A Beautiful Beginning |
D.J. Monroe |
(2014) |
|
Tags: | Kindle Free Program, Romance |
This two-book bundle is a prequel to the bestselling gay romance novel Back to Beautiful.
It is not a standalone story.
Book 1: Spencer Burbank screws up everything he touches. His family, his relationships, everything. So when his boyfriend Bailey gets hurt, hes determined to make it right. The problem is, he cant. Hes been hiding their relationship for too long. Now Spencer is backed into a corner either face the wrath of his homophobic father and get Bailey the help he needs, or take matters into his own hands.
Book 2: Bailey Kaufmann thinks hes lost the only guy he ever loved until Spencer shows up on his doorstep one afternoon - with a baby. Spencers demons still haunt him, and the added stress of a newborn puts a serious strain on the life theyre trying to build. Bailey wants to help, but the baggage Spencer carries might just crush them both.
A Beautiful Beginning
DJ Monroe
Published by ButtonFly Books, 2014.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
A BEAUTIFUL BEGINNING
First edition. June 26, 2014.
Copyright 2014 DJ Monroe.
Written by DJ Monroe.
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Table of Contents
A Beautiful Beginning
Book One
Chapter 1
S pencer shoved in the kitchen drawer with a fairly loud crash, which he ignored, and rushed across the slick marble floor to the pantry. He had to find his mothers crystal candlesticks. Bailey would be here soon, and everything had to be perfect.
Standing in the tiny, barely illuminated space and biting his lip, he scanned the shelves and tried to think where they might be, but he was drawing a complete blank. The last time hed seen them they were on the sideboard in the massive dining room, but that had been almost a year ago.
It didnt help that he was putting too much pressure on himself, just like he always did.
After the funeral, her things had started to disappear. Spencer blamed his father. The man had been a complete bear since then, and hed probably sold it all. Spencer hoped not, hoped that the delicate candlesticks that he had bought her himself, on her fortieth birthday, were still around and stashed somewhere.
A small surge of anger toward his dad distracted him for a moment, but he pushed it away. Bailey would be here in less than an hour, and Spencer was getting frustrated.
They werent anywhere. He left the pantry and slammed the door behind him, almost smacking into his father as he came around the corner of the kitchen.
Why the hell are you in such a hurry? James Burbank asked, frowning at Spencers clumsiness. Or at least, frowning more than usual.
Spencer looked at the floor. Looking for something, he mumbled, silently praying dont ask what, dont ask why. Dont ask, dont ask...
James didnt ask. Well, slow the hell down. He brushed past Spencer and kept going, not turning to see the glare that Spencer aimed at his back.
Spencer rubbed his palms on his jeans and sighed quietly in an attempt to slow down his slamming heart. His father knew nothing about his relationship with Bailey beyond a normal high school friendship, and Spencer needed to keep it that way.
James Burbank had a problem with homos .
He wondered if the candlesticks might be in the attic and started up the stairs but Jason, his little brother, interrupted him at the top. You look like youre having a heart attack, he said, his thirteen-year-old voice still squeaking a little.
Do you know where moms candlesticks are? The crystal ones we got her for her birthday?
Jason shook his head. Nope. Why?
I just...thought theyd look nice in the dining room. Spencer made a mental note to put the candlesticks in the dining room after tonight.
Jason shot him a sneer. For who? We dont even use the dining room.
Spencer just shrugged, stepped around the shorter boy and kept going, not giving him a chance to ask more questions.
Halfway along the hall, he stopped and veered toward a door on his left. He knew exactly where they were. Spencer, Jason, and their housekeeper Mary had rescued what they could from his fathers selling spree and boxed everything up to keep in his mothers sewing room.
He twisted the knob on the thick oak door and almost fell inside.
The room was soft with evening light it was one of the reasons his mother had insisted on spending time in here. She loved the sunshine, and this room caught most of it, all through the day. It smelled like her perfume, too something with jasmine in the name. Spencer swallowed the edge of sorrow and went to where the boxes were stacked under the window.
He almost cut his finger getting the first one open, but the candlesticks were right on top. Well, two of them were. There had been six originally, but he didnt have time to look for the others. These would have to do.
He went downstairs, using the back stairway to avoid James, and headed for the treehouse.
Bailey would be meeting him here anytime.
The treehouse was huge one of those projects that James had dreamed up to keep the boys out of his hair. It was practically a two-bedroom house, perched in the branches of one of the eighty year old oaks at the back of the property. The structure even had a bathroom, with pipes running up along the back part of the tree. Spencer climbed up, not taking time to enjoy the view of the lake beyond. There would be time for that after Bailey got here.
He found the other supplies a tablecloth, the cupcakes that Mary had made for them - along with candles - and Baileys present, then set about making it all perfect.
He wanted to make Bailey happy, he thought as he kicked old sports equipment and clothes out of sight under one of the bunks. It was the only thing he cared about these days.
He and Bailey had been best friends before they were lovers. In fact, he was probably Spencers first real friend. They met when James had forced him to join a sports team whichever one he wanted, just as long as he joined one. It was good for business, he said.
Spencer hated sports, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him, because of Bailey.
Shy, not-very-athletic Spencer chose basketball, because football was gross and track was boring. He dismissed the other sports for similar reasons, even though hed been pretty good at baseball. Bailey had been on the basketball team too, though, and that was the beginning.
When Spencer started talking about his real feelings, trying hard to figure out why he didnt like girls, Bailey had been there to listen. When Spencer started asking questions about his sexuality, Bailey had been there to share his own experience, talking him through the agony and fear of being different and telling his own story.
It wasnt much of a step for them to become lovers. Bailey was the first thing in his life to make him truly, deeply happy. He was smart, funny in a sweet, quiet way, and he was the hottest guy that Spencer had ever seen.
They were meant to be together, Spencer could feel it.
He finished putting everything together and lit the candles, then dragged a chair to the window to wait. He could see out over the full expanse of their two acre lawn, but he didnt bother taking in the view. His foot bounced as he waited and watched the rear corner of the fence, where Bailey would sneak through.
This night was special, and he was determined to make it perfect, if only to see Baileys beautiful smile. He lived for that smile.
Chapter 2
S pencer sat up straighter when he caught a glimpse of red in the field beyond the fence, a stupid grin spreading across his face. He wanted Bailey to be impressed, and happy. He wanted him to enjoy his eighteenth birthday and the present hed bought. It was a big day, and Spencer felt honored that Bailey would sneak away from his own party the one his family was throwing for him to be with him.