A Call Away Read online

  A Call Away

  Sydney Carter is shocked to discover her maternal grandmother, a woman she had never met, just recently passed away and left Syd her farmhouse in Iowa. She has questions about her grandparents that she hopes to find the answers to while preparing the farm to sell.

  Abigail Price, a neighbor of Syd’s grandmother, has lived on her grandmother’s farm in Iowa for most of her life, leaving only to promote her latest novel. In helping Syd find the answers she’s looking for, they develop a mutual attraction and deeper feelings for each other.

  Syd has to return to her life in Chicago, but will Abby stay in Iowa, or will she give the big city, and love, a chance?

  What Reviewers Say About KC Richardson’s Work

  New Beginnings

  “Pure and simple, this is a sweet slow-burn romance. It’s cozy and warm. At its heart, New Beginnings by KC Richardson is a story about soul mates that fall in love. …If you’re looking for a sweet romance, the kind of romance that you can curl-up with as a fire crackles in your fireplace, then this could be your book. It’s a simple love story that leaves you feeling good.”—The Lesbian Review

  Courageous Love

  “Richardson aptly captures the myriad emotions and sometimes irrational thought processes of a young woman with a possibly fatal disease, as well as the torment inherent in the idea of losing another loved one to the same illness. This sensitively told and realistically plotted story will grab readers by the heartstrings and not let them go.”—Publishers Weekly

  “Take one happy and well centered ER nurse add one handsome Cop and the scene is set for a happy ever after. But throw in a life threatening disease and KC Richardson ramps up the angst. …This is a great storyline and felt very well done. While there is a heavy dose of angst, it’s justified and well handled.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  A Call Away

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  A Call Away

  © 2018 By KC Richardson. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13:978-1-63555-026-9

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: April 2018

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design by Jeanine Henning

  By the Author

  New Beginnings

  Courageous Love

  A Call Away

  Acknowledgments

  First, and always, I’d like to thank Radclyffe, Sandy Lowe, and everyone at Bold Strokes Books involved in helping produce outstanding books. Special thanks to my editor, Cindy Cresap, who always teaches me something new. I love being a part of the BSB family.

  Thank you to my beta readers, Penelope, Dawn, and Inger for helping me write a decent first draft. And thank you to Tina for cleaning up my rewrites.

  I want to thank my family and friends for your unwavering support in my writing journey. A special thank you to my niece, Sophie, for teaching me about horses, and just for being a super human being. If more people were like you, this world would be a much better place. Now close the book, Sophie. You’re too young to read this story.

  Last, but certainly not least, thank you to the readers for your messages on Facebook, Twitter, and email. Your kind words inspire me to keep writing.

  Dedication

  To my parents for accepting me, supporting me, and loving me.

  You two are the best, and I love you.

  Now close the book. This is as far as you’re allowed to get.

  Chapter One

  Sydney Carter took in the smells, sights, and sounds of Chicago as she walked down the cracked sidewalk. It was early enough in the morning that the air wasn’t filled with bus and car exhaust, and only one or two cars were honking their horns. Spring had just begun so there was a chill in the morning, and the afternoon wouldn’t have the oppressive heat they’d get in just a few short months. As she did every morning, Syd made her way to the Englewood Youth Center and couldn’t help but smile as she thought about today’s activities. She and a volunteer, Lana, were taking six of the kids to the natural history museum for a tour and lunch. Frequenting the different museums in the city was a favorite activity for Syd, and she looked forward to sharing the experience with her kids.

  Two years earlier, Syd had made a life-changing decision to quit her job as an investment banker for one of the largest firms in town and took a position working at Englewood Youth Center, an inner city recreation center for underprivileged children. The salary she earned working for the center was a small fraction of what she earned in her previous career, so she chose to do things and go places that were little to no cost. But that didn’t matter because working with the kids and exposing them to activities they might not have otherwise was what was important to her.

  As she opened the glass door that was protected by black iron bars, her phone rang. She looked at the screen and guessed it was probably a telemarketer since she didn’t know anyone from Iowa. She considered answering it, but she decided that if it was important, they would leave a voice mail. She had better things to do with her time than listen to someone try to sell her something she didn’t even need.

  She stepped into the bland room that was in serious need of updating. The once-white paint was chipping off the walls, and the beige carpet was now mostly brown from various stains. There was a bit of a smell—something along the lines of stale sweat and mold, but once she’d been in the building for five minutes, she could no longer smell it. She heard the footfalls before the child making them was even visible.

