“That’s their home and now they have nowhere else to go,” Justin says through his tears.
E turns to look at me, his eyes pained and pleading.
“Go,” I tell him.
His shoulders sag with relief. I know how torn up he is.
“Beverly and Heather will stay here with me. It’s okay, babe,” I reassure him. “You need to be there.”
E comes over and gives me a quick kiss on the lips, a silent thank you. He places one kiss on Hope’s forehead, one on Allie’s, and rushes out of the room.
Heather, Beverly, and I all sit in silence as we watch them leave.
Please, God. Please let everything be okay.
First and foremost, thank you for taking a chance with an unknown author and a book with a sensitive subject. I truly hope you enjoyed Saving Each Other. If you’d be so kind as to leave a review with Amazon or Goodreads, I would truly appreciate it.
To my family, my husband of thirty years and best friend, Jeff, and my two amazing boys, Jason and Brian. It’s because of you, your unending support and loving encouragement that I was able to do this.
Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations - www.okaycreations.com
The work you do is amazing. I love the cover you created for my first book and the artwork you designed for the beginning each chapter is gorgeous. You truly captured the essence of Dani, Ean and their story. I’m excited to see what you come up with for Justin and Lysee’s story.
Stacey Blake at Champagne formats - www.champagneformats.com
The package is what gets you to buy the product, but true measure of its quality is what’s on the inside and that shines through in everything you do. You really do deliver the very best!
Thomas J Seebourns - www.thomasjsebourn.zenfolio.com
Your scenic shots of Manhattan Beach are stunning. You make me see the city I lived in for over twenty years with a beauty most never see and I’m honored to include your work in my books.
The cover models are from Stocksy, courtesy of Jacob Lund. You helped capture the image of Dani and Ean that I had in my mind’s eye.
To Judy Zweifel at Judy’s Proofreading - www.judysproofreading.com
You deserve a million thank yous! I sent you my book after I wrote the first edition. My editor hadn’t even seen it yet. And though it clearly wasn’t ready for you, you were still willing to help and your early comments proved invaluable. I then sent it to you after I was finished. But it wasn’t really ready. Once again, your comments proved invaluable and I changed several things. When I begged you to take one last look, promising to “put the shovel down,” you did. You’re tremendous at what you do! Every time I see your name attached to a book, I know I’ll be able to enjoy the story without distraction.
Jessica Park! You know an author is really great when you finish the book only to go back to the beginning and read it all over again. I love your work! Matt and Julie are still my favorite. They hooked me with their first words and still haven’t let me go. His proposal is epic!
To my fabulous beta readers!
Tara at Perrywinkle Photography - www.perrywinklephotography.com
Tara! You were the first person outside my family to read my book. Your comments were seriously invaluable and through your eyes, I was able to see my book in a whole new light.
Shari, my fabulous cousin, I’ve always held you in the highest regard. So when you told me you loved Dani and Ean’s story…my soul smiled.
Merritt, friends are the family you make for yourself. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be my beta reader. I love and appreciate you. Always have, always will!
Jacchi! The same goes for you! You’re the diamond inside the hunk of coal. The world is brighter because you’re in it and I’m a better person for having you in my life.
Dawn, they’re always those people who empty your “bucket” and those who constantly fill it. Thank you for always serving up a smile and for always filling my “bucket.”
Debra, my family and I are so lucky to have you in our lives. You’re incredibly special and I can’t thank you enough for taking the time out of your busy life to be one of my beta readers.
Saving the best for last.
A huge thank you to my editor and sounding block, Francine LaSala! Author of The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything, Rita Hayworth’s Shoes, and A Comfortable Madness. www.francinelasala.com
I know, without a doubt, Saving Each Other would never have come to life without your unending dedication and exceptional talent!
Special Thanks
I’m honored to send a personal thank you to the following businesses. If you find yourself in Los Angeles, San Diego, or New York, I encourage you to visit the restaurants and places I’ve included in this story. They’re all exceptional. Please also support the services that I have included in the resource section below. The work they do is incredible. And lastly, a special thank you to the cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach. Each city is beautiful and welcoming. If you have a chance to visit California during the spring or fall, make it a point to attend Fiesta Hermosa and the Hometown Fair, you won’t regret it.
