Pivotal Moments

by Cheryl Labruzzo

Overview

Chanel Ryan weathered a hardship in her life and decided it was time to make a drastic change. Her soul in tatters, she moves from her sunny hometown in Florida to Alaska. As she adjusts to a completely different climate and lifestyle, she notices changes in herself for the better. She finds herself evolving into a stronger more confident image of her former self.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524655136
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	12/15/2016
Pages:	110
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.26(d)

Read an Excerpt

Pivotal Moments

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By Cheryl LaBruzzo

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2017 Cheryl LaBruzzo
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5246-5513-6

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CHAPTER 1

Seriously? When had she become so incredibly boring? Honestly, it was almost impossible to recall the last time she had been even remotely impulsive. For too long now, she had been labeled as the practical, reliable, dependable — and oh yeah, let's not forget to mention incredibly boring — Chanel Ryan.

Chanel leaned back in her chair when it dawned on her that she was never impulsive anymore. What had happened to her inner child? The one who was full of fun and had such a delightful sense of adventure? Somehow she must have gotten kicked to the curb when the responsibilities of Chanel's life had taken over.

Well, not anymore.

Leaning forward again, Chanel grabbed the pen, and without hesitation signed on the dotted line.

Oh, yeah, not so predictable now, am I?

Okay, maybe it was impulsive, but that was what made it fun. From now on, Chanel decided, she was going to be more impulsive and trust her instincts. She was simply going to have faith that her life would work itself out. Besides, being the responsible one all the time was exhausting.

Closing the door behind the real estate agent Chanel turned and stepped back into the massive hallway. Crossing the downstairs living area, she opened the French doors to her balcony, stepped outside, and gripped the railing while leaning forward to take a deep breath of the cool, fresh air.

Drinking in the view from her newly purchased home, Chanel was certain she had made the right choice. She loved this house, and even though buying a house on impulse was completely out of character for her, in a crazy way, she felt more in control of her life than she had in a very, very long time.

The midmorning sun was warm as it caressed her skin, and she leaned farther out to allow her eyes to drift lazily over the boats in the harbor before they slowly wandered up to the snow-dusted mountains in the distance. Her view was simply breathtaking. Basking in its splendor, she allowed herself a few more delightful minutes of complete bliss before turning to go back inside.

Realizing that she had put it off long enough, she decided it was time to call her mother and fill her in on her latest, well, as her mother would say, "Shenanigans."

As she searched for her phone, Chanel silently rehearsed her lines and mentally braced herself for a scolding. Without a doubt, this kind of ridiculously crazy behavior would cause her mother to wonder if she'd completely lost her mind, therefore guaranteeing a lengthy lecture.

Oh, well, I might as well get it over with.

Just then her cell phone buzzed, identifying its location on the corner table, and the caller ID showed her mom's face smiling at her from the screen.

As usual, her timing is perfect.

"Hi, Mom," she said trying to sound carefree and cheerful but not quite succeeding.

"Chanel, what's going on? Where are you?"

"I'm in Sitka, Mom. Hey, guess what? I bought a house!"

"You bought a house? In Sitka? Where is that? Isn't it over by Marco Island?"

Chanel couldn't hold back the small nervous chuckle that bubbled out. "No, Mom. Sitka's not in Florida, it's in Alaska."

"Alaska!?" her mom chirped in a high, anxious pitch.

There was a brief pause and then Chanel heard her mom call out, "Clifford, do you know where your daughter is? Do you have any idea what she's up to now?"

Chanel adjusted her grip on the cell phone and briefly considered hanging up.

Oops. Sorry, Mom. Bad reception and all.

But of course, that just meant that her parents would jump on board their private jet and head out of the Sunshine State on their way to the Last Frontier. Nope, the best thing to do was just deal with it right now and get it over with.

Chanel turned her attention back to the phone when she heard her mother squeal, "Is Alaska even in the United States?"

Even though she tried to hold it in, a very unladylike snort escaped before she could reply, "Gee, I think so, Mom. Let me go check my map."

Her mother was not amused. "Clifford, you need to go and get your daughter. Right now!"

"Mom, relax. I'm a grown woman. I can make my own decisions. You raised me well." She paused before adding proudly, "Remember, I am the CEO of my own company."

"CEO? What are you talking about? You sell spices over that Internet thingy."

Chanel rolled her eyes and patiently replied, "We sell herbal remedies, Mom." She added smugly, "I'll have you know that C.R. Botanicals sold more than 2.7 million dollars of products last year alone."

Either her mom didn't hear her, or she simply chose to ignore her.

"Does Grant know you bought a house in Alaska?"

Oh, okay, just change the subject. As if I want to talk about that pig.

"Honestly, Mom, I don't give a shit what he knows."

Well, okay, so that part might not be true. Truth be told, she would be ecstatic if Grant thought she had run off to Alaska with some handsome, rugged mountain man, but the sad fact was that it simply wasn't true.

