Tortue du Soleil (eBook)

S.E. Filomeo (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
300 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-9927507-1-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Tortue du Soleil is women's fiction that tells the story of three women, Maia, Amélie, and Cassandra, whose paths cross at the beautiful and serene Hotel Tortue du Soleil in French Polynesia. Each of the women is drawn to the hotel for a different reason and are thrown together by circumstance and happenstance as they strive for acceptance, independence, and love. The three ladies ultimately embark on life-changing adventures when faced with the threat of tsunami against the backdrop of the extraordinary landscape and gracious culture of French Polynesia. Maia, a young woman from the Marquesan Islands, goes to the Hotel Tortue du Soleil to find work in the hopes of building a fashion design name for herself, but becomes distracted by the attention of the handsome dive master who is inclined to keep secrets about himself. Amélie, an orphan raised in a French convent, leaves her reticent lover for the retreat in the hopes that he will follow her to fulfill her dream of starting a real family together, but loses interest, as she, too, becomes acquainted with the congenial dive master. Cassandra, a socialite from California, chooses the destination because she is determined to make her philandering politician husband appreciate her again, until she also becomes obsessed by the charismatic dive master.

S. E. Filomeo lives on her family cherry farm in the Central Valley of California, and teaches at her local high school. She is also contributor to several women's and gardening magazines, where she waxes witty about her personal experiences with gardening and cooking, her chickens and ducks, Baby Doll sheep, two Border Collies, Sapphire the Cat, and Sunny the African Sulcata tortoise, as well as life in general.

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Tortue du Soleil tells the story of three women, Maia, Amelie, and Cassandra, whose paths cross at the beautiful and serene Hotel Tortue du Soleil in French Polynesia. Each of the women is drawn to the hotel for a different reason. The three women embark on life-changing adventures when faced with the threat of tsunami against the backdrop of the extraordinary landscape and gracious culture of French Polynesia. Maia is a young Polynesian woman from the Marquesas who is determined to save enough money, working her way to Paris where her goal is to make her debut in the world of fashion design. Just as she settles into her new job at the resort and begins to show her sophisticated skill by displaying some of her dresses in the hotel boutique, she is distracted by the handsome, charismatic dive master, Rene. As they begin to form a relationship, Maia is torn between her aspirations for a career and her attraction for Rene, who is wont to keep certain things about his background unrevealed. The impending tsunami ultimately throws them together on a desert island where they learn to face the truth about their relationship. Amelie, having been dropped off as an infant on the doorstep of a French convent to be reared by nuns, struggles with her identity in the absence of family. At fifteen, she comes to the attention of the landlord when the convent is destroyed by a flood. Monsieur Dubois takes her in and a few years later reveals his affection for her, whereby they begin a relationship. However, Monsieur Dubois wrestles with his love for Amelie and his doubts about her birth status. But Amelie, affected by her less than stable childhood, will settle for nothing less than marriage and children and so, goes off to the island retreat in the hopes that Monsieur will follow and fulfill her dreams. She also develops a relationship with Rene, the dive master, but of another sort, as she realizes a love for the islands and her own independence. When fashion blogger and social media influencer, Cassandra Graystone, catches her philandering husband in an affair, he promises to take her on a vacation to work on their marriage. But her husband, California Rep. Alan Graystone, spends more time making deals on his phone than romancing his wife, until she also happens upon the handsome Rene. Cassandra then becomes consumed with attracting the charismatic dive master's attention until the threat of tsunami sends her and her husband to the romantic, magical island of Mo'orea. Here, away from all worldly distractions, they finally begin to build the relationship for which Cassandra endeavored. But when the vacation comes to an end and they are on their way home, little do either of them realize the lasting repercussions the islands will have on their lives.

Textauszug

CHAPTER TWO

Cassandra

She was awake when Alan came in. She’d spent the evening propped up in bed watching the island news and some silly game show on French television. She had tried to read the inane romance on her iPad again but just couldn’t get into it. She’d taken a Xanax to help her relax and ease her discomfort, but it seemed she was doomed to this deplorable state of affairs. Everything had been perfectly arranged, and although they had gotten off to a rocky start, it was beginning to come together. From their romantic walk on the beach to Alan going for ice to chill the champagne, the magic of the island was beginning to work.

A thought from Robert Burns came to mind—The best laid schemes of mice and men; Go often askew; And leave us nothing but grief and pain. Well, it certainly seemed true in this case. And she couldn’t blame Alan. Although she had no idea what he’d done all evening, she really couldn’t expect him to just sit around here while she lay in bed moaning in pain. She did know that he’d been in the bar because he was pretty drunk when he came back. And, he was soaking wet from the downpour. She’d been lying on her stomach with her head propped up on her palms, looking out at the lagoon, as the sky turned black. The wind had picked up and had begun to thrash the thatched roof of the bungalow, sending little bits of pandanus down onto the bed.

And here she was this morning, lying on the deck with the chaise pulled over out of the hot morning sun, waiting for Alan to stir. He was still lying on his back, snoring fitfully, one arm stretched out over the bed and the hand of the other protecting his not-so-private assets. And she loved him. She had given her heart to him the moment they first met. He was a country boy, born and bred on the family ranch in the Sonoma Valley, and she was a San Fernando Valley girl, raised in the lap of California shopping, fashion, beaches, and movie stars. They were attending Whittier, he a fourth-year law student and she a liberal arts major. Their meeting was as mundane and common as being introduced by friends at a party. But for Cassandra, it was love at first sight. And she knew that Alan had felt the same way. The problem was, something had happened to the fire she was positive they shared in those early days, and she didn’t know how to get it back—or if Alan even wanted to try.

