Life After Taylah
Life After Series, Volume 1
Bella Jewel
Published by Bella Jewel, 2014.
Table of Contents
Title Page
~*LIFE AFTER TAYLAH*~
LIFE AFTER TAYLAH | Copyright © 2014 Bella Jewel
DEDICATION | This book goes to a special friend of mine, whose life was taken far too early. You lived through a life of pain and agony, and your smile will be missed daily. Rest in peace, Matty. You and your daughter are in a better place. | NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
PROLOGUE | Spring 2004
CHAPTER 1 | AVERY - 2014
CHAPTER 2 | NATE
AVERY
CHAPTER 3 | AVERY
CHAPTER 4 | NATE
AVERY
CHAPTER 5 | NATE
AVERY
CHAPTER 6 | AVERY
CHAPTER 7 | AVERY
NATE
CHAPTER 8 | AVERY | Three weeks later.
NATE
CHAPTER 9 | AVERY
CHAPTER 10 | NATE
NATE
CHAPTER 11 | AVERY
CHAPTER 12 | AVERY
CHAPTER 13 | NATE
AVERY
CHAPTER 14 | NATE
AVERY
CHAPTER 15 | NATE
CHAPTER 16 | AVERY | One month later.
CHAPTER 17 | AVERY
CHAPTER 18 | AVERY
CHAPTER 19 | NATE
AVERY
CHAPTER 20 | NATE
CHAPTER 21 | AVERY
NATE
CHAPTER 22 | AVERY
CHAPTER 23 | AVERY
CHAPTER 24 | NATE
NATE
AVERY
CHAPTER 25 | AVERY
NATE
CHAPTER 26 | AVERY
CHAPTER 27 | AVERY | Two weeks later.
AVERY
CHAPTER 28 | NATE
CHAPTER 29 | AVERY
NATE
CHAPTER 30 | AVERY
NATE
CHAPTER 31 | AVERY
CHAPTER 32 | NATE
AVERY
NATE
CHAPTER 33 | AVERY
CHAPTER 34 | AVERY
AVERY
CHAPTER 35 | NATE
CHAPTER 36 | NATE | Another month later.
AVERY
CHAPTER 37 | AVERY
EPILOGUE | AVERY
TWO MONTHS LATER
If you would like to see a story from Kelly, Keanu, Max and Liam – then do come and tell me! | And now to those who missed the MC SINNERS bonus feature in the boxed set, here it is for you. | BONUS MC SINNERS MATERIAL! AND A SPECIAL SURPRISE! | CIARA
ADDISON
SERENITY
JANINE
CIARA
ADDISON
EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER
THE END
~*LIFE AFTER TAYLAH*~
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LIFE AFTER TAYLAH
Copyright © 2014 Bella Jewel
Life After Taylah is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and events portrayed in this book either are from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, establishments, events, or location is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. Please do not take offence to the content, as it is FICTION.
DEDICATION
This book goes to a special friend of mine, whose life was taken far too early. You lived through a life of pain and agony, and your smile will be missed daily. Rest in peace, Matty. You and your daughter are in a better place.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
This book took me on a long and painful journey, mostly because any time an author touches an emotional subject such as this, it’s a risk. I chose to tell this story for more than one reason. The first is that I wanted to bring the emotional turmoil experienced within a family after a loved one is lost or a life is taken. See, a very close family member of mine went missing a long time ago, and was never found again. To this day there are no answers. The damage done to those close is devastating. This subject is very real and very destructive to those around.
The affair in this book was blended in out of life experience also, while this story isn’t my own, it’s very close to me. It’s an emotion I’ve experienced very closely and I’ve felt the devastating affects of. If only love were always easy, if only we always thought about others before ourselves, if only we favored logic, instead of our hearts. But if we did such a thing, we would never have real, beautiful stories and life wouldn’t be what it is.
As always, my darlings, thanks for supporting me. And remember to join me on Facebook for more of my releases!
Bella xo
PROLOGUE
Spring 2004
“Good morning, good morning, to you!” My momma sings, dancing into the room. “Wake up, Avie!”
I blink my eyes open and stare at my mom. She’s smiling down at me, her blue eyes wide and responsive. She’s always smiling. She swoops down and presses a kiss to my head and then she spins in a delicate circle, finding my cupboard where she pulls out my school uniform. Her fingers run over the material, smoothing it out. Her nose crinkling as she realizes it’s not ironed to her standards.
“I don’t want to go to school today,” I moan, sliding out of bed.
“Baby-cakes, you know what your momma always says?”
I sigh, but it’s with a big smile. “School makes you smart and bein’ smart means you go a long way in life.”
She grins at me, holding up my dress now she’s content that it’s wrinkle-free. “I taught my baby girl well.”
“Fine,” I huff, taking the dress from her. “Where’s Papa?”
Her face tightens just a touch and I know it’s because my dad is always working. He works so much we hardly see him. If it weren’t for my momma, my life wouldn’t be so exultant. She keeps the sunshine in our lives.
