FATED DESTINATION

By Carla Mulcahy

Fated Destination, a romance fiction novel by Carla Mulcahy.Kally closes her eyes and points to a place on a map hoping to escape her childhood and leave the past behind her. In her newly founded independence, she falls for a handsome, mysterious man that shows her promise of a wonderfully fulfilled life beyond her greatest expe

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carla L Boyd
• Release date: Mar 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798218161682

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FATED

DESTINATION

CARLA MULCAHY

Copyright © 2023 by Carla Mulcahy

All rights reserved.

FATED DESTINATION (BKR688-58)

ISBN: 9798218161682

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

Book Cover and Illustrations by Ebook Launch Covers

Formatting by Ebook Launch Covers

I dedicate this book to:

My children, who have always believed in me, supported my ideas, and who have been my reasons to push myself to succeed. Kylie, Jamie, Amanda, and Brady, I love you!

My mother who has been my go-to person. Thank you for listening, loving, and believing in me. I love you!

My Aunt Debbie who has been a great friend and my wonderful cheering section. I appreciate all you do    for me! I love you!

And to all my family and grandchildren who make my life inspirational and blessed. I love you!

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE-OUR BEGINNING      1

CHAPTER TWO-OUR VACATION      12

CHAPTER THREE-BACK TO VEGAS      18

CHAPTER FOUR-FIRST TIME AWAY      24

CHAPTER FIVE-ENOUGH IS ENOUGH      32

CHAPTER SIXGOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS      45

CHAPTER SEVEN-STAYING BUSY      56

CHAPTER EIGHT-LEARNING TO FORGET      62

CHAPTER NINETEN YEARS LATER      66

CHAPTER TEN-SAYING GOODBYE      75

CHAPTER ELEVEN=TRAGIC MISTAKES      84

CHAPTER TWELVE-TIME PASSES BY-GUILT SETS IN      95

CHAPTER THIRTEEN-THE DARK SIDE      102

CHAPTER FOURTEEN-HEARTS CONNECTED      112

CHAPTER FIFTEEN-TRAGEDY BROUGHT US TOGETHER      126

CHAPTER SIXTEEN-SECRETS OF THE PAST      133

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN-TOGETHER AT LAST      146

CHAPTER ONE

OUR BEGINNING

The wind was blowing fiercely, and it was difficult for me to keep the car going straight down the road. My knuckles were white as I gripped tightly on the steering wheel and leaned as far up to the windshield as I could get to focus my eyes on the white lines of the highway as the rain poured down. I was relieved that my two little girls were sleeping soundly in their car seats, buckled in the backseat so that I could concentrate on getting us safely to the nearest motel.

Carrie was 3 1/2 years old and as bubbly as a child could be, with two little dimples on the corners of her mouth. Jenni was 11 months old and already extremely headstrong at her young age. She refused to take a bottle anymore when she saw that her big sister drank from a cup. She wanted one too. Both girls were young, innocent, and unaware of anything wrong or scary. I wanted to protect them and keep them unscathed of any harm or sadness in their lives; that was my job as their mother.

I married their father when I was just 22 years old, and he was 28. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with him. His charming, kind, sweet, and funny self won me over immediately. I worked as a cocktail waitress in a hotel Lounge called the Shanty Inn. The place was small and dimly lit, with candles on each table. The tables were elegant, with a smooth, shiny, black and white marble top. The carpet was dark gray, and the lighting was soft and dim, with two large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The bar top started at the entrance and curved around like a horseshoe. It had a glossy top that was also black and a small server opening at the end of the bar. I started working there when I was 18 years old when I moved out to California, and I loved working there because I felt like it was a classy place, yet the customers were friendly and down to earth.

There was a wedding in the next convention room the night I met my future husband. We were extremely busy and short-handed because the bus table person had called in sick, so I had to keep up with taking orders, serving the drinks and food, and cleaning off all the tables. I was exhausted by the night’s end, and my feet hurt so bad that I was beginning to walk with a limp. I was at my last table checking to see if my customers needed one last drink before we closed when he suddenly appeared in the doorway in front of me. He shouted something to one of the guys at the table and began moving towards me.

I’ll take a Bacardi coke, sweetheart if that’s no trouble. He said, smiling at me. I stood there and stared and blushed like a stupid little schoolgirl. I suddenly was stammering for words and had forgotten the drink orders I had just taken from the others at the table. I asked again for the drink orders, and a long-haired blonde, so pretty but with a bitch attitude, smarted off and said, First day on the job, spaz? I very calmly looked her in the eye. I smiled and, with very obvious sarcasm in my voice, said, Yes, Maam, just out of the State Mental hospital today, have this here habit of chopping up Blonde looking Barbies with smart-ass attitudes. Everyone at the table burst into laughter except Barbie, who rolled her eyes in disgust. I smiled proudly at my comment and hurried off to get their drinks.