  “Ms. Syd! I’m ready to go to the museum.” Alisa stopped just short of running into Syd, and she sported a huge smile on her face. Alisa was always ecstatic when the center had field trips. Her mother worked long hours to keep a roof over their heads, so she didn’t have a lot of time to spend with Alisa. That’s where Syd and the other workers at the center came in. It was mostly an after-school program where tutoring and socializing occurred. It was also a safe place for the kids to gather so they wouldn’t have to spend their afternoons and evenings in an empty apartment or hanging out on the streets. On the weekends, it was all fun and games.

  “I see that, Alisa. Are you ready to see the dinosaurs?”

  “Yes. I’ve been ready all week.”

  “Good. Let’s round up the others and we’ll get going.” The chime coming from Syd’s pocket notified her she had a voice mail. “Let me check this message and I’ll be right there.” She smiled as she watched Alisa run to get the others ready. Syd pushed the voice mail icon and held the phone to her ear.

  “Hello, Ms. Carter. I’m an attorney in Charville, Iowa, and I need to speak to you about your grandmother. Please call me back as soon as you can.”

  Syd looked at the phone like it had sprouted legs. Why would an attorney in Iowa be contacting her about her grandmother? She was just about to call him back when Alisa returned with the other kids, saying they were ready to go. She’d have to call the attorney back later. Alisa grabbed Syd’s hand and walked
with her to the van. Alisa was mature for her ten years, and she seemed to pride herself on being Syd’s helper. Syd had a soft spot in her heart for Alisa since the first day she came to the center. Maybe it was because she reminded Syd of herself when she was that age. Alisa was respectful and friendly with the other children and staff. She was also a hard worker, whether it was studying for class or helping out around the center. The difference was that Syd had two parents who worked in education, and they were always home at night to help her with her homework or go to her sporting events.

  Syd and Lana loaded the children into the van and drove through the streets of Chicago. Syd listened to the chatter coming from the back seats. If the high and loud pitches of the kids were any indication, they were excited to see the dinosaurs, mummies, and the 3D movie. They pulled into the parking lot and Syd turned off the engine before turning in her seat.

  “Okay, young ladies and gentlemen, listen up. The people from the museum were nice enough to let us come here for free today. A very nice lady is going to take us on a tour of the different exhibits, then we’ll have lunch, then we’ll walk around for a little while before we leave. Most important rule is we stay together. I don’t want to have to deal with any of your mamas if we lose you and don’t bring you home.” That last comment, along with a mock glare, made her captive audience laugh.

  “Keep your hands to yourselves. This means don’t touch anything, including each other. If you have a question, raise your hand and wait to be called on. If you have to go to the bathroom, let me or Ms. Lana know. Does anyone have any questions?”

  A chorus of “no” signaled they were ready for their adventure. They made their way up the three steps and through the grand front doors. Their tour guide met them at the information desk and started their tour. The first exhibit the guide showed them made the children, and Syd and Lana for that matter, gasp in amazement.

  “This is Sue.” The kids laughed at the name, but they quickly regained their composure and listened raptly to the guide. “This fossil is the largest and best-preserved T. Rex ever found. Can you guess how big she is?”

  Everybody took a guess, and while they were all pretty close, the guide had to give them the correct answer. Every exhibit they visited, the guide gave them information that made it interesting for the adolescents and adults. By the end of the visit, they had learned about DNA, how Earth had evolved, and they saw inside ancient Egypt. On the way back to the center, the kids excitedly talked about what they liked best, and they were still talking when they arrived. There was still enough daylight for the children to walk home with the older ones looking out for them. Syd hugged them all good-bye and retreated to the office to fill out some paperwork.

  Syd recalled the events of the day, the look of wonderment that was evident on all their little faces, especially when they saw the life-sized replica of a dinosaur on display. Her heart felt full as she absent-mindedly played with the collar on her shirt, a habit that had formed when she was no older than most of the children she worked with. The old habit had a way of soothing her, and she often did that when she felt overwhelmed. However, today, the overwhelming feeling was in a good way.

  Syd’s career in investment banking never fed her heart the way working at the center did. It was by happenstance that her former firm had sponsored the Englewood Youth Center in an all-city sports competition. That was Syd’s first exposure to the center, and how she met her current boss, Christina. Christina had told Syd that she had been skeptical at first to hiring her, knowing that she’d had no experience working with children and that she would be taking a severe pay cut. However, Syd was able to convince her that she felt this was her calling, and that she’d be willing to do anything to help the center, and the kids, grow and thrive. Two years and counting, and she still didn’t have a single regret.

  She checked to make sure there weren’t any lingerers left behind before she locked the doors as she made her way out of the building. She pulled the sunglasses over her eyes and walked to the train with a spring in her step, having all but forgotten about that mysterious voice mail she’d gotten earlier in the day.

