The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.
The Boaz Schoolteacher, written in 2018, is my fifth novel. I'll post a chapter a day over the next few weeks.
Book Blurb
In the summer of 2017, Katie Sims and her daughter Cullie, moved from New York City to Katie’s hometown of Boaz, Alabama for her to teach English and for Cullie to attend Boaz High School . Fifteen years earlier, during the Christmas holidays, five men from prominent local families sexually assaulted Katie. Nine months later, Katie’s only daughter was born.
Almost from the beginning of the new school year, as Katie and fellow-teacher Cindy Barker shared English, Literature, and Creative Writing duties for more than 300 students, they became lifelong friends.
For weeks, Katie and Cindy endured the almost constant sexual harassment at the hands of the assistant principal. In mid-October, after Cindy suffered an attack similar to Katie’s from fifteen years earlier, the two teachers designed a unique method to teach the six predators a lesson they would never forget. Katie and Cindy dubbed their plan, Six Red Apples.
Read this mystery-thriller to experience the dilemma the two teachers created for themselves, and to learn the true meaning of real justice. And, eternal friendship.
Chapter 30
I may have slept for a week but for Cindy. At first, I thought I was dreaming. I kept hearing, “oh Father, touch her, oh Father, show her your mighty power, oh Father, give her your peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding. Oh Father, let her know we love her and that she can stay here but give her just the right home whereever that is.” What scared me was the part where I was falling down an elevator shaft, the elevator was speeding just ahead of me and it was on fire. The red flames were licking my face but not burning me. A soft and gentle hand reached up and touched my face. I awoke to Cindy’s flaming red hair and her adorable smile. Our eyes met just as she completed her prayer. I felt, or believed I felt, an electricity rush through my body. Had God been so quick to answer Cindy’s prayer?
“I’m sorry to wake you but I was getting worried. You’ve been asleep nearly twelve hours. It’s six o’clock and I have supper ready.” Cindy said, standing and pulling back a heavy quilt and blanket leaving me covered with only a sheet. “Steve is an enigma. He’s hot natured and can swim in the pool with snow on the ground but can’t go to sleep without a pile of covers.”
It was then I realized I must be in her and Steve’s bed. Yet, the bed seemed small. “I pictured you having a giant king-sized bed.” I said.
“We used to until his mother gave him this bed. He grew up sleeping in this oak oasis as he calls it. I’ve gotten used to it and to sleeping in his arms. He’s one who loves cuddling. At first it wasn’t easy, I’m such a light sleeper. The Ambien helps.”
I laughed to myself. “You’re one lucky woman. He worships you.” For the first time in nearly fifteen years I wanted a man, not just any man, but one who would love me like Steve loved Cindy. After the rape, I couldn’t stand the thoughts of being touched. This revulsion had destroyed mine and Colton’s relationship. We had remained friends, but no couple can survive without intimacy.
“Katie, I know you know this, but I have to say it. I am so sorry for what happened. I know how much you loved Nanny, and Sammie for that matter. I can’t imagine what you are going through.”
“Actually, I haven’t been feeling much of anything. Did you say I’ve been here for twelve hours?”
“Yes, no doubt it was the Valium.”
“What? Valium? You drugged me?” I asked.
“No. Dr. Landers did. Don’t you remember going to the Sand Mountain Clinic?”
“No.”
“He is one of Steve’s fishing buddies. On our drive back from your house, after the fire, Steve called and asked him if he would see you and Cullie. Both of you were in shock or something like it. Dr. Landers met us and examined both of you. He said ya’ll needed to sleep so he prescribed one Valium each. Yours worked better than Cullie’s. She’s been up since noon.”
“How is she?” I couldn’t believe I had lain in Cindy’s bed for half-a-day and not been taking care of Cullie. She had just lost her great-grandmother and no doubt had to be reeling.
“She’s thankful to be alive. She told us about Midnight.”
“Oh my gosh. Midnight. Did he make it out of the house?” I hadn’t even thought about the beautiful black-as-night kitten that had touched Cullie so much she was dreaming about starting an animal shelter.
“No. I’m sorry. I guess we could say he sacrificed his life so you two could live.”
“I’m not following you.”
“Don’t you know? Cullie said if it hadn’t been for Midnight she would have never woken up. And, you probably wouldn’t be here right now. Another few minutes and you two would have been overcome by the smoke.”
“Life sure is held together by a slender thread. A stray kitten is adopted by a teenage girl who happened to stop at one of a dozen gas stations. The kitten goes on to save its new owner and her mother from a raging fire.”
“A fire that was intentionally set.” Cindy said, giving me a look that was at least a cousin to the one when confronted by Wilkins in his office. “Katie, my dearest friend in the whole world. Early this morning, someone tried to kill you and Cullie. They succeeded in killing Nanny and Sammie. And, Midnight. How does that make you feel? Or, are you still in so much shock you can’t feel anything?”
“My feelings are a jumbled mess right now, but my mind just woke up. I know, and you know who did this. There is no doubt in my mind it was the Faking Five. They are the only ones who have any motive. This changes everything. I can take a lot of abuse, but they stepped across the last line when they attacked my family. The idiots, they should know you don’t go fucking around with a mother bear when her cubs are around.”
“This is really not the time to ask but I know our friendship is strong. Do you think you are ready for Six Red Apples?” Cindy asked, pouring her green eyes into me, not cracking a smile.
“Hell yes. Mama Bear is angry.”
Cullie and I stayed a week with Cindy and Steve and their family. They helped us more than we could ever repay. I think Cullie would have stayed forever. She witnessed what a real father was all about. Steve loved his wife and his three children. He worked hard all day at his job but when he was off he invested full time talking, walking, playing, and fishing with the Barker tribe as he called them.
