Summer, When Doors Open: The Seasons, #4

Summer When Doors Open

Aletta Bee, Kathleen Osborne, Dena Linn, Ana Paulina Lipster, Jonathan Byrd, La Michelle L'eau Bleu, Yash Seyedbagheri, Kevin Urban, Lawrence Urban, L.K. Blair

Transcendent Authors

All the stories contains in this book are fiction.

Similarities to real places, people, or events are entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Summer—When Doors Open

Copyright © 2023 Transcendent Authors. All rights reserved.

Edited by Kathleen Osborne, Yash Seyedbagheri, and Janet Jones-Bann.

Cover by L.K. Blair and L’Michelle Bleu L’Eau.

Published by Transcendent Authors.

First Edition Published May 30, 2023

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Transcendent Authors want to acknowledge Janet Jones-Bann for all her work in editing our manuscript. Janet’s website is wordsforabetterworld.org.

We also want to recognize the efforts of L&L for the beautiful cover they created for all of our stories. They can be reached at llblairclarke@gmail.com.

SYNOPSIS BY AUTHOR

Aletta Bee— Venus & Mars Go Shopping. Even in a stable, happy marriage, hurts, and misunderstandings crop up. In Venus & Mars Go Shopping, aging Rebecca fights with her husband, Michael, for her wellbeing, in an all too familiar dysfunctional male/female communication pattern. (Book Club Fiction)

L.K. Blair— SombreGreen. A young man, living in perpetual winter on a planet with one sun and three moons enters a domed city built by people from the stars. It’s summertime, and the lush greenery and warmth amaze him. In search of his father and yearning for a family, he struggles to adjust but encounters numerous challenges, including the threat of banishment. (Science Fiction)

L’Michelle Bleu L’Eau— Unlikely Friends. A middle-aged Black woman, grieving the sudden loss of her husband, must take on the responsibility of running the catering business they had worked together to build. The widowhood of an elderly white woman of privilege and generational wealth is a somber reminder of her mortality, one that she feels in the depths of her soul. Unlikely Friends paints a vivid portrait of how the changing of the seasons can transcend social, racial, and economic barriers through the healing power of grief. (Contemporary, Literary, Women’s Fiction)

Jonathan Byrd— Four Days in June—The heat is on for a family business during Prohibition, and everyone knows the illegal cure is the same as good business. (Historical Fiction)

Dena Linn— Watching for Now. The maternal bond is forever. This tale is of a young woman, a mother who reflects on her life and her choices as she watches her daughter mature during the daughter’s eighth summer. Even when the mother can no longer tuck her daughter in at night, she is watching. (Contemporary Literary)

Ana Paulina Lipster— Hazardous Honeymoon. A tale of the tormented and arduous path trudged by a young, abused woman until the day when an unexpected tragedy beyond her power occurs. The traumatic event causes her to evolve and mature well enough to end her troubles and sufferings. (Contemporary Realistic Fiction)

Kathleen Osborne— A Summer Night. A young woman has removed herself from society, to hide the difference between herself and all other women; a male terrestrial alien comes to earth for closure of his parents’ death and to check on human civilization. Together, they discover a forever love on a summer night. (Science Fiction Romance)

Yash Seyedbagheri— Histories. A couple grapples with malaise and responsibilities in their life. (Literary Fiction)

Kevin Urban— A Death at the Moreno. Snobby, selfish health resort patrons compete over the retrieval of hidden treasure. (Thriller Fiction)

Lawrence Urban— A Wolf at the Door. After several animal killings and at least one human murder, four travelers find themselves with their car broken down and stranded on a desolate road in the New Mexico mountains. Guided only by a full moon, they walk to what they believe will be safety and stumble upon a horrific encounter. (Horror)

CONTENTS

HAZARDOUS HONEYMOON

Ana Paulina Lipster

WATCHING FOR NOW

Dena Linn

A DEATH AT THE MORENO

Kevin Urban

SOMBREGREEN

L.K. Blair

VENUS & MARS GO SHOPPING

Aletta Bee

UNLIKELY FRIENDS

L'Michelle Bleu L'Eau

WOLF AT THE DOOR

Lawrence Uban

HISTORIES

Yas Seyedbagheri

FOUR DAYS OF JUNE

Jonathan Byrd

A SUMMER NIGHT

Kathleen Osborne

ANTHOLOGIES BY TRANSCENDENT AUTHORS

LEAVE A REVIEW

HAZARDOUS HONEYMOON

Ana Paulina Lipster

(Contemporary Realistic Fiction)

Copyright © 2023 Ana Paulina Lipster all rights reserved.

