Sample Pages from Chapter One of Forever Changed an Amy Brown Story, Novel One by Sharon Ann

One

Amy Brown looked up at the transparent blue sky and considered her new career as a writer.  She had read the works of others extensively and dabbled a little bit on her own.  She enjoyed the feeling of committing word to paper and charting a course for characters.  She chuckled as she remembered playing “Authors” under the shade of a maple tree on a hot, lazy August day some twenty years ago.  Could she really be an author?

“Good morning, sunshine!” rang the voice of a handsome man on his bicycle as he nearly missed her stepping too far to the left on the path.  Tanned and sun-washed he smiled at her with flashing white teeth and sleepy blue eyes. 

“Sorry!  I am not awake yet.  I better stop for some coffee!” she said.

“Care to join a stranger for some latte?”

“You seem friendly enough.  Are you a local?”

“I am now.  I have lived in a few cities and even a few countries before settling in to Ocean Beach.  I am comfortable here now.   Are you interested in getting some coffee?  There is a great place just down from the pier.  Have you been there?  The CoffeeCart?”

“I have been there every morning this week.  They have great coffee and I like the muffins, too.   Do you know Chuck and Sylvia?”

“Of course.  Everyone in Ocean Beach does.  They have owned the CoffeeCart forever.   How do you know them?  Do you live in Ocean Beach?”

“No.”  She hesitated and looked away.  She brushed her windswept hair from her face as she looked out into the ocean.   She really did not want to say more.

“Are you ready for that coffee?” he asked.

She had been spending too much time with her own thoughts.  She really needed some conversation.   What harm could there be in it?   She felt more comfortable knowing Chuck and Sylvia would be at the CoffeeCart. 

“Okay.” she finally replied.  “You seem like you are full of sparkling conversation.”

“Always.”

They walked along in the sun.  He kept himself at a friendly distance and talked about beach architecture and seemed to know who lived in each house.  Some looked like cottages and others reminded her of the homes she saw along the lakes in Northern Illinois.   The yards were filled with colorful plants and some had charming fences along the walkway.  He waved and said hello to those who were walking, biking and skating past.

At the CoffeeCart they ordered two coffees of the day from the girl at the counter and took a seat in the sun.  She could hear the crash of ocean waves and seagulls as she relaxed and breathed cool fresh air into her lungs. 

“What brings you to Ocean Beach?” he said interrupting her thoughts. 

She looked at his face again.  He was so handsome and gentle.  He reminded her of her father.  “The need to see California and the ocean.  I need to think about my future and get away from some things.  I’ve been here for a week.   I could get used to life in Ocean Beach.  Everyone and everything is so mild!”

“Do I seem mild?  I’m not sure I like that description.   Somehow I would rather be thought of as spicy.  Wouldn’t you?”

“Yes, actually.” she chuckled.  “Okay.   Maybe you seem a little spicy.”

“Thanks.  I feel better now.”  He seemed to be studying her intently.

“What?” she asked.

“I’m thinking your name is Whisper ---- or Sunshine ---- or something like that.”

Now she laughed out loud.   What did she look like out here?   “My name is Amy Brown,” she chuckled again.  “ I seldom whisper and I am not always full of sunshine.”

“I see.  It is a pleasure to know you, Amy Brown.  My name is Christopher Bantham.  I am glad I nearly bumped into you on the path.  You have an excellent sense of humor.”

“Thanks, Christopher.  I am glad to meet you, too.”

The conversation skipped a few beats and she was surprised how relaxed she was in this man’s company.   Usually she was ready to jump up and get on to the next thing.  She had been running herself down with activity lately.   She had moved to a new city, making new friends and was writing for profit, too.  She held the warm cup in her hands and was warmed through.  She was actually beginning to feel.  It was hard to explain what she meant.  Her life had been in an uproar and she had been shutting off somehow.  The sunshine, the coffee, the casual conversation were opening her up.  She liked the feeling.

“You mentioned you were getting away from something?  That sounds a little mysterious to me.  Is it?” he asked.

“Maybe a little.  I’m from Farmingville, Illinois,” she said quietly with a tight look on her face.  How could she even begin to tell him about the things she was experiencing?  She was feeling tempted to talk to this handsome stranger.   She had been holding her feelings in and now needed to express them somehow.

“What’s mysterious about Farmingville?  Sounds like a Midwestern dream to me.”

“It was a good dream.  I seemed to have it all for a while.  Good job.  Good husband.  Good home.  My family was all there.   And then there seemed to be a shift.  My life began to change, very subtly at first.  Over the past five years my life has wholly changed.  I’m sure you don’t need to hear this.”

“Your life did not turn out as you had thought or hoped?  I can understand that.  Life takes some detours.  I have always managed to get back on track.  I am doing what I set out to do. My work is…

She didn’t even hear what Christopher was saying.   She noticed the man wearing all black at the corner of the CoffeeCart.   It can’t be.  He looks like the same guy.  

“What is it?” he wanted to know.

She looked terrified.  He turned to follow her gaze but saw nothing.  By then the man had hidden himself around the corner of the cart.

“What is it?” he asked again.

This book is available for purchase in Soft Cover through gallerysharonann.com and in electonic version through the Kindle Store. Novel Two is scheduled to be released in Spring 2012.