This is a sample of my new novel titled The Enchanted Oasis. Please understand this is a rough draft. Copyright laws apply. Please feel free to browse the site to enjoy the book trailers, sample audio books and the prologue and first chapters of my current and upcoming novels. Comments and questions are always welcome.
Coming soon: Valerie Bowen's The Enchanted Oasis
Prologue
Mary Simmons sat on her hospital bed with her husband Bob at her side. The young couple was anxiously waiting for the arrival of their first child. The pregnancy was normal with no signs of complications. As her labor intensified Bob grew more and more distressed while he stood helplessly at her bedside and watched as his wife suffered through extensive pain. When their daughter finally burst into the world, Bob was immediately whisked out of the room. Confused, Bob stood in the center of a small waiting room. The nurse who escorted him said calmly, “Someone will be in to get you in a few minutes.”
He stood in stunned silence as he wondered if this was the normal process after delivery.
Bob paced the small room while he waited for news concerning his wife and infant daughter. He knew without a doubt something had gone horribly wrong. Tears welled in his eyes when he imagined losing the child he and Mary tried so long to create. He loved the idea of being a father nearly as much as he loved being a husband. His life would be complete providing his daughter would survive the next few days.
Hours passed by as Bob waited for news concerning his wife and child. A soft knock came onto the door just before it was pushed open. Bob stared into Mary’s doctor in the eyes and knew the news he was about to hear would be devastating. His only hope was for Mary to somehow come to terms with their loss and realize they could try again for the child Mary desired so desperately.
Bob’s eyes were red rimmed when he stared into the solemn eyes of her doctor. “Mr. Simmons, I’m sorry I have to inform you…”
Interrupting the doctor, Bob stammered, “Is…is the baby…”
“The child is perfect in every way. I…” The doctor watched as Bob’s face drained of color. “Mr. Simmons, your wife hemorrhaged immediately following the birth. We tried to repair the torn arteries…well the damage was far too extensive. Your wife lost her battle…”
Feeling as if the air had been sucked out of the room, Bob said with confusion on his face, “What? What do you mean she lost her battle? Are you telling me my wife is dead?” He tossed his hands into the air. “You have to be mistaken. Mary was in perfect health when we arrived. Healthy women don’t die during child birth.” Bob’s emotions were in overload. He jabbed a finger toward the door. “Go back into her room and save her! I can’t lose my wife! You have to sa…”
“I assure you Mr. Simmons; we did everything in our power to help her. There was far too much blood loss…I’m sorry Mr. Simmons.” The doctor turned on his heels and approached the door. As he reached for the handle he said over his shoulder. “I’ll have a nurse come to take you to your daughter.” He opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
As the door slowly slid shut the doctor heard Bob say, “Don’t bother, I don’t want to see that little bitch.”
Bob’s knees were weak and threatened to fold. He made his way to a blue vinyl chair and flopped down. Placing his elbows on his knees, Bob covered his face with his hands and sobbed loudly. He couldn’t believe the love of his life died and the child she had wanted so badly had the gall to murder her. Something snapped not only in his heart, but also in his head. He silently vowed he would never have anything to do with the child who murdered his wife.
During Bob’s wallowing in self-pity, he was unaware his dearest friend and care taker of his wife’s cherished inn the Enchanted Oasis, walked into the small room. Walter Meadows and his wife Donna paused in the doorway of the small waiting room. Walter eyed his friend and knew it could take years for the distraught man to overcome the loss of his wife. “Bob.” He said softly, “We came as soon as we heard the news.”
Bob lifted his head. His pale face was wet from his acrid tears. He glanced at Walter then at Donna before he dropped his stare to the floor. Tears sled down the saddened face of the saddened man.
Donna glanced at her husband. “Walt, I don’t think he’s going to be alright with this.”
“Nonsense! He just need time to get his emotions in check. He’ll be fine.”
Bob rose to his feet and stumbled weakly toward the large window. He placed his hands onto the sill to brace himself. His eyes stared through the glass at nothing in particular. After a few long moments Bob gritted his teeth, turned and stormed out of the room.
Donna stared wide eyed as she watched the door slowly shut.
Chapter 1
Twenty-four years later
Bob Simmons sat on his private deck staring at the dark blue water of the secluded lake. Tears welled in his eyes as memories of Mary continued to haunt his mind. Memories of her pretty face and the smile he had fallen in love with was little comfort. A soft sob escaped his throat. Tears trickled down his cheeks when he turned his gaze toward Sara. She was tending the flowers in her mother’s favorite garden. A basket of blooms hung loosely from her left elbow. He continued to watch as his daughter, who looked so much like her mother, leaned over an inhaled the aroma of a purple hyacinth. He tried to force a smile, but the bitterness he continued to experience made it impossible.