While that lying, cheating, son of a bitch strutted around Palm Beach with his new toy — the twenty-year-old yoga instructor — she had the pleasure of enjoying this quaint little seaside town all by herself.

"Language," her mother said. "What just came out of your mouth I wouldn't hold in my hands." She paused momentarily before asking, "Are you and Grant still having problems?"

"Not anymore. I filed for divorce."

CHAPTER 2

After her husband's first affair, Chanel had been naive enough to think he would change, that somehow their relationship was just as important to him as it was to her. But she was wrong. It seemed she was the only one determined to save their marriage. In fact, it was Chanel who insisted that they "try again." She was confident that he had simply made a mistake, and that in time, he would rediscover his love for her, and for the first few months it seemed to be working.

Grant showered her with attention, giving her jewelry, roses, and sappy promises about a lifetime together. She was ridiculously happy for a while, believing that by some stroke of luck, they had survived the near nuclear fallout of their marriage. She honestly believed that he felt the same way about her as she did about him. They were in love, and sometimes when two people are together long enough, they make mistakes, but you can learn from them and move on, can't you? After all, we're only human, and mistakes are simply about learning lessons and are meant to be forgiven. Right?

Her mind reflected on one of her father's famous "pearls of wisdom."

Shortly before she married Grant, her dad had sat her down to inform her that if she was looking for the "perfect man" in Grant, she was bound to be disappointed. She wasn't going to find him because, as he put it, the "perfect man" didn't exist. He then went on to explain that Grant was just a man, and that men, quite frankly, were less than perfect.

Grinning, he pulled her in for a hug before adding, "On that note, if Grant is looking for the 'perfect woman' in you, he too will be disappointed, because he isn't going to find her in you either."

Chanel had gasped dramatically and pulled away while ferociously batting her eyelashes in her dad's direction. "What!? You don't think I'm perfect?"

Her dad had kissed her on the cheek. "Of course I do, sweetheart, but I'm smarter than he is." He then tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. "You are absolutely amazing."

She would come to find out that her dad was right about Grant: he wasn't as perfect as she believed him to be, and on that fateful eye-opening day when she found out that he had deceived her again, she knew it was time to accept the fact that the love he promised was nothing more than a big fat lie. That's when she had realized that she did not want to be his wife anymore. She could overlook his infidelity one time-and chalk it up to a mistake, but not twice. The second time made it look more like the beginning of a bad habit. She was tired of being the only one who cared about their relationship, and to be honest, he wasn't worth the trouble. She was ready for a change, and Sitka was beckoning.

Now that Chanel was settled and everything was unpacked and in place, she found herself getting restless. She was pacing, moving from room to room, checking the view from every window in her house and thinking too much. The stress of the move, combined with the lack of sleep, had left her feeling edgy. She needed to do something to work off the anger, frustration, and yes, the loneliness that felt like a dark cloud slowly drifting her way. Being cooped up inside, as much as she loved her new home, was not helping.

It was time to get her butt outside and go on a self-guided tour of her beautiful new hometown. She had been drawn to Sitka because of its rich culture and history, not to mention the breathtaking views where mountains rose straight up from the sea, so what was she waiting for?

Grabbing her keys and slipping into a light jacket, she left her house and took a short walk to the visitors' center. While there, she found a tourist map of the downtown area and then took her time, leisurely wandering around the museum. She was amazed to discover so many interesting historical facts about the blending of the Russian and Native cultures in Sitka that made it so appealing.

For example, Chanel was pleasantly surprised and fascinated to discover that Sitka was the site of the actual signing that took place when the United States purchased Alaska from Russia.

Wandering over to a section displaying Tlingit tribal art, Chanel discovered that originally Sitka had been settled by the Tlingit people. After several messy skirmishes and battles, the Russians took control. Then, karma happened, and years later, Russia went through huge economic turmoil and had to sell Alaska. They offered it to the United States, and the purchase and transfer took place right there, in Sitka, for the sum of 7.2 million dollars, which was a healthy amount back in 1867.

Chanel wanted to stay longer at the museum, hungry to discover all the local historical facts about her new hometown. Everything she read grabbed her attention, but the day was simply too gorgeous to stay inside. Reluctantly she started toward the exit, making a mental note to come back on a rainy day to continue her exploration.

Once outside, she followed the sidewalk and began to walk up Lake Street, drinking in all the natural, untamed beauty she was finding in this quiet little seaside town.

The sun was shining in a clear blue sky, and the air was cool and crisp as it drifted down off the mountains. It was quite a contrast to the humid subtropical climate where she was raised, and she found it incredibly refreshing. Back home, in Florida, the weather was so unpredictable that one minute you were baking in the sun and the next you were running for shelter, trying to escape the pouring rain.

