Unwrapped

By Jane Elmore

  Of all the thoughts racing through my mind, three things stood out.

 

  First, Seth used to be a mummy.

 

  Second, we were connected eternally beyond our control.

 

  And third, he literally took my breath away.

 

  Rose Thorne has lived in Boone, North Carolina her whole uneventful life. After a family member's passing, she receives a gift from beyond the grave. Intrigued, she handles it, accidently sparking a connection to Seth Ember, thousands of miles away. When Seth and his family move to Boone, his desire for Rose flourishes. Can he preserve his way of life or be erased from history, never to be with Rose again? Devour this inseparable love story as it comes unwrapped and transforms into an enduring entanglement.

 

  Mysterious and romantic, Unwrapped is briming with unfurling passion and intrigue. This is a love story that will leave you breathless.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jane Elmore
• Release date: Sep 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215975671

Book preview

UNWRAPPED

Jane Elmore

Unwrapped

By Jane Elmore

©2023 Jane Elmore

Print ISBN: 9798861322812

All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permissions contact:

Jane Elmore

[e-mail]

This is a work of nonfiction. Names, characters, businesses, and places have been changed to protect the individuals involved. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Dedicated to my family

for their unwavering support

through this project.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: New Life

Chapter 2: The Gift

Chapter 3: Ignorance

Chapter 4: Arrival

Chapter 5: Coffee

Chapter 6: Folklore

Chapter 7: Visions

Chapter 8: Homecoming

Chapter 9: Minuet

Chapter 10: Cascading

Chapter 11: Encounter

Chapter 12: The Embers

Chapter 13: Longing

Chapter 14: Cat and Mouse

Chapter 15: Breathless

Chapter 16: Basketball

Chapter 17: Uninvited

Chapter 18: Bacon and Eggs

Chapter 19: Desire

Chapter 20: Malaise

Chapter 21: Deception

Chapter 22: Echo

Chapter 23: Cake

Epilogue: First Snow

Preface

Ancient Egyptian texts say that a person dies twice. Once when you take your last breath, and the other when people stop remembering you.

I felt my breath being sucked out of my body. If this was the end, I was nowhere near ready for it. It had all happened so fast. Bedridden, I was unable to move or speak, however my company knew exactly what was going through my mind.

My heart was fluttering, struggling to stay alive. The embers of my soul that remained were faint and shallow. Someone would have to do something to save me from this agonizing despair, this unbearable pain.

From the doorway, my now familiar acquaintance was watching to see what my body would do next. Studying for the perfect moment to pounce, he inched closer, slowly, as if he had been waiting thousands of years to take me as his immortal goddess. I had already decided my fate, and now it was up to him to finish what was started.

He leaned close to take whatever vital essence was left, to drain me of my pain, barely a whisp from my one last breath.

Chapter 1

New Life

Sweat was dripping from my forehead as I turned the page in a Tale of Two Cities .  I secretly dreaded reading this book from the summer reading program list and had saved it for last, hoping the summer heat could spare me of having to read such a novel. I started on the part of Jerry Cruncher and his efforts to bring Roger Cly’s body back from the dead to sell it; really a strong, morbid subject for a sixteen-year-old entering her Junior year. Cringing, I continued to read, hoping to understand the words my eyes were glancing over. How the man who wrote the classic novel, A Christmas Carol , could have such a change in his writing style was beyond my comprehension.

A drip of sweat landed on my book.

Alright, I’m done! I exclaimed as I closed the book and set it on a nearby barrel table.

I reached over and took another sip of the lemonade Mom had made for me. It was the kind that came from a canister, pink in hue, my favorite. Taking a sip, I wondered if reading this epic was truly necessary for my literary growth, or if it was just because some scholar added it to the reading list, thinking it would be fun to torment young readers’ minds.

My arm reached out to turn the small stand fan to a higher speed, as the wind was deader than a doornail. It was late July in Boone, North Carolina, which meant the dog days of summer had just begun in my hometown. The usual mountain breezes had gone South and with it, a strong stagnation covered the valley. Sitting inside wasn’t an option, as our air conditioner couldn’t keep up with the heat. The porch had always been my better option.

