by L. J. Hawke
Forever Charmed
Forever Loved Book One
L. J. Hawke
Contents
Prologue: Party Town
1. Heaven Life
2. Customization
3. Investments
4. Rock Goddess
5. No Explanation
6. Payoff
7. Island Days
8. Takeover
9. Revelation
10. Breakdown
11. Proposal
12. Hunt
13. Girlfight
14. Ceremony
15. Honeymoon
Epilogue
Thank you!
About the Author
By L. J. Hawke
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eISBN: 978-1-7345947-0-6
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To my editors, critique partners, and alpha and beta readers Lynda, Alyssa, Jodee, Swati, Manasa, Dawn & Rachel, Jacqueline, and my own personal iWordyNerdy. Any mistakes left are mine and mine alone. And, most especially, my fans, thank you. You make my world rock.
Prologue: Party Town
Parties raged across campus. Students rejoiced at the end of exams, having turned in their papers and projects and defended dissertations. They’d received their diplomas in the sweltering heat. The next day would be the end of it; students and parents would head out, diplomas and luggage in hand, staggering under the weight of microwave ovens and sports gear. But for now, the caps and gowns were off. Now? Now was the time to par-tay.
Tania was third in line to return her cap and gown. She turned it in, signed the paperwork, hurried to her dorm past clots of students and parents hugging each other, taking pictures, shaking hands. There were cheers and a lot of laughter. Tania shoved down her pointless jealousy. She entered her dorm building, climbed the stairs, put in the code, entered her dorm room. It was time to change. She rushed to her vanity. She had to dress for the party.
Tania’s mind slid back ten years to Sheriff Phillips, with his dark beard and mustache and gravelly voice. For some reason, she wasn't afraid of him. They had a few moments nearly alone, Deputy Ian leaning against the door, filling out paperwork. “Your granny's taking care of your hysterical brother. I'm going to talk fast. Tania, you listen with both ears, girl, you hear?” Tania bobbed her head. “I'm real sorry about your mama. But that woman was weak. That testimony that got your father sent to prison done broke her mind. Now, you don't go thinking any of this is your fault. Your daddy, he is a monster. We found out things that you don't know, but I will say this. You are a hero. You got away, and by doing that, you saved other girls.”
The sheriff ran his fingers through his curly dark hair, then put on a ball cap that said Police on the front. “Girl, your granny is a piece of work. That woman ain't going to believe the truth, that her boy, your daddy, did some terrible things. She's all piss and vinegar, and not much else. But, believe it or not, she's better than the overcrowded foster homes in this county, which is why you're going to end up living here. So, you're going to be physically safe, at least. Do not, and let me repeat that, do not listen to a word that woman says.” Tania nodded her head again. She already knew her grandma was mean and didn't believe her. Called her a liar.
The sheriff continued as if he’d read Tania’s mind, which spooked her a little. “You ain't no liar. She calls you that, you just find some excuse and leave the room. Go to the library. Miss Amelia Jasper is the librarian. She is a fine lady. You stay down there, do your homework. She will probably give you some bullshit job reshelving books or some such. You do what she says, and you pocket that money. There's a hollowed-out book, Great Expectations, German translation. You find that book, fill it up full of your money. Don't let your grandma get any of that. Then, you graduate, get the hell out of town. You go as far as you can. Shake the dust of that place off your feet. You understand?”
Tania nodded her head again. The sheriff sighed. “I'm real sorry, but that woman is going to do the same pisspoor job raising your brother that she did for her son. Your granny’s gonna love your brother more and probably turn him against you. I'm sorry about that ‘cause he seems like a real good boy. You try to treat that boy good, seeing as it ain't his fault. Don't listen to one word that old bat says, blaming you for breaking up your family. You did what you needed to do.”
Tania felt that same sick falling feeling in her stomach when she heard the whispers, knew that stuff was probably true. Tania had no idea what made her daddy go around the bend.
The sheriff kept talking. “You remember what I said.” Heavy footsteps sounded in the hall. The sheriff put his finger to his lips. Tania put her fingers to her own lips.
Miss Amelia had been older than God, had been real close to retirement. She wore house dresses, pearls, and sensible shoes. Miss Amelia walked like something was wrong with her knees. She’d had some surgery, but it didn't take. She had woolly, gray hair on her head and a huge smile that lit up a room.
Tania slipped back to the present as she put the precious pearl earrings away in the box. Tania tried to stop herself, but she just had to listen to Miss Amelia's last message. She had seen her last in April, been up for spring break. Tania had wanted to invite Miss Amelia to her graduation in person. Tania had hoped to get her brother to come too, but he made himself scarce, made it clear that he believed Tania had broken up the family.
