The Procedure
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep……It was the alarm was going off. I looked at the clock, five thirty. I hit the snooze button and tried to go back to sleep. But, I couldn’t. I tossed and turned. I sat up then I would lie down. I just couldn’t get comfortable and I felt like I had had ten cups of coffee, I was wired and exhausted. I turned off the alarm, got up and went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. While I waited for the water to warm up, I brushed my teeth. As I was getting out of the shower, I heard the phone ring. I didn’t answer it because I knew it was Jason and I really didn’t want to talk to him, at least not yet. I turned on the radio in the bathroom and turned the station dial to the Christian station, WJOY 89.5 FM. I had to hear something positive and light, because this was the darkest day of my life. I put my hair in a towel and took great pains with my make up, carefully avoiding really looking at myselfl in the mirror and then dried and fixed my hair, until it was perfect. I had to do something to make me feel better about myself. I got my favorite pair of jeans, and then looked on the top rack for a red button down shirt, and some really cute sandals to match. Then, I went to the other side of my closet and got my red loose sundress and a white sweater, just in case I got a chill. I didn’t plan on wearing red, but it almost seemed appropriate, to match the scarlet letter on my heart. I went over to my dresser and pulled out an extra pair of panties. I closed the drawer and I got sick to my stomach. My heart ached so much because, at that time, I just didn’t think I had a choice. I got dressed and went back into my closet to get my overnight bag. The last time I used this, I went to Panama City a few months ago with my friends. I opened it and there inside, was a book I had meant to read on the beach. “No Such Thing as Love”, by Priscilla Parker Mills. I never got around to reading it. Now, I was beginning to think I should have read it before now, then, just maybe, I wouldn’t be in this situation that I am in now. I took the book out and tossed it on the bed. I wasn’t ready to face reality. I put my clothes in the bag and then went into the bathroom and got my toiletries. Finally, everything I needed was packed and I zipped it up and put it by the door. I went in to the kitchen and made a pot of coffee for Jason. I couldn’t have anything because I was having a type of anesthesia. Just as I headed back to my bedroom to get my purse, there was a knock on the door. I looked at the clock, 6:55 am. I froze and I couldn’t catch my breath. I didn’t want to open the door because I knew when I did, it would start the day that I never wanted to have. I finally turned around and opened the door and there he was, smiling, “Good Morning, Beautiful”. (Yeah, right, you stupid jerk) That’s what I felt but why couldn’t I say it?
Formats Book Details
Maggie Carmichael was a young woman, although raised in a loving home, never felt loved. She appeared happy on the outside but she had a void in her life: the need for unconditional love. She still believed in fairytales. In her quest for Prince Charming, Maggie finds herself in many unsettling and terrifying situations; each one making her feel less deserving of the love she desperately needs. Maggie decides she will settle for whatever love she can get, from whomever will give it. Finally, Maggie finds a man to love her. She loves him unconditionally and tries desperately to make him love her the same. Maggie's desperation for his love allows him convince her to make the biggest mistake of her life. Maggie is devastated by what she has done. It changes her life forever and she loses her desire to dream. She struggles with every aspect of her life. There are constant reminders that tears away at her heart until she gives up on love completely. Doing what she can to survive, Maggie focuses on her career and anything else to keep her mind away from what has torn her apart. She prays for forgiveness but wonders if she can be forgiven. Maggie finally experiences God's grace. She feels His forgiveness and real freedom for the first time in years. She finally has peace. Maggie has all she thinks she wants: a successful career, a church she loves and great friends. Her life is going great until a fateful trip to the mall reminds her of the biggest mistake of her life. Come on this journey with Maggie and find out how every part of her life leads to her greatest adventure: true, faithful and unconditional love and her own magical fairytale.
Denise Harlan, originally from Kentucky, grew up in Nashville, TN. In 1987 she relocated to Galveston, TX to manage beach front properties. She later moved to Houston, accepting a job in advertising sales. While in Houston she met and married her Prince Charming and they had a daughter, their little princess. She turned her hobby of photography in to a successful business, photographing weddings, families and high school seniors. In addition, she has photographed events and portraits for municipalities and city executives, employees and staffs, as well as many fire departments in the Houston area, including Houston Fire Dept. Her photos hang in City Halls, Fire Stations, Corporations and Executive Offices all over Houston and surrounding areas. Denise loves spending time with her family and her great friends. She enjoys movies, scrapbooking, photography and her mother-daughter trips and family vacations and weekend trips. She feels most at home on the beach and enjoys watching pelicans and feeding seagulls. She deeply appreciates the simple blessings life has to offer. Denise and her husband, live on the Texas coast with their daughter and their dalmatian.
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