When George surprised her with plans for a honeymoon holiday, Maya was blown ‎away. A dry bark of laughter spilt from her throat. Her belly fluttered like a flock of ‎butterflies around a rosebush.‎

It was over a year since their wedding, and George kept fabricating excuses to ‎postpone the holiday.‎

However, his chosen site was uncommon, out of the usual touristic path: The ‎Misty Peak, a crystal quartz excavation park, located in an old eroded volcanic crater ‎in Brazil’s northern state of Roraima.‎

Maya flinched and stepped back. It’s at the world’s edge, almost at the ‎country’s border. She protested, annoyed at the thought of travelling so far away. ‎‎It’s at least a five-hour flight from Rio de Janeiro.‎‏‏

‎All you do is complain. He pointed a finger at her. You nag me about this ‎honeymoon nuisance for months, and now you’re fussing because it’s not around the ‎corner? His face flushed in anger, and he slammed his fist on the table so hard that ‎Maya feared it would snap.‎

‎Look what you made me do, George accused her, rubbing his sore knuckles.‎

‎‘Misty Peak Park’ is open to the public all year round. There’s a moderate ‎entrance fee, and the public can look for natural quartz crystals and keep what they ‎find. It’s an ancient and small mine, and there’s little chance of anyone finding ‎anything of great value. ‎

‎But one might get lucky. Who knows? George sneered.‎

They got off the bus from the airport in front of a sizable disintegrating ‎carved stone, welcoming the tourists with the park’s name with missing letters. It ‎stood in the centre of a neglected, weedy, overgrown garden. ‎

Inside the park were a simple, shabby Bed&Breakfast, a diner and a general ‎store. There were also a couple of dozen decayed cabins for those who preferred ‎privacy. Scattered away from the centre were a few mobile homes. ‎

Maya swallowed hard and pressed her lips tight with disappointment.‎

‎Is this where we’re supposed to spend our holiday? Hopelessness wetted ‎Maya’s eyes. Her self-esteem trickled down her heart. Is this what I’m worth to him? ‎

George rented a cabin. After all, it’s our honeymoon. Maya cringed at his ‎scornful tone. She figured the real reason for choosing a cabin instead of a double ‎room in the B&B was to hide his drinking. ‎

Yet, Maya made no comments. She didn’t want to stir up trouble. ‎

The majority of diggers were men. It was rare to find families with children. ‎Few wives accompanied their husbands on this adventure, and Maya socialised with ‎a couple of them. Here, George didn’t mind. As it turned out, most of the other men ‎were drunkards like him who got together in and around the general store. ‎Questionable single young ladies frequented those gatherings as well.‎

Pretty soon, Maya adapted to the place’s daily habits. After breakfast at the ‎diner, they would pick up their iron pickaxes and other tools, which one could bring ‎from home or rent at the park, and follow the herd of miners seeking their fortune.‎

Even though torrential rains flooded the land in and around the park, it was ‎still Summer, the best time to travel, take a holiday and make some money if one is ‎lucky to find a profit-making stone. ‎

The rainy season, when most of the average annual rainfall occurs in large ‎portions of tropical countries, lasts for about three months. For various reasons, the ‎miners favoured this time of the year for mining in this area. They would tread on the ‎wet soil of clay, silt, sand, and gravel deposited during a flood—acres and acres of ‎unploughed fields.‎

‎New arrivals? Asked a cheerful brunette, early morning the next day, ‎smiling and accompanied by a surly-faced black-bearded man. In their early forties, ‎they plunged into Maya and George’s booth in the diner, facing them as if they ‎owned the place.‎

While George tried his face to look surlier than the intruder, Maya smiled ‎back at the brunette. Yes, we arrived last night. And you? She extended the smile ‎toward the man without succeeding in thawing his scowl. ‎

‎Oh, we’ve been here for three days now, although we’ve come several times ‎before. I’m Helen, and this is my husband, Dustin. I’m glad you’re here. I was bored ‎and upset as it hadn’t stopped raining since we arrived. Today is the first day I ‎ventured outside our cabin.‎

‎You’re talking nonsense, woman, Dustin growled before Maya could ‎introduce themselves. The more soaked the soil, the easier to extract the quartz.‎

The waitress arrived to take their orders. While Maya and Helen chose the ‎full breakfast, including a slice of pecan pie each, George ordered a beer. And as if ‎lightning struck him, Dustin raised his head and ordered a beer as well.‎

George’s choice caused Dustin’s face to disentangle and softened George’s ‎expression towards the couple.‎

‎‘Birds of a feather flock together,’ thought Maya, noticing the same unhappy ‎look in Helen’s eyes as she imagined her own must reflect. ‎

Talkative Helen pushed up her terry-rayon T-shirt’s long sleeves, plunked her ‎elbows on the table and showered Maya with questions about everything. ‎

George took the chit-chat as his cue, held his beer bottle, and signalled Dustin ‎to sit outside while the girls had breakfast.‎

‎I can’t stand small talk, George blurted before leaving the establishment. ‎

‎"I don’t get how those women can stay skinny after having such a lavish ‎breakfast, can you? Dustin snorted, nodding his head towards the women.‎

‎If you want to lose weight, try to eat one of Maya’s dishes. It’s an infallible ‎diet. George snarked and guffawed, throwing a scornful smile towards Maya.‎

‎So tell me, George asked when they found empty seats on the diner’s porch. ‎‎Have you found any stones already? Is it worth the while to have come all this ‎way?‎

‎Sure, you can find some. But don’t expect to leave here as a millionaire, ‎Dustin chuckled. The search is easy, but you’ll need a combination of perseverance ‎and a sharp eye to find a good stone. Oh, and a lot of luck. Dustin finished his beer ‎and stood up. Fancy jogging to the general store? I’m out of booze. Let’s go. I’ll ‎introduce you to the other guys and return later for the girls.‎

