Portal of New Destiny, page 1
Portal of New Destiny
Magga J.
Published by Red Butterfly Books, LLC, 2023.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
PORTAL OF NEW DESTINY
First edition. June 30, 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Magga J..
Written by Magga J..
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter One | Remembrance
Chapter Two | Facing Disappointment
Chapter Three | Graduation
Chapter Four | New Job
Chapter Five | Friends
Chapter Six | Tommy Wants to Become a Reporter
Chapter Seven | Finding Out about Her Dad
Chapter Eight | Jessica Tells Tommy
Chapter Nine | Tiffany is in Town
Chapter Ten | The Truth
Chapter Eleven | Tommy Reveals His Feelings
Chapter Twelve | True Friends
Chapter Thirteen | Jessica Visits the Land of Brahm
Chapter Fourteen | Tommy Betrays Jessica
Chapter Fifteen | Finding her Powers
Chapter Sixteen | Facing A Dilemma
Chapter Seventeen | Tommy Releases the Report
Chapter Eighteen | A Test
Chapter Nineteen | Visiting the Castle
Chapter Twenty | Confrontation
Chapter Twenty-One | A Small Surprise
Chapter Twenty-Two | Blessings
Chapter Twenty-Three | Fairy Army
Chapter Twenty-Four | Drama
About the Author
To my son, mom and dad
Thanks for all the love and support.
Chapter One
Remembrance
“TODAY IS THE BIG DAY!” Jessica Connor screamed. “I can’t wait to walk across that stage and receive my diploma.” It had been a long, hard four years for Jessica to reach this milestone. After her mother and father divorced her freshman year of college, Jessica thought she would not be able to go on with her life. She loved her parents, and she viewed them as the typical role models for a good marriage. She had always envisioned having a love of her own which depicts the basis for a traditional family. She hoped one day her dream of finding a love as perfect as her parents would manifest and she would have the love and career of her life. At that point, she could have the love and career of her life. As she sat in her college apartment bedroom, gazing out her window, she became frozen in time, thinking about the day her world came tumbling down, which would eventually change the course of her life.
It was the summer of 2005 and since Tennessee Mountain University (TMU) closes for the summer, Jessica had packed her suitcase with every piece of clothing she owned. She packed winter sweaters, puffy scarves, her favorite pink and white bunny slippers, her black and white striped bathing suit ready for summer, and all her colorful dresses ready to be picked up by her father, Thomas Connor. She was so excited to stand in the presence of her parents and younger sister, Eva. Nine-thirty a.m., her father knocked on her dorm room door as he spoke, “Honey, I’m here.” Jessica opened the door and jumped into her father’s arms. This was something she frequently did ever since she was a little girl. Her dad had been her hero. He was a tall, handsome, light-skinned man in his mid-fifties, who worked as a physician’s assistant at a well-known hospital in their hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. Her dad worked hard to gain stability for his family, and he invariably made time for her and Eva.
As she helped her dad load the blue infinity QX80, he told her he was proud of her doing so well during her first year of college. Jessica had a 3.5 GPA, and she studied every day except Fridays. Friday was her day to relax or do something she loved. She provided mentoring to other students when she had the chance, and she enjoyed it, unlike a lot of college students who did it only for money—though she did not criticize their work ethic, she just felt she was different and that she was making a difference. To help others. Her major was biology pre-med; subsequently, she wanted to go into the healthcare profession just like her father.
The trip home from Tennessee to Boston was so long, but Jessica and her father caught up on so many things. They chatted mostly about how her first year went, the friends she made, how her dad’s work was coming along, and the new adventures indulging Eva’s attention. Eva had just graduated from high school three months before summer break. Jessica asked her dad how he and her mom were doing, and it surprised her when he changed the topic by saying, “Hey, I need to get gas.” His statement was like a sharp blade cutting through a chunk of meat, and it made Jessica feel as if she was getting scolded. Although, she tried not to think to much of it.
They pulled into a Shell gas station and her dad hopped out without asking if she wanted a drink or her favorite gummies. She considered, “What just happened here?” While her dad was in the store, she called her mom to update her on their progress home. She expressed how excited she was to see her for an entire month. Jessica asked her how she had been doing, and she said everything had been fine, but the way she said it made Jessica have a queasy and unsettling sensation at the bottom of her stomach. Jessica, of course, did not know what was going on with either of her parents. She saw her dad walk back to the SUV, so she told her mom she would call back later with more updates.
They started back on their journey home. This was an eighteen-hour trip, but the time went by in the blink of an eye. Primarily because they had so much to talk about relating to school and her upcoming career move. They stopped at an outlet mall, where they grabbed a bite to eat at a small pastry shop. The wind chime at the door made a lovely sound, reminding Jessica of the ocean when she opened the door. They got back on the road after an hour, and at that time, Jessica realized the long journey home would not put them there until the next day. Although her dad knew they needed to rest, he would stop half-way at a pleasant hotel before they continued their journey.
