Choices We Make: The Moretti Brothers Series Read online

  Choices We Make

  BY

  SAGE YOUNG

  Published by Sage Young (Author)

  www.authorsageyoung.com

  Edited by Sage Young

  Formatted by Sage Young

  Note: This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locale, persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means. Graphic, electronically, or mechanical including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher.

  Cover Design: David B. Eggleston & Sage Young

  Copyright © 2014 Sage Young

  All rights reserved

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I’d like to acknowledge my family members and special friends who gave endless support and multiple reads. You helped to make my dream a reality. I love you. Thank you so very much for your enthusiasm for my writing. Your exceptional feedback and editing skills have been invaluable.

  DEDICATIONS

  This book is dedicated to all my friends and family. Thank you all. A special thank you to my significant other David, you are my rock.

  Also, a special dedication to my brother Jon, I miss you.

  Table of Contents

  Acknowledgements

  Dedications

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Epilogue

  About Sage Young

  Connect with Author Sage Young

  Chapter One

  Victoria Hart looked out the window as the limousine sloshed through the rain heading to her childhood home. Her mascara-smudged eyes were swollen from all the tears shed. As the limo rounded the circular driveway in the cul-de-sac, Victoria sighed softly. Monica Thomas, one of her best friends, sat beside her quietly. She held her hand for comfort, squeezing it periodically for reassurance. Victoria still couldn’t believe her mother was gone, dead at the age of sixty-two from a brain aneurism. Her mother was the picture of health one day and gone the next. Victoria vividly remembered the conversation she had with her mother’s doctor as he explained how her mother was gone.

  Her mother, Helen Hart, had been a successful author who worked under several pen names and wrote books in several different genres, which allowed her to be a stay at home mom. Victoria reminisced about her wonderful mom. Her mother was very generous, always helping people less fortunate than herself. Victoria also thought about how she benefited greatly from her mom’s success. They travelled often and she attended all the best schools. Victoria was exposed to the magnitude of her mom’s popularity and successful career when she went to college and found most of the dorm rooms had a least one copy of her mother’s books. Most not knowing, but it was an amazing feeling to know that her mom’s work had touched so many people. She used to say “Victoria, do what makes you happy, the bonus comes when someone pays you to do that very thing.” Her mother was a free spirit and lived life to the fullest with no regrets, now she was dead.

  Victoria swiped a tear away as Monica patted her hand, prompting her to look. Monica reached into her purse for a tissue, “Here sweetie, wipe your face, you have raccoon eyes,” she said, trying to get her friend to smile. Victoria took the tissue as she gave her a faint smile. Monica was like a sister to her, standing a little shorter than Victoria at five feet five inches tall, their light colored caramel complexions were almost identical. Monica was always thinner than Victoria; a self-proclaimed fitness freak, who always worked out in order to maintain less than five percent body fat. Victoria smiled because she constantly battled with that extra ten pounds. Although Monica had beautiful shoulder length hair, she chose to wear a weave that hung to the middle of her back. She had soft facial features and her skin was smooth as silk. Monica never had trouble finding dates; men seem to gravitate towards her. She had always been there for Victoria, even when she moved away, they talked constantly and was always willing to help. Victoria was blessed to have such a friend in her life she thought as the driver opened her door and assisted them as they exited. The cold sprays of rain hit their faces as they made their way into the house.

  The house was filled with people from the publication world, other authors, acquaintances, and friends that her mother had accumulated in her lifetime. Helen had many acquaintances, but very few friends and Victoria was her only family member. “Victoria, I’m so sorry for your loss, the imprint your mother left on the literary world will not be soon forgotten.” One of her mother’s publicists said to Victoria as she entered the door. “Thank you,” was Victoria’s only response as she continued to walk through the crowd. She hated crowds and large gatherings. “Just a few more hours and this will be over.” Victoria had only met some of these people once or twice in her lifetime; most of them seemed spurious. Her mother would say that these people only believed that an author’s relevance was based on their latest best seller. As Victoria made her way through the crowd, Monica leaned into her and asked, “How are you feeling?”

  “I'm fine, just really tired.”

  Victoria looked around and noticed that everyone was in full socializing mode and didn’t look like they were leaving any time soon.

  She leaned into Monica and whispered in her ear, “I’m going to look for Jackie, can you see if you can move some of these people towards the door, I really don’t feel like staying up half the night entertaining.” Monica gave Victoria a disappointing look.

  “Victoria stop acting like that, these people were your mom's friends and they are here to show their respect,” whispered Monica.

  “Not friends, acquaintances and most are here to see what connections they can make.”

  “Whatever, they are still here to honor your mother so get it together, put a smile on that face and tell these people how thankful you are that they came to pay their respect to your mom,” Monica chastised with a smile.

