LOVE’S SILENT STORM

Dawn Walker

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Sometimes the price of love...

When insurance mogul Brandon Pierce steps into an elevator, he has no way of knowing it would change his life forever. As the out of control elevator plunges downward, he courageously uses his body to shield a total stranger. Faced with the possibility of going deaf, Brandon realizes the horrific accident may have ultimately cost him his hearing and the woman he loves.

...cost more than you're willing to give

Beautiful real estate agent Nicole Armstrong wakens from a coma thankful to be alive. Owing her life to the handsome stranger, she sets out to find him. Determined to help him through his darkest hours, Nicole embarks upon the toughest quest of her life. Can she love a man who's become embittered by life's unfair hand? More importantly, can she help him weather love's silent storm?

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Dedication

To my brother Eric, and my sister Robin, and especially to my nephew’s dog,

BJ, who used to keep my up all night scratching at the door only to discover he

Really didn’t want to go outside.

Acknowledgement

I can do all things through Christ, he who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

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PROLOGUE

“IT’S TIME.” He sat on the fluffy white cloud and beckoned her to join him. Sitting, she nodded. “I know. Today will change their lives forever.”

“Indeed it will. Shall we begin?”

“Yes.” The heavenly angels gathered close and peered at the perfect circumference in the sky. “Aah, we’re just in time.” Looking through the cloudy mist, they observed the fullness of the earth and its dwellings below. “You’re right. It’s about to begin.” Bracing themselves, they watched the events unfold. Knowing they had a job to do, they focused on their assignment.

ššššš

“Oh, God, we’re going to die!” Nicole Armstrong saw her entire life flash before her as the elevator plummeted from the fortieth floor. Normally it started going express from the fourteenth, but there was a serious malfunction. They were falling fast. As the elevator accelerated toward the bottom, she began to pray. The handsome stranger standing next to her joined in. She had noticed him when he first stepped on the elevator. She had particularly noticed his expensive suit and well manicured hands when he pushed the button for the lobby. He sported a slightly gray mustache that went well with his chocolate brown complexion and bald head. He looked very distinguished. She'd often seen him coming and going from the office complex. He usually got off two floors before she did. Suddenly they were thrust forward as the elevator rapidly approached ground level. Just as the man instinctively hurled himself on top of her, debris from the elevator came crashing down. Darkness engulfed them.

CHAPTER ONE

NICOLE COULD hear the rhythmic beep of the heart monitor as she struggled to sit up. “Take it easy, Nikki. You’ve been in a terrible accident.” Afrika Jones, a strikingly beautiful woman with a tall slender figure and shoulder-length hair, was her best friend. She was also a nurse at New Township Hospital in Lower Manhattan. “I’ll let the doctor know you’re awake.” She hurried out of the room. Lying back on the pillows, Nicole tried to remember what had happened to land her in the hospital. Suddenly everything came flooding back…the man…the elevator…the crash. My, God, it’s a miracle I’m still alive. Returning with a young blond gentleman, Afrika approached her bed. “Nikki, this is Dr. Peterson. He’s the best neurosurgeon we have on staff.”

“Neurosurgeon, why do I need a neurosurgeon? With the exception of a slight headache, I feel fine.” Picking up her medical chart, Dr. Peterson looked it over and made a few notations. “Ms. Armstrong, you may feel fine, but to be on the safe side, I’d like to run some tests. I’d like to have an MRI and CT scan done.”

“Sure, doctor, whatever you say. You’re the expert.”

“Ms. Armstrong—”

“Call me, Nicole.”

“Okay, Nicole. I’m glad you feel that way because some patients seem to think I look too young to be a doctor.”

Don’t worry, I trust you, just as long as you didn’t take a crash course in medical school.” Smiling, Dr. Peterson put her chart down. “I can assure you I didn’t enroll in one of those correspondence schools advertised on a match book.”

“Good. How soon can we have those tests done?”

“Tomorrow.” He turned to Afrika. “Give her some Tylenol.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“Nicole, I’ll check in on you later.”

“He looks like the TV character Doogie Howser,” Nicole said after he left. “Yeah, he's young, but he's one of the best in his field. The hospital's fortunate to have him.” Handing her the medicine, Afrika looked at her. “Seriously, how do you really feel? That was quite a fall.” Swallowing the pills down with some water, Nicole sighed. “I feel fine. I'm just glad to be alive.”

“I know what you mean. You were lucky.” Luck didn't have anything to do with it. It's a sheer act of God I'm still here. “Afrika, there was a man on the elevator with me. Did he survive?”

“I don't know. Is he someone you work with?”

“No. I've seen him around. I think he works two floors below me. I want to thank him. He saved my life.”

“You're kidding. Here, let me do that.” Afrika reached over and helped Nicole adjust her pillows. “No, I'm serious. If he hadn't flung himself on me just as we were about to hit the bottom, I probably wouldn’t be alive. I hope he made it.”

“Talk about a guardian angel. I'll check around and see what I can find out.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“No prob—”

“Can we come in?” Turning around, Afrika saw Nicole's parents standing in the doorway with a crowd of people behind them. “Yes, but only two at a time.”

“My baby! My baby!” Constance Armstrong rushed in with her husband. “It's by the grace of God you’re still with us. Thank you Jesus for sparing our child.” Standing next to her bed, Joseph Armstrong squeezed Nicole's hand. “The doctor told us you were awake. How do you feel?” Nicole could see the pain in her father's eyes. She wanted to reassure him everything was all right. “Dad, I'm okay. Other than a slight headache, I feel fine.”

“Good. Your mother and I were crazy with worry.”

“That's right. It's a miracle you're alive. What you should do is sue the building management. I know a real good la—”

“Mom, please, I don't want to think about suing anybody right now.”

