Revamped Chapter 1, Sequel, Falling for Her Heart, Part 1

[ladyauthor2b]

I've been tinkering with this for so long, my eyeballs are going round and round. Just sharing what I restructured. Let me know if it starts out well, especially if you've never read the first book advertised on my page. I really like comments!

 Chapter One - Chance Sightings

 January, 1995

A conversation overheard in the first class section during a short U.S hop from the East Coast towards the Midwest:

 "Fate has always influenced my life, I truly believe," Tara Reece explained to an elderly woman who sat in the seat next to her, "Why, it allowed me to marry a musical genius in England, but he's dead now-God bless his glorious soul! We had a big family- nine kids-and we had our band."

 "Nine? Really?" the woman gasped and allowed a magazine she held to fall upon the tray in her lap. She looked at the star up and down, nary a trace of pudginess shown upon the waistline. The younger woman stared back, with gorgeous coal eyes sparkling like a diamond behind long eyelashes. With a demure hand Tara pushed away auburn curls dangling across a tone brow.  The elderly woman had wanted personal tidbits, since the advertisement inside the magazine herald the woman's youthful pizzazz even as a busy musical diva. Willingly, Tara kept up a steady chat to calm nerves, which now escalated as the seatbelt sign flashed above them as they approached their destination.

 "Yes, nine.  Yet, my eldest seven are fraternal! Septuplets, actually."

 "Septuplets? Why, how extraordinary!"

 "For my family and all of England too! And we gathered public scrutiny as far back as when they were born. My kids love the limelight and always strive to be the best at everything they do. Therein lies my point now," Tara tugged at a black string tie tucked within a white collar shirt, part of a wool skirt and jacket ensemble worn. The color drained from Tara's face, "If not for them, I wouldn't be upon this damn plane! They wanted to try our luck here in the U.S. as the market is fresh and we are so unknown. They talked me into this even though realizing how much flying makes me nervous! Not so much for the takeoff or being up in the sky."

 "What then?" the old woman noted a peculiar expression light up the singer's face.

 "My extreme fear of crash landing!"

 "Oh, my!" the woman gasped, snapping the tray into the upright position and then buckling the seatbelt. She stared ahead, keeping a weary eye upon the stewardess for signs of distress.

 Looking out the window, Tara gauged the moment of doom. Twinkling runway lights marked the approach of impact.  Almost there, she thought as goose bumps graced her arms and she muttered an incomprehensible prayer. However, the travel from London's Heathrow Airport to LaGuardia had gone well that day except for minor electrical problems before the last take off- a minor inconvenience causing panic as her mind spun over all the details now.  With any luck, perhaps the engine wouldn't explode into a ball of fire. Perhaps the landing wheels might not fall off. Perhaps a gaping hole wouldn't emerge next to her as a piece of the craft buckled under extreme wind sheer pressure. Yes, she could imagine it all.  So, Tara crushed the seat handles tight, forcing fingers to lose circulation as everything shifted forward. She closed her eyes and allowed her derriere to press against the leather seat. After several seconds that felt like an eternity, the wheels touched down and only bounced up and down-quite normal as the speed decelerated. Within minutes, they taxied off the tarmac towards the terminal, nary a catastrophe encountered.

 When the main doorway opened, Tara gathered her purse and carry on luggage, then took a place in line to maneuver out. Ahead, passengers took off in different directions at the gate, but she took a moment to compose herself, breathing in and out. Now safe on solid ground, she could look about, knowing that a designated driver stood waiting nearby, perhaps with her name scrawled upon a sign.  Finally, a red haired man came into view holding one high in the air. A-ha! I'm right, she thought and waved to get his attention.

 "Welcome, ma'am," he nodded as she approached. Together, they went towards baggage claim.

 Without hesitation, Tara tossed aside curls to reach for her bag upon the carrousel. The driver had crossed the room to fetch a luggage cart. He turned to witness how she heaved it onto the floor and went straight for another. For someone petite in stature, she did it so easy. He went over to assist. After all was gathered, they hurried to get to a black limousine waiting outside. Moments later they were on the highway towards Tranquility City-the popular metropolitan bordering Lake Michigan. 

 Inside, Tara breathed in the aroma of cowhide leather and noted how the bar area contained a small refrigerator, well stocked. She took out a diet soda and listened to how the tires sloshed through many puddles. The sprayed water hit the black asphalt heavy. After half an hour, the vehicle came to a halt at a busy intersection in the city.

 "Gosh, it's warm in here," she realized, seeing the air vents were aimed upright. So she peeled off her coat and pushed down at the window lever to allow fresh air in.  Outside, at a bank plaza, an American flag fluttered on a pole in the breeze. Ah, home!  After being away for over eighteen years, uncontrollable tears sprang to surface. Batting eyelashes to hold them back, Tara attempted to take an interest of the surroundings instead.    

 Trendy department stores lit up both sides of the street. One in particular heralded attention towards a huge sale, with mannequins dressed out in fashionable clothing and gold accessories inside the store. She saw two men standing close to the window. Before a three-way mirror, one wore a brown leather jacket, dark shirt, and khaki pants. The other seemed taller within casual duds and black hair held back by a red bandanna.  He playfully deposited several items upon the shorter companion: a fuzzy scarf, a giant chrome chain, and then an oversized hat which fell over his eyes.  Tara giggled.  Their movements seemed orchestrated like a stage performance.  That's when the taller man noticed her and shoved his friend towards the window. At first, the man in the blazer dug his heels into the carpet, waving arms in objection, but then resigned in the struggle. He removed the hat and stuck both palms onto the glass to look out clearly. Sudden realization struck like lightening.   The short man thumped at the window several times and waved.

 "Oh, my goodness," Tara yelped as the traffic light went green. The limo took off at an accelerated pace, "Driver! Wait! Please stop!"

 "I can't stop in mid-flow, especially in the center lane, Ms. Reece. So sorry," he looked through the side mirrors to notice how cars surrounded the vehicle, "Beside, I had direct instructions to take you straight to the hotel. Mr. Kelly is there waiting."

 The corner store disappeared from view. Tara groaned in resignation. 

 "Oh, never mind then. You're right. Continue on."

 Stunned, she saw broken white lines whisking by on the road ahead, much like her own rambling thoughts.  Was that man Jimmy McFadden, her first lover? How ironic that just over a month ago both she and Ross Kelly, who waited at the hotel, brought him up in conversation - random recollections about their youth as they finalized plans to return to the states. How could this be? "Silly woman!" she gasped, shaking in wild disbelief, "This happens to be his hometown, remember?"

 Yes, definitely fate again, tapping like an out of control dancer. Jimmy and she passed like two ships in the night while too many years changed her life, her destiny. She had no clue about his. What should she do?  Tara felt a bit confused, like one immersed in freezing waters after jumping from the Titanic.  A knot twisted her insides. She choked back many emotions. Perhaps Jimmy had the same reaction, now knowing she existed in his area. He probably deserved something close. However, if she should catch up to him, could she spill out a secret? One held guarded for all the time gone by. Not just any secret. He just happened to be a father- one of three men in her life to claim that status, actually- to the special teenagers in her life- and he didn't have a clue.

(to be continued.....)