She wondered why her dad wanted to pick her up instead of her flying home. Once they arrived at the hotel, she asked, “Dad, what made you want to drive hours to pick me up from school?”
“Well, honey, I have something to tell you and after much deliberation, I felt like it would be more important for me to pick you and explain what I need to tell you.”
“Explain what, Dad?”
“Let’s sleep, relax, and rest, and we will discuss it on the way tomorrow.” Jessica agreed because she was just as exhausted.
The next morning, Jessica woke up early because she had a knot in her stomach which lasted late into the night, and it was hard to sleep. She was left wondering and tossing pillows all night about what her dad had to explain. She pondered and deliberated for so long, she was unsure if she had gotten four hours of sleep. Jessica stood and saw her dad still asleep. She checked the time, and it was merely 6:00 a.m. Jessica turned on the shower and was dressed in ten minutes. She wanted to be up and ready for whatever her dad had to explain. As she rubbed the soap and warm water over her body, her mind started wandering in various directions. She could not fathom what he would talk about. She worried until her head started hurting. She knew whatever it was, it would not be good.
Once on the road, Jessica slept for about three hours since she got little sleep the previous night. Once she woke, she felt rested, but she still had this uneasy feeling. She tried to brush it aside. As her dad continued to drive, she noticed the look on his face and that made her uneasiness even worse.
Wondering with some uncertainty, Jessica asked,“Dad, do you want me to drive awhile?”
“No, honey, I am okay.” He smiled. “I slept pretty good, but you seemed like you needed the rest.”
“Oh, I did,” she told him. “I could not sleep at all last night.”
Thomas pulled into Starbucks and ordered two venti hazelnut Místos. Five minutes went by as Jessica reveled in the savory taste of the coffee, and she only thought about how good Starbucks coffee could be. She drank every drop before she said anything to her dad. Once she was done, she told him that was the best coffee she had had in months.
“Me too, honey.”
“Ha, ha. What do you mean? Mom makes great coffee.”
The hard stare on Thomas’ face shocked Jessica. “What is it, Dad?”
“Jessica...”
Oh, no, this could not be good because he only says my name when something is wrong. “Yes, Dad?”
“Well, I do not know how to tell you this, but I told your mother I would tell you.”
“Tell me what? You are making me nervous.”
“Oh, don’t be nervous. That is not my intention. I know we have always had a special connection, and I needed to be the one to tell you.” As her dad took a deep breath, he said, “Your mother and I are getting divorced.”
That word divorce hit Jessica like an eighteen-wheeler. She could not find the words to say; all she could do was cry. She could not imagine her parents not being together. They were the ideal power couple. How could this be?
“What do you mean, you’re getting a divorce?” Her dad pulled over with about two hours left of traveling.
“Honey—”
“No, don’t honey me,” I interrupted.
“Okay, calm down. Let me explain. I am still your father, so watch the tone.” He took a deep breath. “No matter what happens, I love you, your sister, and yes, I still love your mom. For the past year, we have grown apart and decided we should divorce. No
Finding this horrific news out was weighing heavy on Jessica. Apparently, they loved each other, but it was not as it used to be, and this was all too new for Jessica. Her parents were different people now. Thomas clarified they had known for the past three years their marriage had reached an end. “We waited until Eva graduated and now—”
“Oh, let me guess, it’s my turn to find out. I cannot believe this! I feel like everything I knew about family, love, and marriage has been a lie.”
“No, honey, it has not been a lie. Sometimes people change or the paths they are on can change them. Your mom and I felt it was time to tell you; Eva found out a month ago. We asked her not to tell you.” Melody and Thomas, Jessica’s ideal power couple, had even decided a week earlier it was time for them to put the house on the market and find separate homes.
“I told your mom it may be best for me to tell you when I picked you up for the summer. Your mother would have come, but she is finishing summer school. Plus, we knew this would be harder for you to accept.” There was no doubt Thomas and Melody Connor knew their daughters too well. Eva had responded to the news with less theatrical responses.
Every minute of the day was torture for Melody. Melody Connor was a high school science teacher. Waiting for a phone call while teaching a classroom full of students made her anxious every time the phone vibrated in her pocket. She tried hard to focus on her lesson, but just as many mothers do, she was thinking about her child. The need to be there when Jessica needed her was overwhelmingly exhausting. The bell rang for her students to leave for their next class period.
She was about average height with long black hair which touched the middle of her back. She had lovely hazel eyes that were always so bright when she smiled. Her students enjoyed her as their teacher because she had a calming presence, which made kids relax more in her class. She had taught for ten years, and she loved it.
She knew Thomas could unveil the news about their divorce better than her because she would probably burst into tears and not even explain it. Although telling your children their parents are divorcing does not seem like a straightforward task for anyone.
