Hidden Hurts (Secrets in Paradise Prequel): Secrets in Paradise

By Jessie Kelley

A number of years had passed since Jenny Moore had died, but absolutely nothing in the Moore family had returned to normal. Instead, they had continued on a downhill slide. Nothing seemed to be going right. Every member of Clara's family, it seemed, had lost their way, and even though Clara was trying her best to reunite them all, she didn't appear to be succeeding. It was as if Jenny had been their charm and that when she had passed, so had their luck. Clara is really trying hard to be positive and carry on with the traditions which had been so cherished by her mother, but her family are not making anything easier for her.

Her father and sister are at loggerheads and will not say why. Her daughter is not happy, and her son has his own ideas about life. Her husband, Justin, doesn't approve of his son Kevin's career choice, and Clara is torn between agreeing with her husband and supporting her son. Her husband is a loving man, but he has definite ideas on authority and hierarchy, and Clara only wants everyone to be happy. Her tactics and power of persuasion appear to be succeeding when, out of the blue, Justin receives a call from the police...

Will Clara ever manage to restore harmony and love in her family?
Will Kevin succeed in convincing his father that he is not a dropout?
Where are the members of this once close-knit family headed?

Join the Moore family on their journey through some of the most challenging and rewarding years of their lives in the Hidden Hurts series...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessie Kelley
• Release date: Mar 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201273552

Book preview

Chapter One

If tables could talk, the shabby chic metal table at the Walker’s house would have been screaming for help under the weight of the food platters.

Clara Walker, the mama bear, walked out of the kitchen with another bowl of fresh salad. The yellow apron she had around her neck was soiled with different food residues, and her face had a dash of flour on it. Her sea-blue eyes were hooded from the stress of cooking almost all day.

Well done, Babe, her husband, Justin, said with a small smile as he did his chore of setting down the cutlery alongside the plates.

That’s the last of it. I need to go and clean myself up, Clara said, untying the apron and letting her long hair down from the hasty bun into which she had put it.  Today’s dinner was a big deal for her.

The family was sitting down for dinner together for the first time in ages. Although Eric, her father, lived with them and her kids were studying and embarking on career paths and returning at regular intervals, she hadn’t had them together at the same time for a while, and she was thrilled that she had finally made that happen.

Amelia should be here any minute now, Justin said, smiling. I’ll go and inform Eric and Kevin that we’re all set.

Okay, Babe, Clara responded, giving her husband a quick peck on the lips.

Justin looked with satisfaction at the table he had set, and he was proud of himself. He wasn’t very domestic, but Clara made sure he helped out when needed. Early in their marriage, Justin had hated vacuuming, washing up and laundry preferring the more ‘manly’ tasks of fixing, and gardening, but Clara wasn’t having that and had insisted that he did his share of the washing up and cleaning up after the kids. Twenty-three years on, and Justin had become the most homely man to ever walk the planet, self-acclaimed.

I am home y’all! Justin heard his daughter’s voice before he saw her. She looked like she had lost a few pounds, but she was still beautiful. Her midnight black hair, cut in a bob, framed her face, and the soft blue dress she wore brought out the color of her eyes. Justin felt a warmth in his chest as he looked at her- Who missed me? she queried rhetorically.

Welcome, Munchkin! Justin said with a slight wave. Come, come, come. I missed your hugs, he said, opening his arms as Amelia rushed into them.

Hello, Pappy, she murmured against his chest.

How are you doing? How is school? How is Cali?

Pappy! Amelia said, removing herself from her father. I am not here for your questions. Where’s Kevin? He said he was already here.

He’s upstairs. Justin beamed. I’m glad you could come.

Of course, I came!  I wanted to see you guys, and besides, Mom’s cooking is irresistible!

Clara stood on the stairs and watched the interaction between her daughter and her husband. It reminded her a lot of her relationship with her late mother. A flush of heat passed through her at the thought. It still hurt her to think of what she had lost, but she had to move on. Life changed, but one kept on living. Clara was grateful for the gift of family- her dad, husband, kids, sister, and nephew, and she smiled inwardly, thinking of them all.

Munchkin! Clara yelled, startling them.

Mama! Amelia jumped at her mother. I missed you.

I missed you too, but you’re bigger than I am now, so stop jumping on me!

Two seconds in, and you are already getting on Mom’s nerves, Kevin bellowed, taking the stairs down to the dining area two at a time.

Come here, Boy, Amelia said to him. Bow to the queen!

Kevin rolled his eyes at her and laughed. He and his sister were close, and teased the hell out of each other. She’d been the first person to believe in his dream of building a music career, and had