  “You know how I feel about crowds,” she said in a defeated voice.

  “I know Vic, but it’s only for a few more hours then it will be all over”

  “You’re right; oh, I have to also check on the food the caterers are serving.”

  “Let the caterers handle that, that’s what they are being paid for,” Monica said as she waved her hand dismissively and moved towards the crowd.

  Victoria walked into the kitchen where she noticed Jacqueline Bouvier talking with a few of the attendees. Jacqueline turned to see Victoria entering.

  “There you are love, I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Jacqueline said with her French accent. Victoria gave her a faint smile.

  “I had to take care of some final arran
gements with the funeral director.”

  Jacqueline knew how Victoria felt about large crowds and could see the uncomfortableness in her body language. She looked at her; Victoria was an extremely beautiful woman who stood five feet six inches with beautiful curls she wore down her back and the most beautiful brown eyes. She wondered how her friend could be a beast in the business world going up against and tackling the fieriest competitors, but when it came to her personal life she turned into an introvert, spending most nights alone and never dating. The thought of the jerk that broke her heart a few years back, and the bitch she called a best friend, had a hand in it, infuriated her even more. She looked at her best friend and whispered in her ear, “It will be over soon.”

  Victoria looked at all the guests before redirecting her attention to her friend, “I know Jackie, but most of these people didn't socialize with my mom when she was alive, and I hate that they smile in my face now that she's dead.” Jacqueline, hearing the pain in her voice, gave Victoria a hug.

  “I’ll go and see what I can do about clearing some of your guests out.” Jacqueline gave Victoria a smile and walked into the living room.

  Victoria leaned against the counter and looked around the kitchen remembering all the good times with her mom. Her mom was a very wealthy woman but you would never know it from their modest home. This was the home Victoria had grown up in; it was the only house she lived in before moving into her own place. Looking around the kitchen, tears started to slide down her cheek. She was really going to miss her mom. She inhaled deeply. “Okay Victoria put your big girl panties on and go out and mingle,” she said softly as she walked back into the living room, where most of the guests were gathered. She played the perfect host until the very last guest left.

  Monica and Jacqueline cleared the few remaining dishes that were lingering after the caterers left. They didn’t like each other, but tolerated each other because of Victoria. Monica excused herself to go to the bathroom.

  “You know dear, you really could do better than that for a friend. I just don't like or trust her,” Jacqueline said.

  “I don't understand why you can’t let it go Jackie; it was a long time ago,” Victoria said as she put her arm around Jacqueline’s shoulder and they both walked into the living room. Jacqueline looked at Victoria but didn’t respond as Monica walked back in the room. “It's time for some wine,” Jacqueline said officially changing the subject. She walked back into the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine from the wine refrigerator, she returned with the wine and three wine glasses. “Tonight we are getting drunk.”

  “That's not hard for me; you guys know I'm not a drinker,” Victoria said.

  “That’s the truth, remember when we went to that night club to celebrate your master’s degree, you had two glasses of wine and a shot of tequila and you were ready to dance on the tables,” Monica said and they all laughed.

  With the wine opened Jacqueline poured three glasses before taking a seat on the sofa beside Victoria. Monica took her glass from table where Jacqueline placed it and sat on the other side of Victoria. The silence permeated the room and was welcomed by Victoria.

  “I just don't know what I'm going to do without her, we did pretty much everything together” Victoria said through tears, breaking their several minutes of silence.

  “Sweetie, please don't cry.” Jacqueline used a tissue to wipe Victoria’s tear soaked cheeks. “One thing I can say about you mother, she lived life to the fullest and she would want you to do the same.” Jacqueline raised her glass. “Here's to Helen, the best damn mother there ever was.” Victoria and Monica followed suite as they all tapped glasses. Victoria took a big gulp of wine as she tried to embrace the burning sensation as it went down her throat but she started to cough.

  “You really aren't a drinker are you?” Jacqueline said patting her on the back.

  “How many years have you guys known me, you know I'm not.”

  They all looked at each other and began to laugh for a few seconds, and then fell back into silence. Victoria looked at her best friends and smiled; they were so different. While Monica was young and outspoken, Jacqueline was older and more reserved. She was older than Victoria by ten years but could easily pass for a woman fifteen years younger. She was a beautiful woman who was the epitome of fashion, always wearing the perfect outfits that looked amazing on her petite body. She had the most amazing green eyes she had ever seen. Jacqueline stood about five feet six inches but always wore at least five-inch heels. She always complained about working out but never missed a session with her workout partner/trainer Kevin.