Continuing her stroll up Lake Street, she stopped to admire a patch of fireweed growing along the pavement. Having studied botanicals for years, she knew that fireweed was a good source of vitamin C and pro-vitamin A, and the best way to absorb its nutrients was to sneak it into delicious foods, like jellies and syrups. But she had never seen it grow in such abundance. Her head started spinning with ideas, and she couldn't wait to come back later to collect a handful so she could test a couple of recipes.

She started walking again and stopped at the corner red light, fishing in her bag for the map. Studying the map, it dawned on her just how rich Sitka was in history. The small town hosted about twenty historical sites and buildings — much more than she could possibly explore in one day. But hey, there was no rush. She planned to take her time and uncover its many treasures at her leisure.

Checking her location on the map, she started out in the direction of her first historical site, to explore a place called Swan Lake. The small man-made lake in the center of town, created sometime during the Russian occupation, was conveniently located on the next block.

CHAPTER 3

From the local fire station across the street, Luke Tanner watched the beautiful woman coming up the street. She stopped directly across from the station and took out a map. Her auburn-red hair tumbled over her shoulders. She was wearing a light blue jacket and a pair of jeans that did little to hide her delicate but shapely figure. The image caused Luke to turn away. He did not want to go there. Things had been complicated lately, and as tempting as it might have been to enjoy a casual fling with a tourist, that was not in his game plan.

Despite his best intentions, Luke turned back for a second look. The woman wasn't doing a thing except studying a map while the rays of the sun streamed through the waves in her hair. She bit her bottom lip, which almost made him smile, and in that moment Luke knew that what he was seeing was an image he wouldn't be able to chase from his mind anytime soon.

His best friend, Joe, walked over to stand beside him. "Who's that?" he asked.

"How should I know?" Luke replied, scowling at the woman across the street.

"You haven't taken your eyes off her since she came around the corner."

"No crime in looking."

"She sure is pretty."

"Yeah, so?" He looked over at Joe and noticed the cocky grin on his face. "What?"

"You've got that look in your eye —'bout time," Joe said, slipping his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels.

"No, I don't. I don't have that look." Luke hooked his arm around Joe's neck, maneuvering him into a gripping headlock. "Take it back."

It wasn't uncommon for Luke and Joe to get into playful wrestling matches or behave mischievously while on shift, both being pranksters, and more often than not, the code words clam chowder could be heard when the two of them were on duty. The other guys had adopted the term as a warning that the department chief was headed their way.

The truth was, Luke thought of Joe as more of a brother than his best friend, and right then, he intended to show the little punk who was boss. They were equally matched physically, both very competitive, and both in great shape as firefighters, so usually it was a toss-up when they locked horns as to who would come out on top. This time Luke intended to win, and he had the advantage because he was slightly offended and even a little pissed off by the truth in Joe's last statement.

The rest of the guys on shift started placing their bets on the table, and not hearing anything about having "clam chowder" for dinner, Luke and Joe scuffled in their dogfight for a few more minutes before Joe managed to break free and backed up, laughing. Hands in the air, he called for a truce.

"Look, you fell in love with someone, and she broke your heart," he said. "I get it — cry me a river. But it's time to cash in your chips and call it a loss. It's time to move on, buddy." He smiled wolfishly over to the table where the guys were quickly divvying up their winnings, jerked his head in the direction of the woman across the street, and then looked back at Luke. "Besides, you know what they always say ... The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else."

Luke shook his head, eyes locked on the woman. "Not my type."

"Is there something you're not telling us? Because unless you've switched teams and are suddenly into guys, she is definitely your type."

"She looks high maintenance to me. Been there, done that. Women like her are a lot of work."

"Some of them are worth it," Joe said, slapping Luke on the back before following the guys to the firehouse kitchen for a snack.

"Says the guy jumping from bed to bed," Luke mumbled, his eyes still glued on the woman until she finally disappeared down the street.

Luke wasn't vain, and he didn't get hung up on his looks. But he wasn't stupid either. He knew that all the hunting, fishing, hiking, and kayaking he did in his free time kept him in good shape, and as luck would have it, most women found his rugged looks attractive. He was used to getting pretty much what he wanted out of his relationships.

When the last one didn't go quite the way he'd planned, it had stung, so as a precaution, he had decided to swear off women for a while. He wanted to give himself enough time to figure things out. Now wasn't that time; it was still too soon. The previous month had marked a year since his breakup, and it still felt like he had an open wound that refused to heal.

He'd met Brooklyn when he went out to California for some additional hazmat training, and was instantly hooked. She was a knockout, living in Hollywood and working on her acting career. By the time they'd met, she had already managed to land a small walk-on part on a popular TV show. She was convinced she would be famous someday, and although none of that impressed Luke, he was attracted to her.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Pivotal Moments by Cheryl LaBruzzo. Copyright © 2017 Cheryl LaBruzzo. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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