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Love and Betrayal in Texas: A NOVEL ABOUT A TRUSTING WOMAN, HER LOVERS, CHILDREN, CONTROLLING PARENTS AND THEIR DEVASTATING SECRETS

by Connie Nanasy

344 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-1840; ISBN 1-4120-1462-X; US$24.12, C$31.12, EUR21.12, £14.12

An exciting suspense novel about a trusting woman, her loves and her controlling, influential parents who illegally steal and adopt her children. Why? Will their deep, destructive secrets be revealed?

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about the book      about the author      excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book Love and Betrayal in Texas, Connie Nanasy's recent suspense-filled novel will finally be in the hands of eager readers. This is storytelling at its highest degree with all of the elements that an exciting novel should have: love, hate, trust, suspense, Texas traditions of the '50s, out-of-control dysfunctional families, influential and controlling parents, kidnapping and custody trials, vivid settings in Texas, New York, Europe, the Wild West and California. The fascinating characters are all unforgettable. Laura adored her parents when she left for college. There, she began to spread her wings and gained a little independence, necessary because she was still Daddy's Little Girl. When she met Jim at the university, her life changed in ways she never imagined. They married and her beloved husband had an unfortunate fatal accident, partially due to her parents' sabotage. Though distraught, Laura and their two children began life again. Her father Will, an attorney, introduced her to his client Dr. Paul Duff, whom she later married. The doctor was accused of kidnapping his small son. After a series of strange and astonishing events, Laura was thrown into jail and her children were taken from her by her parents. Her life became a nightmare, and she had to find a way to get her children back. What were the secrets that caused these devastating events? Her once-loving parents feared to reveal their shocking past, which led to their destructive actions against their daughter. Would their daughter discover their reasons and could she ever forgive them? Books can be ordered through Trafford and most of the large book stores, including Borders and Barnes and Noble.

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About the Author Connie Nanasy, author of "Roamin' Around Planet Earth," a travel adventure book based on travels in 60 countries, was published in 1998. The long-awaited "Love and Betrayal in Texas", is Connie's first novel, published by Trafford. Also published were her memoirs "Growing Up in East Texas" and "Life, Laughs, and Love." A versatile person, Connie taught 20 years as an instrumental and vocal music educator. She is a pianist, artist and writer and has won multiple awards for her short stories and articles. Connie is president of the Professional Writers' League of Long Beach and a member of Southern CA Writers Association and Writers' Workshop West. Her writings have been published in papers and magazines throughout the area, including Cam News, the largest Cambodian news magazine in the U.S.A. She has had numerous signings and interviews for paper and television. She resides in Lakewood California with her husband Emery.

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Excerpts

Chapter Nine

After Paul was released from jail, he and Laura caught a plane to the state capital for the hearing. Near the small Austin airport, they rented a car and headed downtown.

"For crying out loud! There's the Texas Capitol, Laura," Paul said. "That's where the deposition will be held."

"I see. It looks imposing as well as threatening. Tell me again what the hearing means."

"After the attorneys hear my testimony, the results of the hearing will tell us whether or not I will be extradited for a kidnapping trial in New York."

"Oh," Laura said softly.

The gloom of late winter matched their moods. The wide oak trees had lost their autumn leaves, and as they breathed, the biting air rolled out of their mouths.

On the day of the hearing, the cold clear weather changed into threatening rain clouds. "I never knew Austin could be so cold, Paul." Laura shivered as she zipped up her heavy down jacket. Dead leaves crackled under their feet while they weaved their way to the Capitol.

At the entrance, dozens of photographers and news reporters from different states milled around on the steps, waiting to bombard them with questions.

The trial of a cardiac surgeon kidnapping his young child-unique in the '50s-plus the story of a father jailing his daughter attracted national media attention.

America empathized with Laura and Paul. They had become America's sweethearts of radio, TV and newspapers. Recognizing distinguished Paul and young, friendly Laura, the correspondents rushed up, snapped their pictures, and pressed in closer, trying to get an interview.

Paul waved the reporters away with, "No comment."

"Excuse us." Laura shook her head wearily. "It's time to go inside for my husband's deposition."

Weakened by the incarceration and the loss of her children, Laura had to be helped as she wearily proceeded up the capitol stairs, to the inside of the domed building.

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They were led to an enormous rectangular room that contained a long, highly polished table, almost the length of the room. Almost every available chair was filled with counselors, who would hear Paul's testimony, except for two reserved seats for Paul and Laura. As they waited for the clock hands to roll around to 10:00 AM, they found their assigned seats.

