Love, Lost and Heartbreak- a Family's Mystery

By Marcello Matthews

Growing up in a world that’s already cold, gruesome, and full of mischief, you look to count on family, or should you? This particular family will learn how important it is to lean on one another. A single mom raising two girls will go through so many ups and downs, but will learn to overcome any obstacles. The two sisters, Emily and Ashley, will have to learn to work with each other, even if it seems like problems after problems keep happening. Through heartbreaks, love, death, and deception, this family will be pushed to their limits. Joanna, Emily and Ashley’s mother is a very strong individual who would give up her life to save her two girls and make sure that they have everything. This is a lesson that will test to see how much you are willing to be pushed to help and protect those who are close. Together, they will have to figure out their place in life and the important roles they play to one another. Trust will play a significant role in their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669837411

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Copyright © 2022 by Marcello Matthews.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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.

Rev. date: 07/12/2022

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Contents

Chapter 1    The Struggle of Being a Single Mom

Chapter 2    Welcome Back, Nicole

Chapter 3    Death Is Knocking at the Door

Chapter 4    Who Is the Mystery Person?

Chapter 5    Where’s Steven?

Chapter 6    Where’s my Daughter

Chapter 1

The Struggle of Being a Single Mom

Emily, a very good child, was six years of age when she found out that she was having a baby sister. She was very excited because she wanted someone who she could play her Barbie dolls and watch cartoons with. Her mom, Joanna, was eight months pregnant and had Emily help her out a lot with things around the house because her dad John was always traveling for sales. Unfortunately, Emily had to witness arguing between her parents whenever her dad got back from a trip.

Her mom always pressured her dad to find a new career, something that would keep him nearby, especially while she’s pregnant. Emily would just cry and run into her room, shutting the door. One night her dad came in really drunk, and he wasn’t aware that his little girl was still awake. Her mom quickly grabbed him and pulled him into the room, yelling at him. She screamed out, How could you be so irresponsible and inconsiderate?

John was so drunk that he didn’t argue. He just replied, I’m going to bed, we’ll talk in the morning.

The very next morning, when Emily walked into her parents’ bedroom, she noticed that her mom was crying. She asked her mom what was wrong, and she replied, Your dad is gone, sweetheart.

Emily didn’t know what she meant, so she explained to her that her dad left early this morning, and there’s a big possibility that she may never see him again. Emily cried out, repeatedly saying, No, no, I want Daddy!

Joanna just held her in her arms, comforting and assuring her that everything is going to be all right.

Hours later, Joanna’s sister Nicole, who lived in New York, came by to stay for a while to help out during her sister’s pregnancy. By the time she walked through the door, she was greeted by a happy six-year-old. It made Nicole so joyful to see her as she said, Wow, you got so big!

It had been one year since she saw them. Joanna asked her sister how life is in the Big Apple, and she replied, You know, New York is New York!

Joanna said, You should just move here in Mesa, Arizona, so we can all be together, but Nicole chuckles, and she replies, You know how much I hate the heat.

The night came so the family was sitting down, having dinner. As Joanna was getting up, walking toward the sink to put away her dishes, she suddenly stopped. Nicole looked over and saw her holding her stomach, and so she asked her if everything is okay. Joanna looked down and said, No, I don’t think so, my water just broke!

Emily didn’t know what that meant, so she asked her aunt, but her aunt told her there was no time to explain and said, We have to take your mom to the hospital right now!

Nicole rushed her sister to Banner Health, where she would deliver her baby. Unfortunately, her doctor couldn’t make it, so she would have to deliver it with someone else. Joanna insisted that they bring in Dr. Kirchner because she’s been there the whole time, but she had no luck.

It was August 15, nine o’clock on a Sunday, when Joanna would deliver a precious baby girl. Nicole went to get Emily to bring her back, and Emily was in awe when she saw her new sister. Emily asked her mom what her name was, and her mom replied, Ashley.

Nicole got stiff and held her face as tears drop because she knew the reasoning behind that. They lost a sister growing up because of a drunk driver. Nicole went to Joanna and told her that she loves her very much. The doctors asked them to leave the room while Joanna gets some rest.

The next day Nicole and Emily were able to bring Joanna and the new addition to the family back home. Joanna told her sister she’s very hungry. Nicole asked her what she would like, and she replied, "I would like a pizza from Spinato’s Pizzeria and Family