Wednesday, after Nanny’s memorial service, Steve took Alysa and Cullie fishing in Guntersville. I liked how he was a take-charge guy. He had seen how distraught Cullie was at the funeral home. It was something about not being able to see Nanny in her casket that had shaken Cullie to her core. I think it was the fact that the State hadn’t been able to perform an autopsy. She had overheard me talking on the phone with Dr. Vincent. I had made the mistake of having him on speaker, not realizing that Cullie was listening from the hallway outside Steve and Cindy’s bedroom. Dr. Vincent had said, “her body was too badly burned for us to conduct an autopsy.” After the service, Steve had held her in his arms, told her he loved her, and said, “you need a change of scenery. Alysa and I know just the spot.” I will forever be grateful for the miracle he performed that afternoon.
Saturday night, almost a week after the fire, I sat out back on Steve and Cindy’s patio. They had tried to get me to go with them to the Gadsden Mall, something to do I suppose to get out of the house that was growing smaller by the day, even though it was a sprawling ranch, with four bedrooms and a giant great-room/kitchen combination. Cullie loved the idea and tried to persuade me to join them. I couldn’t. That place was too tied to the horrible memories of the worst night of my life. I knew if I went all I would think would be, “I’m watching American Assassin and in six hours I will be nearly burning alive.”
After twenty minutes or so of wondering how, when, and where I would ever get back to writing, my iPhone vibrated in my pocket. It was Sheriff Waldrup. After his wife had given me his cell number I had entered it into my Contacts.
“Hello Sheriff.”
“Katie, can we talk?” It was the second time I had talked to him since the fire. Cindy had said that he had called Sunday afternoon, but she had told him I was in another world and needed to stay there. Monday morning, after breakfast, he had called just to check on me and Cullie and to tell me how sorry he was for our loss. That call had lasted just a couple of minutes.
“Yes.”
“Have you and Cullie made any plans about where you will be living?”
“We’ve been talking about it. Cullie wants to stay here with Alysa. Cindy and Steve are wonderful and said we could stay as long as we wanted but I can’t do that to them. They have a large family and need their space. I’m afraid of how us staying could eventually affect mine and Cindy’s relationship.”
“I have an idea, and please don’t think ill of me.”
“I doubt that will happen.” I said, always thinking of Sheriff Walt Longmire every time I talked with Sheriff Waldrup.
“I have a place you can live until you decide what to do. It’s in Smith’s Institute, right past Sardis City.”
“That’s very generous of you but we couldn’t do that to you and your wife.” I said almost shocked that Walt, Wayne, would be so caring and generous to someone he barely knew.
“Uh, I’m not married.”
“That’s odd. I talked to your wife last Friday night. She told me you were in Atlanta. She also gave me your cell number and said it had been hacked or something.”
“That was my sister. She always comes and babysits my house when I’m out of town. She lives in Rainbow City.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I just figured the very nice lady had to be your wife.”
“She is nice. As was my dear wife. Karen died five years ago. Breast cancer.”
“I’m so sorry. Sheriff, I do appreciate your offer but, quite frankly, it doesn’t seem right.” I couldn’t quite figure out what to say or how to say it. I couldn’t move in with a man, even a very nice man. I had never even met him in person. It would not be what Cullie needed.
“It would seem wrong? Is that what you’re trying to say?”
“Yes.”
“Let me see if I can be clearer. You and Cullie could live in my house. I wouldn’t be living there. My two boys, both grown and gone, built a log cabin on the back side of our property when they were in high school. It became their hangout. It’s about a half-mile from mine and Karen’s house. Way past the pond. Quite frankly, I’d love living there for a while. I’m rarely home and don’t need all this room.”
“We’ll take it. Your house. Under one condition.” I said, not believing I had made such a big decision so quickly but feeling like Cullie and I had squatted at Cindy’s exactly the right amount of time.
“Okay, let me hear it.”
“You promise you will be honest with me, completely honest, and tell me if things are not working out. Cullie and I do need a place to live for a few months. We have pretty much decided to rebuild. I simply cannot see buying or building anywhere else.”
“I promise to be completely honest. Now, when do you want to see my place. Don’t commit fully until you come to kick the tires. You may not like it. Please know you are not under any obligation to take it.”
“I expect it will be just fine. For some reason, I have a feeling that you’re not a slob.”
“Thanks for the compliment but if it weren’t for my sister you might change your mind. Ever since Karen died in 2012, my one and only sister has come to check on me at least once per week. She is a perfectionist when it comes to housekeeping.”
“I promise to take care of your house. Your sister can maintain your cabin.”
“Her name is Rhea. Rhea Armstrong. You remind me of her.”
“How old is she. Forty-six. She’s ten years younger than me.”
“Thanks again for the offer Wayne, Sheriff.” I said embarrassed that I had called him by his first name.
“Call me Wayne. Now, when do you want to take a tour?”
“How about tomorrow afternoon after church, say 2:00 o’clock?”
“Sounds good. If something comes up, I’ll call you. The address is 8853 Sardis Road. If you come to Leeth Gap Road you’ve come too far. My place is the last one on the left before Leeth Gap. It’s a one-story ranch with a red windmill in the pasture in front of the house. You can’t miss it.”
“Cullie and I will see you at 2:00. Thanks so much.”
“Sounds great. Bye.”
I walked around Cindy and Steve’s swimming pool three times after my call ended with Wayne. All I could think of was Cindy’s prayer late Sunday afternoon. She had asked God to give me, Cullie and me, just the right home. Now, here I was with an offer of a place to live, a totally unsuspected offer. Was it God’s will? Had He answered Cindy’s prayer? It sure looked like God was at work. What else could it be?
The Pencil-Driven Life 