So in honor of Valentine's Day and because I love all of you and the support that you give me how about a sample of a different book? This is an excerpt from what I call The Anddreasin's. A story that revolves a lot around family and more then a little around love, enjoy!
“Alex! I didn’t expect to see you today.” Diana stood on
tiptoe to kiss his cheek then hugged him tightly. “What are you doing here?”
He smiled at his mother and thought how beautiful she was,
Diana had raised all three of her children by herself with only the help of her
loyal household staff. She’d given them everyone thing they could ever need and
even sent them to the best colleges in the country.
“I came to see you, why else would I be home on the
weekend?” He asked easily as he followed her through the house and into the
library and sank down into a comfortable chair across from her on the love
seat.
“Exactly what I was about to ask,” she replied with an easy
going smile. Her two sons were in their freshman year of college while their
sister was in her senior year of high school. She studied her oldest and waited
for him to tell her what was going on.
He was tall and good looking, dark hair with a hint of olive
in his skin. His eyes were a startling shade of light blue that only made him
more attractive. With his twin brother around the two were unstoppable, add
their sister in the mix and there was nothing the trio couldn’t accomplish. She
watched as he seemed to consider his words carefully.
“Alex you’re going to have to tell me eventually why you’re
here,” she finally said amused when he glanced up in surprise.
He flashed her a smile, “Sorry Mom I was thinking about
something else. Actually I had nothing to do this weekend and I just thought
I’d come back and hang out with you and Jules. Will’s coming home too by the
way.”
She tilted her head gracefully in a gesture of surprise,
“Lovely I’ll tell Cara to make sure your rooms are ready. Assuming that you are
planning to stay here this weekend and not somewhere else,” she let the
statement hang in the air as her son looked up guiltily. His cell phone rang
and the relief in his expression was so obvious she had to consciously remind
herself not to laugh.
“Excuse me Mom I’ll be right back,” he slipped out of the
room as he answered the call and she shook her head. Cara the housekeeper who
had been with her for years walked into the room.
“Should I get the rooms ready for Alex and Will Miss Diana?”
The other woman looked up at her trusted friend and smiled. She’d tried for
years to get Cara to drop the Miss and just call her Diana but to no avail.
Still she was like family and had helped raise all three of the kids, she was
also Diana’s best friend there was no one she trusted more.
“I wish I knew Cara, but so far my son hasn’t answered me.
As soon as he does I’ll let you know, I’m just not sure that they’re staying.”
To Cara’s credit she didn’t say anything with a smile she
walked out of the room. Diana glanced at the clock, Anya would be home soon
from school. She crossed over to the desk and opened her laptop, the calendar
popped up reminding her that she had a dinner party at the home of an old
family friend who was now a senator.
She glanced at the alarm panel in the corner of the screen
and saw her daughter’s black Mustang convertible pull up the drive. She saw the
girl jump out of the car and run towards the front door where her brother must
be waiting. Diana closed the laptop and went to greet her daughter.
*
Sophia Sanchez took a moment to lean against the counter and
breathe; the Sea Castle, where she worked as a waitress was extremely busy
tonight. She glanced up at the clock and noted that she only had an hour left
of her shift. Pushing back off the counter she turned as another order came up.
Grabbing the plates she pasted a smile on and went to deliver the couple their
food.
As she came around the corner she spotted a well-known
customer smile and wave her over, smiling back she gestured that she’d be right
there. She dropped the food off then made her way over to the table,
“Mister and Missus Finch, how are you this evening?”
“Sophia, it’s so good to see you again dear,” Mrs. Finch
replied grasping her hand and standing to kiss her cheek. The couple had known
her since she was a child at the local community center they ran, and they were
still some of her favorite people.
The chatted for a few minutes then Mr. Finch glanced up in
surprise, “Dear isn’t that Julia Anddreasin and one of her brothers?”