The long journey was about to end, and Jessica felt nervous as they were getting closer to home. She had so many thoughts going through her mind, even she could not make heads or tails of how she was feeling. One thing is for sure, she loved both parents and she did not want things to be awkward. She thought of what she might say when she saw her mom. Of course, she would hug and kiss her, but then what? Start talking about her parents’ splitting. Her brain began to ache, and she decided to take a quick nap.
Chapter Two
Facing Disappointment
JESSICA AND HER DAD arrived at their house just as the sun was setting.
“Jessica, look how beautiful the sunset is past the two dogwood trees.” “It is absolutely breathtaking.”
The sunset is so beautiful and calming, but right now my life feels like chaos. She knew her dad was just trying to make her feel okay with this divorce, but she could not see past the feeling at the bottom of her stomach. One minute she felt like everything was normal, but then something reminded her that her life was far from normal.
Eva ran out of the house screaming, “Jessica, oh Jessica! I am so excited to see you! I have so much to tell you, good and bad, but seventy-five percent good.”
They both let out a little chuckle. Eva was tall and slender with short brown hair, green eyes, and one sweet little dimple in her right cheek. Eva was a freshman at The School of Dancers Academy in Seattle, Washington. She aspired to be a dancer on Broadway in New York, and maybe one day open her own dance studio for children. Having her own studio would be a dream come true for Eva. Having her own dance studio would be a dream come true for Eva. She was such a sweet, spirited person, and she always wanted to help others succeed and be the best they could be for themselves.
Jessica loved her sister, and she knew she loved her. They had been so close the minute their mom introduced them as sisters the day they came home from the hospital. Even though Eva and Jessica are almost four years apart, they had a bond like no one else. When they were together, everyone could see how much they cared for each other.
Jessica began to ask Eva about their mom and dad, but she stopped her and said, “You just got home; let’s enjoy the moment.”
Jessica was okay with that, and they decided to go shopping. Her sister always enjoyed shopping because it helped her relax, especially when she was stressed, and boy, was this a time to be stressed. Eva also fancied early mornings, drinking coffee, and listening to the ocean like her big sister.
Jessica remembered when she was in high school, she would sit outside her grandparents’ cottage-style home and listen to the ocean. Her grandparents lived about one hundred yards from the beach, and she would stay with them every weekend just to hear the soothing sound of the water. Plus, her grandpa made great blueberry pancakes every morning. One thing that was so fascinating to Jessica was the fact that she loved water, but she never learned to swim.
Her sister and she shopped for about three hours, maybe four. Time flew by, but they enjoyed every minute. They wanted to do something to clear their heads about their parents, but it was hard. Their parents had been married for twenty-five years, so it was unimaginable to hear they would be getting a divorce soon. Every time Jessica thought of the word divorce, she would just cringe. She began to wonder, does no one care about the divorce but me?
“Man, this is hard,” she told Eva. “I have tried all day to not think about this nightmare with Mom and Dad. One minute I am okay and the next minute, I am sad and confused. I do not know what happened; I thought they loved each other, and I never thought a divorce would ever be an option.” Eva just stood in silence, with tears in her eyes. Jessica hugged her little sister and kissed her cheek. “Eva, I know this is devastating, but we will get through it.”
On the ride back home, the girls tried to have a conversation about school and what they had been doing these last few months before summer came. It was challenging because everything seemed to come back around to their mom and dad.
Eva said, “I wonder how Granny and Pawpaw stayed married so long?” Granny and Pawpaw were their dad’s parents, who had been married for sixty years and spent so much time together even before they both retired—Granny had taught for thirty-seven years before she had retired. Their mom’s parents passed away during her sophomore year of college due to a plane crash. The sisters had never known them but had heard lovely stories about them.
Furthermore, Jessica always thought her parents would end up like Granny and Pawpaw. Granny was this little fierce, five-foot-tall lady with dark, curly hair. She was average size, and she loved to wear distinct color glasses. She became inspired to change up her glasses by Al Roker from the Today Show in New York. She loved that show, and Jessica would always watch it with her on the weekends.
Pawpaw was average height at five-ten. He was light-skinned, with white hair on the sides though the top of his head was bald, and a little chubby around the mid-section. He often dressed as Santa for the downtown mall. As a child, Jessica thought he was a white man, but her mom explained to her he was not. She always laughed at herself whenever she thought about that conversation.
Once Jessica and Eva returned home, she was overcome with sadness. What would the atmosphere of their home be like now that things would be different? Eva was her little sister, but she seemed to be okay. Maybe she just didn’t let it show. Jessica felt alone in her feelings. She wanted to say something to Eva, but she was the big sister.
“What if she was really not okay? How can I be the one she leans on if I am struggling?” She sat on the edge of her bed, and just stared at the powder-blue wall because that was how she was feeling; blue. As she was sitting there, something said, it will all make sense. She broke her stare and looked to see if her sister, Mom, or Dad were in her room, but no one was there. Jessica then became a little puzzled, but she just thought it was her getting in her own head. She got up and went looking for her dad.