Miss Amelia’s voice was strong on her last voice message. “Girl, you done good. You take those exams. I expect you to get a good grade. I’ve got something to tell you. You got to know that it’s my time to shuffle off this mortal coil. My heart, y
ou know. I'm real happy you were able to come down and see me, real glad we had some of my peach cobbler together back on the porch. I won't be here anymore, so coming down here is not going to help. I've decided to have my ashes scattered down by the pond, followed by an ice cream social at the church. There will be kids there, laughing. I have always loved the laughter of children.”
Tania barked out a laugh, tears on her cheeks. The library was supposed to be quiet, but Miss Amelia did enjoy laughter there. “Don't come. Your grandma's going to take your brother, and she’ll say horrible things about me ‘cause it always made her jealous that someone else was raising you better. If you come, you're going to end up going to jail.”
Tania snorted. Miss Amelia had been right. One bad word out of that old biddy’s mouth, and Tania would have hauled off and punched her. “You graduate. You get a great reputation of what you can do. Just like my son told you, you shake the dust off your feet and go as far away as you can, thousands of miles away. I'll be with you every step of the way. My earrings are going to come to you in a little box. You wear them on your graduation day and know that I'm with you.”
Tania stopped the message, realized tears were streaming down her face. She doubled over and howled. She had wanted Miss Amelia in the front row, but that wasn't how it was going to be.
Tania washed her face, put her makeup on again. Corinne and Kandace were still busy turning in their caps and gowns, giving her time to spend with Miss Amelia. Tania stowed away the earrings and the makeup. Then she walked out, made sure the door locked, then ran down the stairs and out into the summer sun.
The graduation parties were the last goodbye before everyone went on their way. She had one last night with her friends. She had to have fun, for them. They should remember laughter with each other, like giggling in a small-town library.
Tania headed past clots of students to their first stop. She spotted Kandace and Corrinne and waved. Tania Brussell and her best friends, Corinne Jackson and Kandace Walker, all wore light summer clothes and looked like jeweled butterflies. Tania wore a cobalt fluttery shirt over boy shorts in a deep teal. Her coppery skin shone with a sheen of sweat, her strawberry blonde hair pulled up with tiny jeweled butterfly pins. Corinne was in jean shorts and a red top, her hair in a French braid. Kandace’s top was silver and black, with black shorts. She looked stunning, sweat making her look like a golden-red fantasy in the light.
No one from any of their families had called, written, or even sent an email or a card, let alone shown up for graduation. The three young women considered themselves sisters and had one gorgeous night ahead before splitting up. Tania was determined to enjoy every minute.
They made the rounds to say thank you and goodbye: Sigma Chi, Sigma Epsilon, Sigma Sigma, and Drama Club with an emphasis on non-toga costumes. Just outside Greek Row was The Bash with the Society for Creative Anachronism, held across the meadow from the small Geek Squad house where the Captain’s Party raged, complete with “Venusian” cocktails and people sporting blue or green skin and pointed ears.
Many people learned that girls from the holler that talk like they are from the backwoods have long memories for every slight, dismissal, rude gesture, and nasty piece of gossip followed by a “Bless her heart.” They also remembered every offer of a favor and casual “We should...,” invitation. To them, there were no insincere invitations. They were not afraid to show up with food, liquor, and if appropriate, candles and blankets. People lost their insincerity around the three backwoods girls; those holler girls didn’t stand for it. The few who helped them, who had kind and generous spirits, they deserved a true goodbye.
Tall Tait was at Delta Gamma, an occasional volunteer at the animal shelter. The newly-graduated molecular biologist had wide shoulders and huge brown eyes. His normally smiling face was sad as he kept an eye on roomie Billy, who was getting sozzled. “Thank you for helping Corinne with the dogs,” said Tania.”
Tait nodded. “Least I could do.”
Tania followed his eyes. “You don’t have to keep watch after tonight.”
Tait nodded. “I was real clear. He keeps on the way he’s keeping on, his daddy won’t keep paying. Now he won’t graduate with us. Damn shame.”
Tania nodded, and gave Tait a hug. Billy had been different, once. He had gotten both cocky and belligerent. “I’m so sorry,” she said.
“Didn’t know you can kill love, or respect,” Trey replied. Tania had found that one out years ago. She patted Tait’s arm, then said goodbye. She found her girls, dragged them back out into the hot night, then they went on their way.
