Green Stone Ring Read online

  Green Stone Ring

  Book One from the series Forever Friends

  Novel by

  Karleen Staible

  Copyright © 2017 Karleen Staible

  www.kssnovels.com

  www.facebook.com/KSSNovels

  [email protected]

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-13: 978-1546357858

  ISBN-10: 1546357858

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank my friends and family who have encouraged me to pursue a writing career. Especially my mother and sister, who faithfully read the first draft to the end, even though it needed some work. And a big thanks to my two friends Jeanne and Claire. They both pushed me, back in 2010, to start writing, encouraged me to finish my first book, and then took the time to read it, critique it, and congratulate me for my efforts.

  Then I found Margaret Diehl. She not only made corrections, but mentored me to open my mind to make the book much stronger and easier to read.

  And a grateful thank you to Nancy for her hands-on lobbyist information, and what part these people play in our country’s politics.

  Of course, I couldn’t have accomplished my mission without the understanding of my husband and his tolerance when I go into “project mode.” He lovingly supports all that I do.

  Prelude

  Franco was going away again for at least three more months, and probably more, just like the last time. Oh, sure, he was very attentive at first, calling nearly every night, then once a week, but before he came back, nothing. Gini wasn’t certain how long it would be this time from the way he talked. He said he had missed her as much as she missed him, but if that were true, how could he leave her again?

  Her new job was exciting and keeping her busy—filling some of the lonely hours. And it had been great the last two weeks with him there to do the cooking, cleaning, and laundry, while she set up all her contact spreadsheets. She loved being wrapped in his arms when she was so tired she could hardly move. Waking in the morning with him by her side was what she always wanted to feel—that happy feeling of being in love.

  Two days, that’s all she had with him before he left again. Back to that loneliness, that awful, awful quiet in the house. The endless decision on what to fix for dinner—dinner for one. How could he leave her again? Didn’t he long to be with her all the time as she did him?

  She could go to China with him, but she really didn’t see much more of him when they were there together. He was dedicated to his work. Determined to make life better for so many deprived people out in the middle of nowhere. How could she fault him for that? Oh… what should she do?

  “What is it, babe?” Franco wrapped his arms around her from the back. “You look deep in thought.”

  “I’m just thinking about being here alone again.” She turned around and squeezed him tight. “Except for the three weeks you went to China in college, we hadn’t been apart for more than a few hours, let alone a few months, since we were in grade school, and now you’re leaving once more.”

  “Just three for sure this time, maybe not even that long. I just need to get the project started now that I have everything in place, then I’ll go to Shijiazhuang and find us an apartment so you can come over when you want to.”

  She pulled away from him and went to the breakfast bar, not sure how to say she didn’t want to go to China. “I’m getting pretty busy with Catherine. She wants me in Washington, DC, next week. I think my life is in for a really fun ride with her.”

  “See.” He reached over and took her hand, pulling her back to him. “We’d be apart anyway.”

  She giggled when he tickled her in that spot below her ribs on her right side he knew would get her going. “Oh, Franco, stop,” she pleaded, laughing, and pushed at his hands. “I’m not going to miss that.”

  He loved her deep dimples and the way her big blue eyes lit up when she laughed. He wrapped her tight in his arms.

  “And now, you’re going to squeeze me to death? You don’t know your own strength.” She groaned, pushing back.

  He stood back abruptly and flexed his arms. The bicep muscles hardened and rose up. “Strong to protect my woman.”

  “Hahaha, you are aware, you’re not so scary.”

  “Excuse me, I’m the great Franco Legotti, feared by all.”

  “You’re not.” Her voice rose at the end. She turned away from him again. “It’s just I have to take care of everything now.”

  “Well, not completely. I have an accountant to take care of our finances.”

  “I know, I have a meeting with him on Monday, remember?”

  “And I now have a lawyer. If you need anything and can’t contact me, you call him for help.”

  “Help? Really?” She could certainly take care of herself; she knew that now after the last four months of being by herself. But she hadn’t gotten married to be a single wife.

  “Okay… never mind.” He gave her a quick peck on her cheek. “If you want me to set up the monthly bills to be automatically paid by credit card, I can do that.” He grabbed her into his arms again.

  “I’ve already taken care of that.”

  “Such a brilliant, lovable woman. Before you know it, Virginia Anderson will be known in the world of politics.”

  “Not just in politics, but the country when I’m president of the United States. It’s okay with you that I didn’t take your name for my professional stuff?” She giggled again. “Mr. Franco Legotti, First Man of the United States.”

  “I’d take the position proudly, and yes, I’m okay with you not taking my name. It’s not my lineage name, anyway. Legotti was one of my mom’s husbands. Never met the man or knew my father.”

  She gave him that mischievous look of hers and went to her knees, squeezing tight around his legs. “Don’t leave me!” Her statement was part in fun and part for real.

  He went down to her and lifted her face with his hand—their eyes locked.

