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    One in a Million
    One in a Million
    One in a Million
    Ebook105 pages1 hour

    One in a Million

    By Marianne Dora Rose

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    About this ebook

    Clean, inspirational romance. Janice draws a million dollar lottery ticket. She believes in the bad luck curse that is rumored to afflict winners of huge amounts. Her younger sister convinces her to ask her neighbor's son, a soap opera star, known for his good luck and good nature, to cash the ticket for her. Not easy, when she is secretly in love with him....
    Excerpt: "Well, getting back to what it is you want to say to me," Jasper quickly recouped, "I'm listening."
    "All right," Janice said. She couldn't believe what she was about to ask him. A heartthrob, a regular, on a well-liked television soap who happened to be the son of her family's neighbors. Every girl on the block was in love with him. She, included, even if she refused to admit it, and too shy and timid to ask him out like the other girls had. "Just remember, I'll understand completely if you refuse." She took a deep breath, and with the words, "You see, I've drawn a million dollar lottery ticket, but I have this obsessive fear of the curse...." The words tumbled out and finally the request and the reasons she had chosen to ask him, his lucky nature and his disbelief in luck in general, to counterbalance any bad luck forthcoming. And finally, the offer to give him a percentage for his efforts, if he chose to do her the favor. Through all her spiel, he'd listened quietly, despite his clear astonishment.
    "Don't misread my astonishment for disrespect, please," he finally replied. "I'm honored that you would trust me enough to give me the ticket to cash for you, and I certainly don't need, and wouldn't in any case accept money to cash it for you, even if it didn't involve legal repercussions."
    She sensed a logical refusal coming, and before he uttered another word, she blurted, "Oh, for heaven's sake, if you didn't think so before, you definitely must think I'm crazy, now. You don't have to worry about how to refuse politely. Just ignore and forget everything I said. I'm beginning to think I am crazy, and no amount of money is worth that. I'll leave quickly, quietly." She started to stand intent on running, but he caught her arm. She was trembling, tears of frustration filling her eyes, glazing the dark brown irises to shimmering.
    "Wait, sit back down, take it easy," he soothed. "You're not crazy. Lots of folks believe in the curse associated with winning a lottery ticket of that amount."
    "I guess my only recourse is to go home and run the ticket through my shredder," Janice said, reverting to her initial decision."
    "Absolutely not," Jasper said. "Think of all the good you can do for your family."
    "Yes, I've heard that line. But I've also read about the many examples of sorry winners who cursed the day they ever bought the winning ticket in the first place."
    "Most examples of so-called cursed winners were already losers with self-destructive character issues long before they won. They entail a very small percentage of the winners. I don't believe in luck, either good or bad. We're responsible for our own lives. My trust is in the Lord. Not that I presume the Lord will make miracles for me at my beck and call. No, but I do know the Lord is always there, ready to lend me strength and His shoulder, or if you prefer, Her shoulder, to lean on and keep me going, no matter what life throws at me."
    It was true what they said about him, Janice thought, her heartbeat quickening with admiration and respect for this young man. He had a kind heart and a pure soul, the Lord's light shining through it. And he made sense, of course, she thought, resolving to follow whatever advice he gave her.
    "What do you advise me to do?" she asked.
    Jasper studied her visage. His gaze grew yielding and compassionate. His next words surprised her...

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMarianne Dora Rose
    Release dateOct 4, 2018
    ISBN9780463163870
    One in a Million
    Author

    Marianne Dora Rose

    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

      One in a Million - Marianne Dora Rose

      One in a Million

      by

      Marianne Dora Rose

      One in a Million

      by Dorothy P. Freda

      (writing as Marianne Dora Rose)

      © August 3, 2018 by Dorothy P. Freda

      (Pseudonyms - Marianne Dora Rose aka Paula Freda)

      Smashwords Edition

      Bookcover photos Licensed

      by Dorothy Paula Freda from iStockphoto, and

      Dreamstime

      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.

      Dedication

      With thanks to my Dear Lord Jesus and his Blessed Mother Mary whose strength, guidance, and her Holy Rosary, are my anchor in this troubled world, I dedicate this book to my husband, Domenick, whose love, patience and kindness over the past 47 years kept my dreams and view of the romantic alive and vibrant.

      Also, a special thank you to Denise Renaud whose advice helped create the right book cover.

      One in a Million

      by

      Marianne Dora Rose

      CHAPTER ONE

      No! No! I don't want it! Take it back. Janice eyed the winning ticket with malice. I have enough bad luck in my life. I don't need more.