She lamented for the hundredth time that she had been so foolish as to fall asleep in the intransigent, equatorial sun. She would now be stuck here in the bungalow for days, as she couldn’t even imagine putting on any clothes and would have to stay as far away from the sun as possible. No island tours, no motu picnics, no scooter rides to the village, and no more romantic walks on the beach. And no sex. Cassandra despaired of rekindling the flame of their early relationship.

Alan was finally awake. He’d taken a shower and came out to sit on the other chaise. “How are you feeling today? Do you need me to put some more stuff on your back?”

“No, I’m okay for now. Maybe later.” She was studying a pair of seabirds on the horizon and finally glancing up at him, she inquired, “How are you feeling?”

He shrugged and ran a hand over his wet hair. “Okay, I guess. It didn’t seem like I drank that much. Probably a combination of the heat and no dinner last night.”

She looked down at her French-manicured toes. It was her fault, of course. Had she not been so stupid yesterday, they would have had a romantic dinner in the restaurant, complete with a nice bottle of wine, the ocean breeze weaving the island magic around them...

“Alan, I am so sorry. I wanted this to be so special, and all I’ve done is make a mess of things.”

“No, no. I fell asleep, too. We were just exhausted. Look, let’s just take it easy and enjoy our vacation the best we can. You’ll be fine in a couple of days and we’ll have plenty of time to go on some outings.” He stood up, and his tone became almost jaunty. “What do you say I go up to the restaurant buffet and pile up a couple of plates with some greasy American breakfast and bring it back here for us to enjoy on our private deck?”

Cassandra smiled at him now, remembering again why she had fallen in love with him. At times he could be so distant, yet other times so personable. She started to sit up, but as she winced aloud at the pain, he told her to just relax, he would be back in a flash.

It took him longer than that, though, as he had to juggle two plates, one piled high with bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, and fried potatoes and the other stacked with fresh fruit and French pastries. They spent the day in affable conversation and reading, moving from the deck to the bed and back again. Alan had agreed to turn off his phone for the sake of working on their relationship, but they had agreed that he should take an hour a day to check in and take care of business.

When he stepped out onto the deck and switched it on, the message alert announced several missed calls. Cassandra was resting on the bed on her stomach, her iPad displaying the novel on the bed in front of her. She glanced up in his direction, smiled benignly, and looked back at her iPad. But not before she had seen his face. She knew, and her heart sank.

Alan’s business hour stretched into two and then three, and before he finally switched off his phone, the afternoon was gone. They were sitting on the deck in silence, watching the fiery sun melt into the lagoon. It had to be one of the most magnificent sunsets either one of them had ever seen, but there was a cloud of contention between them, so they could not share it.

Cassandra was positive it was her fault. She was sure that if she hadn’t been handicapped, he would not have taken advantage of the time. And just like Alan, he tried to lighten the situation by suggesting they order room service for dinner. But Cassandra had more to chew on than just his overlong phone session. She pleaded a headache brought on by the sunburn and told him she just wanted to go to bed early.

And once again, Alan was left to his own devices. While Cassandra made herself as comfortable as possible in the bed, he went into the bathroom, ran a comb through his hair and checked his teeth in the mirror. He stood by the open door for a moment, and seemingly at a loss for a good exit remark, he stepped outside and closed it.

Ah yes, there she was. Maia. The woman with the fairy eyes. She was talking to a couple seated near the patio as Alan walked in and sat in the same seat at the bar as the night before. He waited patiently until she made her way back behind the bar.

“Bonsoir, Monsieur,” she greeted him pleasantly, “What can I get for you this evening? You will have the Scotch and water, yes?”

“Ah, Maia, you remembered. Actually, I think I’ll just have a Heineken this evening. I’m afraid I behaved rather badly last night.”

“Yes, of course, Monsieur.” She smiled knowingly and went to the cold box to pull out a beer, pop it open, and set it on the coaster in front of him. She picked up her pen and pad. “Your room number?”

Alan expected that after he gave her his room number, she would be off to cut up pineapples or something, and he would be left trying to think up ways to get her attention again. So he was pleasantly surprised when she stayed planted in front of him.

“Monsieur, your wife, she is not feeling well? I have not seen her with you.”

“As a matter of fact, Maia, my wife is not feeling well. She was out in the sun too long yesterday and is now suffering from a pretty bad sunburn.”

“Ah yes, so many people come to the islands unprepared for the sun. It is so common,” she sympathized. “But I know the perfect thing to help her heal. It is oil made from the fruit of the tamanu tree. Her sunburn will be gone in one day and her skin will be nice and tan.”

“Wow, and where do I find this ta...ahh...tam-something oil?” Another couple came in and sat on the other side of the bar, and so she excused herself to go wait on them. He was glad she seemed friendlier tonight, since he didn’t want to keep ordering and slurping drinks as conversation starters.

She was back and standing directly in front of him, her bare arms akimbo. “How long is your stay on Rangiroa, Monsieur?”

“Now, Maia, you must call me Alan.”

“How long is your stay on Rangiroa, Monsieur Alan?”

Alan couldn’t believe his good fortune. Was she starting to warm up to him? Not that he wasn’t used to flirtatious behavior from women, but last night... Something had definitely changed.

He leaned forward and bestowed his most irresistible smile on her. “I’m thinking of staying forever.”

Hesitating for just a moment, she crossed her arms on the bar directly in front of him and flashed him a seductive look. “Okay, plenty time massage. You like me make appointment?”

Holy shit! This was moving pretty fast now! And, he was finding her slightly broken English very arousing. Alan leaned closer and put his arms on the bar next to hers. Giving her a suggestive wink, he grinned, “What about tonight when you get off?”

“But your wife, she awake so late?”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t matter now, does it?”

Maia pulled her arms off the bar, and with one hand on her cocked hip and the other...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 30.9.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• ISBN-13: 979-8-9927507-1-3 / 9798992750713