Mikaela's Story 2: A Novel

By Kathy Almeida

She’s cute, adorable, and she’s living her life, just the way she wants to in a small town in the Sunshine State off of Lake Weir. She has her own business selling from her old beat-up truck; produce and flowers that she’s grown in her garden, plus old fixable stuff that she’s repurposed and now people want and love. She has a steady income, a fixer upper house that’s over a hundred years old, plus a cat, dog, a rescued steer, and a crazy goat to keep her company on the five acres of land that she owns. Everything is old and broken down, but she doesn’t care. She loves her life, family, friends, and home.

She’s met three men; an Italian who was going to be a priest, a famous author-who just happens to live next door, and a musician who lives in Tennesse. She’s attracted to all three, like kitchen magnets to a refrigerator. And all three say they want her, but each one has betrayed or forgotten her.
Will she forgive them and pick one? Or will she move on to someone new?
Find out as you follow the adventures and escapades of Mikaela living her best life out loud.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Oct 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798765235515

Kathy Almeida

Kathy Almeida is a creative artist. She lives in Belleview, Florida along with her husband and family on a farm with their animals - which includes a dog, three cats, five cows, a rescued steer, a donkey, and up until this year, a very bossy goat. She loves taking care of her family and her special needs adult son who has autism and a seizure disorder. She writes, paints, and crafts - inspired by her love of life. Mikaela’s Story 2 is her 7th novel and 8th book.

Book preview

Chapter 1

New Year’s Eve December 31, 2020

"M aria!"

What?

Where’s the dip, you know, in the red dish I brought you back from the mountains last year? I asked.

Right next to you. Mikaela, are you blind?

Are you mean?

Maybe. Pregnancy does that to a person, Maria said, arranging the platters.

You’re pregnant? Again?

Yep, she said, taking a chip from the bowl.

Maybe you and Antonio should take a break once in a while.

What else were we supposed to do during the pandemic? She asked plopping the chip in her mouth.

I guess. You could have planted a garden.

We planted a garden all right, a big fertile one.

What are you saying? I stopped, hand in the chip bowl, to look at her.

I’m saying that, this time, we’re having twins!

No!

Yes!

And?

What?

What are you having?

Babies.

Very funny. Boys or girls or one of each?

Maria looked at me as I took a chip and filled it with the dip. You should have gotten a bigger chip, she said.

I know, I said, as half of the dip fell to the floor. Noel! Come here boy! Noel, my golden retriever, came running from the living room, and immediately scooped up the dip in one big lick. Good boy, I said to him, patting the top of his head. Maria, thanks for letting me bring him.

No worries, although the way he keeps chasing Nacho, and the way they keep running into everything, I probably should have had my head examined.

Probably, Noel’s so much bigger than she is. She’s only a cocker spaniel and he’s … well he’s as big as the hulk, I said, smiling. Now tell me! What are you having?

Boys! Maria said, holding her belly, which was just beginning to show.

Hi babies! I called out to them, as I leaned down to Maria’s belly. So, boys, I said, standing up straight.

Yep. Boys, she said, and we both looked at each other and started laughing.

So, are you ready for the ride?

Of course, I am, but just so you know, you’ll be right there with me. And Antonio. I don’t mean to leave him out, Maria said, with a smile.

What do you mean, I’ll be right there with you? I asked, taking a bigger corn chip, and taking half as much dip as I had before. This time I was successful in getting the whole thing in my mouth without a spill, as Noel stood by waiting just in case.

Why, you’ll be the godmother.

Maria! I’m already the godmother of Alejandra and Micaela. Don’t you have anyone else to ask besides me?

Could, but we want you.

But technically I’m not even religious.

But you’re a good person. Well, sort of, she said with a laugh.

Maria! So, tell me who’s the godfather? Antonio’s brother, like before?

Nope, not Nelson, this time we asked an old friend of yours, she said.

I looked at her suspiciously. And who would that be?

She actually looked at me straight in the eye and with a straight face when she said, Dominick.

I choked on what was left of the chip in my mouth, spitting out crumbs and dip together.

Are you kidding me? I asked once I’d caught my breath. Tell me you are not serious.

Serious, as the fact that I am three months pregnant.

