No Greater Love

by Edwina Orth

Overview

Kathy once lived in a nightmare known only to herself and her abusive husband. She did all she could to hide the sorrow, fear, and anger she felt inside, especially from her two daughters. For Kathy, divorce was a release from Bruce's cruelty, psychological games, and control. To her daughters, it was the start of a period of great resentment.

The stress of Kathy's new home environment only aggravates thirteen-year-old Lisa's compulsive lying. She returns sullen from each weekend visit with her father, increasingly desperate for her parents to reconcile. Kathy, however, is only interested in moving on with her life.

When a chance meeting with a new neighbor rekindles a part of Kathy's heart that she thought was too damanged to ever love again, she's taken aback. But she cannot deny her attraction to Matthew, and soon, the wounded divorcée is transformed into a bride-to-be. Enraged, Lisa tells a devastating lie about Matthew, in the hopes that her mother will cancel the wedding. Not yet satisfied with the results, Lisa coerces her sister to lie for her, and the young girl's false testimony is enough to get Matthew convicted and sentenced to years in prison.

Knowing with every fiber of her being that her fiancé is innocent, Kathy prays that the truth will somehow emerge. Can she convince her daughters to step up and do the right thing to save Matthew? She needs a miracle-perhaps the miracle of love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781491706152
Publisher:	iUniverse, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/16/2013
Pages:	122
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.26(d)

Read an Excerpt

No Greater Love

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By Edwina Orth

iUniverse LLC

Copyright © 2013 Edwina Orth
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4917-0615-2

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CHAPTER 1

Mathew walked along the path that led to the lake.

He dew in deep breaths of the cool air. God, how good it felt to be outdoors at last. His eyes roved over the landscape, taking in the fall colors. So far, they were mostly gold or light brown. He flexed his shoulders as he felt the cool breeze. It was early September, and already Vermont had coolness in the early morning breeze. He wore an Irish fisherman's sweater over a flannel shirt. He liked an early morning walk. It cleared his mind and helped start the day right.

He thought of his computer repair job, and he began to review the work he had done yesterday. The work he had just completed had been more complicated than usual, and he had put in lots of overtime while finding the cause of the trouble. Computers could be tricky, but he really loved his job.

It was his coworker, Charlie, who bugged him. Mathew had to explain so many things to him that he wondered if Charlie knew anything about computers. Charlie had been working for the company for over a year. He had seniority, and he knew it. It took all of Mathew's patience to deal with Charlie's smug attitude. Someday I'll have enough money saved so I can quit this job at B and B computers and have my own business.

He rounded the bend and saw the lake ahead of him. Gulls wheeled over the water with their harsh cries, looking for food. He stood for a while absorbing it all—the mountains in the distance and the sun reflected on the water. He became conscious of someone watching him. It was a girl, perhaps twelve or thirteen years old, sitting with an open book cradled in her arms.

He waved and almost turned to leave when he heard her hiccup. Was she crying? He looked more closely and saw her red eyes and tear-stained face. Slowly he walked up to her. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Can I be of help?"

She shook her head and murmured, "No thanks."

Mathew felt her cool, wary stare and backed away. He decided that she was better off left alone. He might frighten her if he probed.

He turned and began walking back to his house, a small Cape Cod. It was made of wood and stone. He had lived in it for two months. He felt lucky to have found it before he had started his new job. There was still open country around, and Lake Champlain was special. The Adirondacks were across the lake. He never would be tired of looking at those rugged peaks.

He saw a woman running toward him. She was dressed in form-hugging jeans and a blue sweater. Her auburn hair was awry, and her expression was anxious. "Have you seen a young girl anywhere up the path? I have to find her."

Mathew nodded. "Yes, there is a girl reading by the water. I guess she's about another hundred feet or so. She looked to be crying, but I am not sure."

"Thanks." If possible, the woman ran faster, and she soon was around the bend and out of sight.