  She didn’t want to think about the loneliness without him and the constant worry about their marriage. She knew of others who couldn’t handle long-distance relationships. Was her lack of interest in what he was doing over there making him have questions? He had to know how much she loved him. Would they survive as a family?

  Her fears lessened when his big hands encircled her face.

  She needed to push away her uncertainty. He loved her.

  Her eyes had that heavy-lidded look and her breaths deepened as he surrounded her lips with his, and then he slowly laid both of them down on the floor.

  Chapter 1 – Friends

  Backstory

  Virginia (Gini) Elizabeth Anderson was the youngest of five children in the blended family of Thomas John and Elizabeth Rossi Anderson. She was petite, lovable, and the apple of her mother’s eye.

  Elizabeth Rossi had lived in the Italian neighborhood on the east side of Sacramento all her life. When she was young, the neighborhood had been full of life and children. But the years had taken their toll on the community, and it had turned into an area of older houses and elderly people. There were a few nice homes that had been kept up, but most of it could have been easily made into a tear-down area.

  Elizabeth had learned from her mother how to make delicious pastries and was known for her friendliness and good cooking. The once-vibrant stores in the neighborhood shopping area where she worked at the bakery and a couple of the restaurants had been boarded up one by one, leaving only two or three to survive.

  She had lived in the family home her whole life. Unmarried, she had stayed to take care of her parents until they died, when she inherited the house. An older gentleman, Tom, started frequenting the restaurant where she worked. He was pleasant, and they talked a lot, mostly about his family.
He had married young and had two sons, Thomas and Larry. That marriage hadn’t worked out, and the boys left to be raised by their mother. He had little contact with them until they were older, when he began to teach them his trade, cabinetmaking. He had thought he would be alone the rest of his life and was surprised to meet a woman with whom he immediately fell in love. They married and had a daughter named Cindy. When Cindy was ten, her mother died. Both she and her dad were devastated. Tom had tried his best to raise Cindy, but he had to work long hours to make a living. Cindy became rebellious and started running with the wrong crowd in high school. He had been troubled about the situation.

  Elizabeth—in her forties at the time—had told him about her love for children and how she had wanted a big family, but she knew that wouldn’t happen. After a few weeks, she had invited him to bring Cindy with him for dinner at her house. Although Cindy had no interest in going on a date with her dad, he told her she could leave when she wanted; he just wanted her to go eat the delicious meal he knew Elizabeth would prepare.

  That night, to Cindy, the house was warm and comforting, and as much as she had not wanted to like Elizabeth, she did. There was a gentle easiness about her that made Cindy want to hear Elizabeth’s stories about the old neighborhood and all the kids. Cindy had been moody all night but ended up staying and left with her father.

  A few months later, Tom and Elizabeth married, and Cindy moved into her new home. It was a struggle the first year. Cindy had refused to accept a new mother, and Tom and Elizabeth spent many hours at the high school trying to get Cindy on the right track. By her junior year, Cindy had turned her life around, and she was thrilled to find out she was going to be a big sister.

  At the age of forty-three, Elizabeth had been blessed with a son, Dwayne. He was a cute little boy, always wanting to be in his mother’s arms. But he had a rude awakening when his mom and dad brought home a baby girl when he was only twenty months. Now, she got the love and affection that was once only for him, and he didn’t want to share.

  Gini was an adorable child, born with a full head of dark curls, big blue eyes, and dimples that swallowed her cheeks when she smiled. Elizabeth, Tom, and Cindy always wanted to hold her. Cindy immediately took to the new baby, becoming almost like her second mother.

  Thomas and Larry started coming around on Sundays for dinner. Elizabeth had the family she had dreamed of all those years.

  The two older brothers were strange and somewhat mean, especially to Dwayne, constantly picking on him. They had shown little respect to Elizabeth or Cindy. But Elizabeth had been happy to have them visit because she saw the happiness on Tom’s face when he showed them new tools or techniques.

  Gini would cuddle close to her dad every chance she had and look up at him with those eyes—her skin was so fair and soft it looked like china. Tom had been powerless to say no to any of her requests. Although Elizabeth had given the same love and guidance to both of her children, Dwayne always felt somehow slighted.

  More and more of the older people died, and a few younger families moved into the homes. Gini was the dimpled darling of the neighborhood, always bringing other children to their house. Elizabeth had welcomed them all, giving them homemade goodies and playing games with them.

  Dwayne was able to get his needed attention if he acted out, picking on Gini or getting in fights with other boys. Tom had found it much easier to parent Gini but spent as much time with Dwayne as he could, trying to teach him to work with his hands so he could make a living when he was grown.

  The elementary school had small classes and few students. Gini’s birthday was the end of October, but the school had allowed her to start kindergarten when she was four. It had taken no time for everyone to recognize how intelligent she was. The second and third grades were a combined class. After going in as a second-grader, she had skipped right over third grade straight to the fourth, making her the youngest in her class by far. With that, she had jumped to only one grade behind Dwayne, which further troubled him. Needless to say, he and his sister had never been close; in fact, he cared little for any of his siblings, whole or half.