Soon a fleeting thought passed my mind. If I could pour the pitcher of lemonade of top of my head, would it cool me off enough to keep up with my assignment? Probably not. It would just make me sticky and impatient with the fact that I would have to shower afterwards. Besides, I was not going to let the ants walking the porch get away with a free feeding. Mind wandering, I thought it would be nice to be an ant, because they didn’t have to go to school, or read weird epics like A Tale of Two Cities. They would probably die of boredom if they did.

My daydreaming train of thought was cut short, however, with a vibration of my phone with my normal EDM music playing. Startled, I was elated that someone was interrupting my boredom, and possibly would save me from such a reading fail. I glanced down to see who it was. It was Mom. She had gone shopping earlier this morning Downtown for some accessories for the monthly photo shoot of her home design website. Maybe she was going to invite me to come to lunch with her. I didn’t think eating with the ants would be my idea of fun, anyways.

Hey, Mom. What’s going on? I said with a smile on my face. Maybe she would ask me to eat at the meat and two veg place we always went to in town.

It is so good to hear your voice, Mom trailed as I could hear her sobbing.

Inside, the joy stopped, and I could feel my heart starting to pound out of my chest. My cortisol was rising, and I felt instantly as if a panic attack was about to set in. Mom never cried.

What’s wrong, Mom? I asked.

Sniffle. Blow nose. Sigh.

Are you ok? Did you get into a crash? Talk to me! I responded fiercely running inside the house to grab the keys to the small car my parents recently bought, tripping on the door threshold in the process.

A long pause followed.

Well? I asked sternly. Are you alright?

I haven’t the slightest idea, she said in a calmer demeanor. It’s not about me, it’s about...

My heart sank deep into my chest as I sat down on the pastel porch swing and dropped my phone onto the deck. I could sense it in Mom’s voice something terrible had happened. Looking away, tears started to emerge from my face painted in sweat. I could hear Mom talking on the other side of the line, but could not find the strength to pick the phone off the ground. I felt a sharp sting as an ant was biting the top of my foot, and reached down quickly to pick the phone back up.

Mom, are you still there? Sorry, I dropped the phone.

I’m here. Did you hear what I just said? Mom replied.

No, sorry.

I was calling because, I was just called from the University where your Dad works. He was in the middle of a lecture, and well, he’s had a...problem. A possible heart attack. They called the medics, and, well, they didn’t make it to him in time. Your Dad’s gone, Rose.

What does that mean? I retorted quickly, not putting together the pieces of the puzzle just yet.

Oh, I don’t know how I can live without him! she wailed from the other side of the phone. It was clear I would have to compartmentalize my feelings until later. The sting from the ant bite was keeping my mind at bay. Mom needed me.

Where are you at? I asked. Let me come pick you up.

I don’t really know, Mom said. Everything’s a blur right now. Oh, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to do. I just want him back. Is this real?

I need to know where are you, and where is Dad? Give me a street name, anything. You have to calm down. I said trying to hold back tears of my own.

I think it’s best you stay put, Mom said. I have a lot of figuring out to do. I’ll be home shortly.

Are you sure? I asked.

Yes, it’s better this way.

I’m going to send the police out to find you if you’re not home by dinner, got it? You may need Dad, but I still need you!

Yes, of course. I wouldn’t do something stupid like that.

Keep me updated. Text me, I said, hanging up the call.

As soon as the phone hit the barrel table, a wave of anxiety hit me like a brick. Tears flowed from my eyes, as they mingled with the sweat on my face. This had all happened so unexpectedly. My Dad was a strong guy, a little overweight, but always eating somewhat healthy. How could this have happened to him without warning? Maybe I had missed the signs, but how was I to know?

Curling up in a ball, I swayed the porch swing, cradling myself in my sorrow. There was no one to hold me, no one to help me through this. How was it going to be going back to school next month without Dad? I itched my ant bite which had swollen up from my panic. A tear fell onto the wound, making it sting even worse.

