Perfectly Imperfect

By Barri Naven

Eloise Patterson decides the best way to deal with her broken heart is to write a romance novel, and she heads to the mountains of New Hampshire in the middle of winter to accomplish her goal. All she wants is solitude for two weeks, and the lack of internet and cell service are blessings in disguise. Until Eloise's mother decides since she can't reach Eloise, Eloise must need to be rescued. When Marshall Easton, her mother's employee, comes knocking in the middle of the night, Eloise knows she is stuck with Marshall.

 

After Marshall Easton takes one look at Eloise Patterson, his boss' daughter, he knows he doesn't stand a chance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barri Naven
• Release date: Dec 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215413715

Barri Naven

Barri Naven lives on Cape Cod where she avoids the summer traffic by hiding at home with her trusty laptop, long-suffering husband, and all the chocolate she can find. Escaping from reality in a romance novel, the ultimate goal a happy ending, is her idea of a good read.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Don’t get mad, get even. Eloise Patterson had heard the advice or wisdom or platitude, whichever it was, so many times that every time she heard the first three words, her mind automatically supplied the fourth and fifth. Maybe if she were the vengeful type, she’d get to work on a plan to end all plans. But in addition to lacking imagination and a sense of adventure, according to Bryce, she lacked whatever it took to try to hurt him the way he had hurt her.

From the moment Bryce had told her he was taking her to dinner at what she’d always thought of as a romantic restaurant on the three-year anniversary of the date they had met, she’d been expecting an engagement ring and had even bought a gorgeous new dress for the occasion. Instead of being handed a fork for sharing dessert after a delicious but somewhat angst-filled meal, since she had only been able to focus on when Bryce would ask the all-important question, she had been handed her walking papers.

But it had been three weeks and two days since that dreadful night, exactly two weeks before Christmas of all times, and Eloise needed to forget about Bryce and focus on what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

Opening her laptop as she snuggled under a cozy blanket on her couch, her TV softly playing instrumental music, she decided she was ready to do something about what she’d dreamed of doing ever since she could remember. She’d shared that dream with Bryce as soon as she’d felt he might really be the one, but he’d told her it wasn’t really very practical as she’d be up against too much competition and he didn’t think she had what it took to make that dream come true. And because she’d had stars in her eyes, she’d thought he was probably right and had shelved the idea.

Well, the stars in her eyes had been washed away by gallons of tears, and no matter what Bryce or anyone else thought, she knew the time was right for her to just do it. And she wasn’t even going to tell her mother and father or anyone else what she was doing.

Maybe she’d tell Janie. But maybe she wouldn’t tell even Janie. That way, if her dream fell flat, no one would know and Janie wouldn’t feel she had to offer Eloise sympathy and support. Eloise had dealt with being dumped, hadn’t she? She could certainly deal with being disappointed in herself if her dream didn’t happen the way she hoped it would.

But this was no time to plan for failure. She had her laptop and imagination and determination to achieve her goal, so all she needed was a place to begin; the perfect location. She knew she could always get started in her condo, but she decided she needed someplace more exotic than Crowley, Massachusetts. Of course, once she’d made some inroads, her condo would work just fine. In fact, she’d probably never want to leave her condo again once she got into a good rhythm, but since she enjoyed having a roof over her head, not to mention food, and gas for her old Firebird, she’d still be making the usual effort to get to work for that much needed paycheck, and would make time for her dream around her working hours. But the jump-start to it all would happen once she found a place to stay, since her vacation request had been approved.

And thanks to hours of searching and a little bit of luck on Airbnb, she found the perfect place; a two-bedroom home on Mount Brooklynn in New Hampshire. As of January 16th, it would be all hers for two wonderful weeks. The fact there was no Wi-Fi at the house was a little concerning, but she could work around that. There was always a coffee shop or a McDonald’s nearby and she could visit one of those if necessary. But maybe the absence of Wi-Fi was actually a blessing in disguise, since it would minimize distractions and help keep her focused on what really mattered.

Picking up her phone, she tapped the screen, then waited for her mother to pick up.

Eloise, I was just going to call you, Bonnie Patterson said.

Hi, Mom. I wanted to tell you guys I booked a place for my vacation.

Oh? When are you going?

The 16th.

Of which month?

January. She knew she’d told her mother about her plans, although she hadn’t had specifics at the time, and she also knew what her mother was going to say next.

You’re not waiting for spring when the weather is better?

Eloise had mouthed the familiar words along with her. No. I’m ready to go now. Well, soon.

I wish you’d wait until spring. You know how many flight cancellations there are in the winter and I worry about you being stranded somewhere.

That’s why I’m going to New Hampshire. I’ll just drive up. It’ll be great.

You’re driving?

Yes. I decided to stay closer to home and it makes sense to drive.

Well, good. Where are you staying?

On Mount Brooklynn.

"On a mountain? Are you going skiing? I thought you didn’t like skiing."

