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    The Lark and Robin Red (Abby's Story)
    The Lark and Robin Red (Abby's Story)
    The Lark and Robin Red (Abby's Story)
    Ebook70 pages39 minutes

    The Lark and Robin Red (Abby's Story)

    By Paula Freda

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    About this ebook

    e-Ever wonder what happened to Abby from Paula Freda's "Beautiful Dreamer"? Find out in the romance novella, "The Lark and Robin Red" (Abby's Story), a Clean, Inspirational Romance for hearts of all ages).

    EXCERPT: "What's wrong? Is it something I said?" although she hadn't said much. Perhaps the way she was dressed. Yet she had taken pains to dress simply. Tan slacks, a soft mint green top, and windbreaker and tan sneakers. She wasn't dressed much unlike him.
    "Not-nothing's wrong, sweetest. I guess most guys in my position would feel nervous."
    Oh God, he's going to break off with me, Abby thought, steeling herself for the worse. She didn't blame him, of course. Unbelievable, his dating her had lasted this long.
    Johnny swallowed hard. "All right, Abby," he said. "Just ignore everyone who will soon be staring at us, or aiming their smartphone cameras at us. Keep your attention on me."
    He released her shoulders and drew a small velvet box from his pants pocket. Kneeling on one knee, he snapped it open. "Abigail, I know it's probably too soon to make my declaration. But I won't wait to ask you. There's too much sadness in your eyes. You think so little of yourself because of someone in your past who was blind to the real you, the sweet and generous and selfless you. I'm not making that mistake. Abby, if you think you could bear with my faults, and just see the love in my heart, and the desire to spend the rest of my life with you. If-if you can see yourself growing old with me, patiently ... Abby will you marry me?"
    No, she thought, this wasn't real. She was in bed, dreaming. Any moment the alarm on her radio-clock would go off and her favorite country singer wake her gently with a guitar-strung melodious song."
    He took her surprise for hesitation. "Abby, I know this is sudden. But if there's the slightest inclination on your part to consider my proposal, take the ring, wear it, until the day you feel absolutely certain you have no feelings for me, then you can give it back to me. No questions asked, no recriminations. I'll exit your life as suddenly as I entered it."
    Oh, No, Abby thought, tears welling up.
    Thoughts raced through her mind, silly thoughts. How could such a gorgeous hunk of a man fall for the likes of her? How could anyone feel such love for her after so short a time? And yet, I don't care what his reasons are. My head is not going to ruin my one chance, if there is the slimmest possibility; he's actually fallen in love with me, for myself.
    Vocal chords trembling. and forgetting her self-promises to be tactful and reserved, she blurted, "Johnny, Yes, I will wear the ring, because I know I couldn't love anyone the way I love you." She took the box, removed the small Marquee diamond ring from its velvet bed of white, and slipped it over the fourth finger of her left hand. He'd probably ask her for the ring back one day soon, but she didn't care. She'd take whatever happiness was allowed her, for whatever short time, before he said goodbye to her.
    The happiness on his face was hard to discount. His smile so earnest, she dare believe its sincerity. He stood up and took her into his arms, and kissed her tenderly, oblivious to the crowd that had formed around them and their clapping and ooohs and aaahs, or the phone cameras trained on them.
    One man, though, wasn't clapping or smiling. He was a thin, sallow-faced young man in a wheelchair. He stared at the couple, not with rancor or jealousy, but with a heart-wrenching sadness. The young nurse guiding his wheelchair watched him stoically. She extended one hand and clasped his shoulder He turned partly in the wheelchair and lifted his head to meet her compassionate gaze, and missed Abby's shocked expression, as absently looking over Johnny's shoulder while he held her in his embrace, she saw the man in the wheelchair, Jason, the man, healthy, strong, athletic, selfish, she had once loved with all her heart, the heart he

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPaula Freda
    Release dateAug 12, 2016
    ISBN9781370093946
    The Lark and Robin Red (Abby's Story)
    Author

