HeartWorks

by Charmaine Gordon

  She twisted the knob, and pushed the door open. Inch by inch. A toe entered first, then her head as she peeped around the half-closed door. A quick scan of the small studio. Hanford James, seventy-six, sat in a small wood-framed chair with his back to her. Something on the horizon must have captured his attention. He didn’t turn around to see who entered.

  “Hello, Victoria.”

  She tripped over her own foot. He knew it was her. “Grandfather.”

  “It’s time to go?”

  Frozen to the floor beside the dinette table, she didn’t know what to do. Sit or stand. She remained standing. “Yes, sir.” She scanned the muted colored room. Framed watercolor flowers. Small kitchenette, dresser, bed. A picture of her on a table beside his chair. None of the furniture was his. He hadn’t wanted any of the furniture from the house. Except for the picture of her and the kitchenette, it reminded her of her college dorm room. “Sir, do you have any bags?” How had he lived in this small room for so long? She’d wanted to get him a two bedroom. She’d planned on visiting, frequently. He didn’t think it made sense to spend all of his wife’s insurance money on a fancy retirement home, when she’d wanted Victoria to go to college. Besides, when she visited she could sleep on the sofa bed.

  A full head of gray hair nodded at two small bags on the other side of the door.

  “I’ll run them down to the car, and come back for you.”

  The thin man turned to look at her. “I can walk.” Pale wobbly arms pushed a small frame up from the chair. She hadn’t noticed before, but he wore his Sunday best: black suit, white shirt, and black tie. It was the same outfit he wore on the day she dropped him off twelve years ago.

  He swiped the picture and his hat from the table, and then with slow strides, he shuffled over to where she stood. “Let’s go.” A crowd of residents, staff, and visitors had gathered in the hall outside of his door. He doled out hugs like a celebrity. “Don’t worry, I’ll come back to visit.”

  Someone responded. Female. “You better.”

  “Mr. James, I’ll miss you,” a small boy wrapped his arms around her grandfather’s hips with such force he teetered.

  A kiss and a tussle of the boy’s hair, and the small child cried.

  “All right, none of that. I’ll see you all again. Now, I’ve got to get home with my granddaughter, Victoria. Isn’t she a beautiful young woman?”

  Nods accompanied various voices in agreement.

  “Come on Victoria, let’s go back home.”

  A slow exit, followed by an even slower car ride across town brought them to their front door later than she’d hoped. With her fingers clinched around the steering wheel, she stared at the small modest brick home with its simple wood frame. How could it compare with the place he’d called home for the last twelve years? Even if it had been their home before that.

  After situating her grandfather in his old room, she burst into the kitchen to check the lamb stew in the crockpot. With a wooden spoon, she shoved around potatoes, onions, carrots, peas and turnips. Fanning the wonderfully scented smoke toward her face, she inhaled. “Mmm, heavenly.” Her eyes closed, and she took another deep breath.

  “Victoria, what smells so good?” She hadn’t heard him wander into the kitchen. A smile crossed his face. The twinkle reached his hazel eyes. Eyes that matched hers. “Lamb stew?”

  He was quicker than she thought he’d be. The hat, tie and suit jacket were gone, but the suspenders and slacks were still in place. Buffed shoes had been replaced with well-worn house slippers. She searched the drawer for a small spoon; scooped up a bite of stew, and walked toward him. His smile broadened. His hand covered hers as she fed him. “ Delicious.”

  “I’m glad you like it. We can sit and eat if you’re ready.”

  He glanced out of the windows over the sink. “Is it too early for you?”

  She waved him off. “No. The staff told me what the normal daily routine was. I don’t want to get you off your schedule.”

  “Don’t worry.” He ambled over to the dining room table.

  Stew, iced tea, yeast rolls, and butter.

  Her grandfather scooped up a heaping spoonful of stew, and blew. After a moment, the spoon’s contents disappeared. “Victoria, this reminds me of your grandmother’s stew.”

  “Thank you. I tried to remember what she put in hers.”

  His expression darkened. “I gave you her recipes. What did you do with them?”

  Heat flooded her cheeks. “I left them here.”

  “Here in this house. For twelve years? Where?”

  “Yes, sir. I put them in the attic.”

  His back stiffened, and he put his fork down on the table.

  “Those recipes were important to her. I thought she was important to you.”

  She was. “I just couldn’t...”—her words broke off—“...it hurt too much.”

  His body softened. “Please, promise me you’ll check to see if they’re still there.”

  She stared into her bowl of soup. “Yes, sir.” God, she was disappointing him already.

  “Victoria.”

  “Yes, sir.” She ventured a look.

  “I know you blame me.”

  Again, her eyes lowered. “No, sir.”

  “Victoria, I’m an old man. You shouldn’t lie to me.”

  “No, sir.”

  “It was an accident.” His voice quivered. Watery hazel eyes sparkled behind out of date glasses. “I was asleep.” Pale hands littered with splotchy brown age spots rose to cover his eyes.

  She knew he didn’t hurt her grandmother. While he slept, she wandered into the kitchen. Dementia. “Yes, sir.” Guilt stole her appetite.