Sara spied out of the corner of her eyes, the solemn man sitting alone on his deck. While cutting the aromatic bloom from the shrub a smile crossed her lips. Holding the hyacinths in her right hand, she slowly approached the man she prayed one day could forgive her for taking his beloved wife from him. Standing at the base of the steps she looked up at her father. “Dad, I brought you something.” The man returned his stare to the water. “Walter told me these were one mom’s favorite flowers. I thought you would like to have some as a centerpiece for your table.”
The man continued to stare blankly into the distance not saying a word. Sara noticed his cheeks were wet from his spilled tears. She entered his cabin through the sliding glass doors. Grabbing a small vase she prepared the blooms for display. Once the hyacinths were placed, she returned to the deck and set the vase and its contents in the center of the patio table. “I know how much you loved her.” Staring down at her father she murmured, “I just wish for once you would talk to me. I need to know you forgive me for taking her away…” Tears seeped from her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. “Daddy, if I could’ve traded my life for hers…Oh God, don’t you think twenty-four years is long enough? Don’t you think you’ve punished me long enough?”
The older man turned his steel blue eyes toward the young woman. After a few long moments he rose to his feet, gently pushed in his chair and entered the cabin. He slid the door shut and closed the blinds. Sara stood in silence for a few long moments. While hanging her head as if in shame, she descended the three steps to the ground and proceeded to walk to the main building.
Pulling the large glass door open, Sara stepped into the main lobby of the inn. The sand colored walls displayed paintings of the grounds and the picturesque lake from yesteryear. A flagstone fireplace stood on the right and had been prepared for the evening’s fire. She stared at the woman sitting behind the dark cherry reception desk. The woman, Walter’s wife Donna, was small framed with long dark hair and eyes that had the appearance of soft velvet. She glanced up from her computer as soon as she heard Sara step into the room.
Donna knew by the look on Sara’s face what had happened. “Oh no, Sara, why do you do it to yourself? Why do you put yourself through all that pain?”
She dried her eyes. “I’m hoping one day he’ll realize my mother’s death wasn’t my fault.”
Donna pushed away from her desk, rose to her feet and smoothed her white cotton blouse with the palms of her hands. She held her arms out as she stepped away from the desk. “Come here sweetheart.” Sara approached the older woman and Donna embraced her. She whispered, “Sara, your father doesn’t blame you for your mother’s death.”
Easing herself away from the woman, Sara walked to a small table and pulled a tissue from the box. Tears continued to stream down her pretty face. “If it’s not me, then why in the hell doesn’t he talk to me? All my life he’s acted as if I’m the person responsible for her death. He never even noticed the pain I’ve suffered through. All he does is wallow in his own misery. I don’t even think he knows what he’s doing to me.”
“If it makes you feel any better, he hasn’t spoken to anyone since her passing.”
Sara scoffed. “Yeah, but at least you and Walter have heard his voice.” She stared into the soft brown eyes of the only woman she had ever considered a mother. “I have never heard him speak a word. I’ve tried my entire life to make up for her death. What do I get in return? A father who is cold and unforgiving.” She tossed her hands in the air. “From now on, I refuse to do anything for him. You and Walter can cater to him. I’ve spent enough of my life trying to get that man to notice me, let alone talk to me.” Sara turned toward the front door and growled, “I’m done with him!”
“Sara you can’t mean that. Please think about what you’re saying.”
“All I’m saying is, I refuse to continue to try to talk to a man who blames me for all the bad that has happened in his life. I’m not going to see him again. My life is this business…to carry on my mother’s memory. I’m sure I would have loved her if I knew her. She deserves to have her dream live on through me.”
Donna smiled. “Yes she does. Mary was a lovely woman and she loved you from the moment you were conceived…never doubt it.”
Sara pushed open the entry door. Changing the subject Sara asked, “Our first guests should be arriving shortly. Is everything ready?”
“Yes every room has fresh flowers just as you had requested.” She returned to her desk. “I can’t believe it, April and here we are booked to capacity until mid-July.” Donna stared at Sara’s back and said just before she stepped through the door. “Did I tell you? We’ve booked a guest who will be staying here indefinitely. It seems he loves this area. Apparently the man’s parents used to stay here when he was a boy.”
Sara spun around. “Did this man say he knew my mother?”
“He was five when your mother passed away. He said his parents were very upset when they heard about her death…and they were even more upset when your father closed the business.”
She stared into Donna’s eyes while holding the door open. The bright sunshine lit the dust motes floating in the air. “Please let me know when this very special guest arrives.”
Donna nodded. “His name is Seth. Davis. From what I hear, he looks like a model from one of those men’s magazines. Maybe you and he can…”
Sara smiled when she interrupted the older woman. “Will you ever stop trying to fix me up with every available man around?”