When I set everyone’s drinks in front of them, I collected the money from the gorgeous stranger and using both hands, he took my hand, placed a fifty-dollar bill in my hand, lingered a few seconds holding my hand, and said, Keep the change sweetheart, and I would love your phone number. again, I was blushing, and I pulled my hand away quickly before he could feel my palms start to sweat. I smiled flirtatiously, said thank you, and walked away to go and put the money in the till. I could hear his friend teasing him about not getting a phone number from me, and I smiled as I eavesdropped on their conversation.

I finished all my cleaning while the customers finished their last drinks. Most of them walked out the door without being told, but there were a few left when Jimmy, the bouncer, hollered at them to drink up and told them it was time for them to go home. Most of our customers listened when Jimmy said it was time to go because Jimmy was over 6 feet tall, had a big build and a beard, and had a gruff voice that made him look and sound mean and tough. Still, anyone who knew him knew that he was kind and had a heart of gold.

I washed up the glasses and went to stock the cooler in the back room, and when I returned, the place was empty except for the owner, Josh, and Jimmy sitting at the bar having a drink. Hey, Kally, sit down and have a drink, Jimmy demanded. Not tonight, guys; I am dog tired and am going home, I told them as I grabbed my purse and jacket. Josh got up from his stool to walk me to my car like he always did at the end of the night, and as I approached my car, I heard that familiar voice of the stranger that held my hand in the bar.

Hey, sweetheart, I didn’t get that phone number. He spoke. I spun around quickly to see him leaning up against the building. The lights in the parking lot were dimly lit and barely showed his form standing there, but I knew it was him. A chill went through my body, half nervous because I didn’t know him and excited because I thought I would never see him again, but there he was.

Hi again, I said, smiling. Josh stood close by me in a protective stance, and the stranger reached out his hand to him, I’m Mike, and I am not a serial killer or a stocker, he said teasingly. Josh shook his hand and told him hello. Josh still stood by me, and I knew he wouldn’t go in until I was safely in my car and on my way home, so I told Mike it was nice meeting him, but I had to get home. That phone number? He winked at me, smiling. Not tonight, maybe another time I looked at him with a flirtatious grin, got in my car, and started the engine. Mike tapped on the window, and I pushed the button to open the window slightly. When can I see you again? He asked. You know where I work, I said with a smile. I waved to Josh and said goodbye, and I looked back at Mike, Have a good night, Mike, I told him, putting my window back up. I backed up the car and sped off for home, leaving him standing in the parking lot with Josh.

When I got home that night, I crawled into bed exhausted but could not fall asleep, no matter how hard I tried. I kept thinking about this mysterious man that I had met. His hair was dark brown and slightly gelled to perfection, he had a small mustache that he trimmed neatly, and dark brown eyes, and when he looked at me, I felt like he could see right through my soul. I breathed in the smell of his cologne, which made me want to be closer to him. His hand was warm when he touched my hand, and I kept thinking about how my body trembled when he touched me. I knew I wanted to see him again but didn’t think I would ever.

Finally, I fell asleep and woke up to the alarm clock ringing at 7 am. I sat up in bed and immediately thought of Mike again. I thought, How silly; get up and shower, Kally, you idiot. You are never going to see him again. I tried not to think about it the rest of the day, but that night when I was getting ready for work, I took extra time in the bathroom putting on my makeup and getting dressed, hoping he might stop at the bar again. I wanted to look extra nice, just in case. I threw on a tightly fitted pair of jeans with a white blouse with big gold buttons down the front, leaving it open so that my maroon tank top underneath showed off just enough cleavage to be tasteful and sexy. I fixed my hair so my curls were hanging soft and loosely down my shoulders. I walked into work at 6 pm, and Josh looked at me, smiled, and pointed towards the bar.

I looked over and saw Mike sitting at the end of the bar near my workstation. He stood up as I walked over and reached out his hand. I went to shake his hand, but he placed one hand underneath my hand and put his other hand on the top, sending goose bumps down my arms and chills up the back of my neck. My heart raced, and I quickly pulled my hand away. We meet again, I said. He smiled and said, And we will again. I started to go behind the bar to clock in, and with my back turned to him, I said, It’s nice to see you again; I hope you have a good time tonight I heard him say, I already am sweetheart I just smiled with my back still turned to him and pretended I didn’t listen to him.

