All the Days of Forever

All the Days of Forever

The Domenico Family Case Files – Book Three

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tags: Love, starting over, second chances, long lost love, friendship, eternity

Release: June 08, 2012

Editor: Carrie RO

Line Editor: Greta Gunselman

Cover Designer: Charlotte Volnek

Words: 29787

Pages: 83

Price: $4.50

Back Cover:

Celia Tonelli is a recent widow with two young daughters.  She and Brian Tonelli had a storybook marriage.  However, fate weaves a new destiny for Celia and she needs to get out of the house—both for her own sake and for her oldest daughter to become accustomed to a normal routine.  Thus, she returns to her professional career as a compliance auditor.  Her long time friend and former employer, Steven Brancusi, has always loved her.  He welcomes the chance to win her love.  Celia agrees to perform an audit at Sabrelight Industries, a fiber optic cable manufacturing company owned by Lucien Surette.  Luc meets Celia and covets her for his own.  Both men are handsome successful executives but diametric opposites in personality and looks.  The children’s caregiver Elle Laurenz and Celia’s sister, Guiliana Leoni, both encourage Celia to explore the possibilities for a new life.  However, Celia doesn’t yet think of herself as a single woman, or know how to date and be a mother at the same time.  She engages Luc’s interest . . . and the animosity of his current lover Aileen.  Celia, Steven, and Luc come to realize what all the days of forever hold for each of them.

Excerpt:

Cecelia Tonelli averted her eyes from the reflection in the window, shying away from deeper contemplation of the haggard image and the dark circles discoloring her light olive complexion.

“What’s on your mind, Celia?  I can’t find a thing wrong with you.”  Doctor Giannelli peered over the tops of his half glasses at her.  “Something is bothering you, otherwise you wouldn’t be here asking me to give you something to help you sleep—something I’d rather not do.  There isn’t any bad news, although you could use an additional ten pounds.”

Celia frowned at his last comment.  She knew the black suit she wore was now one size too small for her five foot four inch figure.  “My closet full of anxieties bothers me—two in particular.  I’m not sure what worries me more—making a decision about what to do in the near future or Marisa.”  Celia paced back to the chair in front of his desk and sat down.  “She’s always been such a self-possessed, independent child.  Now a year after Brian…she still clings whenever I try to leave the house.  She’s convinced I’m leaving and never coming back.  I’m at my wits end trying to reassure her.”

“Such a reaction isn’t unusual in the circumstances, but since you’re around the girls all the time, her dependency sounds like it’s deepening.  Where are they today?”

“My neighbor’s daughter, Judi, agreed to babysit.  I want to visit Brian when I leave here so she volunteered to spend the day with the girls.  Marisa was almost hysterical when I told her I’d be gone most of the morning.”

The doctor studied her with a question in his eyes.  “And the decision about what to do for the future?”

“My former employer called me earlier this week about returning to the firm.  I’m of two minds about agreeing to it.  I know it would be the best thing for me to get out among adults again, but I’m worried.  Will my doing so create more of a problem for Marisa?”  Celia looked over at the doctor who had known her since birth.

“I’d say it would be the best solution for both of you.  Your only obstacle will be to find someone the girls, or more to the point—Marisa, feel comfortable with as a substitute.”  Doctor Giannelli watched Celia shift in her chair.  “If you force her to deal with a mother who lives a normal life, she’ll outgrow this deepening dependency on your constant presence.  When she sees you leave and return on a regular basis, and I’d advise you to vary your schedule a bit if you could, she’ll soon realize no matter what time you leave or how long you’re gone, you’ll always return home.”

Celia rose from the chair and prowled the small office.  She needed an educated opinion and she could think of no better source than the Domenico family physician.  She knew from experience he’d tell her the truth—although it might not be what she wanted to hear, it would be what she needed.

“Mariana is too young to understand, although if you let this situation continue, she’ll learn from her sister’s example and you’ll really have problems.  You’re doing them both a disservice by continuing to hover over them.”  The doctor quit speaking for a minute and scrutinized her before he continued.  “Are you using the girls as an excuse not to move on with your life?  You’re a young woman, Celia, too young to retire from the company of others.”

Celia frowned.  His outspoken advice didn’t qualify as a soothing bedside manner, but he’d been the family doctor for too long to sugarcoat his words.  “I’ve had those same thoughts, but I suffer a massive attack of guilt two seconds later.”  Celia sat down again in the chair and twisted her hands together.  “I loved Brian almost from the time we met, and he was a good husband.  There are times I can’t believe he’s really gone.  I know, at least on an intellectual level, my life must go on.  Unless I do something now, I’ll cripple any hopes the girls and I have for a normal life, but I feel so disloyal to my husband.  Guiliana read me the riot act about it the last time we talked.”  She shrugged, remembering her sister’s very pointed remarks.  “I know she means well but—”

The doctor smiled.  “Despite her hot-tempered personality, your sister always did have a lot of sense.  You might consider listening to her advice.”

Celia huffed out a breath in resignation.  “If you’re sure I’m doing the right thing, I guess I’ll call Steven Brancusi and tell him I’ll accept his offer to return as soon as I find a reliable caregiver for the girls.  Maybe I’ll get lucky and find someone right away.”  She gathered up her purse and coat.  “Thanks for the time and your advice, Doctor Giannelli, I’ll stay in touch.”

About the Author:

Robbi Perna is a professional author who brings her experience of fifteen years as a Senior Military Analyst to her fiction writing.  Robbi’s writing credits include over twenty-six short stories, articles, essays, and editorials.  In December 2011, Muse It Up Publishing released “A Love Like No Other," the first book in The Domenico Family Case Files Series.  Her most recent short story, “To Everything Its Season,” appeared in the June 2010 anthology, “A Magical Summer,” hosted by Pandora’s Imagination.    Robbi's published works in non-fiction include a broad range of subjects across the spectrum of the military, political, and art history spheres of influence.

A Colorado native, Robbi visits Denver regularly to see her friends and family members.  She currently resides in the Virginia with her parti-poodle, Santino, who manages the house between naps while Robbi writes.

Interested readers can contact Robbi through her website at www.RobbiPerna.net.

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