naïve and totally oblivious at how manipulative and controlling he was. At first she assumed his violent outbreaks were some-how her fault. At long last with God’s miraculous help, she and her children were able to narrowly escape to safety.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664208186

Carol Farris

Carol Farris is retired and lives in Nebraska where both her children, along with their families also reside. This is her first published book but will be the first in a series. Even though it took her until the age of seventy-six to finish her book, she reminds us that if God wants something to happen, it will eventually happen.

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 Carol Farris.

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.

WestBow Press

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and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International

Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-0817-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-0819-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-0818-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020919461

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/28/2020

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

About the Author

Chapter

1

W illow Rossi waited on the steps outside of work for her husband to pick her up.

Happy Birthday again, Willow. Do you need a ride home? asked John, a co-worker, as he left the building. We all enjoyed sharing your birthday cake today.

Thank you, but no, I don’t need a ride. Frank is picking me up. He dropped me off this morning so we would have only one car tonight. We’re celebrating my birthday at the Bears Den tonight. A few friends are joining us.

Okay, have fun tonight. See you tomorrow. Happy Birthday again!

With that John gave a final wave, got into his car and drove away.

In one motion, she waved good-bye to John and turned to see Francesco pull into the parking lot. Willow’s eyes danced and her smile stretched from ear to ear as she got into the car with her husband.

Hi honey! She was excited to get the evening started and continue to celebrate her birthday. Frank had never been one to make a big deal about gift giving occasions so she was thankful for friends who would help her celebrate.

Willow had been in California for two years now. She met Francesco in a neighborhood pub a few months earlier. The girls she worked with often went to that bar after work on Fridays. Right away she spotted Frank with some other fellows. She noticed how handsome Frank was. They spoke briefly, but he didn’t give her much attention.

The following Friday night, when the girls went to that same bar, he pulled out all the stops as he charmed and delighted her. With all the time and attention he had showered upon her since that night, she was smitten.

He wanted to be with her or talk to her on the phone every day. It was more attention than she had experienced in any other relationship. She had never felt so loved.

Willow had been raised in a rigid Scandinavian household in South Dakota, where a display of emotion was rarely visible. Her parents never hugged or kissed each other in front of Willow or her sisters. The girls rarely received hugs from their parents. Apparently it hadn’t mattered much to her sisters but Willow craved hugs and attention.

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We get along so well, Willow. Frank declared. I love you! I love being with you. I can’t get enough of you. Lets go to Las Vegas and get married–this weekend.

I love you too Frank, but that’s so soon. Let me think about it. I have always assumed my family would be at my wedding. At least my sister, Lindy and her husband, Lyle, have to be there. She’s my best friend as well as my sister. They have a farm and a family. I doubt they can just drop everything and travel to Las Vegas this weekend. Let’s call them and see when they can make it.

That’s an idea. I’m anxious to meet them. It’s clear you and your sister, Linden are very close. But we can send them pictures. I love you. I don’t want to wait any longer to marry you. I want to make you mine. They’ll be excited when you call to tell them we are already married. You can call them as soon as we get back home.

Willow hadn’t known him long but she knew the effect of his deep brown dramatic eyes and the intense look on his face. When he looked directly at her she could feel her brain melting. It reduced her intelligence to mush.

Willow was sure this was what love felt like and she wanted more of it. So they were married. Her family offered their congratulations but she could sense they were less than pleased.

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A few months later, Willow awakened on her birthday and dressed in the new outfit she had purchased to wear that day. It was beige herringbone tweed pants and a matching vest with a white satin blouse. The blouse had a loose tie at the neck over a plunging V-neckline. She was tall and slim and the long flared pant legs with her taupe high heels accented her elegant figure and long legs.

She received more compliments than normal at work. Today, more than ever, Willow was strikingly beautiful. But she didn’t know it.

They had driven just a couple of blocks when Frank declared, We won’t be able to go to the Bears Den tonight. My hemorrhoids have really been causing me a lot of trouble all day. I need to get home and lie down.

Oh, no! I know you have trouble with them. Are you sure?

I am really suffering, honey! I’m sorry.

But I was looking forward to spending the night with everyone tonight, Frank. After a few minutes of silence, Willow said, You have to call the bar and tell them we aren’t coming. Her voice cracked.

Frank did not respond as he turned the car toward home instead of in the direction of the bar. Willow stared out the passenger-side window, not wanting him to see her tears. But he could tell by her posture and her muffled sniffles that she was crying.

With his left hand on the wheel, and without a sound, his right hand suddenly swung around and struck her in the face.

He began screaming, It’s hard enough to put up with the pain I’m going through without having you sitting over there crying like a big baby!

Willow was stunned, shocked and scared. She was confused. What was that? she wondered in silence. He had been angry before but he had never struck her.

Her cheek