This Is How A Heart Breaks
Debora Dearth
Author Bio
Romance is no stranger to Deborah. She has been married for thirty-six years and loves her husband more now than she did all those years ago. Love is a tough road to walk and it takes two holding onto one another to make it work.
She and her husband have two daughters and a son, as well as two granddaughters and a grandson. Deborah has held many different occupations over the years from teaching to accounting and believes her toughest job was one of being a mother. Her most fun is being a grandmother.
Deborah was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and attended Ohio State University graduating with a degree in English Literature. Currently she and her husband and her two furry children, Stimpy and Lily live in Lexington, South Carolina. She is still in the workforce and is the CFO for a small technology/communications company.
She has been active in the churches she has attended in women’s and children’s ministries. She has been an AWANA leader, Bible Study leader, and is currently a Stephen Minister.
It is her hope that people can feel her love for the Lord in her writing.
Description
A chance meeting changes Monte’s and Kathryn’s lives forever. Their whirlwind courtship and marriage was a love story dubbed by friends and family as “The Prince and the Commoner”.
Now Montgomery Lawrence, former Hollywood icon and Cleveland, Ohio businessman is dead. His unexpected death leaves his survivors – Kathryn, his wife, Russ, his best friend and partner, and his son, Grayson in shock. Each must find a way to deal with their loss and to live without him.
Monte had a public image and a private persona that were not always in sync. Memories and conversations reveal what life with Monte was really like and the kind of man he was.
Book excerpt
Time flew by, and several months later, Angie and Kathryn were back on a plane bound for California. Both were to be maids of honor in the wedding of Peter Howard Graham to Helen Lynn Lowell. Their short visit was a whirlwind of preparation for the wedding. In next to no time, they were in the church dressing for the ceremony. Helen’s happiness was contagious, and the women were caught up in the joyous spirit of the occasion.
Angie and Kathryn stood before the mirror putting on their make-up. “Helen, I certainly hope you’ve invited some eligible men, other than Bruce, to this wedding. Bruce seems to have his eye on Kat and won’t give me – or any other woman for that matter – a second thought!” Angie made no bones about her determination to catch a man at the wedding instead of the bouquet.
Kathryn stopped brushing mascara on and shook her head at Angie. “You have a one-track mind!”
Helen giggled and pulled her wedding dress out of the dress bag. “Of course, I’ve invited some eligible men. Now that I’m married, I have to marry off my best friends!”
Kathryn got up from the chair to help Helen with her dress. Helen was fidgeting while Kathryn was buttoning the back of her wedding dress. There seemed like a hundred little buttons. “Please, keep still!” Kathryn ordered. The tiny pearl buttons were slipping from the loops and were hard to connect. “My fingers are killing me!”
“I’m trying!” Helen cried. Confusion and last minute problems seemed to be the order of the day. Helen had a lot of nervous energy. When Kathryn finished buttoning the dress, Helen lifted her dress to put her feet into her shoes. “Now look! I have a run in my stocking. I need to find another pair!”
“Just calm down, and I’ll see if I can find a new pair.” Kathryn tried to soothe her.
“I’m so nervous!” Helen nearly wailed.
“What’s to be nervous about?” Angie teased. “If I had a man like Peter – or any man for that matter – who wanted to marry me….”
Kathryn and Helen laughed.
“Kat, you aren’t even dressed,” Helen exclaimed. “How much time do we have?”
“We have plenty of time. Everything will be beautiful and go off without a hitch. You know I don’t require much time to get ready. Now take a deep breath and relax. I bet I’ll be ready before either of you are!”
“You’re right. I’m so nervous! ” Helen agreed in a more calm voice and took an audible deep breath held it and let it out slowly.
“You’d better watch those deep breaths – you may hyperventilate!’ Angie warned teasingly.
“Really, Angie!” Kathryn scolded. She turned to Helen. “Feeling better?”
“Sort of,” Helen replied.
Five hundred guests were to attend the wedding and reception. Some of the guests were collogues and clients of Jim’s law firm, as well as, family members. It certainly was one of the grandest affairs in which Kathryn or Angie had ever participated. Nerves were becoming frayed. As tension often does with women, it turned into silliness, and the girls began to tease each other and giggle.
“I hope Bruce doesn’t embarrass himself and say ‘I do’ when Pete is supposed to,” Angie teased. “You know he’ll be gazing at Kat the whole time.”
“Yes, ever since you got here, he’s found excuses to be near you,” Helen added. “You could do worse, you know.”