  His body heaved with a heavy sign. “I’ve lost my appetite. I think I’m going to go to bed. Thank you for dinner.”

  He rose from the table and shuffled past her. She spun around in her chair. “Are you sure? I bought a few wrestling DVDs. I know they’re your favorite.” Suddenly, an urgent need arose within her. Her grandfather’s unsteady gait and overly thin physique worried her. One of the two people who’d raised her was gone, and the knot in her chest told her she was quickly becoming anxious about her grandfather. Twelve years gone, wasted. She wanted them back.

  Sweet Victory

  Prep Time: 15

  Cook Time: 10 minutes

  Serves: 10-12

  1 box confection sugar

  ½ tsp. vanilla

  ¾ stick oleo

  ½ can condensed sweet milk

  ½ chopped pecans

  1 can coconut

  8 oz pkg. chocolate chips (semi-sweet)

  ¼ stick paraffin

  Mix confection sugar, vanilla, oleo, condensed sweet milk, pecans, and coconut together. After mixed, make into balls. Set on wax paper. Melt chocolate and paraffin together. Dip balls into melted chocolate/wax mixture. Return to wax paper. After all have been coated in chocolate, sit candied covered balls in refrigerator until firm.

  Baked macaroni and cheese

  Prep Time: 10

  Cook Time: 15 minutes

  Serves: 4-6

  1lb. elbow macaroni

  1 egg

  8 oz. package of Colby Monterey Jack, Mozerella, Smoked Chedder

  6 slices of Velveeta cheese

  1 cup of milk

  1 tsp garlic pepper

  Boil noodles until soft, but firm. Boil milk, and slowly fold in cheese. Pour noodles into mixing bowl, and stir in egg and garlic pepper. In medium sized casserole dish pour in layer of noodles, then cover with melted cheese mixture. Repeat until casserole dish is filled.

  Put in oven and bake until casserole has firmed, but not dry. Cover with slices of Velveeta, and return to oven. Bake until golden brown. Serve hot.

  About the Authors

  Charmaine Gordon

  Charmaine Gordon writes books about women who Survive and Thrive. Her motto is take one step and then another to leave your past behind and begin again. Six books and several short stories in three years, she
’s always at work on the next story. The books include To Be Continued, Starting Over, Now What?, Reconstructing Charlie, Sin of Omission and The Catch, and her series of Mature Romances, The Beginning...Not the End.

  “I didn’t realize at the time while working as an actor in NYC, I’d become a sponge soaking up dialogue, setting, and stage directions. I learned many tools of writing during the years watching directors like Mike Nichols and actors including Harrison Ford, Anthony Hopkins, and Billy Crystal. And would you believe, I was Geraldine Ferraro’s stand– in leg model, my first job giving me entrée into all the Unions needed to work. When the sweet time ended, I began another career and creative juices flowed.”

  You can reach Charmaine at

  http://authorCharmaineGordon.wordpress.com

  And on her FB page http://www.facebook.com/charmaine.gordon

  Paul Zunckel

  Paul Zunckel was born in 1957 in Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia. His family moved to South Africa in 1966, where he completed his schooling at Kingsway Senior High School in Amanzimtoti.

  He did his two years National service in the South African Defence Force as an Ops Medic, wanting to follow his heart and study medicine, but life got in the way.

  Paul was employed in Air Traffic Control for twenty years, and has been involved in Management positions for over twenty-five years. He has a Human Resource Management Diploma, and is an accredited Facilitator.

  He started to write full time in August 2014, about something that is close to his heart... Africa. The mysteries, the superstitions, and all the beauty and treachery of the land. He holds his wife responsible for the road he is now traveling, as she was the driving force behind him in his Debut novel, Blood Moon over Africa. Since then, the stories line up to be told.

  Paul loves to write as it takes him into another world, and he enjoys the reaction that he receives from readers.

  Apart from writing novels, he also plays the guitar and writes his own material, although he is unable to read music. Music forms a big part of his life, and he can lay claim to having cut one CD, although he does say, “I’m too old to be an idol.”

  He has two children from a previous marriage, and has been married to Lucie, the love of his life, for the last fourteen years. Paul and his family live in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, along with man’s best friend, a cross Alsatian/Lab who answers to the name “Pooch” and is at his feet every time he sits down to write and will not move until “his human” is finished and types The End.

  Chelle Cordero

  Chelle Cordero writes stories of Passion and Suspense. Vanilla Heart Publishing has published ten Cordero novels: Bartlett’s Rule; His Lucky Charm; Within the Law; Courage of the Heart; Final Sin; Hostage Heart; A Chaunce of Riches; Common Bond, Tangled Hearts; Hyphema; and Karma Visited. She is currently working on her next novel and promises another action packed adventure and heartwarming love story. Chelle has been writing both fiction and non-fiction for the bulk of her adult life and has been with Vanilla Heart Publishing since early 2008.

