House of Miracles

HOUSE OF MIRACLES – LIPSTICK & DANGER BOOK 1 Copyright © 2023 - Tierney James Cover Design by Sweet ’N Spicy Designs All cover art copyright © 2023 – Tierney James All Rights Reserved This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, businesses, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. The publisher does not have any control over or assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their contents. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Anyone pirating our eBooks will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and may be liable for each individual download resulting therefrom. Cover Design – Jaycee DeLorenzo Publishing Coordinator – Sharon Kizziah-Holmes Paperback-Pressan imprint of Paperback Press, LLC Dedication This book is dedicated to all those who serve children that have nothing. They are the true angels that walk among us as they spread hope and goodwill. TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication Chapter 1 Three weeks earlier Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Six months later About Tierney James Other Publications by Tierney James Chapter 1 Don’t look down,” he yelled. “Grab my hand. I’ll pull you up!” Meredith sobbed as she disobeyed and stole a glance down the face of the cliff to the waves crashing against the rocks below. “I can’t.” She clung to the two protruding rocks the size of a softball, a foot apart. They were sharp and wet. Clinging to them, her body smashed against the rugged face of the cliff. The rain and wind intensified just as a crash of lightning forced a scream to escape from deep inside her. “Meredith, it’s now or never. Trust me.” He reached down farther than he should have, his body extended over the edge. If she reached up, she would have to release her grip on the protruding rock. This would unsteady her body. “Meredith!” As she opened her mouth, a blast of rain slammed into her face like tiny razor blades. All she could do was nod and wiggle her fingers in hopes of tightening her grip. In slow motion, she eased one hand free, only to slip and grab her safety rock once more. With her head resting against the rocky surface, she could hear his encouragement, edged with desperation. “Remember. Take a deep breath. Visualize rocking those babies at the orphanage. They need you, Meredith. I need you. Together we can make this a better world. Trust me. Just this once.” This time she lunged for his hand and felt it close around her wrist. With the sudden movement, her feet slipped off the ledge and her body dangled in the wind with nothing but his grip keeping her from a painful death on the jagged rocks below. She glanced up at his face, barely visible through the pounding rain, and thought she saw him smile. In that moment, Meredith realized this wasn’t what she’d planned in the way of adventure or an escape to a new life. With the newfound determination, she used her free hand to catch hold of his arm. What was she thinking coming here? In that perilous moment, she remembered. ~ ~ ~ ~ Three weeks earlier Meredith gripped the armrests of the small engine plane carrying ten passengers. It bounced again, causing her to gasp. “Almost out of the turbulence, folks. Nothing to worry about. We’re beginning our descent. Be sure you’re buckled,” came the voice over the intercom. She fussed with her already fastened seat belt. She tried to tighten it farther, without success. A nun sitting next to her had been praying and saying her rosary for a half hour. The last turbulence bump caused the nun to yelp then slam her hand down onto Meredith’s leg with the grip of a champion wrestler. The name of Jesus slipped out several times, but she was pretty sure it was a plea to be saved from a watery death over the Caribbean Sea. Meredith patted the woman’s hand, more to calm herself down than the good sister. The plane landed outside the small mountain community of Turtle Bay, that edged the sea, without incident after leaving Phillip Goldson International Airport. Six others disembarked, looking as if they’d been working on a tan rather than going to work every day like herself. The honeymooners pawed at each other at every opportunity and carried Gucci bags. She was maybe twenty years younger than the guy whose taut skin around his mouth and eyes announced he’d had work done on his face. His hands and arms hinted at his true age in spite of the firmness. “Hope he has a prenup,” the sister said softly, elbowing Meredith. “That’s not all he better have,” she added, making the sister laugh out loud. “That was inappropriate, Sister Elena. I’m sorry.” “No matter.” She waved her off as she struggled to rise from her seat and wiggle out into the aisle. By the time she’d accomplished the act,