Finding Happiness Again – Chapter 1

Alma Merchant Ronald Davidson dodged his six-foot son Carl and quickly threw the ball into the basketball hoop in their back yard. “Great shot dad, looks like I trained you well.” Ronald laughed. “According to those trophies in our front room with my name on them your father was the basketball champion during college days, so I assume you picked up some points from me … Continue reading Finding Happiness Again – Chapter 1

Novac Family Rises from the Ashes – Chapter 3

Horst Weber The Reverend Horst Weber sat in his study preparing his sermon for the coming week. His sermons were encouraging. He was proud of his Bohemian religious background and shunned the itinerant self-appointed pastors who descended on a village in those days preaching hellfire and brimstone and moved on to the next village after accepting the offerings of those fearful for their future afterlife … Continue reading Novac Family Rises from the Ashes – Chapter 3

Novac Family Rises from the Ashes – Chapter 2

Robinson Family Martin Robinson had never travelled outside New Haven and had no ambition to. His grandfather had arrived in this new land from northern England where he’d learned to be a blacksmith and in the process of his apprenticeship had observed the dawn of railways and roads to take these new horseless carriages they called automobiles. So, he’d left the job he’d been apprenticed … Continue reading Novac Family Rises from the Ashes – Chapter 2

Novac Family Rises from the Ashes – Chapter 1

Novac’s Filip Novac looked out over the vast expanse of his property. His great grandfather had been one of the lucky ones to get a land grant from the government as the push for more land from those who were fleeing from the emerging dense settlements of the east coast sought to get away from the sedentary and sometimes life-threatening practices of these emerging cities. … Continue reading Novac Family Rises from the Ashes – Chapter 1

The Beaufort Inheritance – Chapter 5

Passing the Torch Bettina was extremely happy living with Horace Beaufort in the Beaufort estate and the manor staff gradually accepted the obvious affection between the professor and his adopted daughter. Thomas who was unhappy with this foreign woman at the Beaufort estate started to whisper there was something unhealthy in this relationship and it was more than an adopted daughter relationship, but the staff … Continue reading The Beaufort Inheritance – Chapter 5

The Beaufort Inheritance – Chapter 4

Oxford University All that night Bettina tossed in her bed. She thought of her parents and of their support during her PhD studies. That was one of the reasons she’d wanted to return to France to be with them but returning to France seemed to be out of the question now if she wanted to advance her career. She thought of her need to vacate … Continue reading The Beaufort Inheritance – Chapter 4

The Beaufort Inheritance – Chapter 3

The Big Decision Bettina slowed down her research work and writing to include more socializing with the diplomatic set and developing a structured exercise routine to begin the day and it had an immediate effect on her mental outlook. She felt her mental acuteness improve and she was able to accomplish just as much with her routine as she’d done in her months of depression. … Continue reading The Beaufort Inheritance – Chapter 3

The Beaufort Inheritance – Chapter 2

The PhD Guide Bettina had quickly oriented herself to London and built a tolerance to the English culture. The Reddy clan had interfaced with the English in India. French and English two colonial powers often at war interfaced in India through their merchant outposts and there was a commonality between the Eurasian societies in each despite wars and competition between these colonial powers. So, the … Continue reading The Beaufort Inheritance – Chapter 2

The Beaufort Inheritance – Chapter 1

Migration Bettina sat on the bed after unpacking her suitcases in Uncle Louis Reddy’s spacious apartment. Louis worked in the diplomatic offices of the French Embassy and commuted from his home to 58 Knightsbridge London each day. He welcomed the opportunity to have his niece with him as his wife had recently passed on and it was comforting to have this brother and sister in … Continue reading The Beaufort Inheritance – Chapter 1

Time Heals – Chapter 5

“Elizabeth I’ve been thinking for some time about forming a literature club where we could read a particular book and share our thoughts about the authors and their works. Would you have an interest in helping me set up such a club?” Elizabeth paused eating and looked up happily. “I’d love that, William. How could I help?” “Well, I could look for a suitable venue … Continue reading Time Heals – Chapter 5