Zoey's Place Read online

  Zoey’s Place

  By

  E.M. Bannock

  ZOEY’S PLACE. E.M. Bannock

  Copyright © 2019 E.M. Bannock

  All rights reserved.

  Cover art by E.M. Bannock

  Formatted by Enterprise Book Services, LLC

  Cover art formatted by Karen Ronan: [email protected]

  This is a fictional work. The names, characters, incidents, and locations are solely the concepts and products of the author’s imagination or are used to create a fictitious story and should not be construed as real.

  www.embannock.com

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations, reviews, and articles. For any other permission please contact E.M. Bannock at [email protected].

  First Edition 2019

  TO

  Keith, Damian,

  Sam, and Max

  Table of Contents

  Part One: Love

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Part Two: Sorrow

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Part three: Hope

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank my sister, Annette, who allowed me to use her name for a character who expresses her intelligence and kindness. She was a beta reader and my main cover consultant. Her support and opinions mean more than she knows.

  I’d also like to give my thanks to my dear friend, Ande, who did my first edits, made suggestions, read, and reread this book. With her help I was able to turn my thoughts into words.

  Thank you to my cousin, Carol, who was my very first book sale. I created the Carol character for you.

  Acknowledgements to all of my friends and family whose names I used in this book. You know who you are.

  I want to give a shout-out to my fellow Clark, Wyoming Zumba Warriors, especially our fearless leader, Zumba Mama, for letting me bounce ideas off them while we danced.

  Most of all I’d like to thank my husband, Keith, for his constant support both emotionally and financially. Thank you for the encouragement to pursue my dream.

  PART ONE: LOVE

  Chapter 1

  It was early evening. A scarlet sunset had faded into muted grey tones. The shimmering reflection of the moon danced on the surface of the lake as the lovers emerged naked, hand in hand. They’d worked all afternoon in the sizzling sun, cutting the overgrown weeds that choked out the yard and beach of the lake house, and their bodies were hot, sweaty, and dirty. It seemed natural to strip off their clothes and cool off with a quick dip.

  The week-long summer vacation was well deserved. Zoey and Mickey DeLucca were both hard-working, successful attorneys. He was a corporate lawyer who’d just landed a high paying job with a large oil development company. She specialized in family law and preferred representing men. Fathers rarely got a fair shake in divorce court. It was tough breaking the tradition of the courts that defaulted child custody to the mother without considering the best interest of the child. Although she had only been in practice a few years she had already seen her fair share of unfit mothers and was proud of her track record. It was a challenging job, but she was good and thrived on it.

  Their friends were set to arrive later that night with food and drink. Zoey and Mickey’s contribution was to arrive at the lake house early and get it ready for the week-long festivities. The cabin was cleaned from top to bottom. Windows were opened to replace the stale air of winter with the fresh, fragrant air of early Michigan summer. Crisp, clean sheets were put on all the beds. Bathrooms were cleaned and fresh towels laid out. Cutting down the weeds was the last labor of the day.

  An afternoon of sexual teasing had added an element of excitement to the chore. She’d let the strap of her tank top fall to the side, exposing the top of her breast more than once to see if he noticed, only to pull it up quickly when he did. She’d also purposely bent over in front of him, her apple-bottomed ass protruding below her way-too-short cut-off jeans. Sometimes he’d get behind her as she was bending over, grab her bottom with both hands, and pull her to him. She could feel his hot, hard cock rubbing against her through his jeans. Their sexual anticipation mounted as the work got done but they kept on-task, letting the heat of passion rise in them like the blistering sun that beat down as they toiled.

  The sweat streamed down their bodies in rivulets, making their clothes stick to their skin. His well-muscled chest and arms glistened with perspiration on his dark Mediterranean skin as he worked, giving proof to his fitness commitment. The firmness and strength of his body was undeniable. She hungered for the feel of it next to her as she watched him wield the machete, cutting down the tall thick weeds, blushing when he’d catch her staring. He’d act annoyed and tell her to get back to work but she’d seen him smiling with pride when she looked.

  The coolness of the water cleansed and refreshed their bodies, but did nothing for the sexual heat that burned from inside. They lay down on the blanket spread out on the sand as they dripped with water. Facing each other, their bodies touched. His fingers tenderly traced the outline of her face, sending waves of sexual electricity down her spine.

  They embraced tenderly. She reached up and held his face in her hands, his dark hair falling in front of his eyes, his brown eyes piercing her very soul. They kissed. Gently at first, but their passion rose. Their kisses became intense, tongues teasing, exploring each other’s bodies with curious hands, breaking apart only long enough to catch their breath.

  Pushing her back onto the blanket, he positioned himself between her thighs. Leaning forward, he grabbed her wrists with one hand and held them over her head. With his other he guided himself into her, kissing her lightly as he did.

  The aromatic bouquet of freshly cut weeds and the earthy smell of the lake intoxicated their senses and added to the musk of their lovemaking. They were serenaded by a choir of crickets, night-flying birds, and the melodic tempo of waves crashing on the shore.