“You both seem to forget something,” Kathryn informed. “I’m not in love with him.”
“Love will happen; you just need to spend more time together. I think Bruce is pretty much there. He’ll just have to bring you up to speed,” Angie laughed.
“It’ll have to be love from afar. We do live several thousand miles apart. I believe that hinders hand holding on a date,” Kathryn retorted and walked over to a bag Helen had brought to the church. She began to search the contents and pulled out an unopened package of panty hose and handed it over to Helen. “Honestly, I wish you two would just stop!”
“I see long and frequent business trips to Cleveland in his future,” Helen joined in teasing.
“Honestly! If you all will excuse me, I have to get ready. “ She took her dress off the hanger and disappeared into the dressing room. She could hear them laughing as she closed the door. Kathryn dressed quickly and turned around in front of the mirror to look at her reflection.
The dress fit her perfectly. It was wine-colored satin with short capped sleeves, a high neckline and a full skirt. It was simple, yet elegant. Both Angie and she would wear the same color dresses. The other two bridesmaids (Peter’s sisters) would wear a pale pink. She pulled on the elbow-length satin gloves. Helen wanted her bridal party to wear gloves that matched their dresses. Kathryn smoothed her skirt and checked her reflection in the mirror before leaving the room.
When Kathryn rejoined them, Helen was putting finishing touches on her makeup as Angie was putting a spritz of hair spray on Helen’s hair. All that was left to do was to put on Helen’s veil.
“Oh, Helen, you look beautiful,” Kathryn said with a smile.
Both Angie and Kathryn helped Helen with her veil. Then they added some finishing touches to Helen’s hair around the crown of the hat. The satin and lace gown with pearls sewn into the skirt and bodice was exquisite. It had the look of the Victorian Era. The veil had a small V-shaped cap as a headpiece with yards of English, white lace trailing behind. Radiance and happiness beamed from Helen’s face.
Kathryn felt a small twinge of envy. She hoped that someday she would find that kind of love and happiness. Was it Bruce? She shook her head. No more thoughts along those lines! This was Helen’s day. Kathryn’s dreams could wait.
Kathryn sat in a chair in front in the mirror. “Angie, could you please French braid my hair? I can’t do anything with it today,” Kathryn asked.
“Sure. I wish I hadn’t cut my hair so short so I could wear one, too!” Angie remarked as her fingers made short-work of Kathryn’s hair.
“Your hair looks nice the way it is,” Kathryn assured her.
“Thanks!” Angie said as she concentrated on her task. It didn’t take her long to finish Kathryn’s hair. “All finished. You look pretty, Kat.”
“Thanks. I do like these dresses. They’re very flattering,” Kathryn said.
“Yes, me, too! It makes my hips look small, which is a miracle!” Angie remarked.
There was a moment of silence as each woman studied her reflection in the mirror. Kathryn was the first to speak. “Looks like we’re ready with time to spare!”
“I can’t believe these are my last minutes as a single woman!” Helen exclaimed and turned to her friends.
“I know. Me, either! But you and Peter are going to be so happy and make a wonderful life together,” Kathryn declared.
“Thanks. I’m so happy you could both be here for me,” Helen said a bit teary. They all hugged.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Kathryn said.
“Yea, me either,” Angie agreed.
There was a knock, and it was time for them to walk down the aisle.
From the moment Kathryn walked down the aisle and throughout the ceremony, she had a feeling that she was being watched. Of course, she was…by five hundred people. But she had an unsettled feeling that she couldn’t shake, and it caused her to have anxiety over being in front of all those people. Due to the stage fright, she could not look at the crowd. When she faced the audience, she looked over their heads. As soon as the crowd had gone, the feeling left her. She marked it down to nerves.
At the reception, Kathryn was both amused and vexed by all the attention Bruce was paying her. What was wrong with her anyway? He was blonde, good-looking, and had gorgeous hazel eyes. She’d never met a man who was nicer or more solicitous. However, the fact that she did not return his affections made her feel guilty. Since she genuinely liked him and didn’t want to hurt his feelings, she was in a quandary over what to do about him.
Bruce finally left her to get something cold to drink. The room was a sea of people packed together. The temperature was rising, and the smoke from cigarettes was thickening in the reception hall, creating a blue-gray haze which settled over the room. She was feeling warm and sticky, and the smoke was choking her. Not to mention that the unsettled feeling was back. Kathryn had to get out of this place! Some fresh air and solitude was too tempting to resist, and she headed for the outdoors.
