Ashley Riley
Sometimes our lives can turn upside down by a few twists of fate. A person can find himself cruising through life in a comfortable manner, only to find themselves suddenly rooted out of their comfortable little rut by a few unforeseen circumstances.
This is the story of one such person.
Life throws our hero a curve and he suddenly finds himself divorced and alienated from his children.
This is the story of his struggles to navigate the potholes in the road he takes to rebuild his shattered life.
A funny thing about twists of fate ---- sometimes when they come to call it turns our lives right side up.
An educated man ---- with the paperwork to prove it.
He has traveled extensively across the southern states ---- and the globe.
The author is a man of science with an extensive background in statistics and logistics.
He is also an avid outdoor sportsman. Hunting and fishing is his way of life.
The author has a keen interest in American history ---- especially the little disagreement between the states a number of year’s back.
He also carries within himself a keen interest in philosophy.
The author is a person that believes humor is a key element for survival in today’s world.
Most of all, the author is a student. ---- A student of life.
Excerpt 1
Together, they were putting together a place fit for a king ---- or maybe a prince. Prince Cole ---- it did have a nice ring to it. Wasn’t there something about a King Cole? No wait, ---- Old King Cole ---- forget that! Prince Cole will do just fine.
The dining room was apparently going to be able to seat thirty ---- never mind I didn’t even know thirty people. The kitchen was going to be a place even a Cajun could get lost in. I did like the idea of green marble for counter tops in the kitchen. It made the room look outdoors like.
The master bedroom was huge, complete with fireplace, sunken tub and dressing area. I began to wonder how much room it took to put on a pair of blue jeans. I began to wonder if I had been doing it all wrong over the years.
I also had a minor disagreement with my angel.
The idea of a fireplace in the bedroom sounded good, as I am really a romantic at heart. I like to snuggle up in front of a fire, maybe with a glass of wine, as good as anybody. But ---- I wanted gas logs.
The idea of splitting a lot of wood was not appealing to me. ---- Not to mention chain saws that never seem to crank when you want them to ---- or blades that are forever going dull.
She got cross with me. I explained to her that I was talking about those fancy and nice looking ventless kind ---- not the el cheapo things. It was to no avail. I put up a staunch defense, but Beverly had learned how to weaken my defenses. Tickling my ear with the point of her tongue and I was putty in her hands.
I walked away from the argument ---- with a wet ear lobe ---- and wondering how much a good chain saw and log splitter was going to set me back.
I did hold out for one of those gas, automatic fire starter things though. I’m pretty tough at negotiations. Besides, a man has to draw the line somewhere.
All in all, the place was shaping up. Another month or so and I would be able to move in.
The outside of the house was going equally as well. Sandblasting the stone wall to get rid of the grunge worked wonders. Fresh paint on the trim pretty much completed the ‘new’ look. The fountain out front of the house was cleaned and refurbished. Now it was spraying quite nicely.
The brick driveway was also now in place. Squirt rode heard on this project personally. The dark brown brick, laid in herringbone fashion matched the house perfectly.
The brick wall holding up the wrought iron gates down at the head of the driveway would be completed in another week. DAMON HALL, carved in polished granite, would be inlaid in the wall.
Beverly thought this was a bit pretentious, but a little nibbling of my own in the right place brought her around. ---- Two can play at that game, Ha!
My only worry was when the house was finished the only thing missing would be the occupants to the Cinderella styled bedroom and the bedroom designed for a proud young Southern Gentleman.
I was thinking in terms of that the master bedroom might be one occupant short as well.
I provided Beverly with a debit card with my account numbers on it, so she could do a little furniture shopping in her spare time. I soon learned that a woman with ‘carte blanche’ has no equal.
I was beginning to think I was going to have to buy futures in whatever the next economic windfall would be, so I could afford all this. I even started watching the news on occasion hoping for an angle on my money matters.
Excerpt 2
Man or woman, Young or old, What color hair, is she your girlfriend? Are you getting married?
I defended myself as best as I could.
I’ll give Nita credit for on thing ---- that woman can cook! We had a feast. It was absolutely delicious. We ate early. The kids acted like they were going to starve slap to death if they didn’t get to eat just as soon as they walked in the house and their noses caught scent of what was in the kitchen.
Lacy piped in with, “That’s why mama didn’t fix lunch! She knew you had a big dinner planned for me.”
I looked at Nita and then back to Lacy and said, “Yep.”
We did some quick introductions, set the table, said the blessing and dug in. Afterwards Luke and me waddled over to the sofa and stretched out. Us men needed to digest.
Lacy helped Nita with the aftermath of the meal. After that, we all sort of just hung out the rest of the evening. When bedtime came, the kids headed off to their old bedrooms. Nita slept in my bed. ---- I was bunking on the sofa.
The entire weekend was wonderful. It was like old times ---- almost. The kids and me did a lot of catching up. I realized just how much they meant to me. God, I loved these ---- rats.
The kids took to Nita right away. I got the opinion she took a shine to them too.
There was one problem I needed to figure out how to handle. I went ahead and explained to Lacy and Luke about how they needed to stay with their mother until they finished the school year. I could see the disappointment in their eyes, at the thought of this. I went ahead and told them they would be moving back here to live with their mother until then. This seemed to console them ---- or at least I hoped it did.
The problem arose when Lacy climbed over in my lap, put her arms around my neck, snuggled up to me and said, “Daddy can I ask you something?”
“What is it Sugar Plum?” I asked back.
“When we do get to come live with you this summer, me and Luke, I mean ---- and you said you had a bunch of land ---- well, can I ---- I mean we, ---- well, can we get a horse?” she pleaded. She also had those big eyes of hers peering down deep inside me.
I sat quietly. I thought, “Now what do I do? I’m dead meat. She’s got me roped and hog tied.”
Lacy sensed my reluctance. She pulled out all stops. She touched my nose with hers. She planted little butterfly kisses on my upper lip. She widened those big baby brown eyes and stared right into my soul.
“I’ve always wanted a horse daddy,” she begged.
“I ---- ah ---- umm ---- well ---- as long as it’s a real gentle one,” I gulped.
“Thanks daddy! I knew you would understand! Yes a real gentle one ---- as long as it’s an Appaloosa, at least 16 hands and runs like the wind ---- and can jump,” a triumphant Lacy spouted.
“I want one too,” Luke chimed in with.
“Well, so do I,” Nita sang out.
How do I always manage to get myself into these messes?