The Spot Restaurant
110 Second Street
Hermosa Beach, California
El Pollo Inka
1100 Pacific Coast Highway
Hermosa Beach, California
Mama D’s
1125 Manhattan Avenue
Manhattan Beach, California
Ragin Cajun
525 South Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, California
Captain Kidds
209 North Harbor Drive
Redondo Beach, California
Big Mikes Philly Steaks
114 Hermosa Avenue
Hermosa Beach, California
Hope Chapel Christian Church
2306 Pacific Coast Highway
Hermosa Beach, California
Tiffany and Company
210 Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills Polo Lounge
9641 Sunset Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California
Nate and Al’s
414 North Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, California
Agent Provocateur
242 North Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills, California
Hansen’s Cakes
193 South Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, California
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
8700 South Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, California
Our House
1663 Sawtelle Boulevard
Los Angeles, California
Holy Cross Cemetery
5835 Slauson Avenue
Culver City, California
Hyatt Regency
180 Nohea Kai Drive
Lahina, Hawaii
Disney Cruiseline
www.disneycruise.disney.go.com
NEW YORK
Serindipity 3
225 E 60th Street
New York, Ny
Ellen’s Stardust Diner
1650 Broadway
New York, NY
Pegu Club
77 W, Huston Street
New York, NY
SAN DIEGO
Hacienda de Vega
2608 S. Escondido Blvd.
Escondido, Ca.
Seaworld
500 Seaworld Drive
San Diego, Ca.
Resources
Whether you have lost a loved one or know someone who has recently suffered the devastating loss of someone they loved. Whether you are a victim of domestic abuse or know someone who is. Or if you know of someone whose better option is to live on the streets. Whether you are part of the LGBTQ community struggling with who you are or you know someone who is, I have included some places that can help.
Loss of a Loved One
The Center for Complicated Grief
; This website provides information on grief and loss and options for support. It includes online communities, national and local bereavement support groups, and opportunities to share your story and get involved.
www.complicatedgrief.columbia.edu/resources/grief-organizations
The Compassionate Friends
This website is for organizations to help cope with the loss of a child.
www.compassionatefriends.org
Services in the Los Angeles area
Calabasas Counseling and Grief Recovery Center
For the past 20 years we have been helping people overcome with the pain of loss. The center was founded to, “Help people move past their grief and restart their lives.”
They are located at 22231 Mullholland Highway in Calabasas 1-818-222-3985
Or on the web at www.calabasascounseling.com
Our House Grief Support Center
West Los Angeles
1663 Sawtelle Boulevard
1-310-473-1511
Woodland Hills
21860 Burbank Boulevard
1-818-222-2344
or on the web at www.ourhouse-grief.org
Domestic Abuse
National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence
Designs, provides, and customizes training and consultation, influences policy, promotes collaboration, and enhances diversity with the goal of ending domestic and sexual violence.
www.ncdsv.org
National Domestic Violence hotline 1-800-799-SAFE
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Their mission is to be the voice of victims and survivors. They are the catalyst for changing society to have a zero tolerance for domestic violence. They achieve this by effecting public policy, increasing understanding of the impact of domestic violence and providing programs and education that drive that change.
They can be reached at their main office in Denver, Colorado 303-839-1852 or on the web at www.ncadv.org
Teen Runaway
Stand Up for Kids
Helping homeless and street kids everywhere. Their mission is to “End the Cycle of Youth Homelessness throughout the United States.”
1-888-365-4543 or on the web at www.standupforkids.org
National Runaway Safe-line “Here to listen. Here to help.”
Call the National Runaway Safe-line at 1-800-RUNAWAY, text 66008 or visit the web at www.1800runaway.org
Safe Place “For youth…Someplace to go. Someone to help.”
This is a nationwide organization that helps when “Teens find themselves in crisis or need a place to stay, they should know how and where to get help. Our nation’s young people deserve safety and shelter and many youth feel they don’t have either. Thanks to Safe Place, immediate help is never too far away.” They provide immediate help and supportive resources to youth in need and designated places such as schools, fire stations, libraries, and other youth-friendly organizations as Safe Place locations, which display the yellow and black sign.
1-800-RUNAWAY, by texting TXT 4 HELP and entering the word “safe” and your current location to 69866.
www.nationalsafeplace.org
Services in the Los Angeles area
Covenant House
For more than 25 years, Covenant House California has been an open door to thousands of homeless kids…providing them with a safe environment, education, employment, and, most importantly, a chance to become independent, self-sufficient adults. The kids who come to Covenant House for help are often victims of physical and sexual abuse. Many are aged-out of the foster care system or trying to escape gang membership or a life of prostitution and violence.