I wonder who they are and where they are from. I haven't seen then around before. There were several homes nearby, but he hadn't met any neighbors yet. I wonder if that is her daughter. If so, she's very young to have a child that age.

Kathy waved good-bye to the man. Knowing that her daughter was close, she ran even faster and almost stumbled in her haste. Her daughters had just come back from a visit with their father. They were always upset and hard to deal with after seeing him. She had tried to figure it out and had come to the conclusion that he was still angry with her because of the divorce.

It was hard for them to understand. They wished that the family could be together again. Kathy never bad-mouthed their father, but she was aware that he made untrue remarks about her to the children.

When Kathy saw her daughter with red, puffy eyes, she stopped to gain some poise. What can I do to help her? What makes her so hard to understand? It had to be more than just a visit to her father. Is she unhappy at school? She seems to have few friends, and she says that some of the girls lie about her. They say Lisa tells whoppers. Mrs. Tyson, her teacher, had recommended a child psychiatrist. She even gave me several names for me to call. I'm not ready for that yet. That just might upset Lisa and make her mistrust me even more.

Kathy said, "Lisa, I've been looking all over for you. You've been crying. What's wrong? You know you only have to tell me, and I'll do all I can help you."

Lisa glared at her mother and turned her head away. Finally, she said, "You'll never understand. Daddy's not interested in me. The girls at school all hate me. You're so busy with your job that you don't have time to listen to me or even want to."

"I am sorry that you're upset. I do listen when I can, but you tell such stories that people just don't believe you anymore. If you told the truth, without adding all those imaginary tidbits, you would be believed. Also, you know that I have to work. We need the money that my job brings in, and that can't be changed."

"You wouldn't have to work if you and Dad were together again."

Kathy bit her tongue. Lisa didn't understand and probably never would. Kathy hadn't told her any of the reasons for the divorce. It would not be right to tell her of the abuse and unfaithful behavior. How do you explain psychological abuse or a hateful, destroying relationship to a child?

"Let's not go there, Lisa. I will not say any harsh words about your father. However, I had my reasons for what I did. Come on now. Lunch is waiting, and I promised to take you and Noreen to the mall this afternoon."

Lisa's face brightened, and she rose to follow her mother. Lisa was a slim, gangly girl. She had dark blue eyes and attractive auburn hair. She was never happy with her looks and seemed ill at ease. She was still growing and uncomfortable with it.

"Mom, there was a strange man who walked close to me as I was reading. He tried to talk to me, but I didn't answer him. He looked weird. Do you know him? I never saw him before. He had a scowl on his face, and I was afraid."

Kathy didn't reply for a moment. Then said, "I met him too. I asked if he had seen you. He seemed very nice to me. He said that he had noticed you reading. I don't think you should judge someone so quickly, but you were right to be cautious. He may live on our street. The house that was vacant for months is now occupied. He may be our new neighbor."

"Well, I don't like him. He was rude and scared me. I hope we don't ever see him again."

Kathy thought about what her daughter had said. The man had been pleasant and helpful. He didn't seem to be a person to be afraid of. Her daughter was getting more and more difficult to understand. Perhaps she was wrong to refuse the help of a child psychiatrist. However, that was a last resort.

CHAPTER 2

After saying good-bye to the woman, Mathew left the walking path and turned onto his block. As he neared his house, he thought of how lonely his life was. He had moved there from Atlanta and had made no friends. The bar scene didn't appeal to him, and most of his coworkers were married. Perhaps he should get a dog. There was lots of room in his yard to keep a dog happy. He could put up a fence so the dog could be safe from traffic. He imagined a black or yellow lab. In his mind, he could almost hear a yap, yap as he came closer to his house.

He had heard right. Sure enough, a mangy dog was sitting close to his house. He couldn't tell the breed, and it looked like it had been dumped in grease and dirt. He didn't see a collar.

