East of the Sun: a 20th century inspirational romance.

by Hope Franke Strauss

  “Hello.”

  She knew the voice.

  “You’re leaving,” she said, turning slowly.

  He shrugged a shoulder. “It’s time.”

  She swallowed back her disappointment, but she understood. He’d done so much for her already. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For being here for me.”

  Cade had arrived at the service, the day before without Hillary. She didn’t know what he’d said to her, but she could imagine that she hadn’t liked it. He’d sat with her and Sophie in the front row, like a family. At least for the day. It meant the world to her.

  His voice softened. “I was glad to.”

  “Look, about what happened yesterday, in the hall…” She had his attention. He waited for her to continue. “I’m sorry for what I said. I had no right to be angry with you. You’ve done nothing but help and support me.”

  His lips tugged up sheepishly. “I’m sorry, too. I got a little carried away.”

  Neither of them moved, and Eden wondered if he was having as hard of a time saying goodbye as she was. She broke the silence. “I guess you have to get back to work?”

  “Yeah, I’ve missed a week already.”

  “I see.”

  He glanced back at his truck. “I should go.”

  “What about Sophie?”

  “She’s with Marti. I’ve said goodbye to her already.”

  “How is she?”

  “She cried.”

  Oh. Eden fell into stride beside him as they passed through the graveyard to his truck. She stood facing him now, aware that she was being given one final chance. One more chance to tell him how she felt. One chance to accept her role in the break-down of their marriage. One chance to face being rejected the way she’d rejected him.

  Whatever the consequences, she had to speak up. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. She reached for his arm.

  “Don’t go.”

  He stopped, his dark eyes bearing down on her. “What do you want from me?”

  She closed her eyes. She had nothing more to lose. “I want you to stay, Cade. I want us to be together again, to be a family again. I want you to love me again…”

  His lips were soft and warm, full like she remembered them. She shivered as she gave into him, moving her lips around his, kissing him back with a primal urgency. A rush of relief flooded her being as his mouth moved hungrily on hers. He wanted her.

  He pulled back slightly to look in her eyes. His thumb stroked her cheek tenderly, wiping away a runaway tear. “I’ve been waiting forever for you to say it.”

  “I’m so sorry, Cade. I was insane to leave you.”

  She was backed against his truck, and he pressed his body against hers, his mouth moving along her jaw and down the nape of her neck, creating a trail of electricity. She moaned with pure bliss. She had her man back. She had him back.

  “Do you know how crazy you have made me!” he said as his lips made their way back to her jawline.

  “I’m so sorry. I can’t stop saying it.” She ran her fingers along his back, remembering every muscle, the width of his shoulders down to his narrow waist. “I thought I’d lost you.”

  “You never lost me, Eden, not even for one moment. My heart belonged to you each and every terrible day we were apart.”

  She blinked back tears. “I can’t believe you don’t hate me.”

  “I could never hate you. I’m partly to blame. I should have noticed long ago that you weren’t happy. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

  “I wasn’t exactly there for you. Hillary was right.”

  “About what?”

  “Leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life. And she rushed right in to prove it.”

  He held both of her hands in his. “I only hung out with her because I knew it would make you mad. We were never together. At the funeral I apologised for using her and told her I couldn’t see her anymore.”

  He stroked her hair, tucking it behind her ear. “Life has funny twists. If you hadn’t come back, you wouldn’t have known how much your mother needed you.”

  She cupped his hand and kissed it. “You’re too good to me.”

  He smiled. “I hope so.”

  “I love you, Cade Kelley.” A new bout of tears welled up behind her eyes. “I’m sorry I hur—”

  He put his finger to her lips. “You don’t have to say it again. I know.”

  He kissed her gently, and she knew she was forgiven.

  Epilogue

  “I’d like to propose a toast,” said Alice, “to our hosts.”

  The glasses tinkled in honour of the Kelley family. Cade sat at the head of the table with Sophie and Eden on either side. Beside Eden sat Marti with her dashing new groom, Arnold, and opposite them sat Alice and Harry, Aunt Lillian’s apartment manager, who’d become friends since meeting at Eleanor’s funeral.

  The turkey, now a humiliating pile of skin and bones, sat prominently in the centre of the table, flanked by two well-burned candles and an array of near-empty side dishes.

  Not to be outdone, Cade raised his glass, a toast in return, “And to our wonderful friends.”

  Sophie unable to withhold her enthusiasm, blurted out, “To Christmas, and baby Jesus and snow!”

  A round of clinking and laughter exploded. Eden couldn’t help but remember and be thankful for all that had happened since Cade had moved in with.

  Her parent’s estate, as it turned out, was a larger inheritance that she had imagined. Cade was able to open up a sports equipment shop he’d dreamed of, but first they had to haul his things down from up north.