Maria! What were you thinking? Have you lost your mind? Dominick and I can’t both be the godparents. Besides, he lives in Italy. And didn’t he and what’s her name get married? And what do you mean, three months pregnant? And I’m just finding this out now? Why do you always keep stuff from me? I thought I was your bestie, even more than that, your sister by different parents. We’ve known each other our whole lives.

Well to answer your questions, no, he and Sophia did not get married, and Italy won’t be a problem. I wanted to wait until I’d passed the first trimester. And I tell you stuff.

Baloney. And what do you mean that Italy won’t be a problem? I asked, picking up my wine glass and taking a sip.

Dominick’s decided to make his home in America, Maria said with a smile.

I looked over the glass at Maria, studying her hard. Maria, this whole thing’s an April Fool’s joke, right? You’re not really pregnant with twins, Dominick isn’t coming here and we’re not going to be godparents together … right?

She walked to the cabinet and pulled out a glass, then went to the refrigerator, taking out the milk jug and pouring the milk into the glass. Then she turned to me and drank the whole thing in one gulp.

Oh my God! You are pregnant! You never ever drink milk except when you are pregnant. By the way you look like one of those ‘got milk?’ commercials, I said to her, looking at the white mustache on top of her mouth. Okay, so you’re really pregnant, which by the way congrats, but you are teasing about Dominick, right?

Ciao, did someone call my name?

I turned from Maria to the sound I’d just heard. There standing in the doorway of the kitchen was none other than the Italian Stallion (Maria and I once went to an all-male review in Tampa and there was a guy there who looked a lot like Dominick. He called himself the Italian Stallion. He had me until everything came off but his ballet flats. That turned out to be a real turn off for me. I shook my head thinking about it.) Now I looked at the man who was going to be a priest until he fell for me, then dumped me because he fell in love with Sophia, then she dumped him, he wanted me again, and then he and Sophia were a thing again. I got a headache just thinking about it.

La Mia Bellissima, he said, coming over to me and taking me in his arms with a big hug.

Dominick? I said, still in shock that he was actually standing here in Maria’s kitchen on this night.

Si, he said with a big smile, with those gorgeous white teeth gleaming. Don’t ask me why, but I wanted to touch them, they were like pearls or maybe it was those sultry sensuous lips around them, inviting me in for a little taste. Are you happy to see me, Bella?

I heard a growl. Looking down I saw that Noel was not too happy with Dominick’s arms wrapped around me. I pulled away from him and leaned over to reassure Noel, with a stroke of my hand.

It’s okay Puppy, I’m okay, I said to my dog, who stood thigh high and was no longer a puppy, but I still thought of him as such.

Dominick looked at my golden retriever with a question in his eye.

Sorry, he’s kind of protective of me, I said.

Noel, come here boy, let’s go see where Alejandra and Nacho have gotten off too, Maria said, giving me a wink as she passed by, her hand on Noel’s collar, escorting him out of the kitchen.

That left me alone with the Italian Stallion.

Ah, alone at last, Dominick said, moving in for a kiss.

What are you doing here? I asked, holding him at bay with my hand on his chest.

Didn’t Maria tell you? I live here now, he said, giving me one of those smiles that could make any girl’s insides turn into hot tomato sauce. He reached for me again.

Where? I asked, taking a step back. Where do you live?

Why I live here, with Maria and Antonio. That is until I find my own place, unless … he said, letting his words drift on a cloud of suggestion.

What?! I replied. Maria and I were going to have to have a serious talk about her not telling me things. She had definitely broken the sister code.

Bella, I thought you would be happy, he said, with a puppy dog hurt look plastered on his face.

Where’s Sophia? I asked, not falling for his bull, well maybe a little.

Ah, Sophia. She’s found someone else, he said, shrugging his shoulders. It’s all for the good, since you are my one true heart.

Dominick, you can’t be serious, I said.

Ah, but I am. If you just let me show you how much, he said, reaching for me again. But thankfully this time I was saved by Maria’s mother walking into the kitchen.

Mikaela, there you are, she said. Hello Dominick.

Bonasera, signora, he replied, with his Italian charm thicker than the salsa dip.

Hi Rosa, Happy New Year! I said going over to her and giving her a big hug.

