A Fragmented Journey (The New York Journey Book 1)

by Gracie Guy

As her big bear of a trooper rose and wrapped her in his love, sprinkling kisses on her neck, her ears and her lips, she knew they weren’t leaving for her mother’s party. We’ll have our own celebration right here!

  About Gracie Guy

  Gracie Guy has been blessed with an eclectic and rewarding life, filled with family, friends and a passel of animals. She’s a wife, sister, aunt, farmer, runner, skier and gardener, who proudly calls Upstate New York her home.

  Find Gracie online at:

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracie.guy.5

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you’ve enjoyed Kara’s story. The next book in this series is The Journey Creekside. It’s all about Michael Corbin—you’ll remember him as the contractor who built Kara’s house. Here’s a few pages to get you started….

  THE JOURNEY CREEKSIDE

  By Gracie Guy

  Prologue

  “What if she does something to stop this?” Kay’s voice trembled with concern.

  “I don’t know. I don’t see a reason why she should. He’s doing all the work now.”

  “I’m worried about it, Don. I’ve never trusted that girl.”

  “Relax, honey. Mike’s marriage is solid. And this will work for all of us.”

  Chapter 1

  Michael Corbin’s mind was still spinning, as he slammed the door of his truck. With his long legs, tight abs and broad shoulders, his 6’ 4” frame filled the driver’s seat. Absentmindedly, he ran his calloused hands through his unruly blonde hair while he started the engine and activated the wipers to clear the fresh snow which had fallen during his visit. He threw the black four-wheel drive Ford into gear and turned on the radio, scanning for an updated weather forecast.

  What are they thinking? Did they just tell me I have to cut Lainey out of things?

  He pulled out of his parents’ driveway, knowing that he should return to the shop. Despite the fact that his parents had just offered to drop the entire business in his lap, he was still employed by them. Besides, he should check on the guys who worked for him directly.

  Their house was on the opposite side of the 800-acre property from the office at Columbia Timber and Construction, which meant it was also on the other side of town. A craggy face of stone, frequently referred to by the locals as Corbin Mountain, provided the backdrop for the village of three thousand. Today, as he drove through, his eyes were riveted on the rocks. With a rumbling stomach, he pulled into the parking lot of Angie’s Deli to grab some lunch, still staring at the mountain as he entered the store.

  Later, in his office sitting at the giant oak desk his mother found at auction just weeks before he was born, Michael kept thinking about his recent conversation with his parents. Deep in his heart he knew they meant well, but they had to know this deal would cause problems for him. Though honestly, he couldn’t argue with their logic about Lainey. From the day of their wedding, she had refused to move closer to the business, insisting that her career required that they live in Albany. Since then, eleven years later, he had made the sixty-mile round-trip six days a week, through every form of weather possible, to keep his bride happy.

  Unwrapping the turkey sub from Angie’s, he half snorted, half chuckled when he remembered the saying ‘happy wife—happy life.’ Shaking his head he mumbled into his sandwich. “What a load of crap that is.” Mike looked out the window over his desk. The weatherman had said the snow was expected to increase throughout the afternoon, up to two-inches per hour. With that kind of slop on the roads, he could expect his ride home to take over an hour. “But, hey, when you get there you’ll get a kiss from your happy wife.”

  Mike looked down at the sandwich he’d just taken a bite of. Chewing a mouthful of meat and bread, he reached for the bottle of ice tea to wash it down. As he struggled over the conversation he had with his parents, he lost his appetite. Wrapping up most of his lunch, he put it in the refrigerator and grabbed his coat. Considering the weather, he wanted to find his crew to send them home. He might even leave early himself. He had plenty to think about and right now the thought of a few cold beers while sitting on his couch was very appealing.

  Half an hour later, Mike was pulling his truck onto the interstate that would lead him to Albany. Traffic was moving slowly, using just two of the three available lanes. Creeping along, he considered changing to the middle lane until a tractor-trailer came barreling through, creating massive snow clouds in its wake. As the plumes of white settled, he decided to tolerate the pokey pace set by the car in front of him.

  But miles of slow driving proved to be a breeding ground for both doubt and anger. Every time he replayed the conversation in his head, he still had the same question – What were they thinking? One more time, he reviewed the experience he’d just had with his parents.

  They had requested his presence for a lunchtime business meeting. Even though he worked for them, it seemed odd that it was at their house and not at the company office. When he let himself in through the back door, he heard his parents talking in the living room. His mother’s stressed voice was more distinct than his father’s. Quietly, he stepped into the room, waving a greeting to each of them. Always pleased to see his parents, two layers of dimples accented his smile.

  “Michael. Hello, honey. It’s so nice to see you.” His mother did her best to wrap him in a bear hug but her diminutive size limited her to placing her face on his chest while patting his back. “Come on. Let’s move to the dining room.”

  Mike followed his parents across the well-worn oak floor of the house he grew up in. He watched with a smile as his father, Don Corbin, held a chair for his wife. Still, after all these years, gracious and loving with each other.

  There was a moment of unexpected silence once they were all seated. Michael decided that some levity was in order.