That got Sophia’s attention making an excuse she quickly
excused herself to get back to work almost cursing when the two young people
were seated in her section. The Anddreasin’s were the best-known family in all of
Durston they were also a family that she tried to avoid, people like them had
been given everything and reminded her of how much she had to work for
anything. They were nice enough on the surface but they were also the kind of
people she did her best to avoid.
Slipping outside for a breath of air she gazed up at the
stars as her mother’s voice rang through her head.
‘Sophia, you are a
Sanchez we work for what we have but we never let anyone look down on us you
understand? Never, take pride in who you are child because it is who the Lord
created you to be.’
That had been after she’d come home crying because one of
the girls at the private school she was attending on scholarship had made fun
of her. Her mother had dried her tears given her the familiar lecture then left
for work. It was the last time Sophia had cried because of what someone else
said about her.
Shaking off the familiar feeling of dread at having to go in
and deal with the family she turned resolutely to walk back inside and ran
straight into a tall man who was hanging up his cell phone. The phone fell and
she gasped as strong arms captured her shoulders and straightened her quickly.
“I’m so sorry sir,” she apologized quickly.
“No it was my fault miss, are you all right?” It was the
voice that got her attention she looked up and found herself staring into the
light blue eyes of one of the Anddreasin twins. She felt herself pale and
stepped away quickly.
“It was my fault and I’m fine,” she bent down to retrieve
his phone just as he did and their heads collided. She straightened as he
picked up his phone, rubbing his head.
“Again I’m so sorry I should’ve been paying more attention.”
His apology stopped as he gazed at her for a long moment. She shifted
uncomfortably, preparing to make her excuses and move on. “Do I know you from
somewhere?” He asked before she had the chance to get away.
Memories from her year at the academy flashed through her
head, she’d been in the same grade as Will and Alex even shared a couple of
classes with them but had never talked to them. She shook her head and offered
an apologetic smile even as her heart raced and she prayed that he would
believe her lie.
“No I don’t think so, if you’ll excuse me I need to get back
to work.”
“Of course,” he held the door for her and she slipped inside
racing to the kitchen before anyone noticed that she’d been gone.
“Sophia are you all right?” Her friend and manager, Andrea,
asked as she took in the girl’s flushed expression and how she jumped at the
question.
“Yeah I’m fine,” she gave her a smile then grabbed some
plates and walked out of the kitchen. Andrea was still staring at her.
“Seriously I just ran into someone I used to know and it caught me off guard
that’s all.”
“Well your shift is almost done so stay with me for a little
while longer okay?” With that Sophia went to deliver the food. After she
dropped it off she took a deep breath and went to the Anddreasin’s table to
take their order.
“Hello again, how’s the head?” She had to smile at the
question, even as she felt the heat creep up her neck.
“Its fine are you all right?”
“Fine thanks,” he turned to his siblings. “This is the girl
that I ran into outside when I took that phone call.”
“Oh are you all right?” Anya asked immediately the concern
evident in her face.
“Yeah Alex has a hard head,” his brother put in.
Sophia just smiled, “I’m fine thanks for asking. I’m Sophia
and I’ll be your waitress so can I take your order?”
They gave her their order then she took their menus and
walked away. Alex turned back to his siblings, “Do either of you recognize her.
She looks so familiar but when I asked her if I knew her she said no.”
Both of them thought about it for a long moment, Anya shook
her head. “I’m not sure sorry Alex but I don’t know.”
“You’re right,” Will said. “I think I do know her. Sophia,”
he thought about it for a long moment trying to remember. “Sophia Sanchez we
went to the Academy with her I think our Freshman year.”
Alex glanced up in surprise, “You’re right we did didn’t we?
I wonder why she didn’t say anything when I asked her about it.”
“Maybe she didn’t remember you,” Anya offered with a smile.
“What not remember us?” Will cut in laughing at his sister,
“You’ve got to be kidding Jules, don’t you know we’re unforgettable”
She just smiled and took a sip of her drink without
bothering to reply. They fell into easy conversation talking and joking like
they always had. Conversation was easy but Alex couldn’t get his mind off the
conversation with Sophia. What was it about her?