  Gini’s mother would take in kids like other families took in stray animals. If they had followed Gini or Dwayne home, she would invite them in, feed them, entertain them, make sure they did their homework, and send them home before dark. Everyone in the neighborhood—kids and adults—loved Elizabeth Anderson.

  The same year Gini entered the fourth grade, Cindy married and had a child of her own.

  Franco Raul Legotti’s mother had never been able to control him. He had been a colicky baby, and she never got any sleep. Once he was mobile, she just let him do as he pleased. She hadn’t had the energy to keep up with him.

  They lived on the edge of the neighborhood, on one of the busy main streets through the area. Because of his darker skin, many thought he was Mexican. Maybe he was, partly; his mother had never talked about his father, and he had never known him, but he knew his mom and grandmother were full-blood Italian.

  By the age of six, he was a street kid, and he skipped school often and was constantly getting into fights.

  Mama Elizabeth had been walking home from church one evening when she found him sitting on the curb. His clothes were torn and dirty, and blood streamed out of his nose.

  She knelt next to him. “What’s your name?”

  He looked up at her. His face was streaked with dirty tears. “Leave me alone!”

  “I have some freshly baked goods at my house. You look like you could use a good cookie.”

  “Lady, I said leave me alone!”

  Mama took his hand, pulled him up, and they went to the Anderson house.

  She fed him and cleaned him up. Dwayne’s clothes were way too big for Franco, but they had cinched up the waist with his belt. She took him home and talked to his mom and grandma. Although they had both said the right things, Mama could tell that neither of them cared what he did. It became her mission to get him straightened out, although it wasn’t an easy or quick task. She knew it would take time for her to gain his trust.

  One day she had been late leaving to walk to the grade school to get Gini. When she saw her walking and talking with Franco, her first instinct had been fear. He was a tough kid. What was he doing with her daughter? But Gini was her usual girly self and had jumped and then twirled around, challenging him to do the same. Elizabeth stopped and watched. He stood looking at the funny little girl with his arms folded across his body.

  “Come on, it will make you feel free. Just jump and twirl.” She made the movements again.

  Much to Elizabeth’s surprise, Franco also jumped, twirled, and fell to the ground, rolling down the small hill. Gini laughed and giggled, and then she did the same, landing next to him in a sitting position.

  Elizabeth smiled when she met up with the two children. She took hold of both of their hands and walked them to her house. On the way, the two talked about the book they had read that day and the tough spelling words.

  Gini suddenly jumped in front, facing her mom and Franco, halting the walk.

  “Consequences,” she said.

  Franco quickly rattled off the correct spelling.

  “Yes, yes,” Gini said with glee, twirling around before taking her mother’s hand again.

  Elizabeth realized there was no need for fear—Franco was looking for a friend, and she believed he had found one—a good one.

  Franco had only been to the Andersons’ a couple of times since that night Mama found him bloodied: once after following Dwayne home and promptly getting into a fistfight in the front yard, and then another time when Elizabeth had seen him when she was walking Gini home from school.

  He and Gini were in the same class, and he watched her play with all her friends, with some envy. He only went to school on the days he chose but started wanting to go more and more. Okay, maybe he liked learning, but he didn’t want anyone to know that; it would make him look like a sissy to the older boys. Still, he wanted to g
o to see the cute little girl, and hopefully go to her house again.

  When he started going to the Anderson house on a regular basis, there was a rivalry between him and Dwayne. Dwayne had been the tough guy on the block, and later the star athlete. Franco had encroached on his territory. They were always fighting. Mama and Pop would only step in if they thought the two were going to seriously hurt one another. There had been several bloody noses and blackened eyes over the first few years.

  Pop tried to be involved with the children and teach Franco and Dwayne to wrestle rather than fistfight. But he was twenty years Elizabeth’s senior, and he had less energy as each year passed.

  The bond between Gini and Franco had become genuine. She was fun to be with, and they could whip right through their homework together. But he still had had the restlessness within him. He had to somehow prove he was his own man, and the only way to do that was to be tough and show the world he was the best and not someone to mess with. The only time he hadn’t felt that way was when he was with Gini. Then he wanted to protect her.

  Gini, always a girl, loved to challenge Franco. They each tried to outdo the other in math and spelling. But he made her angry—or sad—when he acted macho, trying to compete with the gang of boys that roamed the streets near where he lived. She had never been allowed to go to his house unless Elizabeth was with them. It was a tough neighborhood, and Gini knew it, but she knew even without Mama, she would always be safe there with him.

  It was pretty clear to everyone by the time Gini and Franco had entered high school—they were a couple. You almost never saw one without the other. He absolutely adored her and her family. She admired his strength—not only the strength of his body but his success in overcoming the desire to be in a gang.

  “Hahaha, look at the nerd!” someone shouted across the high school room where the political science club met after school.