Would you be a dear and bring the chips and salsa out to the table for me? Rosa asked, going to the refrigerator, and pulling out the big Tupperware container filled with potato salad. I need to refill the bowl. Everyone just loves my potato salad, she said.

It’s the best, although your daughter thinks that hers is, I said. And of course, I can carry the chips and salsa out for you.

Well my Maria is a chip off the old block, but her potato salad is lacking her mama’s secret ingredient. But we won’t tell her that, now, will we? Rosa asked, smiling.

Bellissima, I will do it, Dominick said, coming over to the table and placing his hands on top of mine that now held the bowl.

I looked up into his dark brown eyes, the color of chocolate and I almost melted, but then a dash of reality smacked me in the face as I had a flashback of his arms wrapped around Sophia. Dominick had gone from the black robes of the cathedral to black pants and white-collar shirt of a smooth operator.

Thanks, I got this, I said, taking the bowl and walking out of kitchen to the back yard.

By the amount of people that filled the yard, no one would have guessed that there was still a pandemic going on. Some people wore masks, pulling the masks down to take sips of their drinks and then back up again, while others just drank. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits.

Where do you want this? I asked Maria, as I walked up to the table.

Right there is great, she said.

I took her by the elbow. We need to talk.

Can’t right now. Can’t you see I have a party going on here? she asked with a smile.

Yes, and speaking of which, is this really a good idea, to have all these people here when you are pregnant? Aren’t you like taking a big chance of getting the virus?

There aren’t that many people here, just family and a few friends. Besides, we’re outside and keeping our distance.

No, you’re not, I said, pointing to the person standing next to her practically touching elbow to elbow. Who’s that? I mouthed. She turned, looked, and shrugged her shoulders. Where’s the baby? And Alejandra?

Upstairs, sleeping. My niece is keeping an eye on them. She’ll let me know if one of them wakes up and needs me, she said, holding up the baby monitor.

We need to talk, I said, again.

Okay, but later. I need, see, oh yes, I’ll be right there. Sorry, they’re calling me over and I can’t be rude, she said, kissing me on the cheek before walking off.

Maria!

Maria, without turning, waved her hand in the air at me.

Damn. I looked down at the table that was loaded with bowls, dishes, and platters of food. I searched for my wine, but then remembered I’d left it in the kitchen, and I wasn’t ready for another encounter with Dominick. I saw Antonio at the outdoor kitchen bar pouring drinks. I walked over.

Hi, Antonio.

Buenas noches, Guapa.

I hear you have a new house guest, I said, ignoring his greeting and looking him straight in the eye.

Antonio laughed. How about a margarita?

No, thanks. Wine, red, to the brim please, I said.

So, you’re not happy about our little surprise? Antonio asked.

Which one? The one about Dominick living in your house or the twins living inside of your wife’s belly?

Aw, so she finally told you, did she?

Antonio, what’s with all the secrets? I asked, feeling hurt. I don’t understand.

Mikaela, try not to take it personally. We love you.

Well, just so you know, it doesn’t feel like it. In fact, the love tone has gone right out of here, I said, waving my hand dramatically. Taking my wine and spilling a little, I walked to the dock over-looking the big and beautiful Lake Weir.

Alone, I sat at the end of the dock with my wine, and my feet dangling over the water … pouting. I looked out over the lake that looked back at me in the moonless night. I’m not sure, but I think it was making a face at me. Gray clouds covered the stars, with a couple peeping through. I heard a plane fly overhead. The lake gently lapped the dock posts underneath as the waves rolled onto shore. The night was cool but not cold, not unusual, even for this time of year. Lights like sprinkles on cupcakes lined the opposite shoreline. Voices from the gathering floated out to me, on a cool breeze, followed by laughter. Huh, I said. I was in no mood for a good time.

Hey.

Seriously, it couldn’t be. Nah. But the goosebumps on my arms and my heart beating quickly said differently. I looked up.

Okay if I sit here?

It’s a free country, I said, putting my hand on my leg to stop the shaking.

He sat down next to me.

It’s been a while.

No shit, Sherlock, I said, my anger bubbling up to the surface from hidden depths, surprising even me.

I’m sorry, he said.

