Prologue to The Life Storms Series (Eye of the Storm)

Alonzo Moretti Davis was looking sharp in his black tux, as he stood waiting for his wife to kiss the children goodbye. They had waited for this night out for the last few years. Miriam didn’t seem to trust any one person with the children, and it made it difficult for them to go out alone.

Tonight was different. Alonzo had picked the perfect venue for their anniversary. He looked forward to it and planned every second of each activity he wanted to share with her. If it had been up to him, they would have taken the night to spend together. They hadn’t been alone since before the birth of their son. He missed the times when he could be alone with her, but he loved that she embraced motherhood. He loved his children, and Miriam would have given her last breath for them.

He watched her with a grin as he listened to instructions she gave Mrs. Rosen. Each instruction was laid out in order of importance. Alonzo laughed as he listened to his overly protective wife. “Miriam, if we don’t leave, we aren’t going to be on time.

Besides, Mrs. Rosen knows what she’s doing.”

His wife smiled, and her brown eyes danced as she admired him. Assisting her with her coat, as she put it on. His son looked up in wonderment at him as he helped his mother. He tried to teach his son to treat the women in his life like a delicate flower. From the time he could understand, he told him women were strong, but needed love and attention. It was their job to see they were protected and well taken care of. He winked at his boy, knowing he got the message, he gave his father a sheepish grin, and acknowledged his father as they walked out the door.

As they drove to the Riverfront Restaurant, Alonzo talked with Miriam, they both laughed and smiled as they remembered how they had met. The ice on the windshield reminded him of the day she had walked into the cafe where he was sitting after class.

She walked into the small café, Whitecaps Java, she had already prepared for her shift when he saw her. He knew her shift like the back of his hand and made a point to be there. He never got up enough courage to ask her out, but was determined that was going to change.

He had watched her all through their freshman year at college, just waiting his turn between boyfriends, and this was his chance. He thought many times she hadn’t noticed he was around, and acted as if young men didn’t matter to her, however, they were attracted to her like bees to honey.

Walking to the table next to him, she slid on some spilled water. The iced coffee she carried fell on the floor at her feet. Before she hit the floor, he reached out to catch her as she fell into his arms, and landed against his chest. I guess you could say the opportunity had inadvertently fallen into his lap. She gasped as she saw him looking down at her.

Her doe-brown eyes were large and hypnotizing, leaving him unable to speak for a moment.

“I am so sorry,” she said, and tried to push herself up from where she had landed.

He wanted to help her up, but couldn’t let go of her. She didn’t

try to get up again, when he bent down and kissed her. The empty tray skidded to the floor amongst the coffee and ice. Her kiss left him breathless. She had him from the moment she looked at him. Her eyes were wide, and remained silent as he caressed her cheek.

“I guess I should marry you and make an honest woman of you.”

Miriam wasn’t sure how to react. She was stunned by his remark, and continued to hold on to him as patrons in the shop looked on. The stares hadn’t made much difference as she was cradled in his arms. Everything had become right with the world from that moment.

Picking up her hand, he placed it to his lips, and pressed a soft kiss against it. “I love you, Miriam. I never would have thought you would’ve gone for a guy like me.”

“And what is wrong with a guy like you?” Miriam had prompted him.

“You knew at the time I didn’t have much and I was shy.”

“Yes, but that’s what made you so charming, material things weren’t important to you. I would have gone out with you anytime.”

“You hadn’t noticed me before that day in the cafe.” He laughed. “You were too busy with Bob, Bill, whatever his name was.”

“Brandon, and yes, I was. You just never got around to asking me out.”

“Well, I’m glad I did. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

“Where would I be without you?” Miriam squeezed his hand as he watched the dark road that winter night.

“What do you think of Elijah? Isn’t he becoming the charmer?”

“He’s a carbon copy of you, Alonzo. Even at his tender age, I’m surprised the little girls aren’t falling all over him. You have taught him well.”

“Yeah, the lady killer.” Alonzo laughed, he could see the smile on his wife’s face from the corner of his eye. “I hope when he grows up, he knows how to love and appreciate a young lady.”

“I’m sure you will teach him well. You haven’t done bad yourself. You are the charmer, Mr. Davis.”

“Well, it wasn’t because my father was there to teach me.”

“You can’t blame him, Alonzo. He was just a boy when you were born.”

“My mother was a young girl without any support, but she managed without him. My father doesn’t know where I am or my name. I am not sure he’s alive. All he ever did from the time I remember was drink.”

“Give him the benefit of a doubt. It wasn’t easy to raise a child at his age.”

“Momma was fifteen, Miriam. My father had a responsibility, and he walked out on us. I’m surprised that I turned out as well as I have.”

Alonzo reached over his chest, adjusted the sidearm strapped against him, and continued driving through the slush in the semi darkness. The lights approached him at a rapid speed, he tried adjusting his thoughts to what was happening and placed an arm over his wife. Miriam hadn’t noticed, as she was putting lipstick on her pale lips.

“Move.” Alonzo gritted his teeth as he saw there was nowhere to go but off the road. The driver of the car was headed straight for them, the high beams from the lights reflected on him as it illuminated the interior in the car as if it were daytime. “Hold on, Miriam,” Alonzo said in a cool voice.

Her scream filled the car as it skidded. Alonzo tried to veer out of the path of the oncoming vehicle, but it had been in vain. The car hit a patch of ice, and threw them sideways directly into the other car’s path, hitting the door on the passenger-side.

The impact threw Miriam into Alonzo’s lap, snapping her seatbelt in two pieces. Alonzo tried to protect his wife as he held onto her attempting to steer the car from the driver’s path. He died instantly. The car had been pushed after being hit, and crash-landed in a ditch. The impact had broken his neck.

Miriam survived only minutes after the crew arrived, they retrieved her from the twisted vehicle, and the last thing she said was Elijah’s name.

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