Frustrated, and full of mixed feelings, I sat huddled for what felt like an eternity. I could hear the fan putting on occasion, trying it’s hardest to stay working. The sun started to get lower on the horizon, when my Mom appeared in the family SUV. I looked up to see her slowly get out of the car with a pile of messy paperwork, her hair tussled and messy. Her perfect makeup was smeared all over her face as if she had tried to take it off between shopping and dealing with the aftermath of my dad.

Hey, honey, she said coming close for a hug, dropping the papers that scattered all over the deck of the porch.

Hey, Mom, I said squeezing as tightly into the hug as I could, tears still streaming down my face covered in sweat.

It’ll be alright, I think.

So, what do we do now?

I never thought it would be like this, not in a million years would I have guessed it. I’m going to need you to be strong. I have to be strong.

Somehow it felt as if Mom was trying to convince not only me, but herself as well. I was still in a state of shock. Dad had been a professor since before I was born, working and lecturing in the field of Art History at the university in town. He never seemed like the type that would just drop in the middle of class with a health problem, but apparently, as I learned, it could happen to anyone. It felt as if I was stuck in a scene straight out of the movies, waiting for Dad to come home. As we walked inside together, still embraced, we sat down at the kitchen table.

We need to talk, Mom said, getting up to get sandwich stuff out of the fridge. Passing between the sink and the kitchen island, she grabbed a bag of chips and some brownies. I didn’t feel like eating, but my stomach said otherwise, so I dove right in, and listened.

Mom went on and on for what felt like an eternity, going from one thing to the next. Stern, yet upset at times, she teeter-tottered back and forth with her words. I tuned most of it out, understanding she was acting more complicated than I could ever imagine. Night fell, and I started to yawn. Food was strewn all over the table, mostly from emotional eating. Mom’s cadence slowed as she stared blankly at the cuckoo clock on the wall.

I think it’s my bedtime, I said, gathering up things and throwing the food in the trash.

Yes, what a day, Mom said with a sigh. So, I think next weekend will be the right time to do it.

Alright, night Mom, I said, not understanding the words out of Mom’s mouth.

Night, sweet pea. Thanks for listening.

No problem, I said as I walked up the stairs to my room.

The days went by slowly. I struggled to make it through my emotions, and read my book at the same time. I didn’t answer my phone when friends called; they wouldn’t have understood, so I didn’t even try. Mom was a bit of a trainwreck, her thoughts scattered as much as the dishes strewn all over the kitchen. Some days, she would continue onward, but others, she would lie in bed all day, struggling to get up. I didn’t know how to feel, except for shear confusion. Soon enough, the time had come for spreading Dad’s ashes.

Mom had picked a walking trail nearby, on the side of one of the hills near the valley, where a small waterfall flowed gently down into a swiftly moving stream. She told me it was important to the both of them, and that he could carry on wherever he was placed. All I could think about was the fact that Dad was probably going to be fish food, or help grow a tree in the forest. To me, it was probably not the way I would want to go out of this world, but I never really thought about it until now.

When we arrived at the trail, it was early. Mom picked up the box Dad’s ashes were in, and invited me to walk alongside her. I missed the air conditioning of the SUV, because outside was stifling hot. My mind thought about the possibility of taking a break to put my feet in the stream as we trudged along. However, I knew that would never work out well. I sipped from my water bottle, and caught up with Mom’s pace, several feet away. Soon, we arrived at the clearing for the waterfall.

Finally, I said with a huff. I was not the athletic type, especially if hiking videos on the internet did a waterfall justice.

Quietly, Mom opened the box. No one was in sight; it was too early for any of that. Birds were singing their songs, effortlessly, as if Dad has his own church chorus singing the sweetest song ever created. The tall trees rustled, not by the wind, but by the animals living in the branches. I felt like it was right out of a scene from a fairy tale, only I wasn’t happy. The sun peeked through the top of the trees, casting a shadow on the fog located near the waterfall.