Why? I asked, looking into the eyes that used to remind me of the ocean, but now in the night, looked grey and dark.

Why?

Yes, why did you leave? And why has it been a year since I last heard from you?

I can’t answer that.

What?

I can’t answer it, because I don’t have an excuse.

Then answer me this. Why are you here now?

Because I missed you.

Yeah, fuck that.

He looked at me in surprise.

Yeah, I have a dirty mouth. Especially when people, people I care about, treat me like shit. See, there goes my mouth again.

Maybe I should leave, he said.

Yes, maybe you should. You’re good at that.

Listen Mick …

Don’t call me that. That’s for people who care about me. And it’s obvious to all that you are not on that list.

Oh, I’m not, am I?

No, you are not.

I love you, Mickie.

Right. Where have I heard those words before? Oh, now I remember, right before you did the exit scene, which by the way, kudos, you’re great at. Make sure you include that in your next book. That is if you haven’t already. I knew that I was acting like a bitch. Part of me liked it. The other part of me had my parents looking at me like, really, this is not how we raised you to behave.

I know, you’ve already mentioned that a couple of times, he said, with a smile.

You still haven’t answered my question.

And that is?

Why are you here, Daniel Madden?

I told you; I missed you, he said, reaching for me, pulling me into his kiss. I felt the old fire that I thought had been drenched with water, buried under dirt, and cement poured on top, start to rekindle. A flicker here, a flame there, and as the kiss continued, the fire grew. I remembered those lips, his taste, his naked body, and my body trembled and lit up under his touch. And then I remembered how he just up and left me without a word, ignoring my calls and texts.

I stopped the kiss, well maybe going in for one more flavor, but then pulling away, and I shoved him from me. No!

Mick, he began, reaching for my hand that was gripping the edge of the dock.

Danny, you hurt me, I said, tears filling my eyes.

I know. And I’m sorry.

You already said that.

I know.

Why? Why seemed to be the only thing that kept coming out of my mouth, but I didn’t know what else to say… besides the bitchy stuff.

Mikaela? Is that you out there? I’ve been looking for you everywhere mio Tesoro.

We both turned around to the sound of the male voice coming onto the dock. There was no mistaking the tall figure with dark hair and the Italian accent.

Well, I see you haven’t been missing me too much, Daniel said, standing up.

Not that it’s any of your business, but I was just as surprised to see him here tonight as I am you. And for the record, I’m going home. Happy New Year to both of you, I said, standing and then walking around Daniel and past Dominick as the two eyed each other.

I stormed past the guests and a questioning Antonio as I walked up to the house and by Maria who stood inside and tried to grab my arm.

Mikaela, where are you going? You’re not leaving before midnight, are you?

As a matter of fact, I am. Happy New Year, Maria.

I was fed up with all of them. For the secrets, the lies, and the betrayals. I was halfway down the drive when I realized that I’d left Noel.

Crap.

I turned around to go back to the house and get my dog.

I opened the front door.

Forget something? Maria said, standing in the entry way holding Noel by the collar.

Come here, Boy, I said, reaching for him. He came running, tail wagging.

Mikaela, Maria began.

Later, I said, and this time I left with my dog and some of my pride that was left, oh and my bitchy self.

It didn’t take long to walk from Maria’s to my house. I was just across the road, down one of the side streets from her gorgeous lake house.

My home, on the other hand, was a three-story fixer upper, built in the early 1900’s, putting it over a hundred years old. The foundation was good, including the walls, and new roof. The surrounding property, also good. Everything else, including the inside of the house, the barn, old garage, truck, etc. needed a total make-over. I’d been working on the changes slowly, doing what needed doing first, as money rolled in from my business, Mikaela’s Home Grown and Junk, became available. Lots still needed to be done. The garden took a lot of my time, since that was my livelihood and passion. My second passion that is. My first was Italy and everything about it. My dishes, my décor, my history, all of it surrounded my love and passion for Italy and being part Italian. But after taking a DNA test, it turns out that I wasn’t half Italian after all like I thought, but more like seven percent if you include Sardinia, which is off the coast of Italy and not even on the mainland. My passion was crushed in one little spit on a stick and put in a jar to be mailed off.