Um, I might think about it. Thinking was all she was going to do because she’d be much too busy with her laptop. She’d never wanted to go skiing the times Bryce – But she wasn’t going to think about Bryce anymore.

That sounds... nice. I wish your father and I weren’t so busy or we’d go with you.

Eloise grimaced. That was the last thing she wanted. Well, not the absolute last thing, but it was far down on the list. She needed this vacation to be solo or there would be no sense in even going. Uh, yeah. I know this is the start of your busy season. Maybe another time. But I really, really hope not.

Maybe this summer we could do a week together, the three of us. I know Marshall would be fine in the office without me for a week because Shannon and Troy are there, and your father can leave the bookstore with Laura and Scott in charge. So you’ll be back home on January 23nd?

I’m going for two weeks, so it will be the 30th.

Two weeks? That long?

I figured with the chance of snow, I should just stay there longer. Eloise rolled her eyes, wondering where she’d come up with that ridiculous reasoning. But she’d learned over the years the possibility of bad weather was the trigger that always worked on her mother and she was never afraid to utilize it.

"That makes sense, I guess. I’m glad you’re getting out there again. I’m proud of you, and I know your father will be when I tell him."

Out there. What her mother was avoiding was mentioning Bryce, and Eloise appreciated the omission. It’s time.

It certainly is.

So have a good week, Mom. Love you.

Love you, too, honey. Good night.

Heading to the kitchen for some hot chocolate, Eloise looked out the window, seeing only darkness. January was such a long, dark, cold month, and here she was choosing to spend half of it in an even colder, probably darker place. But with luck, she’d be so busy she wouldn’t notice if it were night or day most of the time.

MARSHALL EASTON UNLOCKED the back door to the brick single-storied Cutting Edge building and tapped the light switches. Monday mornings were his least favorite part of the work week, but arriving before his boss and his colleagues made it easier to face. With the tax season upon them, the accounting office’s steady business had ramped up to borderline crazy some days. The owner, Bonnie Patterson, was the only CPA, but Marshall’s plan was to learn how to manage a business then get his licensure so he could start his own firm. Crowley, with its population of just over 90,000, could certainly support another CPA office.

Logging onto his laptop, he checked email, then heard the back door open. Bonnie was speaking softly, probably to herself again, and Marshall grinned. She was a great boss, she treated her people well, and even when she shared more details about her daughter’s personal life than she probably should, he could deal. He’d never met Eloise Patterson, but sometimes he felt as if he may well have. The latest was that Eloise and her boyfriend had broken it off after a few years, just before Christmas, and he’d caught on that Bonnie had never really liked the guy, which was surprising since Bonnie seemed to like everyone.

Good morning, Marshall. How was your weekend? Bonnie stopped at his desk, pulling off her gloves.

Great, thanks. Yours?

Very nice, thank you. Can you imagine? Eloise is taking her vacation this month and she’s going to stay on a mountain up in New Hampshire, of all places. I don’t know why she doesn’t want to go to a nice Caribbean island so she can be in the sun and be warm.

And here we go. If Bonnie’s words hadn’t already made her feelings clear, her impressive frown did. Ski trip? Sounded like a good time to him, but until April 15th came and went, he didn’t see any vacation time in his future.

I asked her that but I didn’t get much of an answer. She shrugged. I don’t know. I think it’s all that Bryce’s fault somehow. I’m so glad he’s out of the picture.

Marshall returned his eyes to his laptop once Bonnie went into her office. He wondered why Eloise had never come into Cutting Edge. He would have liked to put a face to all the stories he’d heard. Grinning, he thought maybe it was one more thing that could be laid at the door of that Bryce.

Chapter 2

Monday night, Eloise thought again about her idea to keep her vacation plans to herself. Well, really, vacation and beyond. She should have realized as soon as she’d made the decision she’d never be able to keep it to herself. She would definitely tell Janie. Janie wouldn’t tell anyone else, and not only for the reason that no one else would care, but because she was a wiz at keeping secrets.

Even all these years later, Janie had never told Eloise’s parents about the night Eloise was trying to sneak out of the house, that one and only night, when they were in high school. She’d gotten stuck halfway out when the window had slid down onto her back and trapped her. Not only had Janie smothered her laughter so Eloise’s parents wouldn’t hear them and wake up, but she’d been able to slide up the window and free Eloise. The episode had convinced Eloise she wasn’t cut out for a life of sneakiness and she’d led her life accordingly. Until maybe now...

Tapping her phone, she waited for Janie to pick up.

Hi, El. What’s going on?

Two things; first, I booked my getting-away-from-it-all vacation starting on the 16th, up in New Hampshire, and second, I’m going to write a book.

"No way. What’s it going to be about?"

It will be a novel. You know, fiction, because who needs more reality? If I tell you what it’s going to be about, can you please not laugh?

Of course, I won’t laugh. Tell me.

It’s a romance novel.

I love it already and I can’t wait to read it.

Well, it’s going to take some time... Of course, it was going to take some time.