  “Mom, what’s for lunch? Ice cubes?” He winked at her. “There are no delicious smells coming from there.” He pointed to the kitchen, then quickly pulled his hand back when his father cleared his throat.

  “Michael, your mother and I have asked you here today to discuss the future of the family business.” Mike focused on his father, nodding in polite acknowledgment. “We think it’s time for you to take over formally. After all, you’ve been doing most of the work.” His father paused a moment, but never let his eyes wander. “It’s time for us to do some travelling. You know, kick back and relax a bit.”

  Mike’s thoughts ricocheted; he didn’t know where to start. His eyes darted from the face of one parent to another. “Um. I don’t know what to say.”

  “How about saying yes?”

  “Dad, it’s not that easy.” Mike winced at the disappointment he saw on his father’s face. “We’re a bit tight right now. You know, all those fertility treatments that Lainey has had.”

  “Son, we don’t want you to buy the business. It’s your inheritance. We want you to take over now while we’re still alive.”

  “Oh.” He shook his head for a moment while he digested what his father had just said. “You don’t have to do that. You two have worked hard. You should have a pension of some sort.”

  “Michael, that’s why we’ve asked you here today.” His mother’s gentle touch was warm on the back of his hand. “In short, the company will pay us a salary even though we won’t be working all the time. And we get to live in this house rent free for the rest of our lives.”

  “But, what about the girls?”

  His father took over the explanation. “Michael, they haven’t worked this business with us. You have. As part of the paperwork, we’ll put the house and five acres on a separate deed. After we’re gone, your sisters can do what they want with it.” Don pointed to the living room. “Personal items we’ll put in our will. But the house and land it sits on is up to them. They can even sell it outright and take the cash.”

  Mike ran his calloused hands through the curly depths of his hair, stalling for a minute while he absorbed what his parents had just said. Still shaking his head in disbel
ief, he questioned his parents. “So what you’re offering me is nearly 800 acres, the buildings on the other side of the mountain and the business?”

  “And the equipment.” His father tacked on.

  “Um. Wow. I mean, I know you’re my parents but I can’t get over this.”

  “Why honey?” His mother patted his arm.

  “It just seems too generous, that’s all.”

  “Michael, you were eleven years old when your father started this business. If you weren’t in school or asleep, you were helping one of us. Your sisters have never stepped up the way you did.”

  Mike looked into his mother’s eyes, the same hazel coloring he’d seen in the Irish faces of his extended family. Patting her hand, he stood to hug her. “I know, Mom. Just trying to be fair to the girls.”

  “Don’t worry. We also have some stock portfolios for Jenni and Heather.” His father was reviewing some paperwork in front of him as he continued. “Besides, there’s no guarantee about the business. You’re going to have to stay working hard to keep it all afloat.”

  Mike nodded his head slowly in acknowledgment, watching his father’s face.

  “Son, there’s something about this that we want you to know up front.”

  His pulse surged, fearing bad news about their health. He tried for nonchalance. “What’s that?”

  “It’s about Lainey.”

  The mention of his wife’s name caused his brow to furrow in question. He’d never discussed his marriage with his parents. Any difficulties between him and his wife were always kept in a locked box in his heart.

  “The contract we’ve drawn up excludes her. The language is very specific that if you two should divorce, you keep everything. And, God forbid you should die, all rights to the business get passed to your sisters.”

  Mike’s hands returned to rubbing his scalp. “Why would you do that? She’s my wife.” He watched as his parents joined hands before his father responded.

  “Honestly, son, your mother has had a few dreams about her. And if there’s something I’ve learned in the last forty years, it’s to trust this woman’s intuition.” Don gave Kay’s hand a gentle squeeze for effect. “So, if this is a problem for you, speak up now.”

  “Dad, I need to sit on this a day or two.” He rose from his seat at the table. “It feels a little dishonest towards Lainey.”

  His parents stood in unison to walk him to the door. “I’m sure it does, son.” Mike felt his father’s enormous hand on his shoulder. “Please understand that we’re not trying to cause a problem between you and your wife,” Mike turned to face his parents as his father continued, “but we’ll sell this place outright to the buyer of our own choosing before we’ll give it to a woman who’s refused to live out here.”

  In the depths of his parents’ eyes, all he could find was love and compassion. “I know, Dad.” He gave each of them a hug and made his good-byes.

  On the outskirts of Albany, a cluster of flashing red and blue lights brought Mike back to reality. With one of his big calloused hands he rubbed his eyes, effectively clearing away the conversation that kept replaying in his head. Slowly he and the other cars passed a jack-knifed truck that was teetering on the edge of a steep incline. “Jackass,” Mike mumbled when he recognized the name on the tractor-trailer that had blown past him twenty-miles earlier.

  He still didn’t know how he would tell his wife about the conversation with his parents. The more he kicked it around, he wasn’t even sure he would tell her. The changes his parents were proposing for the business wouldn’t cost him and Lainey any money as a couple. Does she need to know that I’ll be going to work as the owner instead of as the superintendent? Mike was glad he’d told his parents that he needed to sleep on it. He didn’t want to make a decision he’d regret later.