Atonement (Heaven Sent Book 1) Read online

  Heaven Sent

  Book One: Atonement

  JL Rothstein

  Amazon

  Copyright © 2020 JL Rothstein

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN-13: 9780692290118

  Cover design by: Jeff Brown

  Printed in the United States of America

  I dedicate this book to my parents, Frank & Muriel, who always told me I could do anyting I put my mind to. To Grace, who I am fortunate enough to be able to say is both my sister and my best friend. To my brother Frank who is an incredible listener and sounding board. To my amazing husband, Alan, thank you for all the plot debates, character discussions and hugs during editing.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

  I read an author’s note once that expressed how no book is written in a vacuum, I could not agree more. I want to thank my editor, Beth Dorward. Brittany Huber for my first cover art. To Jeff Brown for the final cover art and promotional illustrations. To Michael Cannon for social media and website assistance so very early on. Special thanks to my husband Alan who read many iterations of this book, helped me work through roadblocks, and worked so hard to create a following on social media for me.

  "Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it"

  Mark Twain

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  Foreword

  Heaven sent

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Foreword

  I dreamt of the character Gabriel and this idea that he was pulled from Earth suddenly and without warning. In that moment I knew the character needed to be a being from Heaven and that he would have a wife that would go to extremes to find him. This novel is about the lengths we would go for the ones we love, the bonds of family and the power of forgiveness.

  I named the O'Mara siblings after my nine nieces and nephews. My three nieces Deb, Gen & Kelly inspired me to create strong female characters that were confident, vulnerable and fearless, just like them.

  Heaven sent

  Atonement

  CHAPTER ONE

  Strumming her fingers on the kitchen counter, Genevieve O’Mara waited for the soapy water to fill the last pot in the sink. Her bright blue eyes stared into the backyard, but her mind wandered to her husband.

  I can’t believe it’s been forty years since I last saw you Gabe. A soft sigh escaped her unpolished lips. I didn’t think I’d make it two days, never mind forty years.

  At two hundred and thirty-two years of age, Genevieve vowed that no matter how long she lived she would never stop looking for her husband.

  Memories of Gabriel haunted her, but never as vividly as on the anniversary of his disappearance. No day was harder to get through: not the anniversary of when they first met, not his birthday, not even their wedding day.

  When I close my eyes, I can still see those dark blue eyes staring into mine. There are days I swear your scent lingers and your laughter echoes all around me. I wish I could still trace the small scar over your left eye and lose my hands in the jungle of your unruly brown hair.

  Turning the faucet off and drying her hands on the dish towel she grasped the wedding ring that hung from a silver chain around her neck. Sliding her finger along the inside of the band she could feel the engraved ivy branch that had been etched so long ago. She pictured her life back then and confessed aloud, “I miss you. I miss us. I can’t stop, I need to know what happened to you.”

  Walking to the end of the cabinets she stretched upward to reach the potted plant that hung in front of the window. Its rambling branches outstretched toward the glass, while its variegated leaves curled upward seeking out the sun.

  “You’re going to need a trim soon, my friend,” Gen muttered to the plant.

  Thinking back to her previous time living in this area she lamented about how long it had been. Decades had long passed since she lived in this house and tended the garden she and her husband had planted together.

  “Gabriel, somehow, I always felt you knew that I kept this house, even though I couldn’t live in it after you were gone. I held it in trust and moved away, but I’ve been drawn back here. I asked my sisters to move in with me. Having Kelly and Deb here helps; it fills some of the emptiness.”

  Gen walked to the front windows and took in the hustle and bustle of the day.

  “All the old neighbors have either passed away or sold their single-family homes for the payday of the real estate boom. It’s quite a stunning change since you and I were last here. There isn’t anyone left on this street that I recognize. I’m hoping that continues since my sudden re-appearance looking exactly as I did forty years ago would be impossible to explain.” She went back to the plant by the sink and adjusted one of the branches taking a moment to survey the image of herself reflected in the windowpane. “Looks like the plant isn’t the only one that needs a trim.”

  Ducking into the bathroom to use the mirror, she let her hair down and attempted to collect the wispy strands that had escaped her ponytail. Working to pull it back up she watched as small curls fought their way free and encircled her face. The brighter bands of blonde blended with her soft features and unmade face, while highlighting the blue in her eyes.

  “Ugh, I don’t know why I try.” Giving up on taming her hair she left the room and heard the rattle of the front door open, then slam shut.

  “Hey Gen, I’m locking myself in the office to get a head start on this case file!”

  The clacking sound of heels on hardwood preceded the boom of toppling books dropping to the floor. This was her sister Kelly’s typical boisterous entrance.

  “Tom is coming over with food if you want to join us!” her sister hollered.