I only had to work until 10 pm that night, and he sat at the bar talking to Josh most of the night and a couple of other customers that sat down at the bar. I went about my business and did my job, and I caught him looking at me more than once, but then again, for me to catch him looking at me, I guess I was also looking at him, mainly to check and see if he was still there. He patiently waited all night until, finally, it was 10 pm, and Josh told me to go ahead and punch out on the time clock. I grabbed my purse and came back out front. Josh had already poured me a drink and set it next to Mike. What is this? I asked. I never said I was having a drink, I told Josh. Well, when a customer buys you a drink Kally, you should be sociable, he said teasingly and nodded his head at Mike. Oh, I see; you two have already become buds and stick together, huh? I teased back.

Mike patted the stool next to him and asked me if I would have a drink with him. I smiled at him, Thank you, and sat down. Can we go sit at a table? he asked. I agreed, and we moved to a table in the corner of the lounge, away from the chandelier lighting, but the candle was flickering on the table, giving it a romantic atmosphere. Mike only had two drinks while waiting for me to get off work, which surprised me because he had been there for 4 hours. Still, I was glad that he was not intoxicated and that we could have a pleasant conversation.

Mike wore a nice pair of jeans and a black button-up shirt that slightly showed off his chest. He was extremely good-looking and very easygoing. He said he grew up in a small town in Oregon, Illinois. My mom and my sister are the only ones left in Oregon. My father passed a couple of years back, and my sister moved back to Oregon to help my mom. She bought the house next door to Mom, and now she takes care of Mom’s garden, mows her lawn, and helps her out with whatever she needs. He said.

Do you go back and visit often? I asked him. I try to get home whenever I am on leave. He told me. My eyebrows raised questioningly, and he saw my puzzled look. Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you. I am in the Army and stationed here in Fort Irwin,. He spoke. Oh, I guess I should have guessed that, with your short military haircut and the town being so close to an army base, huh?. I laughed.

He asked me my story, so I began," I moved to California a couple of years ago when I decided that turning 18 was my reason to escape my childhood and flee for a life. I just jumped in my car, packed full of clothes and family photos, and filled up with gas.

When I was just 15 years old, I was in my room crying after one of many harsh encounters with my mother. I remember my dad coming into my room to cheer me up as he always did. My mother would tear me down, and my dad would try to build me back up. I continued.

He pulled out this old map of the United States and told me to look at all the places I could go to follow my dreams. I hung the map on my wall and used to dream about escaping to one of those places one day. My daddy passed away a few months later from Cancer, and I always remembered his words, I told Mike with tears in my eyes.

So, when I turned 18, I just closed my eyes, pointed to a place on the map, and headed for Newberry Springs full of excitement and enthusiasm. I rented a small house on the outer edge of town, and I immediately fell in love with the small-town population of just over 4,000. I landed a job at the Shanty Inn within a couple of days, and I found a house as soon as I drove into town. Mike was easy to talk to.

The first place I saw had a big red for rent sign in the yard, and I pulled in. It was almost like it was my destiny to be there. I looked into Mike’s eyes as he listened politely. Well, I am glad you moved here, Kally, Mike said with a wink. He placed his hand on my hand, and I didn’t pull it away this time.

Before we knew it, Josh was at our table telling us it was Last call at the bar, and neither of us wanted another drink. I told Mike that I better get home.

We got up from the table, and he walked me to my car. Can I have that number yet? He asked. I smiled and told him yes. I told him my number, and he wrote it down on a napkin, folded it neatly, and put it in his wallet. I had a nice time, Kally he smiled and reached for my hand. He pulled me closer to him and kissed my cheek. I’ll talk to you soon, he said and opened my car door for me. I said goodbye, got in my car, and drove home smiling three blocks to my house. Before I got to my front door, my cell phone was ringing. Just wanted to make sure you got home okay. It was Mike. Laughing, I said, Yes, I just opened my door. Thanks for a nice evening, Kally; sleep good, sweetheart, he said. Something in his voice when he talked just set my soul on fire. It made me desire him without even seeing him. Goodnight Mike, I had a nice time as well, I said, smiling.

When I decided to move out to California, my mother gave me an ultimatum. She said, Kally, if you decide to move out there, then you can consider me dead I was devastated that a mother could say that to her daughter, but we had never been that close, and after my father had passed away, it became worse. My mother dished out the punishments in our family, and she could be cold as ice. My dad was a gentle but firm man, and he and I had a close relationship. He praised me for everything I accomplished, and even though I was a bit of a wild teenager at 15 years old, he had faith that I was only going through a phase and would eventually find my way.

My Mother and I often butted heads, and I knew I would be miserable if I stayed. So, I took my mother’s ultimatum with a grain of salt and chose to leave. I tried several times to call and talk to my mom, but she always had a way of cutting everything I did down, so eventually, I quit calling and found my way on my own.

I only had one brother that was older than me by five years, and he moved away as soon as he turned 18. He didn’t get along with my