  Darkness set in by the time they were satisfied. In the afterglow they lay side by side, staring up at the stars. In an instant, the sky lit up like a torch as a meteor blazed its way across. He said, “Make a wish.” She closed her eyes and wished that the happiness of the moment would never end.

  “What did you wish for?” he asked as she opened her eyes.

  “I wished that we could be like this forever, like we feel in this place, right now,” she replied. “We are in a good place right now aren’t we, Mickey?”

  “The best, babe,” he confirmed. “Zoey’s place.”

  They turned to each other and kissed once more.

  They lay there holding each other, basking in the joy of love and treasuring the moment. Suddenly the bushes that edged the driveway lit up as the headlights of an approaching car appeared, winding around the long driveway.

  “Oh, my God! They’re here!” she exclaimed, and they scrambled for their clothes.

  Mickey stood up, laughing as he pulled up his shorts. “I’ll head ‘em o
ff. You grab the blanket and take it to the house,” he said as he pulled up his zipper.

  The car made the final turn and illuminated the cabin as it approached. Their friends Joanne, Lenny, Carol, and Dave were laughing as they exited the vehicle.

  “Did we catch you with your pants down again?” Lenny yelled out. The others were laughing as they grabbed bags and personal items from the car.

  “You guys still fuck like a couple of high-schoolers,” Dave added.

  Mickey stood proudly with his hands on his hips. “Nothing wrong with that,” he yelled back, grinning from ear to ear.

  “You’ve been married for over three years. You’re not on your honeymoon anymore,” Lenny replied.

  “Yeah, you make the rest of us look bad,” Dave added.

  “I think it’s romantic, Mickey,” Carol chimed in. Joanne nodded in agreement.

  “Now that you’ve got your dick back in your pants, come and help us get this stuff to the cabin,” Lenny said.

  The women headed inside with bags of groceries, leaving the men to empty the rest of car. Zoey greeted them at the door with hugs and kisses.

  She’d been a freshman at the University of Michigan when she was introduced to the five sophomores. She had met Joanne’s brother, Jonathan, in her English Composition class. He invited her to come to a club with him, where she met Joanne, Lenny, Carol, and Dave, who were already couples, and their friend, Mickey.

  As the introductions were made, she was told that Dave, Lenny, and Mickey grew up together in suburban Detroit and were best friends. They seemed nice, and friendly enough. Then she was introduced to their friend, Mickey. When their eyes met it, was all over.

  The celestial spark of their love had been lit. From the start it felt like they had known each other forever. It was a strange, powerful feeling for both. The attraction was magnetic and undeniable; bad news for Jonathan, but good news for Mickey. There were no hard feelings. Jonathan and Zoey weren’t really on a formal date, and although they liked each other as friends it was obvious from the start that the chemistry wasn’t there for anything more than friendship.

  After a few romantic dates, Zoey and Mickey became a couple. The three couples became a group. They did everything together—study, go to concerts, clubs, restaurants, movies, and take road trips. They enjoyed each other’s company and formed a family-like bond.

  But lately the demands of their busy lives kept them from socializing as much as they did in college, so the vacation at the lake house had become an annual tradition. Its seclusion gave them all a welcome respite from their jobs, and gave them a chance to catch up and tighten the friendships.

  Within an hour everyone was unpacked and dinner was served. After a meal of chicken casserole and a variety of salads the girls had made for the late-night meal, the six friends sat around the large wooden table in the dining area, drinking wine, beer, and other beverages.

  “Congrats on the new job, Mickey,” Lenny said, raising his beer to toast.

  “Thanks,” Mickey said, blushing as he tapped his beer bottle to Lenny’s.

  “Now that you’ll be making the big bucks, will you have time for us lowly peons?” Dave asked sarcastically. He had gone into medicine and was doing his residency at a small family clinic where Carol was the assistant office manager. Lenny had majored in Business Administration and was a manager at a large chain store. Joanne had become a teacher.

  “Don’t worry,” Mickey said. “How could I forget my childhood pals and college brothers whose backs I stepped on to get to the top?” Everyone laughed.

  “So, Zoey, are you going to quit your job and go globe-trotting with your hubby?” Carol asked.

  Zoey looked at Mickey, who looked back with a serious expression. “He wants me to, but I just can’t. There are too many men out there getting screwed over by their exes, and too many kids who might end up with the wrong parent,” she replied. “And besides, he’s going to be traveling to places where women have to wear burkas or hijabs. Can you just imagine me taking a submissive role or covering my head?”

  Everyone laughed and shook their heads. “She thinks it’s her civic duty,” Mickey added.

  “Well, we admire your commitment,” Joanne said. “We’re all proud of you, both of you. But when will you have time to raise a family?”

  Zoey and Mickey looked at each other for a long while as their friends waited in anticipation. Mickey spoke up. “We’ve decided we don’t want kids.”