The waterfall itself was flowing well, a crisp whooshing sound filled my ears with relaxation. Mom invited me to walk with her up the path to the top of the small waterfall to scatter his ashes. I held Mom’s hand, as I felt unbalanced and tired in the wilderness. It was in the teenager code to never get up before ten in the morning, especially on a perfectly good Saturday. When we reached the top, Mom started the process of scattering the ashes with her hand so they would flow downstream, over the waterfall. She called it Dad’s new beginnings. I couldn’t have worded it better. I helped her occasionally; however, I was a little disgusted at the dust all over my fingers, and quickly washed them in the stream when we finished.

Let’s go down next to the waterfall and chat, Mom said, wiping the tears from her face.

Would you like that?

Very much, yes.

I linked my arm with her, and off we went back down the embankment to a grouping of large, flat rocks. The waterfall was in view. I steadily looked at it to see if any traces of the ashes had somehow got caught up in the stream, but it was no use. Any trace of him was gone. Completely, physically, mentally, wholly gone. Tears streamed down my face, and my mind couldn’t help but wonder if we did the right thing. We both flopped down onto a rock, and took off our hiking shoes.

You know, Dad and I had our first date right here, Mom said.

Really?

Yeah. We met at high school. I had just moved to Boone with my family. He was one of the first people I met. He said he fell in love with me instantly, like our souls were bound.

Wow.

Anyways, it had been months since we met, and he was a shy guy. He was epically smart, but could not find the nerve to ask me out. So, one day, he asked a group of us to go to this waterfall, and everyone found a way out of it, but me. I was too kind, and didn’t want him to be let down so easily.

Did you like him?

Not at first. I remember telling my mother that I could never marry someone with a name like Daniel. It’s kind of a silly prospect, now that I think about it. High schoolers have a funny way of picking boyfriends, I guess. Names matter. However, he grew on me as time passed. I probably wasn’t his best date, either, always a little snobby, maybe even stuck up. I don’t know exactly what he saw in me, but it was good enough to spend four years together before getting married.

So, what happened by the waterfall? Spill the deets! I probed.

Well, it’s kind of a funny story. So, no one showed up but me and Dad, just the way he wanted it. We walked up, right over there on the path. He told me he needed to see it closer. You see, he wore large, goofy glasses; a sign of the times, back then. I walked with him to that flat rock over there, Mom said pointing across the stream.

My imagination was running wild. In the mist, I visualized my idealized version of how my parents looked like back in the day. I watched steadily as I imagined the two, having fun and laughing around the rocks of the waterfall, such joy to behold. I shook my head in disbelief, and the ghosts of the past were gone.

Anyways, I slipped near the rock’s edge, Mom added after a small pause. I started falling toward the base of the waterfall, and I felt an arm grab mine. It was young, strong, and his skin was so soft. The arm grabbed me, and pulled me in close as I turned to face Dad. Gasping for breath, all I could see was my hero, your father.

So did he take your breath away? I asked, smirking at the thought.

I think so. However, he disputed until the day he died, that it was all circumstantial. Yes, I will say that is the day I knew your father was the right one to marry. I looked him in the eyes, huddled in his warm embrace, and gave him a kiss. Our first kiss. I swooned in excitement. He was a great kisser.

Mom, that’s too much! Really? Um gross. Moment over. I didn’t need all that, I said, standing up.

What did I do, now? Mom asked as I walked away.

Mom followed me to the SUV, talking and trailing behind me, as if she had more to say. I was kind of over it. I didn’t need to know exactly how I was created, and I’m sure she would have told me if I stayed long enough to hear. I tried to open the door to the SUV, and I had to wait for Mom to come and unlock it, continuously going on and on in the background about how erratic my behavior had become. The mother-daughter bonding moment died at the waterfall. As far as I was concerned, it was a new beginning, not only for Dad, or Mom, but also for me.