Finally done with goodbyes, they walked up the wide porch steps of Sigma Delta Gamma and stumbled inside. Shan, a tiny Vietnamese woman with ultra-precise movements, was there with her entire manicure/pedicure setup where the hallway turned into the wide great room. Sigma girls flitted by with trays of martini glasses filled with fruit. It was Corrine’s turn to drink. Corrine took a drink with peaches floating in it, and Tania and Kandace both had Kandace’s virgin mojitos.
Tania and Corinne were doing a solid for Kandace, taking turns drinking from her pack of non-alcoholic drinks, bottles with the labels removed or scratched off. They were wildly colored; electric blue, hot pink, lime green. Kandace was clean and sober, so their drinks were non-alcoholic. Tania didn’t mind; sugar made her feel fantastic after she had just run herself into the ground for exams.
Kandace didn't drink since the little drunken incident with the Jeep, the third-floor physics lab, and the six people it took to take the Jeep apart and put it back together. The bill came nearly to the price of the Jeep for the professor to have his ride taken apart, carried down two flights of stairs, and reassembled.
Tania said, “Don't get why they call this drink a virgin. None of us have been virgins for a long damn time.”
“Have not one hint of a clue.” Corinne tugged on her braid.
Kandace grinned. “Nope. Bobby Kennedy. Ninth grade. Pinto. Kept banging my head on that little roof.”
Tania threw back her head and laughed. “Cammer Dalton. His parents’ basement. Tenth grade. Fastest ten minutes of my life.”
Kandace and Corinne both burst out laughing. Corinne had to put down her drink because she was laughing so hard the liquid went up her nose.
Corinne held up her hand, got herself under control. “David Meineke. Eleventh grade. Under a tree, under the stars, a bottle full of Boone's Farm strawberry wine.”
Kandace sighed. “I miss Strawberry Hill. Good thing I got me a smoothie maker, or I’d die from jealousy.”
“We're behind ya, sis,” said Tania. “Hurry up, ‘cause I want to put on chain mail and swing a sword.”
“That sounds wrong somehow.” Corrine wiggled her toes.
“Tell me about it,” said Kandace. “Are my toes ready yet?” she asked Shan.
“Ten minutes. You good girls sit there.” Shan pointed over to the right. Kandace slipped her a five, and they all moved to the window seat looking over the quad. A Butterfly Girl newbie came by with a tray of Italian sausage and potato kabobs on one side and chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce on the other.
“Thanks.” Tania smiled and took the whole tray. “What? I'm hungry!” she said when Corinne and Kandace stared at her. They pigged out on skewered food and sent the tray back once they had emptied it. They finished their drinks, and a first-year took the empties.
Tania stood up “Chain mail! Let's go, ladies!”
They went out into the moonlit darkness. Crickets sang and sweat beaded their bodies in the steamy night. They lurched across the quad, laughing so loudly they disturbed the bats swooping down to pick off the mosquitoes. They took a left, and skirted the edge of the campus past student, then professor, housing to get to the Society for Creative Anachronism’s practice field. They could hear the cheers, blows, and drunken catcalls from down the street.
Tania pushed aside her sadness over this being her last few bouts. The Society for Creative Anachronism di
dn’t exist in South Korea. She skipped up to Tragen, a huge sandy-haired football player who could also swing a broadsword or mace. Tonight, he was in charge of check-ins and equipment rentals. He wore a kilt and had blood smeared across one cheek.
“I'll take chain mail, greaves, and a sword,” Tania said, and handed him a crumpled ten-dollar bill.
“That rack will fit you,” said Tragen, pointing to a rack of noticeably smaller armor to the right. Football and basketball players tended to take the left side, with the huge padded armor and broadswords. “You other ladies want to try?”
“We want to watch,” said Kandace. Kandace and Corinne draped themselves on hay bales while Tania went to the tent to don her outfit. She came out of the changing tent in a leather bustier, silver greaves flickering in the light, a leather skirt, and sandals that wrapped up her calf. She looked like an Amazonian goddess.
Tania’s first bout was hard, fast, and furious. Tania went against Claw, real name Raynette, a tiny blonde woman with a button nose and beady eyes, her hair damp with sweat. Tania’s skin glowed copper in the bright moonlight. It was astonishing how quickly they moved. Claw went for hard swings, using her heavier weight to her advantage, Tania used blocks, feints, and sweeps. They rolled in the grass, came up. Tania finally blocked, then stabbed. She would have gone through Claw’s side if she hadn't held herself back.
“Hold!” barked Aeger, the judge, dressed as a Roman gladiator. The twenty or so watchers cheered. Tania and Claw met, placed their greaves on both sides of each other’s heads.