Laura cast furtive glances toward the seated men, whose eyes were on her-the only woman except for the ubiquitous female court stenographer.

"Paul, who are all these people?"

"Interested lawyers and politicians from Texas," Paul replied.

"Thank goodness those newsmen aren't allowed in here. You need the quiet to be able to concentrate on your testimony. Good luck, honey."

"Thanks. I may need it." He replied, tapping his index finger on a pad of paper.

Paul faced his adversaries and gave his oral statements. This covered aspects of his original child custody battle, plus testimony about the kidnapping.

Paul's voice sounded calm, but Laura noticed him fiddling with his eyeglasses on the table. She sat quietly by his side, and his West Texas attorney sat on his other side.

After some grueling questions about why Paul took Peter, the deposition was finally finished. "Those were the longest two hours I've ever been through," Paul confessed. "Now we have to sit tight and wait for their decision. I wonder how long it will take."

"I wish I knew." Laura stood up to leave.

Surely, Paul won't be extradited to New York, she thought.

Jacob's optimistic words rang in her ears, haunting her. "Paul, you shouldn't have any trouble taking Peter."

At the opposite end of the room, Laura noticed a small, older man standing, using a cane and wearing a gray fedora and overcoat. Texas attorneys frequently wore cowboy hats, but not her dad. He liked to run his fingers down the center of his hat, so its crease would be perfect.

"Paul, look, there's Daddy." Laura pointed, whispering in a barely audible voice. The man stared at her.

"You must be mistaken, sweetheart. He has no reason to be here." Paul kept organizing his papers on the table.

"I know, but he has a lot of political pull because of his friendship with Lyndon Baines Johnson. L.B.J. is so popular and powerful in politics, he'll probably be president one day."

Walking out of the large room, Laura turned to point out the frail old man again, but he had disappeared.

Paul glanced around. "I doubt that you saw your dad."

"I'm not imagining things." Laura was amazed and nervous. "Why is he here?"

"I don't know, darling. You're just upset."

The paparazzi swarmed around them, clicking their camera shutters. "Dr. Duff, how do you feel now that the deposition is over?"

The reporters hounded them, hoping for a new angle on Dr. Duff's story, in time to meet their daily deadline.

"I can only hope I won't have to stand trial in New York."

"Mrs. Duff, what do you think about all of this?"

"The same as I said before. Whatever happens, I'm by my husband's side all the way." Laura held tightly to Paul's arm.

"Why do you think you have been accused of kidnapping, Dr. Duff? That term is not usually meant to include a father who has taken his own son."

"That's true. My ex-wife wouldn't let me see my son," Paul said. "I had no other choice but to take him from New York and bring him to Texas to obtain custody."

"I see, but didn't you have custody of him in Texas at one time?"

"I certainly did. At one point, my ex-wife had custody in New York and I did in Texas. You know there is no reciprocity between the laws of New York and Texas."

"Please, let me answer," Laura hesitated and then chimed in. "A lot of legal funny business happened in the Texas courts that caused my husband to lose Peter. It is rare that an appellate court reverses a child custody decision made in the lower court. When the appeals court overturned the custody decision, my husband Dr. Duff was forced to return his son to his former wife. Then my husband had to take his son again. It is that simple.

We think my dad Will Jordan, formerly my husband's attorney in East Texas, was responsible for the appellate court's reversal of the lower court's ruling," Laura added, almost in a whisper. "Custody was suddenly turned over to my husband's ex-wife again."

Reporters looked surprised, and hastily jotted down notes. "Let me get this straight, Mrs. Duff. Are you blaming your dad for part of what has happened to you and Dr. Duff?"

"Yes, I hate to say it, but we strongly believe that my father was responsible for the custody reversal that led to the kidnapping-if you must call it that. I can't say more now. It has been an exhausting day. Please excuse us."

"That's all, boys." The news reporters appeared satisfied with the story's newest angle and scurried to their offices with their report for the evening news.

Walking down the stairs of the Capitol, Laura couldn't forget the little man who disappeared. Was she wrong about his identity?

On the Capitol grounds, Laura's eyes searched the area. In the distance, she saw the same man she had seen inside, supporting himself with a cane. He stared toward her and moved his fedora the same way her dad did whenever he waved goodbye. Laura's natural instinct was to run to him. Daddy was waving at her. For all she knew, it might be his final farewell. She yearned to hear his voice once more.

Oh Daddy, I don't know why, but I still love you. Her eyes stung with tears, welling up from the core of her soul. Her teardrops spilled onto the ground.

Laura raised her hand as if to wave a last goodbye. Then she fainted.

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Catalogue Information

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