  Shutting the kitchen lights off Gen wandered down the long hallway toward the library. The wall had a beautiful antique chair rail that Gen had been obsessed with restoring. Her fingertips lightly danced along the top of it as she walked. She was unfazed by all the opinions to tear it down and throw it away. Many a night she had spent painstakingly sanding the decorative wood by hand. Now that the old wallpaper above it had been stripped away, and the unvarnished cherry had finally shed its suffocating layers of paint, its intricate details had come to life. She wondered if her sisters had noticed the design. Even before she had begun working on it, she knew it was a trail of entwined ivy. Sometimes she felt like it was calling to her, its triangular tips beckoning to be saved from years of drowning neglect.

&nb
sp; “Didn’t you just come from dinner?” Gen stood in the large open doorway and surveyed the chaos with a smile. Kelly was feverishly unloading a multitude of books; her wavy dark brown hair swished across her shoulders. Her sister’s narrow frame was nearly obliterated by the stacks of books on the floor that she continued to add to. Gen observed the pile of books as it grew ever taller by the second knowing their order would only make sense to Kelly.

  “Yes, I met with several unhappy priests, though I had to leave early to help a charge. Gerry, my charge, nearly had a heart attack right in front of me. He’s alright though, the ambulance came quickly.”

  “That’s good, minimal interference for you,” Gen remarked.

  “Agreed, but you know who did have a heart attack?” Kelly asked rhetorically “Me! Those priests were so obstinate.” Stopping to throw her shoulders back and puff out her chest, Kelly lowered her voice several octaves as she attempted to mimic one of her dinner companions. “Why are the O’Mara’s always so insistent on combing through every little detail of every single case file?”

  Gen smiled. “Yes, thoroughness is not exactly their favorite trait when it comes to demonic possession claims.” Remaining in the doorway Gen continued. “I hate to ask, but do you need help in here, aside from a good cleaning I mean?”

  Kelly ignored the swipe. “I think they would prefer we dig up dirt on the victim, so they can scare them away from making any more claims. I was good though, I didn’t flinch. I just kept right on talking my way through. I mean I know I look like I’m only twenty-eight, but still, they should know by now I know what I’m talking about. I mean if I looked my actual age—”

  “If you looked two hundred and twenty-eight years old you would scare them and us.” Gen’s attention was drawn to a soft glow that rippled across the glass and knew their brother Tom had arrived.

  “Hello, sorry I’m late. Two pizzas take longer on a Thursday night.” Tom must have switched out of human form after leaving the restaurant and used his powers to teleport to the house, as evidenced by the steam wafting from the pizza box.

  Kelly, having finished arranging all her books, stared over at Tom. “One of those better have extra cheese and hamburger on it or I’m not helping you with this case file.”

  The room filled with the scent of warm bread and garlic. “What do you think this is, amateur hour?” Tom took hold of the paper plates that were jutting out of the top of the box and flipped the lid open to display proof. “I know which pizza to bring to properly bribe you,” with a wink in Gen’s direction Tom searched the chaos for a place to put the boxes down.

  “Nicely done, Thomas!” Kelly reached over and plopped a slice down onto a paper plate. “Gen you better grab a slice before one of our five other brothers show up to help themselves.”

  “No thanks, I’m heading out. My mark has been irritating me for the last few minutes.” Gen instinctively rubbed her wrist where a detailed impression of a crown of thorns marred her soft skin while emitting heat and light. The glow was evident even with her hand covering part of the image.

  Tom dropped the pizza boxes on a stack of books and quickly stepped toward her. His striking blue eyes and fair skin echoed her own. “Anything serious?” Tom turned her wrist over carefully while he examined the mark. “Do you know who it is? Are you going alone? Did Frankie sense a convergence of evil?”

  “Now playing the role of Michael O’Mara.” Kelly’s sarcasm broke the tension and Tom’s furrowed brows and tight shoulders gave way and relaxed.

  “It’s fine, Tom. I know who it is. This didn’t come from Frankie and I have already told Xavier about it. I’m heading out to investigate this demon harassing a charge of mine. It’s probably nothing but, just in case, I will keep my shield weakened and stay open, so Xavier can hear my thoughts and know where I am.”

  “That’s a straight up solid plan right there. I would have just immediately gone after the demon.” Kelly alternated bites as she flipped through the pages of a book.

  “Why are you calling on Xavier? You have two siblings sitting right here,” Tom asked.

  “Xavier is familiar with this charge already from something we did together a few months back,” Gen replied. “Besides, you two are busy, remember?”

  “Hey, I would much rather track down a demon than research case files. Your call, Tom,” Kelly tossed out.

  “Gen’s right,” Tom said. “I did come here for help with this file and she’s in good hands with Xav. Call us if you need us.”

  “Thanks, will do. I’ll see you guys later.” Gen used her powers to dematerialize and make her way to her charge Becky.