Mathew walked up to the shivering dog. "Now where did you come from?" As he looked into the pleading eyes of the sorry creature, he shook his head. "I think a bath first, then some food, and a place to sleep until I can find your owner."

He went into the house through the back door. He changed into old jeans and an even older shirt. He went back outdoors to the shivering dog. He took a short rope, placed it around the dog's neck, and led it into the garage.

There was a utility room off the garage with a deep washtub for heavy-duty cleanup work. The dog wasn't happy and jerked wildly to be free.

When Mathew finally got the dog into the tub, he quickly began to shampoo and rinse off the shivering dog. He had to shampoo the dog three times before he was clean. When the job was finished, the garage needed cleaning too, but the dog looked and smelled much better.

Soon, the bowl of water was almost empty, and Mathew wondered what to feed the starving dog. He decided on scrambled eggs and some well-cooked bacon. After downing it in a hurry, the dog rolled over and held up his paws, almost asking for a good rub. Mathew patted the dog's head and belly and laughed at how easily the dog had gotten what he wanted. It seemed as if Mathew had found a friend at last. Mathew looked the dog over carefully and decided he was a mixed breed.

Later that evening, Mathew put the rope around the dog's neck and took him for a walk. The dog tired easily, and Mathew brought him back and found an old blanket for a sleeping pad. After circling several times, the dog gave a soft woof and settled in for the night.

Mathew was too wired to sleep. He thought of how strange the day had been. If he could not find the dog's owner, he would like to keep him. After he fell asleep, the furry body snuggled next to him.

Mathew groggily opened his eyes. The dog was resting on his bed. He woofed softly and darned if he didn't seem to smile. Mathew dressed in jeans and a sweater; after securing the rope around the dog, he took him for a long walk. The morning was cloudy and cool, just right for September. The leaves were turning, and there was a nip in the air. The dog chased leaves and looked up to see if Mathew had noticed his antics.

As he turned to go home, he saw a woman and a dog walking toward him. As she drew closer, he recognized her as the woman who had been looking for her daughter. As they drew closer, he noted her slim but rounded figure, her neat wavy auburn hair, and her thoughtful look.

"Good morning," Mathew said with a smile. "Do you recognize this dog? I found him sitting by my house yesterday. I believe he may have been abandoned or separated from his owner. By the way, my name is Mathew Kennedy. My nickname is Skip. I live in the last house on this road—the one with the blue trim."

"Good morning, Mr. Kennedy. I live on this street too, the third house down on the left. How did you get that nickname?"

"When I was in college, I did some volunteer work with some teenage boys. I taught them karate. I used to skip a little before I gave the high kick that helped them defend themselves. They called me Skip, and it just stuck, I guess."

"I would have liked to have seen you do that. My name is Katherine Hilliard, and Kathy is the short version. I haven't seen this dog before. He seems to like you though. Perhaps you can keep him."

"Yes, I'd like to. I first have to find out if he has an owner somewhere. I plan to visit several veterinarians. Perhaps they will recognize him."

"That's a great idea. You ought to get him checked out by one of them if you plan to keep him. They can give you lots of good information on feeding, training, and exercise. What are you going to call him?"

Mathew rubbed his face. He thought about a name, but nothing came to mind. "I guess I'll have to decide that later. He may already have an owner and a name."

A shrill voice yelled, "Mother! You're wanted on the phone. Hurry up!"

"I guess I'd better run on home. There may be a phone call. My daughter gets things mixed up at times." With a smile and a wave, Kathy hurried toward her house.

When Kathy came into the living room, there was no one on the phone.

"I guess they hung up," Lisa said.

Kathy sighed. "Why didn't you take down their name for me? You know how to answer the phone properly; you just don't take the time."

"Sorry, Mom. I'll do better next time."

When Lisa left the room, Kathy could swear she heard a giggle. A frown marred Kathy's face as she recalled several calls from Josh, a man she sometimes dated, that she had not been told about. Is Lisa trying to interfere with my social life? If so, why?