“Nope, I’m determined to help you find the man of your dreams.”
Sara turned, walked through the door and followed the gravel path leading to the gardens.
Mary Simmons sat on her hospital bed with her husband Bob at her side. The young couple was anxiously waiting for the arrival of their first child. The pregnancy was normal with no signs of complications. As her labor intensified Bob grew more and more distressed while he stood helplessly at her bedside and watched as his wife suffered through extensive pain. When their daughter finally burst into the world, Bob was immediately whisked out of the room. Confused, Bob stood in the center of a small waiting room. The nurse who escorted him said calmly, “Someone will be in to get you in a few minutes.”
He stood in stunned silence as he wondered if this was the normal process after delivery.
Bob paced the small room while he waited for news concerning his wife and infant daughter. He knew without a doubt something had gone horribly wrong. Tears welled in his eyes when he imagined losing the child he and Mary tried so long to create. He loved the idea of being a father nearly as much as he loved being a husband. His life would be complete providing his daughter would survive the next few days.
Hours passed by as Bob waited for news concerning his wife and child. A soft knock came onto the door just before it was pushed open. Bob stared into Mary’s doctor in the eyes and knew the news he was about to hear would be devastating. His only hope was for Mary to somehow come to terms with their loss and realize they could try again for the child Mary desired so desperately.
Bob’s eyes were red rimmed when he stared into the solemn eyes of her doctor. “Mr. Simmons, I’m sorry I have to inform you…”
Interrupting the doctor, Bob stammered, “Is…is the baby…”
“The child is perfect in every way. I…” The doctor watched as Bob’s face drained of color. “Mr. Simmons, your wife hemorrhaged immediately following the birth. We tried to repair the torn arteries…well the damage was far too extensive. Your wife lost her battle…”
Feeling as if the air had been sucked out of the room, Bob said with confusion on his face, “What? What do you mean she lost her battle? Are you telling me my wife is dead?” He tossed his hands into the air. “You have to be mistaken. Mary was in perfect health when we arrived. Healthy women don’t die during child birth.” Bob’s emotions were in overload. He jabbed a finger toward the door. “Go back into her room and save her! I can’t lose my wife! You have to sa…”
“I assure you Mr. Simmons; we did everything in our power to help her. There was far too much blood loss…I’m sorry Mr. Simmons.” The doctor turned on his heels and approached the door. As he reached for the handle he said over his shoulder. “I’ll have a nurse come to take you to your daughter.” He opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
As the door slowly slid shut the doctor heard Bob say, “Don’t bother, I don’t want to see that little bitch.”
Bob’s knees were weak and threatened to fold. He made his way to a blue vinyl chair and flopped down. Placing his elbows on his knees, Bob covered his face with his hands and sobbed loudly. He couldn’t believe the love of his life died and the child she had wanted so badly had the gall to murder her. Something snapped not only in his heart, but also in his head. He silently vowed he would never have anything to do with the child who murdered his wife.
During Bob’s wallowing in self-pity, he was unaware his dearest friend and care taker of his wife’s cherished inn the Enchanted Oasis, walked into the small room. Walter Meadows and his wife Donna paused in the doorway of the small waiting room. Walter eyed his friend and knew it could take years for the distraught man to overcome the loss of his wife. “Bob.” He said softly, “We came as soon as we heard the news.”
Bob lifted his head. His pale face was wet from his acrid tears. He glanced at Walter then at Donna before he dropped his stare to the floor. Tears sled down the saddened face of the saddened man.
Donna glanced at her husband. “Walt, I don’t think he’s going to be alright with this.”
“Nonsense! He just need time to get his emotions in check. He’ll be fine.”
Bob rose to his feet and stumbled weakly toward the large window. He placed his hands onto the sill to brace himself. His eyes stared through the glass at nothing in particular. After a few long moments Bob gritted his teeth, turned and stormed out of the room.
Donna stared wide eyed as she watched the door slowly shut.
Chapter 1
Twenty-four years later
Bob Simmons sat on his private deck staring at the dark blue water of the secluded lake. Tears welled in his eyes as memories of Mary continued to haunt his mind. Memories of her pretty face and the smile he had fallen in love with was little comfort. A soft sob escaped his throat. Tears trickled down his cheeks when he turned his gaze toward Sara. She was tending the flowers in her mother’s favorite garden. A basket of blooms hung loosely from her left elbow. He continued to watch as his daughter, who looked so much like her mother, leaned over an inhaled the aroma of a purple hyacinth. He tried to force a smile, but the bitterness he continued to experience made it impossible.