*
Finally off shift twenty minutes late Sophia clocked out and
walked outside to start the walk home. Just as she was walking out the
Anddreasin siblings were headed out to the car.
“Sophia!” She turned in surprise then regretted the decision
immediately. All three of them were headed towards her.
“Can I help you?” She asked kindly trying not to notice the
hurt that flittered across Anya’s face at the cool words.
“Lincoln Academy, freshman year; we had several classes
together.” Alex replied watching her face carefully for any indication of
emotion.
“Excuse me?”
“That’s where I know you from,” he replied then nodded back
towards his car. “Do you need a ride
home?”
Reeling from shock that he actually remembered her she shook
her head, “No thanks it’s not far and I enjoy the walk.”
He hesitated obviously not wanting to accept the answer, but
not sure what to say.
“Please just let us give you a ride Sophia. My brothers
really want to help and they’re going to end up following you to make sure that
you’re okay if you don’t let them.” Anya threw in.
Sophia hesitated but realized the girl was right, “Okay,
thanks I appreciate it. Normally I have my car but my brother needed to borrow
it today.”
“We don’t mind,” Will replied with a smile.
“The car’s this way.” She followed them towards the BMW that
her brother would’ve killed for. Opening the door Anya climbed in the backseat
with Will. Alex held the door while Sophia climbed in then rounded the hood and
slipped into the driver’s seat.
“Where to Sophia,” she gave him the directions to the house
and prayed that her family wasn’t home. If they saw her pull up in a car like
that, she could already hear the lectures she would have to listen to.
“So Sophia, did you only go to the Academy freshman year?” Anya
asked from the back seat, she set her purse and jacket beside her then turned
to answer the girl’s question.
When the car pulled up in front of the house a few minutes
later she was startled when Alex walked around to open the door for her then
held out a hand to help her out. She climbed out of the car expecting him to
leave her there.
“Thanks for the ride, I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, I’ll walk you to the door,” he added. She looked
like she wanted to argue, “My mother always told us that every girl deserves
respect. She would never forgive me if I just left you here without making sure
you got in okay.”
“Fair enough,” she finally said as they started up towards
the small house she shared with her grandmother, mom, brother and cousin.
“Why did you say we didn’t know each other when I asked,”
she paused at the unexpected question. The door flew open before she had a
chance to answer.
“Sophia,” her brother Ben, was standing there and he didn’t
look happy.
“Ben this is Alex, he and his siblings gave me a ride home
from the restaurant since I didn’t have my car tonight.”
“Alex Anddreasin nice to meet you, “he held out his hand.
Ben shook it but his expression hadn’t changed.
“I know who you are, I’m Ben Sanchez. Sophia you should get
inside Mom got called in back to work and Zeke will be home soon.”
“I’ll be right there,” she replied. He nodded but didn’t go
back inside.
“Thanks again for the ride Alex, I need to get going but
tell Anya and Will thanks too.” Sophia replied and walked quickly inside.
“Stay away from my sister; we don’t need your charity
Anddreasin.” The warning was spoken in a low voice but the message came across
loud and clear.
“I’m not giving anyone charity it was just a ride because
she didn’t have a car that’s it.” He nodded back towards the BMW, “I need to
get back to my siblings, have a good night.”
The other man didn’t reply but he heard the door slam as he
walked back to the car. He climbed in the driver’s seat as his brother moved to
the front. “What was that all about?” Will demanded as his brother turned the
car on.
Alex glanced back at their sister in the back seat then
offered a smile he didn’t feel, “Nothing that was just Sophia’s brother wanting
to make sure she was okay. So are you guys ready to go sailing?”
Will subsided and Anya grinned, “Of course, let’s go!”
Alex smiled back as they pulled out of the drive but his
mind was still on Sophia. All of his life everything had come easy to him but
even though it was obvious that the girl wanted nothing to do with him he
couldn’t get his mind off of her.
*
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