![\"This](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.everywritersresource.com\/selfpublished\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/heartbreaks.jpg?resize=492%2C748\" "\\"This")
Author<\/h2>\nDebora Dearth<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She has been active in the churches she has attended in women\u2019s and children\u2019s ministries. She has been an AWANA leader, Bible Study leader, and is currently a Stephen Minister.<\/p>\n
It is her hope that people can feel her love for the Lord in her writing.<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s happiness was contagious, and the women were caught up in the joyous spirit of the occasion.<\/p>\n
Angie and Kathryn stood before the mirror putting on their make-up. \u201cHelen, I certainly hope you\u2019ve invited some eligible men, other than Bruce, to this wedding. Bruce seems to have his eye on Kat and won\u2019t give me – or any other woman for that matter – a second thought!\u201d Angie made no bones about her determination to catch a man at the wedding instead of the bouquet.<\/p>\n
Kathryn stopped brushing mascara on and shook her head at Angie. \u201cYou have a one-track mind!\u201d<\/p>\n
Helen giggled and pulled her wedding dress out of the dress bag. \u201cOf course, I\u2019ve invited some eligible men. Now that I\u2019m married, I have to marry off my best friends!\u201d<\/p>\n
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. \u201cPlease, keep still!\u201d Kathryn ordered. The tiny pearl buttons were slipping from the loops and were hard to connect. \u201cMy fingers are killing me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying!\u201d 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. \u201cNow look! I have a run in my stocking. I need to find another pair!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust calm down, and I\u2019ll see if I can find a new pair.\u201d Kathryn tried to soothe her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so nervous!\u201d Helen nearly wailed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s to be nervous about?\u201d Angie teased. \u201cIf I had a man like Peter – or any man for that matter – who wanted to marry me\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kathryn and Helen laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cKat, you aren\u2019t even dressed,\u201d Helen exclaimed. \u201cHow much time do we have?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have plenty of time. Everything will be beautiful and go off without a hitch. You know I don\u2019t require much time to get ready. Now take a deep breath and relax. I bet I\u2019ll be ready before either of you are!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right. I\u2019m so nervous! \u201d Helen agreed in a more calm voice and took an audible deep breath held it and let it out slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d better watch those deep breaths – you may hyperventilate!\u2019 Angie warned teasingly.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, Angie!\u201d Kathryn scolded. She turned to Helen. \u201cFeeling better?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSort of,\u201d Helen replied.<\/p>\n
Five hundred guests were to attend the wedding and reception. Some of the guests were collogues and clients of Jim\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope Bruce doesn\u2019t embarrass himself and say \u2018I do\u2019 when Pete is supposed to,\u201d Angie teased. \u201cYou know he\u2019ll be gazing at Kat the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, ever since you got here, he\u2019s found excuses to be near you,\u201d Helen added. \u201cYou could do worse, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou both seem to forget something,\u201d Kathryn informed. \u201cI\u2019m not in love with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLove will happen; you just need to spend more time together. I think Bruce is pretty much there. He\u2019ll just have to bring you up to speed,\u201d Angie laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll have to be love from afar. We do live several thousand miles apart. I believe that hinders hand holding on a date,\u201d 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. \u201cHonestly, I wish you two would just stop!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see long and frequent business trips to Cleveland in his future,\u201d Helen joined in teasing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly! If you all will excuse me, I have to get ready. \u201c 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
When Kathryn rejoined them, Helen was putting finishing touches on her makeup as Angie was putting a spritz of hair spray on Helen\u2019s hair. All that was left to do was to put on Helen\u2019s veil.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Helen, you look beautiful,\u201d Kathryn said with a smile.<\/p>\n
Both Angie and Kathryn helped Helen with her veil. Then they added some finishing touches to Helen\u2019s 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\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s day. Kathryn\u2019s dreams could wait.<\/p>\n