  Eden and Sophie went along with Cade, not able to stand even one more day apart. They didn’t stay long, just as long as it took to load up the back of Cade’s truck and return. They were eager to start their new life together, and Eden had the glow and energy of a newly wedded bride.

  Reluctantly, Eden had shared with Cade the misery of what she had endured at the hands of Justin Kipper. It was a belittling confession and Eden was afraid that Cade would think less of her because of it. Instead he held her more tightly, promising never to let go of her again. He also insisted she file a police report. Eden agreed to do it, with Cade’s support. Another woman may be less fortunate than she was.

  “Why don’t we move into the living room where it is more comfortable?” Alice said. “We can clean this mess up later.”

  Everyone agreed, and Cade helped Eden up. Her stomach was full and round, and not due to the wonderful meal she had just ingested, but to the new little Kelley that was due to enter the world any day.

  Cade and Eden were the last ones left in the kitchen. He raised his glass one final time. “To us,” he said, and he whispered, “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” Eden replied with a kiss.

  “Oh,” Cade added, bending down to kiss Eden’s belly. “I love you, too, little one.”

  Laughing, he took Eden’s hand, and they joined the others already admiring the Christmas tree. This time it was fresh pine, tastefully decorated. Eden was thankful, though, that she had taken a picture of her mother in front of their humble little tree from the year before. It was displayed proudly in the jigsaw puzzle frame handmade by Sophie.

  Eden glanced around the room filled with all the people she cared about most in the whole world and her heart swelled with thankfulness. Cade and Arnold were engaged in a lively sports related conversation: Sophie was petting her new dog, a Collie named Cadbury, and Harry and Alice were falling in love.

  “What are you thinking?” Marti asked. She snuggled in beside Eden and gave her a warm, sisterly hug.

  “I was thinking about how fortunate I am, and how wonderful you all are.”

  “I was thinking the same thing.”

  “Silent Night” played in the background, and Marti started singing softly along. Now, that girl could sing.

  The evening couldn’t have been lovelier. But then pain seized her and Eden cried out.<
br />
  “What is it?” said Marti.

  Cade took two long strides to her side. “Eden?”

  “I think I’m in labour.”

  Suddenly there was a beehive of activity all aimed at getting Eden to the hospital.

  “Short, quick, breaths,” Marti coached. “That’s good. Now relax.”

  “Cade, my bag behind the bedroom door,” Eden said just as another labour pain gripped her.

  “I’ll get it, Cade,” Marti said. “You stay with her.”

  Eden didn’t see that Harry had given Cade her boots. He thrust them at her feet. “Push, honey!”

  “Not now!” she shouted.

  “I mean your foot!

  “Oh.”

  “Don’t forget your jacket, dear,” Alice said. “It’s snowing outside.”

  The next thing Eden knew, she was being pushed and pulled out the door. She survived a frantic ride to the hospital and was now lying on her back on a bed in the maternity ward. The birth was what births were, uniquely traumatic and amazing to each woman.

  The mother and baby were fine and healthy. Father and sister couldn’t be happier. They had a girl. They named her Dana Eleanor Kelley.

  If you enjoyed reading East of the Sun, please help others enjoy it too.

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  A Guitar Girl Romance series

  A Guitar Girl Romance Series is a collection of contemporary inspirational romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each are complete standalone stories with a HEA and no cliffhangers!

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  Check out book 1 - Sun & Moon!

  Visit Hope Franke at www.hopefrankestrauss.com

  Read on for an excerpt of SUN & MOON

  About the Author

  Hope Franke Strauss is the inspirational romance author of The Guitar Girl Romance series and other standalone novels. She loves to travel and all the GGR books are set in European places she's lived in or visited. She writes young adult as Elle Strauss and sci-fi mystery thrillers as Lee Strauss.

  @leestraussbooks

  hope-franke-1760694050830328

  www.hopefranke.com

  hopefranke@yahoo.com

  Sun & Moon - Excerpt

  Two Days Ago

  Open mic night at the Blue Note Pub.

  Katja signed her name on the performer’s list and hoped she’d be called to play. If the manager liked her he might let her book a whole night. It happened sometimes. Not only could she make a hundred euros, but her name would also be on the posters.

  Katja Stoltz

  Money and fame. She needed both.

  The bar wasn’t huge. It had a low, wood-beamed ceiling with wooden floors and long tables that were already occupied, making the space feel even smaller. She shuffled past the other musicians and music lovers, holding her guitar case close to her chest. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for a place to sit.

  A guy with brown hair shaved short watched her. She’d seen him before, though they’d never spoken, just the kindred nod that happened between musicians as they acknowledged each other’s guitar. He had a peacock tattoo that stretched across his strumming arm, which was draped over a thin girl with spiky blond hair. The guy waved Katja over, shoving down on the bench to make room. Katja pushed loose strands of hair behind her ear and took the offered seat. She flashed him a bright, sincere smile. “Thanks.”