That night was a hard one for me. It was almost the beginning of school, and I not only had to deal with the idea starting over, but also had to do it without the backbone of Dad. Sure, he wasn’t always around to visit with me. He practically lived at the university. But, I missed having a male figure in the house to get between the banter Mom and I got into sometimes. He always had a way with words, and was the best referee a daughter could ask for. I took a moment to ponder what life was going to be like this school year. How was I going to survive it? Could I put on a show that would make me look hard and callus enough to make it through my Junior year? Only time would tell, I supposed.

Leading up to school, most others were going shopping with their parents or friends, looking for that perfect first day of school outfit. However, it was not the case with me. Mom had to quit working on the website, and go back to a real job, working as a secretary for the Mayor. She was on call all the time, now, leaving me to my hobbies of trying to finish A Tale of Two Cities, and coping with the quietness of the house all the time. We didn’t have much money at the moment, and there was no way I was going to get any new clothes for school this year, unless something magical happened.

I decided to try on my jeans that had been in the closet since last year, never worn; a skinny jean, deep shade of blue. I guess I had lost a little bit of weight, because they slipped right on, perfectly. I looked through my closet and found a basic green t-shirt; V-neck, short sleeved, and somewhat tight. Walking to the stand mirror in my room, I glanced at my look, frustrated at the girl I saw in the mirror. It wasn’t that I didn’t like myself; I was just very uncomfortable with the person I was becoming. My thin, average height stature looked barely believable, hunched over, as my stomach growled for food. My face, with small freckles dotting my eyes, seemed dulled by the events of the summer. My hazel eyes looked tired from the waves of crying, missing Dad one moment, and hating the situation the next. I needed to change up my look, or others would notice.

I paused for a minute, letting my thin fingers twirl my soft, brown, straight hair, and had an epiphany. Grabbing breakfast quickly I drove straight to the drug store, and bought some purple hair dye. As I entered my home in a huff, I was excited about coloring my hair for the first time in my life, even if I had no prior experience. It seemed like the people online never had an issue, so it was going to be easy.

Struggling, I colored my hair so one stranded bunch on each side of my natural part were colored purple. It felt liberating that the cheap coloring would give me such happiness. It was just the thing I needed. After a quick wash and blow dry, I looked at myself again in the mirror, pleased at what I created. Mom would probably never notice, anyways. I was careful to cover it up with some strategically placed hair clips at dinner that night.

I woke up the next morning, covered with confidence, as I made my way through the house, grabbing a quick breakfast bar on my way out the door. My small, red compact was waiting for me to get in and drive. Quickly, I got into the vehicle, and drove to the high school in the center of town. On the way, I passed friends coming and going, a bustling scene for such a quiet town, like scurrying rodents on their way to finding a big piece of cheese. Carefully, I entered the school parking lot, where friends were gathering to talk about their summers. I realized ignoring my friends for these last few weeks was not an ideal place to be, but I could always apologize if necessary.

Walking briskly, I waved at people I knew as I passed, eager to get to my locker, where my best friends, Lily and Ethan usually waited for me until the bell rang. As I reached the locker, I heard a familiar voice chime and come into view, bubbly and excited. I missed that voice these past few weeks.

Oh, wow. She’s actually here. I can’t believe it!

Hey, Lily. How are you? I turned into Lily’s warm hug, gripping ever so tightly around my chest like a leech.

Good, I’m so sorry about, well, your dad and all. I thought you were a goner, too. You didn’t answer my texts, calls or anything. How are you holding up?

I’m alright, I said, thinking of a way to distract her from the topic, holding back tears and pushing the leech away from its firm grip. I pulled my hair back behind my ear, and turned my head to let my new hair coloring glisten in the light.

Wow, wait. What is that? Lily exclaimed, grabbing a few strands through her thin perfectly pink painted fingernails. Amazed and awed, she gawked at the new appearance.

Oh, that? Just a little change, you know how it is.

It is so gorgeous! Does your mom know?

Not...yet. I was waiting on the perfect time. You know she started a new job, and has been so busy...

I heard. Just wait until Ethan sees you! He is gonna flip. I mean, I would do the same with my hair, but you know, I don’t think that shade would go well on my red hair. Besides, Ms. Lindsay would flip in Drama class if I ever changed these curly locks! I am so jealous! she squealed.