  Syd greeted the doorman as she walked to the elevator. The squeaking of her rubber soled tennis shoes on the marble floor was the only sound in the lobby in the early evening hours. She shut her eyes as the elevator ascended to her thirtieth-floor condo, her home that she had purchased when she was still making a six-figure salary.

  She placed her backpack on the dining table before pouring two fingers of her favorite Scotch in a crystal glass. It was one of the few luxuries she continued to indulge in that carried over from her days as an investment banker. She didn’t bother turning on the lights; the muted light from the city view was more than enough for her to navigate her way to the balcony. She looked out on the Chicago skyline as she sipped her drink and felt the burn in the back of her throat before it warmed its way to her stomach. In the daylight, she had views of Lake Michigan and Millennium Park, but it was this view at night she savored the most. She often ended her workday sitting outside listening to the muffled sounds of honking horns and the distant rumble of the train. She loved working with the kids, but it was a constant stream of noise at work, and she relished the quiet time her balcony afforded her.

  Syd went back inside and poured another finger of Scotch then headed to her en suite bathroom. She filled her Jacuzzi tub, poured in some lavender essential oil, and turned on the jets. She stripped down and slid into the warm water. She let the hard stream of water pound on her tight muscles as she finished her nightcap. She inhaled the lavender fragrance and slowly finished her nightcap. It wasn’t long until her body and mind felt more relaxed. She emptied the tub, dried herself off, and slipped between her Egyptian cotton sheets, hoping she would be able to grab a few restful hours of sleep.

  It felt like she had just closed her eyes when her cell phone rang and the Iowa number came up on her screen. She was sorely tempted to let it go to voice mail again and try to fall back to sleep for another hour, but she figured if someone was calling her at eight a.m., it might be important. Her one day of the week when she didn’t have to get up early to go to work, and her sleep was interrupted by the phone. She cleared her throat to dislodge her fatigue.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello. May I speak with Sydney Carter, please?”

  “Speaking.”

  “Ms. Carter, my name is William Kramer and I’m an attorney in Charville, Iowa.”

  Syd sat up in bed, wondering why he was calling her. She remembered the strange voice mail from the day before and cleared her throat once more. “How can I help you, Mr. Kramer?”

  “I’m sorry to break this to you over the phone, but your grandmother passed away recently, and she left her property in Iowa to you.”

  “Mr. Kramer, I think you have the wrong number. My Grandmom Carter passed away ten years ago.”

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Carter. I should have clarified. Your grandmother, Virginia Adams, your maternal grandmother is who I’m speaking of.”

  Syd felt light-headed and her vision dimmed as she recalled the woman she hadn’t seen or talked about in over thirty years.

  Four-year-old Sydney sat in the backseat of her parents’ car. The booster seat she was strapped into allowed her to look at the flat land outside the windows. There were cows and horses like she had seen in her picture books. “Mama, what are those tall things sticking out of the ground?”

  “Those are corn stalks, baby girl. That’s where corn on the cob comes from.”

  Sydney kicked her legs excitedly and exclaimed, “I love corn on the cob, Mama!”

  “I know you do, baby.”

  “Mama, where are we going again?”

  “We’re going to see my parents, baby girl, your grandparents.”

  “Like Grandad and Grandmom Carter?”

  “Yes. Grandad and Grandmom Carter are Daddy’s parents. We’re going to see Grandad and Grandmom Adams, my parents.”

  “Ya
y!” This was the first time Syd and her parents went on such a long trip in a car. Usually, they just went to the zoo or a park. Grandad and Grandmom Carter lived so close, they usually just walked to their house. “Mama, are we there yet? What is there to do? Are there any other kids to play with? When can I give Grandad and Grandmom a hug?”

  “We’ll be there soon, baby. Just try and settle down, okay?”

  Sydney’s attention was diverted back out the window by all the different colored cows in the fields. She made herself and her parents laugh when she mooed at the cows, offering them a greeting. When the car slowed and turned into a long driveway, she got more excited the closer the house ahead of her got. She couldn’t wait to meet her grandparents and play in the big yard. She spotted a tree that she definitely wanted to climb, but frowned when she realized she wasn’t wearing tree-climbing clothes. Her mama dressed her in her best dress, tights, and her shiny black shoes.

  The car came to a stop and her parents got out, then unstrapped Sydney from her booster seat. She grabbed her mama’s hand and walked to the front door. She couldn’t remember ever being so happy. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much, but she didn’t care. She was just thrilled to be in a new place. An older man opened the door and he looked mad. Rather than going to hug him, Sydney hid behind her mama and gripped the fabric of her skirt.

  “Hi, Daddy.”

  “What the hell are you doing here? I thought I told you not to come back if you married this—”