“He had to work early this morning,” she says.
I frown. “But I thought he was going to come and watch me dance?”
She smiles, but behind it there is so much sadness. I can tell this, because her smile never truly reaches her eyes. “Momma will come and watch you dance, and then we’ll go and get some ice cream.”
I nod in resignation. “Okay.”
She kisses my head and walks out of the room, calling to my brother, Liam. He’s four years older than me and is in his senior year of high school. I’m just starting out. Even though he’s older than me, Liam and I are very close.
I adore him.
I hear him grumble as she skips into his room and I laugh, pulling my nightgown off and pulling on my dress. He never wakes up well.
I finish getting ready for school and I make my way out into the kitchen. Momma is staring down at her cell phone and smiling.
“Who is it?” I ask, sitting on a stool and sliding the freshly baked pancakes towards me.
“It’s just your dad, honey.” She smiles, tucking the phone away.
I like when dad makes her smile; it makes me happy to know he still loves her so dearly. How could you not love her? She’s so beautiful, so radiant, like light; like sunshine.
“These are good,” I say, pointing to my pan
cakes while chewing.
“Don’t talk with your mouthful, Avie,” she chastises, and then turns to Liam who is lifting himself onto the stool beside me. “Eat up, or you’ll be late.”
He grumbles something, but flashes me a smile. He’s got blue eyes just like Momma, and his hair is as light as hers. I have the same honey-colored blond hair, only my eyes are as green as Papa’s. Liam is blessed with olive skin, while mine is lighter. I frown at the thought and continue eating.
“Quickly now,” Momma says, checking her wristwatch. “You’re going to be late.”
I shove the last mouthful in and take my backpack off the seat. Mom shoves a lunch pack towards me and gives me a kiss on the cheek. Liam joins me seconds later and we stand by the door, waiting, as Mom rushes over to kiss us again.
“My angels,” she breathes, admiring us. “Have a wonderful day. Remember I love you.”
We both smile at her.
“Love you too, Mom!”
~*~*~*~
Today is boring; I rest my chin on my crossed arms and stare at the teacher. I’m not really listening, so when she speaks to me, it takes me a moment to click. I lift my head. “Pardon?”
“I said,” she says, her face grim. “You need to go to the office.”
I stare at her, confused. Why do I need to go to the office? I get out of my chair and I can feel all the other students’ eyes on me as I rush out of the classroom and down the large halls, past the lockers and into the stuffy office that belongs to a very crabby principal.
“What’s going on?” I ask when I enter, slinking my pack over my shoulder.
“You need to wait here for your brother,” the principal says. “Your dad called and said it’s urgent that you come home.”
I shake my head, confused. “Why?”
“He didn’t say, but he needs you at home as he won’t have the time to pick you up later. He said it’s important.”
I frown and take a seat, waiting for Liam. When he comes in, he looks as confused as me as he sits to my left.
“What’s going on?”
I shrug. “Dad needs us home.”
“Maybe Momma is sick?”
I shake my head. “She was fine this morning.”
He purses his lips and looks away. We wait in silence for our father. When he arrives he looks flustered and disorientated. His usually well-styled hair is ruffled and his suit is crumbled.
“Dad?” I ask, standing.
“We have to go, come on,” he murmurs, putting his hands to our backs and pushing us forward.
“What’s going on?” Liam asks.
“I’ll explain in the car, let’s go.”
We hurry out, not questioning him any further. When we reach his little red sports car that he loves so dearly, we quickly climb in and buckle up. He turns to us as soon as he’s in.
“I can’t find your mother,” he says quickly, looking frazzled.
My heart plummets deep into my belly. “What?” I squeak.
“I called her this morning, over and over, and she didn’t answer. I got worried and went home; she wasn’t there. I searched and I searched, but she’s not answering my calls. Let’s not become alarmed, it could be as simple as her visiting a friend and her cell battery has gotten flat. I need you guys at home because I’ve got to get out and look, and between looking for your mother and work, I won’t be able to take you to your sports, as planned. I’m very worried as you can imagine.”
Liam is staring out the window, his face red. “She wouldn’t just let her phone go flat, Papa,” he murmurs. “This is Mom we’re talking about.”
“That’s why I’m going to look. I’ll take you home where I know you’re safe and we’ll go from there.”
Something just doesn’t feel right. My stomach is turning and my heart aches. I hope she’s okay.
~*~*~*~
“It’s been ten days,” I sob into Liam’s chest. “Why hasn’t she come home?”
“I don’t know, Avie, I don’t know.”
“You two need to get to school,” Papa says, storming in. He’s disheveled, his suit is crinkled and he’s flustered. He hasn’t slept much for the past ten days and I know he’s suffering, too.
“I don’t want to go,” I say in a shaky voice, holding onto Liam.
“There isn’t a choice, Avery. I can’t have you here; I’ve got enough going on.”
“So do we,” Liam says, narrowing his eyes at our father.