  “It’s cool. You’re playing tonight?” he asked loudly to cut through the din of conversation and the music pumping in through the speakers hanging from the corners of the room.

  “I hope so. You?”

  The guy shrugged. “Maybe. Rock’s more my thing, but acoustic’s cool, too. I’m Sebastian. This is my girlfriend, Yvonne.”

  Yvonne forced a smile but didn’t make eye contact. Sebastian introduced the rest of the table, but their names disappeared into the clatter of the room.

  As each musician was called, Katja’s stomach spun tighter. The artists were good and she applauded appreciatively with the rest of the crowd after each performer.

  The waiter brought drinks to their table and asked Katja if she’d like to order. She’d love to, but she shook her head no. She couldn’t even spare ten cents.

  “It’s on me,” Sebastian said, surprising her. “Bring her a beer.”

  Yvonne glared at him. Sebastian laughed and squeezed her shoulders. “Baby, it’s okay. The chick’s gotta be thirsty, and she’s singing tonight.”

  Katja mouthed thank you. She was thirsty. She wanted to impress Herr Leduc, the manager, and it would be much harder to do that with a dry throat. He’d been very friendly when she first introduced herself a few weeks ago, welcoming her to his pub with exuberant German laced with a thick French accent.

  Finally, Katja’s name was called. She made her way through the crowd, careful not to bang into anyone with her guitar. The lights were bright on the stage, momentarily blinding her. She strapped her guitar over her shoulder and scanned the crowd.

  She gulped, thinking belatedly that maybe it wasn’t a great idea to be doing her newest song.

  Her eyes landed on Sebastian and he lifted his beer to her before taking a long drink.

  “Hello, everyone,” she said while tuning the bottom string of her guitar. “I’m Katja Stoltz and this is a new song.”

  She plucked the notes with a happy, mid-paced beat. The music didn’t match the words. She’d written it that way on purpose, to get the listeners’ attention. She opened her mouth and her smooth, folk voice sang out.

  Close your eyes

  Try not to speak

  Forget the hours of your struggling

  Try to fix the trouble

  And pieces of your broken mind

  The streets that you are traveling on

  They lead you far away from home

  And you don’t know where you’re going to

  And your dreams

  They all turned

  A somber blue

  This burden on your shoulders

  Is too heavy for you to carry

  And the well

  That you’re drinking from

  Is a well from a dying generation

  Think back to when you were a child

  And your heart was free and you were alive

  And the wind

  And the rain

  Washed all your fears away

  She ended the song with a final strum and the applause rang through the house. She couldn’t stop the sappy smile that spread across her face. She left the stage and was accosted by a group sitting at a nearby table.

  “That was awesome.”

  “Love your voice!”

  “Do you have CDs?”

  She thanked them and produced a short stack of CDs. She sold four. This was great! She bounced happily on the tips of her toes. Now she could pay her rent and buy a new set of strings.

  She felt a poke on the shoulder and turned around to see Sebastian grinning down at her.

  “You rocked it, Katja. You have crazy songwriting skills.”

  She couldn’t help but giggle. This was why she loved writing and performing. There was no high like it.

  “Do you wanna hang out sometime, maybe write together?”

  Katja couldn’t keep the surprise from bubbling over. “That would be great.” She’d love to try writing with another songwriter. Then she caught Yvonne glaring at them from where she’d remained seated at their table. “But, I don’t think she’s….”

  Sebastian glanced over
his shoulder and waved at his girlfriend. “Don’t worry about her. She knows she’s the only one for me.”

  How nice for Yvonne to have someone so dedicated to her. Sebastian obviously loved her and Katja hoped she appreciated it. She would love to know what it felt like to have someone love her fully without conditions.

  And she would. She was certain. Someday.

  On Amazon

  Books by Hope Franke Strauss

  On Amazon

  20th Century Romance

  East of the Sun

  A Guitar Girl Romance series

  Sun & Moon

  Flesh & Bone

  Heart & Soul

  Peace & Goodwill (a Christmas Novella)

  Ancient Rome Historical Romance

  Jars of Clay

  Broken Vessels (Jars of Clay Volume Two)

  Author’s Note

  Author’s note

  EAST OF THE SUN is a backlist book, meaning it was once published and then went out of print (all rights reverting back to me) and I decided to publish it again on my own. The original edition was published in 2000 by Schulte & Gerth in Germany in the German language.

  This edition underwent significant revisions, including character name changes, reorganisation of scenes and additional new scenes.

  Acknowledgments

  I could never do this without my terrific community of Indie writer and publisher friends, including beta readers Denise Jaden and Angelika Offenwanger (special shout out to you – you know why!); Marie Clarke, first for her friendship, encouragement and promise of wine by firelight, and second for her willingness to proofread, and just her general awesomeness! My noble girls for life encouragement, prayer and support; my kids, my parents, and my husband, Norm, who always have my back.