What’s all this? Hey there! Ethan said jovially from the other side of the open locker, shutting it slowly to see what Lily was so excited about.

Do you notice anything different about Rose? Lily said excitedly, hopping up and down like a bunny rabbit.

Nope, Ethan retorted quickly glancing up from his phone just long enough to look.

Put that thing down for a minute! exclaimed Lily, pushing his phone and hand down playfully. Eyes up here!

Ethan blinked for a minute, refocusing his eyes on me. I don’t see it.

Look at her hair!

Her hair?

Yes, the thing that sits on top of her head. Her hair! Ugh!

Oh. It looks good.

Good? Wouldn’t you say amazing? Lily quipped.

Yes, yes it does, Ethan said, staring at the purple streaks in my hair. His attitude turned from cocky to almost shy. He was never shy, especially around me.

The bell rang, and I quickly slammed the door to the locker.

See you later, Ethan, I said, linking arms with Lily to our first class together, Physics.

As we stood outside the doorway to class, there was a large gathering of other kids passing by Coach Aaron, the Physics teacher, and getting seat assignments. Coach Aaron was kind of a legend at school. He was an older man, the official coach of our trophy-winning soccer team and local soccer league. His whole world revolved around soccer. His lecturing style was tough, and I knew I would have to put in a lot of extra hours to make sure I received a passing grade. He did not give out great grades easily, except for members of the soccer team. He treated class like the soccer field, either you won or you lost. No in-between. I personally feared the man.

Is she your friend? asked Coach Aaron as I walked to the door with Lily.

Yes, my best. Why? I asked.

Good, find a new one! he exclaimed with a smile on his face. You sit there, and you, you’re over there.

He pointed us in the direction of two opposite corners of the classrooms setup. Lily let out a dramatic wail as she sat down. I quietly sat in my chair. Maybe I would find someone bearable in my corner of the room. Lily seemed so far away. Soon, my prayers were answered as Nick entered the room. He was addicted to social media, and probably wouldn’t be much of a bother. Maybe Lily could weasel her way over when Coach Aaron was distracted tomorrow.

So, I scrambled you all up. I did it for a reason. You’ll understand as the semester goes forward. Now, understand you are in Physics. It is tough. Some say it’s hard. Some say it’s the worst class they ever took in high school. But, if you listen, and pay attention, you’ll never have to worry about a bad grade in my class. Put in the work. Get good results. That is all for today.

The bell rang, and Lily and I could not get out of the classroom fast enough. Shocked, Lily and I walked silently to our next classes.

Chapter 2

The Gift

As the days passed , Physics became a small torture chamber in my mind. I didn’t know when Coach Aaron would spout off, as it seemed to be an almost daily occurrence. It seemed things that bothered him one day, would not even phase him the next. He was one very moody teacher at best. I was constantly on the lookout to make sure I would not become a victim to one of his long lectures about how Physics made all things possible.

The next Monday, I entered the room with Lily, hoping he would finally change his mind on our seating arrangement as we walked arm in arm through the door. With a shake of his head, Coach Aaron knew what I was going to ask before asking it. Sighing, I unlinked my best friend’s arm, and went to my seat, head down once again in a sea of loneliness. Lily, sitting on the other side, had a similar disposition, as she plopped down into her chair, and let her pink backpack smack the ground beside the ancient desk. I folded my arms, and laid my head down to rest, drowning out the bright lights of the room, piercing my sadness.

Soon, my new comic relief arrived as usual, ever so excited about the brand-new day. Nick, phone in hand, texted feverishly about his weekend on his social feeds, sat down hard at his desk, and somehow missed his chair. The class roared with laughter as the final school bell rang, and Coach Aaron closed the door to doom. Nick quickly brushed off his button-down Hawaiian floral shirt and sat correctly in his chair, barely missing chime notifications on his phone.

Turn that thing off, Mr. Lapinski! I could hear Coach yelling from his desk, barely looking away from his teaching materials to scold Nick.

"Sir,