  Their friends let out a sigh of disbelief. “But you’d be perfect parents—caring and loving,” Carol said.

  Zoey broke in. “We don’t need kids to be a happy couple and live a fulfilling life. Besides, with Mickey’s new job he’ll be traveling, and I’m so busy with my case load. We don’t even have time for a pet, let alone children. I’ve seen what happens when parents don’t have enough time for kids. It ain’t pretty. I’ll live vicariously through you guys. Between the four of you there will be enough kids to go around.”

  Lenny and Joanne looked at each other and smiled. Zoey noticed and asked, “Okay, what’s up you two? Is it starting already?”

  “You got us,” Joanne said with excitement in her eyes. “I’m pregnant.”

  The women squealed with excitement and gathered around Joanne, hugging her and patting her belly.

  “Way to go!” Dave exclaimed as he raised his beer in Lenny’s direction.

  “Good job, my man,” Mickey added, raising his beer as well.

  “See,” Zoey said. “I rest my case.”

  “Do you realize this is the last year that it will just be the six of us here?” Joanne said somberly.

  “Wow, that’s right,” Zoey said.

  “How long have we been doing this?” Lenny asked.

  “Well, let’s see,” Mickey said as he scratched his head in thought. “I inherited this place after my dad passed away in ‘81 in our junior year at University of Michigan. That was the year Zoey and I got married.” He paused in pleasant contemplation for just a moment before continuing. “We started coming up here the year after that. So, since it’s now 1987, that makes it six years.”

  “The end of an era,” Lenny said sadly.

  “And the beginning of a new one,” Carol added as she gave Joanne another hug.

  The women moved into the kitchen area and started chatting about baby showers and other baby-related topics like names and nursery décor.

  The guys grabbed their beers and walked out to the porch. “Did you guys see Untouchables yet?” Dave asked. “I saw it playing at the movie theater in town. I’ve been dying to see it.”

  “I saw that, too. I’ve heard Kevin Costner is pretty good in it,” Lenny added. “Don’t know if the girls would like that kind of stuff, though. I think they might go for the Witches of Eastwick. I saw that playing there, too.”

  “Maybe we’ll ask the girls and see if they’re up for it. I’d really like to see Untouchables myself. I saw a preview. Looked really cool,” Mickey said. “Zoey might go for it. Maybe they’ll just want to gab all night. You know them. They haven’t been together for a while. And now with the news of Joanne being pregnant I’ll bet they could go on all night.” The guys shared a laugh.

  “It’s probably out for tonight,” Mickey said. “We’ve got the whole week, though, so who knows.”

  “So, Mickey,” Lenny said. “What are you gonna be doing in your new job?”

  “Well, negotiating contracts mostly, and a lot of PR,” he replied. “The company I work for is working with OPEC countries. There’s a big push for global economics. We don’t want another oil embargo to happen and catch us with our pants down again.”

  “Yeah, that was hell,” Lenny said.

  “Isn’t it dangerous there? I mean, they still don’t trust the U.S.,” Dave pointed out.

  “I’ll have hired protection while I’m there,” Mickey said. “I’ll spend most of my time here in the U.S. I’ll just have to go there for meetings and certain political and social e
vents,” he assured them.

  “Well, watch your ass, man,” Lenny added. “I don’t trust them.”

  “Don’t worry,” Mickey said. “They’re just as addicted to our money as we are to their oil.”

  Chapter 2

  Zoey’s childhood had been tumultuous and lonely. She was born in 1960, in San Francisco, to Sally and Lyle Findley. She didn’t remember much about her earlier years. But she did remember the huge fight her parents had when she was about eight, which resulted in her mother and her moving out. It was the beginning of the hippie movement and Sally, a free-spirited woman, wanted to join a commune that some of her friends were starting. Lyle was more traditional and didn’t think that it was a good environment to raise his daughter in. A defiant Sally moved into the commune, and filed for divorce and custody of Zoey. Lyle fought hard to keep his daughter. He spent every dollar he had on attorneys, but in those days custody was always awarded to the mother.

  Zoey saw her father twice a month on weekends and two weeks in the summer. She had always been a daddy’s girl. He called her his little princess—made her feel special and loved. The separation was very hard for her. She adored her father, and couldn’t understand why she couldn’t live with him all the time. After her visitations she would cry and cling to him, beg him not to make her go back to the commune. She hated it there. All the women wanted her to call them “Mommy”. They insisted that she obey them as she would her own mother, and Zoey didn’t like that. She missed her daddy and the family life that had been taken from her. Zoey always had the feeling that her mother resented her because of Lyle’s attentiveness to her, and as a result Sally never seemed loving, as a mother should be.

  One day Zoey asked her mother why she didn’t act like she loved her. Her mother said of course she loved her, but explained that it wouldn’t be right if she showed Zoey special favoritism over the other kids. They were all one family. She had lots of brothers and sisters now.