They can be reached by calling 323-461-3131 or on the web at www.covenanthouse.org
GLBTQ services
National LGBTQ Task Force
The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. Their goal is to build a future where everyone is free to be themselves in every aspect of their lives.
Five offices currently exist throughout the United States. For more information, go to wwwthetaskforce.org
The Trevor Project
Supporting LGBTQ youth in crisis, “The Trevor project was founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.”
They can be reached by calling 1-866-488-7386 or on the web at www.thetrevorproject.org
Author’s Note
This story came to me in waves. Dani and Ean woke me up in the middle of the night and the best way I can it describe is…like listening to an audiobook. I felt their pain with such intensity it took my breath away. I got up, opened notes on my iPhone, and my thumbs got to work. I wrote it in a month. I then spent the next year and a half working with Francine LaSala (Google her…she really is incredible!) to get it where it is today.
I truly believe in soulmates, the one you connected with, time and time again throughout eternity. In the course of writing this book, I came to realize it doesn’t matter what form that soul takes because it’s the soul we embrace and the connection we share with that special soul. That the loss of someone you love takes all the color out of your world and that loss of every kind hurts.
I lost my goldendoodle to cancer. I watched my beautiful, strong, vibrant dog, that one soul that always makes you smile and lift your spirits, take his last breath. I had nine years with my Norman and while I cherish every minute I had with him, he still left this world, far too soon.
Embrace the ones you love. Cherish the time you have with them and celebrate it. Always celebrate it!
February 17, 2008 —May 26, 2017
Preview of Saving Them
Lysee Wright and Justin Sinclair
Synopsis
Two people so broken they become more committed to saving others than they are to saving themselves.
“This is so wrong. So very, very wrong.”
My name is Lysee Wright. I used to be Annalyse Cartwright, the only child of a captain in the army, who constantly moved us from post to post in order to hide his secret. To hide his abuse. My nightmare began when my mother died. I was twelve, just a child. Scared, lost and lonely, I never saw him coming. My loving father had become the predator, and I…his target.
My nightmare came to an end the day I escaped. On my sixteenth birthday, at the height of his abuse, I ran. Quickly and quietly, under the cover of darkness, never to be a victim again.
“The pain surged through me. I wasn’t new to the pain; pain was my normal.”
My name is Justin Sinclair. I spent my teenage years hiding bruises and masking injuries. Suffering unfathomable abuse at the hands of my father, a person who was supposed to love and protect me.
My nightmare came to an end the day my mother killed my father…just seconds before he nearly killed me.
“I know how to survive and now I will thrive.”
As adults, Justin and Lysee both work tirelessly, dedicating themselves to helping the people they once were.
Can Lysee find security and love? Can she build a new life? Can she finally find a place to call home? Or do her scars run too deep?
Can Justin heal? Can he find peace? Can he learn that love doesn’t have to hurt? Or do his scars run too deep?
Can these two survivors of abuse have a functional romantic relationship? Or will the pain of their pasts destroy any hope of a future they can have together?
“YOU’RE DEAD, ASSHOLE!” MY dad shouted. Veins bulging, eyes vacant, face contorted with rage.
I knew he meant it.
CRACK!
That was the sound of my heading hitting the credenza.
The pain surged through me. I wasn’t new to the pain; pain was my normal.
This wasn’t the first time, t
his wasn’t the tenth time. He’s been abusing me since I was thirteen. Some kids get a huge party with tons of friends and family celebrating their entrance into adulthood. My entrance into adulthood was three cracked ribs. “My son fell down the stairs.” His words.
BANG!
My dad suddenly fell, heavy on top of me. He had just thrown me across the room and was stalking towards me, going in for the kill. I knew what he was going to do but I was broken…powerless. Unable to stop him.
When I looked up, I noticed my mom, standing behind him, the gun she usually kept in her jewelry store clutched in her shaking hands, smoke billowing from the barrel. Her face, pale and hollow. The living room floor painted red, the coppery smell of blood filling the air.
It took my abused brain a minute to figure it out. My mom just shot my dad. In the back of his head.
I was a mistake. My mom accidentally got pregnant. It wasn’t supposed to happen. Her birth control failed her. My father never wanted kids and hated me before I was even born. He took it out on her on a daily basis, belittling and berating, taunting, threatening, and torturing until I stepped in to stop it. And that’s when my nightmare began.
Saving Each Other (Saving Series Book 1) Page 19