Kathryn sat in a chair in front in the mirror. \u201cAngie, could you please French braid my hair? I can\u2019t do anything with it today,\u201d Kathryn asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure. I wish I hadn\u2019t cut my hair so short so I could wear one, too!\u201d Angie remarked as her fingers made short-work of Kathryn\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour hair looks nice the way it is,\u201d Kathryn assured her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks!\u201d Angie said as she concentrated on her task. It didn\u2019t take her long to finish Kathryn\u2019s hair. \u201cAll finished. You look pretty, Kat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks. I do like these dresses. They\u2019re very flattering,\u201d Kathryn said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, me, too! It makes my hips look small, which is a miracle!\u201d Angie remarked.<\/p>\n
There was a moment of silence as each woman studied her reflection in the mirror. Kathryn was the first to speak. \u201cLooks like we\u2019re ready with time to spare!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe these are my last minutes as a single woman!\u201d Helen exclaimed and turned to her friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. Me, either! But you and Peter are going to be so happy and make a wonderful life together,\u201d Kathryn declared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks. I\u2019m so happy you could both be here for me,\u201d Helen said a bit teary. They all hugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have missed it for the world,\u201d Kathryn said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYea, me either,\u201d Angie agreed.<\/p>\n
There was a knock, and it was time for them to walk down the aisle.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019d 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\u2019t want to hurt his feelings, she was in a quandary over what to do about him.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2026tap 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fresh air is nice, isn\u2019t it?\u201d a masculine voice drawled from behind her.<\/p>\n
She jumped. She knew that voice! Unable to believe her ears, she slowly turned around.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, I didn\u2019t mean to startle you.\u201d His voice was low and soft. She didn\u2019t 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. \u201cMontgomery Lawrence\u2026we met a few months ago in Jim\u2019s office,\u201d he reminded her and smiled warmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember you, Mr. Lawrence,\u201d she replied feeling awkward and shy. She looked up at him. Wow, she\u2019d 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\u2019t believe he\u2019s here! Her heart began to hammer so hard, she thought he might hear it thumping against her chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Lawrence is my grandfather. Please, call me Monte,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay\u2026Monte.\u201d Now what am I going to say? I don\u2019t want to sound gauche or stupid. Words swirled in her head like a tornado, and she was unable to grasp any of them.<\/p>\n
He did not seem to notice that she was tongue-tied and continued the conversation. \u201cI have a confession to make. I followed you out here. I wanted to talk to you earlier, but the young man you\u2019re with is taking his groomsman responsibilities very seriously.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came out here to escape. The room was getting claustrophobic.\u201d 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\u2019t wake me up!<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d hoped you were taking a break from the groomsman who follows you around like your shadow.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s 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, \u201cThe groomsman\u2019s name is Bruce, and he\u2019s a very nice man.\u201d<\/p>\n
He chuckled. \u201cNice? That word is not very flattering to a man. It might even break his heart to hear you say that.\u201d
\n\u201cHe\u2019s a bit more resilient than you think.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, I\u2019m pretty resilient and I wouldn\u2019t want you to break my heart.\u201d His words were like a caress. She felt tingly, as though, he\u2019d physically touched her. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t do that to me\u2026would you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t dream of it,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m counting on.\u201d He paused and looked her directly in the eyes.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll confess my true purpose in following you out here, besides getting reacquainted, that is, was that I had hoped you\u2019d do me the honor of a dance.\u201d He bowed slightly towards her.<\/p>\n
Kathryn felt herself blush and was glad that dusk was falling, and hoped he hadn\u2019t seen the flame of her cheeks. He wants to dance with me! Is this real or just a vivid daydream? \u201cI\u2019d be delighted,\u201d she managed to say. Her heart started beating fast in anticipation.<\/p>\n
\u201cShall we?\u201d 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\u2019ve never had anyone this handsome or famous pay attention to me before, and I probably never will again. I want to savor this!<\/p>\n
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http:\/\/www.deborahdearth.com<\/a><\/p>\nBest place to buy your book<\/h2>\n