Someone must have told them I’d be coming through. Trials and tribulations seem to follow me. Stop it, Sharon! You’re getting paranoid.
Sharon breathed a deep sigh and dropped her head against the backrest of the seat. Her aching heart, matching her aching back, brought the past two years to her mind.
She whispered, “Heavenly Father, help me to put the past behind me and make the future strong for me. I still don’t understand how so much evil happened as it did, but I’m so thankful you were there to cushion me. I know that you will take charge and lead me from now on.” She closed her eyes thinking of the past two years.
Chapter One
“Hey! Hey! Ole!” Sharon Donnelly sang as she snapped her fingers and moved her feet in rhythm with the Latin beat that the band played. Waist-length strawberry-blond hair swirled out in waves and curls as bright, jade eyes sparkled with excitement and happiness.
Her parents, Sean and Megan Donnelly, had arranged to give her this surprise nineteenth birthday party. Vivid blue and gold streamers and multi-colored balloons decorated the Silver Pines Country Club in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. College friends and neighbors were celebrating with her. Lightning bursts of happiness raced through her heart as she walked smiling through the crowd and feeling blessed.
“Wow! What a grrreat party!” Lynn Yates burbled as she gyrated by Sharon in rhythm to the beat of the rollicking music.
Lynn’s mother was Sean Donnelly’s sister. When Lynn was five years old, her parents died in an automobile accident, and the Donnellys had taken Lynn to raise as another daughter. Three year old Sharon had idolized Lynn and they were much closer than most biological sisters.
Although Sharon smiled at guests, and sometimes made a comment, her thoughts took her away. She smiled lovingly after Lynn. Oh, Lynn and I were such brats. We were, and still are, horse crazy and practically lived in the stable. Poor mom. She’s such a lady, and she despaired of us ever growing to be more than tomboys. Now look at us. I’ve finished my second year of college to become a teacher and Lynn’s finished veterinarian school and Master Instructor so she can open a riding school for the handicapped. We’ll both be teaching and we both adore children.
“Sharon, darling, are you with us?” Megan Donnelly giggled. “You’re in another world and haven’t answered me.”
“Earth to Sharon.” Sean Donnelly laughed as he put his arms around her waist and lifted her to twirl around.
“Daddy! Put me down this instant.” Sharon didn’t succeed in sounding firm or angry. “Thank you, Mom and Dad,” she exclaimed as she hugged each one. “I don’t know when I’ve had more fun. This truly is a wonderful party.”
She smiled at her parents thinking, daddy’s only forty-two and mom’s forty. They both look marvelous and they’ve been the world’s best parents for Lynn and me.
“We’re happy if you are,” Megan said. “Why don’t we get to that delicious looking buffet while we have a few minutes to ourselves.”
“Lead me to food anytime,” Sean chuckled. “Mom’s right. Better grab a bite while we can.”
“Oh, no,” Sharon groaned. “I’d better not eat. If I put anything inside, it’ll be outside real quick. The grasshoppers and butterflies in my stomach aren’t mixing too well.”
“Too late,” Sean whispered. He reluctantly turned, with a smile, to shake hands with the two men who stood by him. Megan talked politely to the men’s wives while slowly moving toward the buffet table.
“Thank you for coming to my party,” Sharon told the two couples. “Please excuse me. My roommate and other college friends are wondering why I don’t spend some time with them.” She walked over to a group of young people that included Amanda Rawlings, her college roommate.
“Yoweee! I’m having a hard time closing my mouth. This is so amazing. See my big eyes,” Amanda laughed. “My family is socially active in Virginia, but we never belonged to a club like this. It feels as if I’m in the middle of ‘Gone With the Wind’ in this plantation setting. Your folks sure went all out for you.”
Sharon put her arm through Amanda’s arm. “Remember, I grew up with this. It ain’t all that hot to me. Besides, you know how I feel. It’s what a person is inside that’s important, and not what they belong to or how much they have.”
“Oh, I know how you feel, and I’m not envious,” Amanda continued. “You’re one of the most down to earth people I know. They would soon throw me out of here with my cut-off jeans and ratty sneakers.”
“You think you have ratty clothing? You should have seen Lynn and me when we were little. My dad almost got kicked out of the country club because we would ride our horses, bareback, straight across the golf course while looking worse than street urchins. We were barefoot, wearing dirty shorts and torn T-shirts. There’s a lake by the golf course for boating and an area for swimming. Can you imagine how those proper ladies felt as they leisurely drifted around in a canoe and here came Lynn and I swimming our horses toward them and yelling like savages.” The group of young people was laughing hysterically. “But at church we were angels. Mom dressed us at least to look like ladies and we were afraid to behave differently. Lynn was always better behaved than I.
“Did I hear my name taken in vain?” Lynn walked to stand beside Amanda. “Are we telling stories? Boy, could I tell you folks stories about this one,” she laughed gesturing toward Sharon.
“Okay, old lady. That’s enough out of you,” Sharon chuckled.
“Who’er you calling an old lady?” Lynn teased trying to look angry and failing. The group laughed and asked to be let in on the joke.
“There’s no joke,” Sharon answered. “Lynn’s two years older, and I like to tease her about being the oldest.” She turned to a neighbor girl. “Remember the party mom and dad gave Lynn for her twenty-first birthday here at the club a couple of months ago?” She explained to Amanda and the group. “This place was decorated horsey. Some of our hunt club friends and riding buddies even rode their horses right up the driveway to the club house. One boy tried to ride into the social room, but the club officers were present and threatened to have him arrested if he didn’t leave. Mom and dad were mortified Lynn spoke through the laughter, “Well, as long as we’re telling stories ---”
“Never you mind,” Sharon shook her head. “Why don’t we get this crowd into a line dance. The romantic couples have been swinging and swaying long enough.” She went to the band and talked to the leader. In a minute the music changed from pop to western.
Sharon was in a line dance doing the ‘Boot Scooting Boogie’ when Amanda twisted and scooted near her. “Fan me quick, mamma. I’ve died and gone where good little girls go to meet sexy, handsome men,” she gushed.
Sharon glanced up to see the Taylors entering the room. Her dad’s law partner, Malcolm Taylor, and his wife, Agnes Taylor, and their son, Jeremy, were at the door. She knew Jeremy was home on leave from the air force. He was a pilot, a lieutenant, and looked great in his uniform. She started walking toward them, happy to welcome them.
I’m sure Jeremy won’t remember me, Sharon thought. He was four years ahead of me; a football hero and in the ROTC. There were scads of beautiful girls hanging around him, and he had a wild reputation. Why would he remember me, a plain girl who was too shy to try to be part of his group.
Lynn caught up with Sharon just as she reached the Taylors. Malcolm Taylor hugged both girls. Agnes Taylor floated in, her head high, expecting adoration from everyone. She ignored Sharon and Lynn. Agnes loved to have people think she was Jeremy’s older sister, therefore, pretty girls were discouraged. They might take attention from her.
“Jeremy,” Malcolm’s deep voice boomed. “This gorgeous young lady is the birthday girl. Do you remember Sharon?”