Quite inebriated, both men rejoined their wives a couple of hours later. ‎

The women knew better than to criticise, complain or even raise the drinking ‎issue.‎

Instead, Maya wanted to learn more about digging and finding quartz.‎

‎It’s nothing to it. Helen can tell you, can’t you, sweetheart? She was luckier ‎than me and found a couple of nice samples.‎

‎That’s because I go to the field more times than you. ‎

‎Listen, continued Dustin, without minding his wife’s reproach. Some find ‎them just by walking through the field. All you need is to look for its bright ‎reflection after the rain has washed them clean. Others prefer to dig in the soil and ‎search for it shovel by shovel, pickaxe by pickaxe.‎

Thus Maya started her new routine. After breakfast, she and Helen would ‎walk to the field and dig in the wet earth, looking for the unique gem, although the ‎most common of minerals. Quartz doesn’t have much commercial value when extracted in its raw state.‎

‎I’ve learned a lot about this rock. Helen turned to face Maya, who was ‎struggling to tread safely in the muddy, soaked ‎dirt. For instance, do you know what ‎makes the quartz such a special gem? ‎

‎Not really. I’ve heard quartz is the last mineral formed after the magma ‎radiation. Maya replied, swaying, almost losing her balance. I should have brought ‎my boots instead of these moccasins.‎

‎They sell working boots in the general store. And you’re right. This beautiful ‎stone is worth hundreds per cent more after going through a gamma radiation and ‎cutting process. Helen led the way, pointing to Maya where not to step.‎

They plodded a few minutes more on the soggy earth and around the many ‎pits, puddles and sinkholes until they reached a good spot. ‎

Soon enough, Maya was kneeling and staring at an amorphous piece of crystal ‎between her fingers. Helen said, making eye contact as if guessing at Maya’s ‎thoughts, Keep it for yourself. Don’t show it to George.‎

‎What–do you mean? Why–would–I– Maya stammered.‎

Helen interrupted, Darling, you’re too young. I’ve recognised what you must ‎be going through because I’ve been there. It’s true that Dustin still drinks too much. ‎But he was never abusive towards me, as I see happening with George. He is a mean ‎drunk, and you must leave him before it’s too late.‎

Maya’s stomach twisted, and she stood clutching her body while ‎uncontrollable tears rushed freely down her cheeks. ‎

‎Does he hit you? Helen’s brows raised in concern.‎

‎No, Maya replied in a shocked and shaky voice. He doesn’t lay a hand on ‎me. I guess he fears my family’s reaction. Although he ruins my belongings.‎

‎What do you mean, belongings? A pained look softened Helen’s features.‎

‎He hates my taste in music. Especially when he’s drunk. He smashes my ‎CDs, my makeup kits—all wrecked under his feet. She gasped, restored her breath ‎and added, he calls me stupid woman or silly brat all the time.

Maya tried in vain ‎to prevent a sob. If I dare ask him where he’s been, he shouts, ‘leave me alone. I’m ‎too drunk to pretend I like you tonight.’ Or, ‘if you don’t shut up, I’ll silence you ‎with duct tape.’ And some nights, I have to listen to even worse things. He applies ‎psychological abuse. He yells at me in public, saying things such as, ‘I never said ‎that,’ or ‘You imagined it,’ or ‘You always take everything I say the wrong way.’ He ‎turns me into a brittle and unstable puppet.‎

‎Be careful, my dear. Be warned. He might one day hit you too. Helen ‎placed an arm around Maya’s shoulders drawing her near, I’m guessing he brings ‎you flowers, chocolate or maybe a cheap jewel each time he’s abusive, doesn’t he? ‎Doesn’t he apologise and promise not to hurt you again? Then, he blames you for ‎generating the quarrel and inducing him to be violent. Am I right? In the end, you’re ‎always the culprit, not him.‎

Now Maya could not hold back the sobs any longer. What am I going to do? ‎He’s my husband. What will I do with my life if I divorce him? Go back to live with ‎my parents?‎

‎Start by keeping the stones you find. You’ll figure it out by yourself, I’m ‎sure. Now let’s go dig, and who knows? We might find a big one. Helen hugged ‎Maya and nudged her forward.‎

The two new friends would leave early after breakfast and meander around ‎the potholes on the soaked dirt, singing, chatting, and giggling like two old friends. ‎

The husbands? They were left behind, each hugging a beer bottle.‎

Hence, Maya’s and Helen’s efforts and diligence rewarded them with a fair ‎number of hexagonal crystal pieces of quartz. They were not big stones; however, ‎some looked quite valuable.‎

‎Aren’t we the lucky ones? Helen guffawed, unable to restrain her euphoria.‎

In contrast, Maya clutched her arms to her chest, dreading the moment she ‎would return to the cabin and confront George.‎

‎What now? With a pained expression, Maya moaned, letting out a hard ‎sigh.‎ "We need the certificate of authenticity from the main office. Otherwise, I will ‎not be able to sell it back home. How