    Paula Freda

    About the AuthorDorothy Paula Freda, is also known under her pen names Paula Freda and Marianne Dora Rose. Herbooks range from Fiction and Non-fiction Adventure, Romance, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Poetry, Articles, Essays and How-to-Write Instructional complete with Lessons and optional assignments.Homemaker, mother of two grown sons, and former off-the-desk publisher of a family-oriented print small press, (1984 thru 1999), The Pink Chameleon, that she now publishes on line, Paula was raised by her grandmother and mother, and has been writing for as long as she can remember. Even before she could set pencil to paper, she would spin her stories in the recording booths in the Brooklyn Coney Island Arcades for a quarter per 3-minute record. She states, "I love the English language, love words and seeing them on display, typed and alive. A romantic at heart, I write simply and emotionally. One of my former editors kindly described my work, '...her pieces are always deep, gentle and refreshing....'" Paula further states, "My stories are sensitive, deeply emotional, sensual when appropriate, yet non-graphic, family fare, pageturners. My hope is that my writing will bring entertainment and uplift the human spirit, bring a smile to your face and your soul, and leave you filled with a generous amount of hope."

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      Book preview

      The Lark and Robin Red (Abby's Story) - Paula Freda

      The Lark and Robin Red

      by Paula Freda

      © June 2016 by Dorothy P. Freda

      (Pseudonym - Paula Freda)

      Smashwords Edition

      Exterior and Interior Bookcover photos

      Licensed by Dorothy Paula Freda from

      iStockphoto

      All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof. This is a work of fiction; names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

      The Lark and Robin Red

      (Abby's Story)

      by

      Paula Freda

      CHAPTER ONE

      Below the illustration of the two hearts entwined within one, the card read, You are the heart within my heart.

      Abby lounged in her shorts and tank top on the window seat, wiggling her bare toes dry. It had rained that morning, a gentle rain, some would call a drizzle, the kind of rain in which she enjoyed running. The short wood bar with its sliding hooks attached to the top of the window's dark wood frame was there for hanging houseplants, but she wasn't that much into green or flowering plants. The hooks, though, were great for hanging wet sneakers.

      The window seat was the main reason she had chosen this apartment a few months ago. It reminded her of the one in her parents' San Diego condominium in the sunny state. Her mother had always wanted a wide window with a large seat, to lounge and enjoy reading, one of her pastimes, along with an occasional supporting role in a TV movie. She usually played the mother or older sister.

      Although Abby's parents were retired, they continued to dabble in the Entertainment field. Dad still occasionally edited a script, when asked by a moviemaker who remembered him from his days at the better film studios.

      With all due admiration for her parents' roles in the entertainment industry, Abby herself had never felt any desire to follow in their footsteps. Growing up, what interested her most was watching the make-up artist preparing an actor or actress for their role. So much so, that as she grew into womanhood, she chose cosmetology as her main course of study, and now worked as an assistant cosmetologist in Manhattan.

      Financially, she did well. But not so well when it came to her love life. Not that she lacked beaus. She had no false modesty as to her looks. As the old song went, she was Lovely to Look at. Blessed with a canopy of brown wavy hair, silky to the touch, her oval face, wide hazel eyes that in the sunlight hinted at light green, as if in her case, nature hadn't quite decided, and tall, slim, curvaceous figure, she rarely failed to attract admirers. Those same admirers told her that she was beautiful inside and out, good natured, innately kind and giving, and fun to be with. Most didn't point out her one big flaw until a few months in her company — her preponderance to speak her mind, her ability not to feel embarrassed easily — outspoken, forward, with a wide smile that tended to give her a comical expression, detracting from her beauty and their continued pursual.

      Abby had been raised free-spirited, by parents who gave her the freedom, ability and reasons to like herself. As an Englishman she once dated phrased it, her unabashed forwardness and her bodacious free spirit. All qualities in her case that made it easy for others to trust her words, knowing she would never say one thing and mean another. But those same qualities predisposed her to expect the same in others, and trust them as easily, whereas most of her acquaintances found those qualities a hard act to follow. The young men attracted to her outward appearance, hated her free spirit, and the traits her parents admired and had encouraged in their daughter.

      Women snickered behind her back — they didn't dare make fun of her to her face, unless they welcomed a quick reprisal. No, don't fool with Abby! she'd heard them whisper. As a result, she had never been privy to a best friend, until Julie came into her life. The sweetest, most patient, honest, tolerant young woman Abby had ever known.

      The terms unabashed

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