Sara spied out of the corner of her eyes, the solemn man sitting alone on his deck. While cutting the aromatic bloom from the shrub a smile crossed her lips. Holding the hyacinths in her right hand, she slowly approached the man she prayed one day could forgive her for taking his beloved wife from him. Standing at the base of the steps she looked up at her father. “Dad, I brought you something.” The man returned his stare to the water. “Walter told me these were one mom’s favorite flowers. I thought you would like to have some as a centerpiece for your table.”
The man continued to stare blankly into the distance not saying a word. Sara noticed his cheeks were wet from his spilled tears. She entered his cabin through the sliding glass doors. Grabbing a small vase she prepared the blooms for display. Once the hyacinths were placed, she returned to the deck and set the vase and its contents in the center of the patio table. “I know how much you loved her.” Staring down at her father she murmured, “I just wish for once you would talk to me. I need to know you forgive me for taking her away…” Tears seeped from her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. “Daddy, if I could’ve traded my life for hers…Oh God, don’t you think twenty-four years is long enough? Don’t you think you’ve punished me long enough?”
The older man turned his steel blue eyes toward the young woman. After a few long moments he rose to his feet, gently pushed in his chair and entered the cabin. He slid the door shut and closed the blinds. Sara stood in silence for a few long moments. While hanging her head as if in shame, she descended the three steps to the ground and proceeded to walk to the main building.
Pulling the large glass door open, Sara stepped into the main lobby of the inn. The sand colored walls displayed paintings of the grounds and the picturesque lake from yesteryear. A flagstone fireplace stood on the right and had been prepared for the evening’s fire. She stared at the woman sitting behind the dark cherry reception desk. The woman, Walter’s wife Donna, was small framed with long dark hair and eyes that had the appearance of soft velvet. She glanced up from her computer as soon as she heard Sara step into the room.
Donna knew by the look on Sara’s face what had happened. “Oh no, Sara, why do you do it to yourself? Why do you put yourself through all that pain?”
She dried her eyes. “I’m hoping one day he’ll realize my mother’s death wasn’t my fault.”
Donna pushed away from her desk, rose to her feet and smoothed her white cotton blouse with the palms of her hands. She held her arms out as she stepped away from the desk. “Come here sweetheart.” Sara approached the older woman and Donna embraced her. She whispered, “Sara, your father doesn’t blame you for your mother’s death.”
Easing herself away from the woman, Sara walked to a small table and pulled a tissue from the box. Tears continued to stream down her pretty face. “If it’s not me, then why in the hell doesn’t he talk to me? All my life he’s acted as if I’m the person responsible for her death. He never even noticed the pain I’ve suffered through. All he does is wallow in his own misery. I don’t even think he knows what he’s doing to me.”
“If it makes you feel any better, he hasn’t spoken to anyone since her passing.”
Sara scoffed. “Yeah, but at least you and Walter have heard his voice.” She stared into the soft brown eyes of the only woman she had ever considered a mother. “I have never heard him speak a word. I’ve tried my entire life to make up for her death. What do I get in return? A father who is cold and unforgiving.” She tossed her hands in the air. “From now on, I refuse to do anything for him. You and Walter can cater to him. I’ve spent enough of my life trying to get that man to notice me, let alone talk to me.” Sara turned toward the front door and growled, “I’m done with him!”
“Sara you can’t mean that. Please think about what you’re saying.”
“All I’m saying is, I refuse to continue to try to talk to a man who blames me for all the bad that has happened in his life. I’m not going to see him again. My life is this business…to carry on my mother’s memory. I’m sure I would have loved her if I knew her. She deserves to have her dream live on through me.”
Donna smiled. “Yes she does. Mary was a lovely woman and she loved you from the moment you were conceived…never doubt it.”
Sara pushed open the entry door. Changing the subject Sara asked, “Our first guests should be arriving shortly. Is everything ready?”
“Yes every room has fresh flowers just as you had requested.” She returned to her desk. “I can’t believe it, April and here we are booked to capacity until mid-July.” Donna stared at Sara’s back and said just before she stepped through the door. “Did I tell you? We’ve booked a guest who will be staying here indefinitely. It seems he loves this area. Apparently the man’s parents used to stay here when he was a boy.”
Sara spun around. “Did this man say he knew my mother?”
“He was five when your mother passed away. He said his parents were very upset when they heard about her death…and they were even more upset when your father closed the business.”
She stared into Donna’s eyes while holding the door open. The bright sunshine lit the dust motes floating in the air. “Please let me know when this very special guest arrives.”
Donna nodded. “His name is Seth. Davis. From what I hear, he looks like a model from one of those men’s magazines. Maybe you and he can…”
Sara smiled when she interrupted the older woman. “Will you ever stop trying to fix me up with every available man around?”
“Nope, I’m determined to help you find the man of your dreams.”
Sara turned, walked through the door and followed the gravel path leading to the gardens.