“The girl's right, Connie. What she needs to do is concentrate on getting better.” Constance turned to her husband. “It's just...someone should be held accountable. We could have lost our baby!” Nicole watched her mother struggle to hold back her tears. She hated to cause her parents any pain. She loved them dearly. They'd been married for forty years. Constance's voice suddenly broke as Joseph took her in his arms and she began to sob. “Mom, please don't cry. Be happy. It's a miracle I'm still alive. I guess it wasn't my time to go.” As Constance wiped her eyes with Joseph's handkerchief, Afrika decided to give them some privacy. “Nikki, I'll check in on you later. I'll let you know about that man.”

“What man?” Constance looked quizzically at her. “There was a man on the elevator with Nikki. Apparently he saved her life by shielding her when they crashed.”

“I don't know who he is,” Nicole added. “But I'm grateful. I asked Afrika to try and find out if he survived.” She glanced at her father. “Dad, if he did, could you send him a dozen yellow roses?”

“Yes, Joe. It's the least we can do.” Joseph nodded. “You bet. Consider it done.”

“I'll see you later, Nikki.”

“Okay, Afrika.” Settling back comfortably, Nicole looked at her parents. “I'm hungry. I could really go for a cheeseburger. I haven't eaten since the accident yesterday.”

Constance and Joseph glanced at each other. “W-what's wrong? You look as if I suddenly broke out in hives.”

“Baby, don't you know?”

“Know what? Mom, what's going on?” Constance walked over and touched Nicole's hand. “Nikki, darling, you've been in a coma for a week.”

“A coma for a week? I can't believe I've been in a coma for a week.” Stunned, Nicole was speechless as she absorbed the news. Finally, as the shock subsided, she smiled at her parents. “I'm truly grateful to be alive.”

“So are we, Nikki. To have you alive. So are we!”

ššššš

“Hold on, Brandon! I'll get a nurse!” Afrika heard a woman yell as she walked past a patient's room. Turning around and heading toward the doorway, she saw a woman kneeling on the floor beside a man. “Please, help me! My fiancé fell!” Rushing in, Afrika helped the man up. Once he was back in bed, she reached for his chart. She realized he was the man in the elevator with Nicole. His name was Brandon Pierce. He was in critical condition. Turning to the woman, Afrika noticed she was drop-dead gorgeous. She looked like she belonged on the cover of a glamour magazine. She sported a short-feathered hairstyle that went well with her flawless skin and golden brown complexion. She was wearing an expensive fur coat. Afrika was sure she'd seen her somewhere before. “What happened?”

“He took a few steps and fell.”

“Mr. Pierce, you aren't in any shape to get out of bed. You could have caused more harm to yourself.”

“He was only trying to see if he could walk.”

“I know, but his injuries are serious. He could have complicated his condition.” Brandon suddenly cried out as a sharp pain shot through his head. A long deep gash ran down the side of his forehead. His hearing was also fading in and out. Sierra, thank God you're here. Baby, I need you. Approaching him, Afrika said, “You really ought to lie still.”

“Can't you see he's in a lot of pain? Why don't you give him something?”

“I'm sorry. I'm not the nurse on duty for this ward. Let me go get Mr. Pierce's nurse.” Turing toward the woman, Afrika was certain she recognized her. “I get the feeling I've seen you before.”

“I should hope so. My face is plastered on the cover of every fashion magazine on the planet. I’m supermodel Sierra Townsend.”

“You’re right. I’ve seen your pictures on magazines at the checkout counter in the supermarkets.” Sierra gave Afrika a condescending smirk. “I’m sure you have. With your looks, I’m surprised you haven’t considered modeling. Have you ever done any photo shoots?”

“As a matter of fact, I used to model for a living until I decided to go to nursing school. I wanted to help people instead of getting paid for my looks.”

“How dull, then again, you probably made a wise decision. You wouldn’t have stood a chance with me on the scene. I’m the best there is.” Yeah right, whatever lady. “I’ll go get Mr. Pierce’s nurse.”

ššššš

Entering Brandon's room, a woman handed him some pain pills and a cup of water. “Mr. Pierce, Afrika tells me you tried to get out of bed. I’m Nurse Baxter. You'll address me as such. I run a tight shift. I don’t tolerate patients who don't follow the doctor’s orders. Any deviates will be dealt with. Is that clear?” Brandon nodded before swallowing the pills. “I see Mildred is pulling her drill sergeant routine.” Brandon’s doctor walked in. “I’m Dr. Chandler. I’ll be handling your case. Mildred, I can take it from here.”

“Yes, Doctor.” Before leaving, she turned to Brandon. “Remember what I told you.”

“Don’t worry about Mildred,” Dr. Chandler said when she was gone. “She’s really harmless. ”

“I couldn’t tell,” Brandon muttered. The medication was starting to take affect. His pain was subsiding. His hearing, however, was still fading in and out. He wondered about his condition. “Doctor, I feel dizzy. My hearing keeps coming and going. There's also a strange ringing in my ears. Give it to me straight. How bad am I?”

“Mr. Pierce, you sustained a terrible head injury. The dizziness and hearing loss is understandable considering your injury. I'm going to schedule you for a MRI and a CT scan. You'll also need to see our ENT specialist for an audiogram along with several other tests. We need to determine exactly what your hearing capabilities are.” Sierra touched Brandon's hand. “Don't worry; everything is going to be all right. All we can do is wait for the test results.” Brandon tried not to show it, but deep down he was admittedly worried. “You're right; wait is all we can do.”

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Love’s Silent Storm.

If you’d like to purchase the novel, please visit GUPC’s

online bookstore or stop by your local bookstore.

The book’s ISBN# is xxx-xx-xxx

Best Regards,

Dawn Walker

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