Belle was our family black sheep, thus no one would speak about her. My one meeting with her so impressed me that I felt compelled to 'create' her life
Belle was raised on a small Nebraska farm in the early 1900's, but from an early age was determined to find another life. Her creative, but unorthodox way of leaving the farm created tension and discord in her family. Her attempts to reconcile with her family over the years was unsucessful, and left her with many questions, but few regrets about her choice to leave.
Her life became a series of adventures including foreign travel, and operating her own busines.
Excerpt
Sitting at the table was a rail thin woman I'd never seen before. She had raven black hair, shapely black eyebrows, bright red lipstick, and thick pancake makeup. She was wearing red silk lounging pajamas with white polka dots. Her nails were long and also red. A large diamond adorned one finger, and numerous rings were scattered on her other fingers. The final touch was the cigarette in a long black holder.
When introductions were made, I learned this was Aunt Belle. It seemed obvious even to an eight-year old that everyone wished Aunt Belle would just disappear.
Sometimes, vacations just don't turn out the way you hoped they would. An idyllic wilderness house boating get-a-way soon turns into a hellish nightmare...
Joli Stewart is raised in the lap of luxury on her father's plantation near Charleston, South Carolina. High spirited, non-traditional and head strong, Joli refuses to accept any interference in her life or her romantic decisions. Follow her life dur
