Charley
Authors: Shelby C. Jacobs
By Shelby C. Jacobs
Creative Gateway
Revised Edition published by Creative Gateway 2013
First published 2013
Copyright © 2013 Shelby C. Jacobs
The moral right of Shelby C. Jacobs to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, brands and events, other than those clearly in the public domain are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author
Any people depicted in cover images are models used for illustrative purposes only. Stock imagery
©
iStockphoto.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of both the author and the above publisher of this book
eBook Kindle Edition ISBN: 978-1-908636-10-2
Published in Great Britain by Creative Gateway, Norfolk, UK
Creative Gateway is an imprint of Creative Gateway Ltd
A company registered in England, number 4684923
Registered Address: Edwinstowe House, Edwinstowe, Notts NG21 9PR, UK
The poet, John Donne, wrote
No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
“No man is an island…” and truly no author works on an island, isolated from the world. That author is influenced and shaped by all with whom there has been contact, some incidental and some significant. The vision of a lonely writer sitting at a tattered desk is romantic but unrealistic. No author works alone or uniquely creates. It can be said. ‘No one work is the product of one person’. Thus it is with Charley.
I began the work during my lunch break when several of us were talking about what we would like to do if not working at our current employment. I commented that I would like to be a writer, and thus began the constant reminders from my fellow colleagues. “When are you going to start? How’s the book coming? Don’t give up!” So this story is dedicated to those two or three friends who would not let me give up, as well as those other colleagues who encouraged me once I had begun.
My creative writing teacher graciously read the initial opening draft chapter of Charley and redlined most of it. Thankfully, she also made many critical suggestions to improve the text and she finally said, and I paraphrase. “I think you have a good story there.” The most helpful mentor throughout this process has been my publisher. I was excited when I received this message early summer 2012.
Concerning your editing thread, we will be happy to read your manuscript, one of my editors will do it free.
I promptly sent the manuscript and began planning how to spend all the money I would surely make. Then this message came back at the end of that month.
In its present form we would not publish it.
But he was kind enough to preface his remarks by the comment that has consistently driven me to complete the work.
…we (he and his editor) both believe your novel has definite potential but needs much more work doing on it.
We determinedly did that work, and on March 12, 2013 Charley was published by Roy Baldwin at Creative Gateway. I can try, but I will never be able to thank Roy enough for having faith in a new American writer with
potential.
Finally I need to thank my three Beta Readers for changing the direction and content of the work once more for this revised edition. Charley was initially conceived and first published as an erotic romance with significant descriptive and graphic sexual scenes. The novel had been started well before the erotic novel became all the public rage during 2012. The ongoing clamor surrounding this phenomenon only served to fuel the fire and drive me forward. But however excited I was about Charley, there were others who did not completely share my enthusiasm.
One reviewer suggested:
“
I believe the story is compelling but the definitive sex scenes turned me off. I almost put it down early on but continued to read to see if there was a purpose … The epilogue actually made it all worthwhile … I’d have enjoyed more of the story line and less graphic sex.”
Another reader reported:
“There might be too much sex, particularly at the beginning, it slows the story down. I enjoyed the second half much better.”
I really value all feedback and comments from readers, and this convinced me to rewrite this newly revised edition of Charley, changing it from an erotic snapshot of the romance between Charley and PJ to a heartwarming love story, where the young couple enjoy most of their own intimate privacy to themselves. In addition, many were intrigued and wanted to know more about the horrific ending of Charley’s marriage to Randle. This is a story in itself and so “Loose Ends” is being written, to be available in due course. And I have included a taster at the end of the book to whet your appetites.
So you see, No author writes alone, but is a piece of the fabric of life who happens to enjoy telling life stories. To all those who helped me tell Charley’s story, all I can say is
“Thank You!”
SJ
Thoughts of Pastor John
“God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic — what a find! And proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.
“Or, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.
(The Bible, Matthew 13; 44-46)
Substituted
“True Love”
for
“God’s Kingdom”
All Charlotte Howard ever wanted was to be married, have three children and live a peaceful life in the suburbs. But the Fates had other ideas, and her happiness was not part of their plans.
In the six years after her husband's tragic death, successful businesswoman Charley has taken a small neighborhood Bar and Grill and developed a major regional restaurant, now on the verge of a significant expansion forward. The only thing that stands in her way is PJ McCoy, a small college basketball coach.
Charley plans a lust filled weekend with her dream man, PJ McCoy, and find out whether the experience will fulfill her long sought need for renewed physical and emotional intimacy after the tragic death of her husband and baby. Her plans did not include love to emerge from the weekend. Neither is she prepared to deal with the devastating effect that love could have on her hopes, fears, ambitions and careers. Do the Fates intervene once again and allow Charley to fulfill her deepest needs? Or is the road ahead littered with painful and ultimately insurmountable obstacles.
Contents
The three Vietnam vets sat at the neighborhood bar nursing their beers and talking about nothing in particular. It was Jimmy Brewster’s bar, so he and his friends drank freely and often.
The three joined the army after high school, went through boot camp together, and were assigned to the same infantry platoon in Vietnam. Six months in, they were on a night patrol when they came under heavy fire. The three survived with only a handful of others. Their platoon leader was one of the casualties. Because of the lack of qualified officers, Jimmy was field promoted to platoon leader and given the rank of second lieutenant.
His buddies, Ronnie Mitchell and Shelby Loomis, had all the fighting they wanted during their first tour, and returned to Stateside with honorable discharges. Shelby went to college and became a banker working for his father’s bank. Ronnie went to work as a bus boy at the Winslow Room. It didn’t take long for him to work his way up to assistant manager of the upscale restaurant.
Lt. James Brewster received the Purple Heart among other honors and served a second tour of duty before coming home to an ungrateful nation. With a small inheritance, money saved during his time in the army, and a government loan, he and his two friends bought an old three story building on Second Avenue where Jimmy Brewster opened a veteran-friendly drinking and eating venue, which he called Jimmy’s Bar and Grill.
The three meet here often to talk about life and drink. This afternoon, the topic was an old high school friend. Ronnie raised his glass. “Here’s to Kate Bishop and Russ Howard, may their marriage be blessed.”
He took a drink and added. “I don’t understand what she sees in the man. I wouldn’t sleep with him.”
Jimmy laughed. “Of course you wouldn’t … he’s not gay!”
“Well that’s true, but I can’t see why anyone would get next to him. He stinks.”
Jimmy added. “I don’t think it was love, I heard she’s already pregnant. Guess she got with him the one time he took a bath. Figured, they had to get married.”
When the conversation turned to Kate Bishop, Shelby Loomis bent his head to his drink, took a long swallow and shook his head.
Jimmy noticed the change in Shelby’s mood. “What’s wrong big boy? Daddy cracking the whip at the bank?”
Shelby looked up from his beer, his eyes closed and his lips tightly gripped. He put both hands on the bar, slowly shook his head and inhaled deeply.
“Guys, Kate
is
pregnant, but Russ isn’t the father.”
Shelby mumbled so quietly, they almost missed his next words.
“The baby’s mine.”
“What the hell!”
“Yours? Loomis, you’re married. What
are
you talking about?”
“You know I always loved Kate even in high school. But Mom and Dad were dead set against her … working class family, status and all that bullshit. Like a fool, I went along with them and married Helen. She’s a good woman and we get along great. But I swear to God, I’ve always loved Kate and still do. When she told me she was going to have my baby, I offered to divorce Helen, but sweet Kate won’t let me. Damn, I’m such a fool.”