  Her books have earned many plaudits which includes: Bartlett's Rule was named one of Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Top Ten Reads for 2009; Final Sin was an Honorable Mention in the Fiction Category of the 2010 NY Book Festival and a 2009 Pushcart Prize nominee.; Hyphema won the Dec 9, 2011 Friday Book Cover Vote on the Shades of Love website; A Chaunce of Riches was Winner of D. Renee Bagby’s readers’ choice for The Best Overall First Chapter, April 2010; and Hostage Heart, Final Sin and A Chaunce of Riches had top ten finishes in the 2009 Preditors’ and Readers’ poll. Chelle was also featured in "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" published by The Author’s Show in 2010.

  Chelle Cordero maintains an author’s blog at http://chellecordero.blogspot.com/, a promotional blog at http://ccepotourri.wordpress.com/, and offers a weekly writing workshop for Kindle Blog subscribers at http://bit.ly/pILcG. Her website http://ChelleCordero.com offers information on all of her books and her appearances. Bloggers and the media are welcome to visit Chelle’s media room at http://chellecordero.com/media/ with downloadable photos and other information.

  Be sure to LIKE Chelle’s FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChelleCordero and follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ChelleCordero. You can email Chelle at ChelleCordero(at)gmail.com.

  Chelle lives in the northeast with her husband, Mark, and family. They have two adult offspring. Jenni (& Jason) and Marc (& Trish); they also live with three mischievous and spoiled pussycats, one of whom has taken up permanent residence on Chelle’s desk. Chelle is a full-time freelance journalist for multiple publications; her articles appear regularly throughout North America and she writes a monthly column on NYS Emergency Medical Services issues as a NYS Emergency Medical Technician (First Responder News).

  Neva Squires-Rodriguez

  Neva Squires-Rodriguez was born and raised in a neighborhood located on the North Side of Chicago. Mother, Wife, Expert at Multitasking... and now, Author, Neva creates electrifying stories with a twist.

  Neva Squires-Rodriguez earned her Masters Degree from National University, a feat which she worked very hard to obtain and says she will work even harder to pay off.

  She claims to be a typical American, full of dreams that will hopefully get her to a more comfortable lifestyle one day. She says, “God has a plan and I will follow wherever it is that He takes me.”

  Lauren Shiro

  Lauren Shiro was published nationally for the first time at age fourteen. Since then, her work has been published in newspapers, magazines, literary journals, and even textbooks.

  In 2006, she began writing fiction and she hasn't stopped yet. From her set of intertwined short stories in Loving Her, to the powerhouse duo of Imperfect and Impeccable, Lauren has written stories that are sure to touch your heart. Lauren continues to write stories of love without boundaries.

  When she's not writing, Lauren spent many years as a licensed veterinary technician, and now enjoys a career in the automotive industry. In her spare time, she enjoys everything from wood working to roller derby. She resides in Rochester, New York with her wife and their menagerie of furry and feathered friends.

  Tamara Philip

  After spending most of her life in New York City, Tamara Philip decided to let love lead her on an international adventure, where she’s met many amazing people and ate entirely too much. Tamara and her English-born fiance, Chris, now split their time between the United Kingdom and The Caribbean.

  The Trouble with Playing Cupid was her debut novel, and The Trouble with Romance, Book 2 in the Cupid Series. Writing has been her secret passion since childhood. Quirky female leads are her trademark.

  On any given day you can find Tamara telling people what to do, enjoying life with her husband, and working hard on her next novel.

  Gwendolyn Jensen-Woodard

  Gwendolyn lives in the Pacific Northwest with her cats, her husband, and her youngest daughter, (the eldest making her way in Spokane, Washington).

  In her free time, she likes to play video games, chat with people worldwide, and work as a voiceover and audiobook actress.

  She writes mostly fantasy, but has been known to dabble across genre boundaries.

  She volunteers voices for many online plays, and runs her own Podcast company of different shows (she does admit, she writes a few of them). She think Audio Drama is great medium today, harkening back to the days of Old Time Radio. Gwendolyn finds it very important to have a strong female showing, of people running these podcasts, writing them, and being a part of the whole process.

  NOTE from Kimberlee, Managing Editor Vanilla Heart Publishing

  We first met Gwendolyn a couple years back, when she auditioned and then did the voice acting and production on of some of our first audiobooks. As one of the owners of Gypsy Audio, we heard she’d written some of the fabulous audiodramas there, and our curiousity grew and grew… when I asked her if she might consider writing a novel or short stories, imagine my excitement when
she said she would… and now, has!

  Angela Kay Austin

  Bestselling author Angela Kay Austin has expressed herself through words for as long as she can remember. Poems became songs performed with her cousin at every family gathering. But, eventually, short stories filled her favorite pink diary. An infatuation with music and theater led to years playing various instruments and small extra roles in TV shows before giving way to a degree and career in radio and TV production. After completing another degree in marketing, Angela found herself combining her love for all things creative and worked for many many years in promotions and advertising. But once again, she found herself writing, which led to her first published work which stayed on her publisher's bestseller list for ten weeks. Her second release hit the bestseller list at All Romance eBooks.

  She’s spoken on author panels, and served on boards for various author groups. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading her favorite authors, or researching her next story idea. Angela shares her downtime with her mixed-bred rescue terrier—Midnight, in the beautiful southern state of Tennessee.