CHAPTER 3

Mathew made several trips to local veterinarians. None had seen the dog before. He had the vet closest to his house give the dog a checkup. To be on the safe side, the dog got a rabies shot and flea protection.

"I guess you are going to be staying with me, fuzzy face. At least I hope so."

A tired woof made Mathew realize that the dog was just plain tuckered out. He pulled into his garage and decided to feed the dog and take him outdoors for a few minutes.

Later, after fixing his own dinner, Mathew did some work on his computer and watched television for a while. Before bed, he took the dog for another walk. He passed by Kathy's darkened house. He imagined her ready for bed, dressed in a sheer nightgown. He could not get her out of his mind as he walked home. Did she have a special relationship with someone? Would she go out on a date with him?

He laughed at his daydreams. He'd only just met her—and now he was planning strategies to get closer to her. She was already burdened with an ex-husband, two daughters, and if he guessed right, more than a few problems. Divorces were usually messy, and he felt her divorce was still causing the family stress. Still, he thought, she was really lovely, and he would like to have someone special in his life. Not just someone though, but an auburn-haired, warm bit of femininity.

He had to get her out of his mind if he ever wanted to get to sleep. He tried thinking of names for the dog. Finally he chose Skipper and drifted asleep, only to dream of an auburn-haired woman with sparkling eyes, a turned-up nose, and a cute, rounded derrière.

* * *

Waking early, Mathew quickly dressed and took Skipper for a short walk. He decided that he couldn't leave the dog alone in the house all day. He needed to be fed, watered, and walked. He decided to take him to work until he could get a fence built. He remembered to take a bowl for water and some kibbles for Skipper's lunch.

Mathew called several contractors for a price quote on the fence. He chose a metal one with a gate that attached to the house. The dog should be safe there and be able to run and play. He thought of how his life had changed in just a few days. The stray dog had cost him money—and would cost even more with the fence—but he would have fun watching Skipper chase his tail, run to greet him, and snuggle close at night. Yes, it was worth every penny.

He took Skipper to work with him every day that week. The dog seemed to know he was to keep quiet and stayed under the desk until Mathew could take him outside for his noon walk and lunch.

By Tuesday of the following week, the fence was up. He knew that Skipper would not like staying at home, but it was the best he could do for now. Each night, he took the dog for a long walk, and soon a routine was set. A lasting bond had been forged between man and dog.

* * *

Mathew was in the yard playing with Skipper when Kathy stopped at the fence with her dog. He felt a jolt of happy surprise as he looked at her soft hair and gentle smile. She wore jeans, a lavender sweater, and walking shoes with purple laces. She looked more like twenty than the thirty-six he thought she was.

"Hi, Kathy," he said and gave her a welcome wave. "Come on in and bring your pooch with you. I think they will get along okay. Skipper isn't a vicious dog—just a little afraid of anything new. He still has to get used to things here."

Kathy opened the gate and brought in her dog. "My dog's name is Sheeba. She is spayed, of course, and is six years old."

Mathew leaned down to pet the dog. Sheeba wiggled in ecstasy. Skipper came over to touch noses with his new friend, and as soon as Kathy undid the leash, they ran and jumped together. It looked as if they were playing tag. The dogs wore themselves out and collapsed in a heap.

The antics of the dogs lifted Kathy's spirits. She was laughing, and Mathew couldn't take his eyes off of her. "Want to come in for a cup of tea or coffee?" he asked.

"Okay. That would be nice."

Except for a few dates with Josh, Mathew was the first man she'd taken notice of since her divorce. Mathew was slim and muscular. His face made her look twice, and she noticed his strong chin, healthy complexion, and dark brown eyes. He had a unique quietness about him, a composed confidence that made her want to trust him.
(Continues...)

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Excerpted from No Greater Love by Edwina Orth. Copyright © 2013 Edwina Orth. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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