“Don’t start with me, boy, get her to school and make sure she’s safe.”
I get to my feet, still sobbing. I don’t want to go to school but I don’t want to make things harder for Papa either, so I do as he asks and I go and get dressed. I’m numb as I pull my shoes on. Waking up isn’t easy when Momma isn’t here. She just disappeared and no one can figure out where she’s gone. There have been policemen and questions, but there’s been no Momma.
I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again.
CHAPTER 1
AVERY - 2014
“Allegro, Avery. You seem stiff.”
I swoop my body to the ground, extending my hands and twisting in a graceful yet quick movement. I lift my eyes to my teacher, Lyn, and see she’s got her arms crossed over her heavy bosom. I’m not moving stylishly enough; she’s making that very clear. She’s got me doing a routine to a slower tempo, and it’s not my forte.
I lower my head as my body swoops towards the floor, and I gracefully spin again, lifting up onto my toes before extending my leg out the back and then stretching my arms out wide and bringing my body back down so my fingers lightly graze the floor.
“Smoother,” Lyn orders. “You’re not moving smoothly enough, Avery.”
I close my eyes, concentrating harder. Three seconds later, I’m on the floor. My ankle twists beneath me and I cry out angrily, full of frustration. Lyn sighs, and walks over, kneeling down in front of me. “You have to get this right, Avery. It’s essential. How are you to teach the younger students if you can’t get the move right?”
She has a point; I have to get it perfect. I’m studying to be a ballet teacher with the academy, deciding that perusing a dancing career wasn’t something I truly wanted to do. I want to teach, it’s where my strength lies. I’ve been at the Ballet Academy since my mother, Taylah, went missing ten years ago. These people became my family, teaching me to dance and find my outlet. It’s my everything. My only escape. My only passion. I want to teach other children, maybe give them the same escape I was lucky enough to have.
“Take a break for the afternoon. We’ve been training for three hours. Go home, practice the routine and we’ll start first thing in the morning. You’re doing so well with everything else, we just need to get this one right.”
I nod, rubbing my tired ankles. “Thanks, Lyn.”
She reaches out, cupping my chin. I look up into her tired, blue eyes and I can see the pain there. She feels for me. I know she does. Sometimes it’s not a good thing. I don’t like having pity; I just want to be normal. That seems like it’s something I’ll never experience in my life.
“You’re an amazing dancer, Avery. You’re compassionate and strong,” she says, softly. “You just have to let go.”
She stands without another word and leaves the studio. I drop my head, fighting back everything inside myself. I know I have to be better, but to be better I have to let go. I get up each day and my routine is the same: I work until lunchtime and then I spend a few hours here, practicing and helping out the other teachers. Then I go home, sit alone most nights and spend my time trying to think about anything other than her.
The years do not ease my pain; they only seem to put a coating on it. It’s never easy not knowing and that’s what it’s been like for us since she went. We just don’t know. There were investigations, there were questions, and there were searches and pleas. She never came back. We never found her. We don’t know if she’s dead or alive.
Our family fell apart.
“Avery.”
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I lift my head to see Jacob, my boyfriend coming into the studio. Our relationship is somewhat organized so I can’t say love or attraction factor in the equation. My father is rich and very well-known in our town. He happens to be extremely close to Jacob’s family and their businesses run alongside each other. It’s almost been set from day one for Jacob and I to marry. It seems logical. I don’t fight it. There’s more than one reason why.
Jacob understands me.
Jacob doesn’t make me feel.
Jacob is easy.
That’s the way I want it. If I feel, I’m letting her down—forgetting her. I can’t let her down. Not ever. It’s easier if I do as I am instructed. My papa encourages me to dance because it’s the only place I feel passion. I’m almost sure he feels like it will heal something in me. He’s always paid for it. Without his money, I wouldn’t be able to study the way I do, nor would I be able to help all these students learn. Without this studio, I’d never be okay again.
“Jacob,” I whisper, staring at the man who I have basically signed my world over to.
Jacob isn’t a bad man, but he’s not entirely a good man either. He has a short temper. He is very professional. He is all about work. I believe there is a part of him that wants this with me, but there’s also a part that doesn’t. For his company’s sake, though, he goes along with it. He stands to inherit his father’s business as well as mine if we marry. He’s not about to let that fly.
“How did your class go today?” he asks, offering me a hand.
There are times Jacob is kind. He’s never sweet, but he can be kind. I’ve learned there’s a big difference between the two.
I take his hand and let him lift me to my feet.
“It was okay,” I murmur, slipping my shoes off and picking them up.
“Lyn said you did well.”
Lyn lied.
“I’m getting there.”
I turn to Jacob, and stare up at him. He’s six-foot tall and well built. He’s got shaggy blond hair and big blue eyes. His skin is pale and his features all seem to fit perfectly. His nose is straight and flawless. His lips aren’t too full, nor are they too thin. His jaw is square. His forehead is just the right width. He’s been carefully pieced together, yet his looks don’t excite me.