As she opened the door to the parking lot, the cool air brushed her face with its sweet, refreshing fragrance. How wonderful! Just what I needed! She took a deep breath and walked leisurely around the building. Her heels made a soft tap…tap on the concrete. There were groups of people here and there, and the low hum of conversation. On the other side of the parking lot, she noticed a vacant bench beside a planter which had lush green plants growing in it. She walked in that direction and stopped just shy of the bench. Solitude! Maybe she would stay out here for the rest of the reception. It was so much nicer than being inside. A sigh of pleasure escaped her lips.
“The fresh air is nice, isn’t it?” a masculine voice drawled from behind her.
She jumped. She knew that voice! Unable to believe her ears, she slowly turned around.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” His voice was low and soft. She didn’t think he could ever get more handsome, but he had. He looked gorgeous in the black suit he was wearing. His hair was cut shorter, and he looked like a model for formal wear. “Montgomery Lawrence…we met a few months ago in Jim’s office,” he reminded her and smiled warmly.
“I remember you, Mr. Lawrence,” she replied feeling awkward and shy. She looked up at him. Wow, she’d forgotten how tall he was! She was five foot seven, not a short woman, but he made her feel petite. He moved nearer, and she could smell the scent of his cologne mixed with cigarette smoke that clung to his jacket. She felt both nervousness and exhilaration. Someone pinch me! I can’t believe he’s here! Her heart began to hammer so hard, she thought he might hear it thumping against her chest.
“Mr. Lawrence is my grandfather. Please, call me Monte,” he said.
“Okay…Monte.” Now what am I going to say? I don’t want to sound gauche or stupid. Words swirled in her head like a tornado, and she was unable to grasp any of them.
He did not seem to notice that she was tongue-tied and continued the conversation. “I have a confession to make. I followed you out here. I wanted to talk to you earlier, but the young man you’re with is taking his groomsman responsibilities very seriously.” His tenor voice with its soft Southern accent was soothing and mesmerizing. What a voice! She could sit and listen to him talk forever! Words rolled gracefully and rhythmically from his tongue. He could read from the tax law code, and she knew she would sit enthralled.
“I came out here to escape. The room was getting claustrophobic.” Kathryn admitted and smiled up at him. He had the most beautiful eyes! They were like the Caribbean – deep, blue and captivating. His smile made her want to melt. WOW! If this is a dream, don’t wake me up!
“I’d hoped you were taking a break from the groomsman who follows you around like your shadow.”
He’s flirting with me! She thought and felt excitement well up in her. He could be with any woman at this reception, and he is out here with me! Out loud she said, “The groomsman’s name is Bruce, and he’s a very nice man.”
He chuckled. “Nice? That word is not very flattering to a man. It might even break his heart to hear you say that.”
“He’s a bit more resilient than you think.”
“I don’t know, I’m pretty resilient and I wouldn’t want you to break my heart.” His words were like a caress. She felt tingly, as though, he’d physically touched her. “You wouldn’t do that to me…would you?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Kathryn responded airily. Oxygen was becoming thin, and she was beginning to feel giddy. Inwardly she was elated that he was flirting with her and found it hard to keep her voice from revealing her excitement. She prayed that outwardly she looked calm, cool and collected.
“That’s what I’m counting on.” He paused and looked her directly in the eyes.
His remark sucked the words right out of her head! Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable, like a deer that hears a twig snap and is alert and ready to run because it senses a predator is nearby. She knew she was in uncharted and possibly dangerous territory. His eyes held her gaze and seemed to probe to her soul. Why is he out here with me with so many other women inside who are more mature and beautiful? Her brain was crippled with those kinds of thoughts, and all she could muster outwardly was to look at him and smile.
“I’ll confess my true purpose in following you out here, besides getting reacquainted, that is, was that I had hoped you’d do me the honor of a dance.” He bowed slightly towards her.
Kathryn felt herself blush and was glad that dusk was falling, and hoped he hadn’t seen the flame of her cheeks. He wants to dance with me! Is this real or just a vivid daydream? “I’d be delighted,” she managed to say. Her heart started beating fast in anticipation.
“Shall we?” he suggested, extending his hand to her. Without thinking twice, she put her hand into his. How many times had she engaged in fantasies about meeting him again? Seize the moment! Careful, a small, sane voice whispered. Guard your heart. You could fall so easily. Watch for danger. But her heart cried out, Be quiet! Let me enjoy this moment! I’ve never had anyone this handsome or famous pay attention to me before, and I probably never will again. I want to savor this!