Yes, a lot had gone haywire that year before the pandemic or the virus or whatever the going name was these days. Namely by the names of Dominick, Daniel, and Nate. And Noel. Actually, he wasn’t a haywire. He was more like an angel in the shape of a golden retriever, after losing my Michelangelo, my first golden. He gave me more smiles and love in his big furry body than a sunny day at the beach. But to be fair, so did Vernerdi, my tuxedo cat. And I couldn’t leave out Bravo or Luciano, my goat and rescued steer. Luciano was a sweetheart whereas Bravo was like a tornado on a clear and sunny day. But they made up my family on my little farm and I loved each of them.

Dominick had come into my life first with his good looks and Italian charm. Wait a minute, maybe I met or saw Daniel first. Hard to say, they both seemed to come around about the same time. Both charmers, both wearing the faces and bodies of gods, one actually thinking about working for the Big Guy, and both playing havoc with my heart, pulling on my heart strings like an orchestra or symphony. The music was uplifting, getting all parts of me going, until both of them broke my heart. And then I met Nate. Nate was different from the start. He was like Maria, my best friend, only in male form and kissable. Not that Maria isn’t, but you know what I mean.

I hadn’t seen Nate in a while either. He’d gone back home to help his brother with the restaurant during the pandemic thing and then I don’t know what happened. I heard from him and then I didn’t. Okay so it was official, they were all on my not talking to, hanging out or being with list.

Inside the house, I turned on the Christmas lights to the tree and the outside. I turned on TV to watch the ball drop and turned it back off again. It wasn’t the same this year. I walked around the house, kicking a few things, saying a few things, basically just feeling a whole drum full of feeling sorry for myself, as Noel and Vernerdi watched from a safe distance. Walking to the kitchen, I got a wine glass from the wine rack and poured a glass of red wine.

I took the wine and went outside to the back porch and sat on it, resting my feet on the top step. Noel followed and lay down next to me. The stars seemed clearer now that the clouds had dissipated. Fireworks started going off in the distance, cheers of Happy New Year from neighbors and partiers floated in the air.

I lifted my glass, with one arm wrapped around Noel and said, Happy New Year! Here’s to 2021. May it be better than last year!

Chapter 2

T he next morning, I woke up feeling like a squashed banana, that is if bananas had feelings. Looking to either side, I found Noel on one side and Bravo, my crazy goat on the other. And lying on top of my feet on top of the blankets, was Vernerdi, my small tuxedo cat.

Seriously guys, and Happy New Year to you too, I said, pushing the covers down and crawling over the dead weight of my dog who refused to move. Bravo lifted his head for a moment, then rested it again on his hooves for some more shut eye.

Noel wagged his tail, keeping a sharp eye on me as I went across the room to the window. The sun had crested the horizon, sending waves of bright orange light across the fog covered land. I opened the window wide and stuck my head out, since the screen that had been pushed out by Bravo, I’d yet to replace.

I looked across my farm, rows of dirt mounds ready for the next season’s planting, stretching all the way back to the red barn. The doors of the barn hung by a thread and if I was not mistaken, there looked to be a rooster in the window at the top opening to the loft. I did not have a rooster.

My truck sat in front of the barn, old and rusted, with the paint peeling off and the new sign that I’d made plastered to its side held onto by the magnet back. ‘Mikaela’s Home Grown and Junk.’ I was proud of my work and grateful that I could make my livelihood doing what I loved to do, playing in the dirt and repurposing things I found.

Looking to the north, I saw my neighbor, Daniel’s house. The guy who lived there had stolen my heart and then just left me. Although, he did come back last night, after a year of silence. Maybe he’d joined the monastery and taken a vow of silence. No, that would be Dominick, the other guy I saw last night who once thought he was priest material. Priest material right, although I do think he has a good heart and he’s a great kisser, but I’m not sure kissing falls into the job requirements for being a priest, at least not a Catholic priest. Thankfully, he’d decided not to follow that calling. But to say that I was his next calling, well we’d see about that.

But enough about all of that. My stomach was growling. In my depressed state last night, I’d forgotten to eat anything and with the extra wine I’d had, my head was begging for some java.

I closed the window to keep the animals from taking a flying leap. I knew that for Vernerdi