      Are you crazy? her sister asked, missing the point. A million dollars! From rags to riches? Crissy exclaimed, her face red with disbelief. For Pete's sake, why!" The twelve-year-old tried to think of reasons why her twenty-year-old sister seemed to have gone mad in the space of a few seconds, the moment the news anchorman on the TV read the winning numbers. Their parents were about to lose the house, the car, everything for lack of money. She'd had to cut down her haircuts to once every four months. As a result, her straight dark brown hair reached her shoulder blades. She kept it tied in a long ponytail, except for a narrow tress on each side of her face, a common style at this time, and the only part of her hair she trusted herself to cut to her jaw line.

      For Pete's sake, Why? she repeated. It suddenly came to her. Oh, you gotta be kidding! Janice's remark about the bad luck. Of course. Janice believed in the old saying about huge winning tickets and the curse they carried.

      Sister, dear, don't you realize that by the time you pay off the taxes, the mortgage, the car, and all the other bills, there won't be that much left to feed the curse.

      Doesn't matter, Janice said, shaking her equally dark brown hair, but unlike Crissy's straight hair, Janice's was a mass of silky waves. She rarely went to the beauty salon, able to trim her own hair without fear, since the waves hid any unevenness. She glared at Crissy, reminding her of an oracle pictured on a Greek vase she'd seen at the Art Museum, issuing an ominous prediction to an ancient warrior.

      The curse will be in place, Janice insisted. There will be all sorts of repercussions as soon as I accept the money.

      Fine. Then sign the money over to me.

      Crissy, you're twelve years old.

      Well, sign it over to Mom and Dad.

      Never. I won't put Mom and Dad at risk.

      Crissy fought to hold back the tears that up to last year, she'd allowed to fall freely at the smallest confrontation. We can't return the ticket to the stationary store, she pleaded, hopefully. There's reporters hanging around the storefront, and at the lottery office. The news is already out that someone has the winning ticket. The thought occurred and she offered frantically, Maybe we can find someone who'll be willing to cash the ticket for a small percentage, and give you the balance."

      Now, you're crazy, Janice said. Where in heaven's name are we going to find someone who'd actually accept a small percentage just because I believe in the curse? And besides, why would I chance inflicting bad luck on anyone else?

      So what about all the harm you'll be causing Mom and Dad, and everyone else who can benefit from your winning ticket? Including me. That hit a nerve, she thought, reading despair crossing her sister's face.

      Oh, what am I going to do? Janice cried. You're right, of course. I can't make my family suffer because of my fear. I can't be that selfish.

      Crissy nodded in total agreement. Quickly she added, attempting to sound wise and older, So, who do we know that's had lots of good luck and most likely to counterbalance any bad luck forthcoming?

      Janice sat back on the couch. The Television newscast was over and the one-o'clock soap had begun. It was the one soap she occasionally watched, on holidays, or vacations, like today, from work at the local bank as a receptionist and typist. Thanks to her high school business course, she was able to afford night college, even if it would take years to get her degree.

      Despite their limited schooling, her parents both worked hard for their three children that included herself, her sister, and a younger brother, age eight. Her parents worked at the town mall, her father as a cook in the food court, and her mother, as a sales clerk in a clothing department store.

      Crissy gave a yelp. Jasper! He's on today. She pointed to the TV screen.

      Jasper Callahan, her next-door neighbor's son. A soap-opera star for the past four years. A twenty-six year-old heartthrob with a huge fan base. Janice wasn't immune to his charm, both on the screen and as the handsomest boy on the block. The houses on her block were built close, with lawns and narrow driveways separating them.

      Jasper long ago left his parents' home for college and drama school. His looks and intelligence, and a savvy agent landed him a part on the soap. His parents were proud of his success. They shared their pride with their neighbors. His mother was the levelheaded parent. She often shared friendly conversations with Janice's mother. "My son has never let obstacles daunt him. Whenever anyone mentions his good luck in landing a part in the soap, he says, 'I don't believe in luck, either good or bad. We make our own luck and are responsible for our own actions.' Now mind you, he's a good boy. Not one to step on anyone's toes to get where he wants, his mother said, he's a good God-fearing fellow — that's how we raised him — but he's no timid two-shoes."

      Crissy grinned triumphantly. The answer is right there in front of us. She clasped Janice's arm. See, she said, pointing to young actor. "There's your man. He'll do you the favor. He'll cash the ticket for us, accept a small amount, and give you the balance. And the curse won't affect him because he's loaded

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