  When they first met, she had long dark hair but after her divorce, said she needed a change and had it cut into a short bob and had worn it that way every since. She no longer believed in the institution of marriage or relationships because of her bitter divorce. They both met in graduate school, and became fast friends. With Jacqueline’s sizable divorce settlement and Victoria’s mother’s assistance, the two friends were able to start their own company BOUVIER & HART Consulting Group LLP. After successfully servicing their first few clients, new referrals came, and now their firm was competing with all the major consulting firms in Philadelphia.

  “This will be my very first birthday without my mother; we always spent our birthdays together.” Jacqueline and Monica both stared at each other neither knowing how to respond. Finally, Jacqueline pulled Victoria into her arms. “Victoria you know we’re here for you.”

  They sat silently again drinking their wine.

  “You know maybe we should go away for your birthday, it will be fun,” Monica said slightly excited. “The last thing you want to do is stay in town.”

  Jacqueline looked at Victoria “Actually dear, that’s not a bad idea, when was that last time you were on vacation?”

  “It’s been a while, you know that we have been trying to get the business off the ground.”

  “I know dear, but you have to take time for yourself, you know I take a vacation twice a year.”

  “Yeah, and I know who you take those trips with,” Victoria said with a smirk.

  “Don’t judge dear, he relieves six months worth of stress in two weeks.” They all looked at each other and began to laugh again. Victoria loved her friends, no matter the circumstance; they were always there for her.

  “You know Vic, that’s not a bad idea, it may be just what the doctor ordered,” Monica said. Victoria looked at her with confusion wondering if she had zoned out on part of the conversation because she had no idea what Monica was talking about. Victoria gave her a quizzical look,

  “Monica what are you talking about? What’s not a bad idea?”

  “You going to an island for your birthday and getting your groove on.” Monica stood and started to move in a sensual manner.

  “What! Absolutely not, and I can’t believe you would suggest something like that. Can you imagine what my mother would say it she found out I went to a tropical island to have sex with a stranger just to relieve stress,” she said with a smile that turned solemn remembering that her mother was dead. “Then again I guess she wouldn’t say,” Victoria said as a tear slid down her cheek.

  “I’m sorry Vic, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Monica hugged her.

  “You didn’t Mo, I’m going to have to get use to not having her around, and I just don’t know how I’m going to do that.”

  “You will have us to lean on dear,” Jacqueline said as they gave her a group hug. They continued drinking wine and talking for the next two hours. Finally Jacqueline stood and stretched. “That's it sweetie, I need to get in the bed. I will see you both in the morning.” Jacqueline started to ascend the stairs stopping briefly to look back at her friend, although she really worried about her, she knew eventually with time she would be fine.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Over the next week Victoria worked with the moving company she hired to assist her in packing up her mother's house. She finally set up a meeting with her mother’s attorney to do the
reading of the will. A week and a half after her mother's burial Victoria was in the attorney's office. She felt very uneasy; there was something final about reading someone's will. It’s their last will and testament; it would be the last tangible impact her mother would have on her life. She sat in the attorney's office waiting patiently for him and her eyes began to water. “Keep it together girl, this should only take another half-hour,” she said to herself.

  She searched her purse for a clean tissue to wipe her eyes, when the attorney walked into the office. “Good afternoon Ms. Hart, sorry to keep you waiting. This should not take long,” he said as he set at his desk and opened up the file. “As you know your mother was a very wealthy woman and fond of her charities.” Victoria started thinking about her mother’s charitable contributions not only monetary but with time. She thought back to the time when her mother took her for the first time to a homeless shelter at the age of ten to help prepare meals for the residents. The place was dingy and some of the people had on dirty clothes. She said to her mother “mommy why are we here, I don’t like it, I want to go home.” Her mother knelt in front of her and said “You need to learn humility Vicky, and be thankful for what you have because there but for the grace of God goes you, and me” she said as she looked towards a mother and daughter who was waiting to be fed. “Vicky, wherever you land in life you will have to decide what’s important to you, and the type of legacy you want to leave behind. When I close my eyes I want to know that I did something to make a difference in someone else’s life. Those are the choices we make baby.” Vicky looked over at the girl who was about her age and walked over to her. “Hi my name is Victoria but my mom calls me Vicky, what’s yours?”

  The shy girl took a few seconds to speak. “My name is Monica but my mom calls me Mo.” Victoria pulled her favorite toy out of her pocket and gave it to her. From that day forward they were inseparable. Victoria would go with her mother to the shelter every week until Monica’s mom got a home. They stayed in contact and eventually went to college together; the rest was history. As it turned out Monica’s mom had been laid-off; her husband had left her and they lost their house. Once her mom got another job Monica was never homeless again. Victoria could hear the attorney going on about the charities.