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    Desires of the Heart
    Desires of the Heart
    Desires of the Heart
    Ebook105 pages1 hour

    Desires of the Heart

    By Linda LaRoque

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    About this ebook

    Loren Fairchild longs for children, but is barren. At a cottage in Carlisle, UK, she puts her divorce behind her and begins a new life. In 1947 the former owner's wife disappeared. That same week, according to local gossip, her husband took up with a dark-headed harlot. One morning in 2007, a simple-minded woman appears at Loren's cottage and triggers events that change Loren's life forever.

    Miles Chapeau misses the wife, the mother of his two children, he'd known before the war. When he returned from WWII in 1945, he learned she'd been hurt in an air raid and has the mind of a child. He loves her and would never forsake his duty, but misses the intimate side of marriage and a woman to share his life. One day she disappears and his existence is turned upside down.
     

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLG Smith Books
    Release dateApr 27, 2013
    ISBN9780989379212
    Desires of the Heart

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      Book preview

      Desires of the Heart - Linda LaRoque

      Table of Contents

      Title Page

      Desires of the Heart

      Desires of the Heart

      Linda LaRoque

      Other Books by Linda LaRoque

      Linda’s Bio

      Table of Contents

      Title Page

      Desires of the Heart

      Desires of the Heart

      Linda LaRoque

      Other Books by Linda LaRoque

      Linda’s Bio

      Loren Fairchild longs for children, but is barren. At a cottage in Carlisle, UK, she puts her divorce behind her and begins a new life. In 1947 the former owner’s wife disappeared. That same week, according to local gossip, her husband took up with a dark-headed harlot. One morning in 2007, a simple-minded woman appears at Loren’s cottage and triggers events that change Loren’s life forever.

      Miles Chapeau misses the wife, the mother of his two children, he’d known before the war. When he returned from WWII in 1945, he learned she’d been hurt in an air raid and has the mind of a child. He loves her and would never forsake his duty, but misses the intimate side of marriage and a woman to share his life. One day she disappears and his existence is turned upside down.

      Desires of the Heart

      a Novella by

      Linda LaRoque

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidences either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, scanned, distributed, stored in, or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system in any form, whether electronic or mechanical, either now known or developed in the future, without the express written permission of the author, except by a reviewer for review purposes.

      Desires of the Heart

      Copyright © 2008 by Linda LaRoque

      ISBN: 978-0-9893792-1-2

      Cover Art: Diana Carlile

      Second Digital Edition (Revised) April 2013

      First Digital Edition 2008 by The Wild Rose Press

      License Notes

      This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work in whole or in part is illegal. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people unless in a qualified lending program. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the provider and purchase your own copy. Do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      References and Acknowledgements:

      Fashion Sourcebooks, the 1940s; Peacock, John; 1998 Thames and Hudson, Ltd; London.

      Early History of X-Rays SLAC

      http://www.slac.stanford.edu/pubs/beamline/25/2/25-2-assmus.pdf

      X-Ray Shoe Fitting Machine

      http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/artifacts/archives/002457.asp

      Chapter One

      Houston, Texas, August 2007

      Loren lay unmoving as her husband rammed into her body again and again, each thrust a blow to her heart. A tear rolled down her cheek, but she bit her lip to keep from crying out. The act she’d once taken such joy in now broke her heart. It was an offense to her body. How had their lovemaking come to this? At long last, he groaned and warm semen filled her—the life giving fluid that would never take root in her infertile body.

      Randall rolled onto his back, breathing in deep gasps. If that didn’t make a baby, nothing will.

      The fool man actually thought his virility could nullify what the doctor told them. How had she not noticed how thoughtless and egotistical he was before they married? Loren and Randall had such high hopes for a family in the beginning, but they’d been shattered. She would never become pregnant, feel her child move, or nurse it at her breast. Randall’s answer was, Doctors don’t know everything. We just have to try harder.

      From that time on, they didn’t make love, they had sex—raw, rough, heart-destroying sex—sex that became more painful for her each time he touched her. He couldn’t keep his frustration and hurt out of his touch.

      Loren rolled to her side, her back to him, and drew her knees up to her chest. Fist in her mouth, she struggled not to sob out loud. She didn’t care if he heard her cry, but didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. With each tear that fell, the tiny bit of love she’d hidden away for him died a little more. Her well had dried up.

      He scoffed. Stop that sniveling, Loren. I didn’t hurt you. You wouldn’t be so dry if you’d loosen up a bit.

      She jumped off the bed and turned on him. Fists propped on her hips, she snarled, Loosen up? How can I do that when every time you put your hands on me, there is no longer tenderness, no love?

      He lurched out of the bed, his beautiful body outlined in the moonlight. It used to bring her such pleasure to just look at him—the wide chest, narrow waist and hips. Now Loren glanced away from his nakedness as if seeing him thus was an invasion of his privacy. He was no longer the man she’d fallen in love with. Hands fisted at his side, his sex lying limp between his hairy legs, he sputtered, What the hell are you talking about? You’ve never complained before. He raked his hands through his dark blonde hair. It’s you. You’re like a dried-up prune.

      She grabbed her robe off the bed, put it on, tied the sash in a knot and pointed to the bed. Think about what just happened there. Do you call that making love? she blurted. Hell no. You crawl on me, rut like a hog, and then roll off.

      He looked at her like she’d lost her marbles, and then back at the bed. Fury transformed his features; he shook his head, and opened his mouth to speak. She held up a hand. Don’t bother. I don’t want to hear it. It’s over for us, Randall. Do you hear me? Her voice rose to a shriek. Over!

      Now, just a minute. Let’s talk about this.

      He’d been cheating on her for several months. Why the hell she hadn’t kicked him out when she first found out, she didn’t know. Denial probably. It’s too late for talking. I’m leaving for Daddy’s cottage in Carlisle tomorrow for an extended vacation. When I get back I want your things out of here so we can put the house on the market.

      You’ve got a lot to lose so I wouldn’t do anything rash. You won’t be living the high life you are now.

      "Rash, let’s talk about rashes for a minute. You’ve been scratching yours with Amy for months now so I don’t think my decision is rash." Got you there, asshole. And if he pisses me off, I just might fight in court to get a larger settlement. And furthermore, I don’t need your money. I’ll do just fine on my own.

      His jaw dropped, he clenched his fists and bellowed. Shit! She doesn’t mean anything to me. She’s just a distraction... you know, a fling. He ran his eyes down her body and then back up to her face, measuring

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