  “Ron, I really don’t think we should keep driving.” Becky pleaded. “I mean it’s nighttime and it’s raining, and you must be exhausted with working a double at the hospital. It doesn’t seem safe to continue. Why don’t we get a room somewhere so you can sleep for a bit?” Gen felt Becky’s anxiety grow with every passing second her husband didn’t answer. “If you aren’t willing to stop then you need to compromise with me and let me drive.”

  Gen was out of human view. Sitting with her legs crossed on the roof of Becky’s car, Gen was vigilant as she waited for whatever was coming. She could see Ron turning to look at Becky quickly before his eyes went back to the road in front of them. The images were like watching a movie. As a Guardian, Gen couldn’t see through the car, but being this close to her charge she could see through Becky’s eyes, hear her thoughts, and physically feel what she felt. Gen mused that Guardians were endowed with such power so they could stay connected with humans in a way that other supernatural entities couldn’t, such as Angels.

  “You hate driving in the dark, in the rain, in an unfamiliar area.” The words were clipped. Before Becky could retort Ron grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze “I’m sorry honey. That was unfair, I know you’re doing your best to get past the accident and resume driving everywhere again. I’m just tired. I’m upset that my job at the ER has put us in this position once again. I’m seriously considering getting out this time, private practice maybe.”

  “You’d hate private practice. You love being an ER doc.” She smiled at him.

  “Yeah.” He huffed. “But at least I wouldn’t be forced into taking a double when I’m supposed to be leaving for vacation. My family living several states away makes these events more precious. Hopefully, we make my brother’s wedding on time.”

  Gen felt a cold wind whip up around her, it prodded the edges of her shield as if it were trying to penetrate her defenses.

  Here we go, whatever is targeting her has just manifested itself inside the car.

  Ron steered the car into the next available rest area off the highway.

  “What are we doing? Are you going to sleep?” Becky asked.

  He pulled into a space near the front door of the welcome center. “Yes, and if you are okay to drive then I’ll sleep while you drive. If you aren’t up for that, then I’ll just sleep here at the rest stop for an hour or so. That should still allow us to get there on time, albeit smelly.”

  When Ron kissed Becky’s hand, Gen’s heart sank a little. That’s something you used to do, Gabe. Maybe this is going to be harder than I thought.

  Gen could hear her brother Xavier asking her if she needed anything. No, I’m good for now. I’ll be riding outside the car and using my shield so the demon that’s just arrived won’t detect me. My shield won’t be full strength, that way you can still hear everything I do. Gen thought more about her strategy. I’m hoping if I counteract all the demonic interference, help Becky stay in a positive space, the demon will get bored or aggravated and just leave.

  Gen watched as Ron entered the front door of the facility and heard the strain of the passenger side door creak open. Becky got out of the car and made her way around to the driver’s side. Since the accident, she’d only driven on a highway a few times, and they were short distances. She was able to get herself to work and around town by using backroads and side streets.
The burden of driving any significant distance, however, still fell to her husband. Becky’s therapist was helping her make strides, but getting past such a violent crash wasn’t easy. Given that three years have passed, she worried she had missed her window to conquer her fear.

  Becky was mumbling to herself as she settled in, “I can do this, I can do this. Breathe through the anxiety, lower your heart rate.” Becky closed her eyes and Gen heard her breathing in and out, counting as she went. Becky believed if they could get there on time, they could make the entire wedding ceremony. Becky glanced at the clock and scanned the GPS, a little more than five hours to go.

  “He doesn’t ask for much. This is the least I can do.” Becky’s voice carried little confidence as Gen listened to her mantra. “I can do this. I need to do this. This is important to me and my family. The accident was years ago. I need to move forward.”

  “Becky, Becky, Becky.” The demon in the backseat was there to cause chaos, while Gen was there to protect her charge. Thankfully, Becky wouldn’t have to see either of them, but both could influence her thoughts and sway her emotions.

  Gen could only catch glimpses of the demon whenever Becky would check the rearview mirror: bald head, pasty skin shimmered in sweat, beady black eyes the color of olives.

  Ahh, the glamour of a demon, so Mad Max, Gen thought to herself.

  Peaking over the back through the rear window she was able to gauge the bulk of him. Gen relayed an update to her brother. “He’s no slouch, Xav, but nothing I haven’t encountered before. His stench is more bothersome than anything.”

  Schlosser was splayed out in the back seat shaking his head as he surveyed his intended target. Gen knew Becky wouldn’t see, nor hear the demon, but his presence would sway her. His husky tone rattled on as he began to taunt her. “Becky, it’s been what, two, three years since your car accident? Doesn’t matter, you’re not better. The therapist didn’t really help you, did she? She couldn’t have. You’re still having nightmares about it!”