The Journey Home Read online

  Table of Contents

  Praise

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  ONE - Bring the Sensation Closer

  TWO - Inches from Each Other

  THREE - Props

  FOUR - The First Problem Right There

  FIVE - Like Crazy

  SIX - Enmeshed in the Details

  SEVEN - Somewhat More Palpable

  EIGHT - Aromatics

  NINE - Getting to Delicious

  TEN - A Random Channel

  ELEVEN - The Other Ninety-five

  TWELVE - Curio

  THIRTEEN - Behind the Display

  FOURTEEN - Her Talented Assistant

  FIFTEEN - Closely Intertwined with the Taste

  SIXTEEN - The Other Side of the Glass

  SEVENTEEN - Tired

  EIGHTEEN - Running in the Red

  NINETEEN - Strangely Recognizable

  TWENTY - Squeezing Her So Tight

  TWENTY-ONE - More Feelers

  TWENTY-TWO - Bordering on Overpowering

  TWENTY-THREE - Something in Swahili

  TWENTY-FOUR - Right Here

  TWENTY-FIVE - Community Here

  A NOTE TO MY READERS

  Copyright Page

  Praise for Michael Baron’s

  When You Went Away:

  “Nicholas Sparks fans will rejoice to hear there’s a new male author on the scene who writes beautifully about love and emotionally charged relationships. Tears of sadness and joy go hand in hand in this immensely satisfying story. It’s hard to believe that this is Baron’s first work of fiction. Outstanding!”

  – Romantic Times Book Reviews

  “A gem. I couldn’t put it down. The characters are people I’d like to know.”

  – Peggy Webb, author of the Southern Cousins Mystery Series

  “Michael Baron writes with such depth that the emotions were tangible. It is rare that a talent like this comes along. This will be a classic. This is one to read and recommend.”

  – BookreviewsRus

  “Touching, tender and gentle, the moments between father and son in When You Went Away pull at the heartstrings and the tear ducts . . . an exceptional read, and one that makes me want to watch for more works by this author in the future.”

  – Freelancing and Fiction

  “Michael Baron creates an unforgettable tale. . . . I truly loved this story. It is so well-written that it’s hard to keep yourself separate from the fictional characters. I absolutely recommend this book and plan to read every other work written by this author. Triple-A reading!”

  – Fresh Fiction

  “More than a novel about grief and fatherhood; it’s a novel about being lost and the journey to find the right path.”

  – Savvy Verse & Wit

  “Simply breathtaking! When You Went Away is an exquisite literary nugget not to be missed!”

  – The Book Resort

  “When You Went Away is one of the best books I have ever read. I absolutely, 100%, loved this story. Michael Baron’s writing is amazing. When You Went Away is an absolutely beautiful story.”

  – Mom-Musings

  And for Crossing the Bridge:

  “Writing eloquently about life, death, loss and love, Baron has a firm grasp on human frailty. This emotional story is about a man coming to terms with his past and trying to figure out his future. Excellent!”

  – Romantic Times Book Reviews

  “I fell into this story and the depth of emotions the author carries throughout. . . . Mr. Baron touches my heart and soul with his book. Telling a romantic story from the male perspective is not only a unique one, but breathtaking as well. I am looking forward to putting this on my shelf and re-reading this for many years to come.”

  – Coffee Time Romance

  “A love story that tugs on your heart from page one. The characters came to life to the point I didn’t want the story to end. . . . The characters took on a real-life quality whereas they could have been my family and friends. I highly recommend this warm and touching love story.”

  – CMash Loves to Read

  “This novel is a slow, elegant glide; with a heart. I am pleased to say that it stole a place in my heart – as well as on my shelf. The settings, details and characters are beautiful created. If you enjoy romantic novels, this is one for you!”

  – Book Crazy

  “This book was very emotional and really made me feel for the characters. It was hard to put down because I was so involved with the story that I needed to find out what happened next. If you like love stories that will make you cry, this is certainly one for you to read.”

  – Confessions of an Overworked Mom

  “This was a masterpiece in character development stories with just enough intrigue and a few twists and catches to keep you reading without ever feeling like high action additions were vital. From the main characters to the minor ones to the extras, each character served a clear role in this book – they weren’t being mentioned just to be there. Baron has done well with this novel and I will certainly be looking forward to more from him in the future.”

  – A Good Addiction

  DEDICATION

  For my mother and father.

  Your journey inspires me.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  As always, I want to thank my wife and children for their encouragement, support, and occasional story ideas.

  Thanks to Baror International and The Story Plant for their energy and commitment.

  Thanks to Barbara Aronica-Buck for the beautiful cover and interior design.

  Thanks to Susan Elizabeth Phillips for the great comments and for acknowledging that men can write like this.

  Thanks to the numerous food magazines, websites, and television shows that have provided me entertainment for so long and have at last become “source material.” Gourmet, you are gone, but you will never be forgotten. Thanks too to those who have willingly tasted the dishes invented in this novel. Your cast-iron stomachs are an inspiration.

  Thanks to the Long Island towns that served as models for the places visited in this novel. I never thought I’d ever thank the Long Island Expressway (commonly known as “the world’s longest parking lot”), but it too deserves acknowledgment.

  I’d also like to thank the fans and bloggers who have written such encouraging things about When You Went Away and Crossing the Bridge. It is exponentially easier to write when people tell you that you’ve touched them.

  ONE

  Bring the Sensation Closer

  Joseph opened his eyes and nothing seemed familiar. He was lying on a couch – why was he lying down? – in a room he’d never seen before. It was a nice room, a beautiful room, actually, with warm colors and many homey touches, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that he’d never seen this room before.

  People were looking at him. Four, five, six people in different parts of the room, heads tipped toward him, eyes expressing concern and a hint of curiosity. He sat up quickly and felt light-headed, his vision swimming a bit, until he leaned back against the cushions.

  “Where . . .” he said, his voice sounding foreign to him.

  A woman perhaps in her late thirties approached him and put a hand on his arm. “Don’t exert yourself. You’ve been through a lot.”

  Joseph looked at the woman through eyes that were having trouble adjusting to the setting. “Where am I?”

  “This is our home,” a man with a thick black beard said from off to Joseph’s right. “We brought you inside.”

  “What happened to me?”

  The man shrugged and looked at some of the others in the room. “I can’t really say.”

  This was like a bad episode of The Tw
ilight Zone. Joseph leaned forward, feeling his head spinning again. When he stood, though, he felt surprisingly strong. Had he passed out on his way to – where had he been going before this happened? He couldn’t remember anything.

  “Thanks for your help,” he said, extending his hand to the man that had last spoken to him. “I’m feeling better now. I should get going.”

  Another woman, this one seemed to be in her mid-sixties, gestured with both hands for him to sit back down. “Give yourself a little time,” she said. “You look a little confused.”

  Joseph chuckled at that. “Well, yeah, you could say so. I don’t normally wake up surrounded by strangers.”

  “We’re safe, if you were worried about that,” the first woman said.

  It hadn’t dawned on Joseph to worry about his safety. He looked at the others in the room. He could tell that they posed no threat. In fact, they seemed pleased to have him around. Maybe they were always dragging people in off the street. Maybe this was just a normal day for them. This didn’t seem to have flustered them at all. If someone had passed out in front of his house, he would have been beside himself.

  “Dinner’s almost ready,” the older woman said. “Why don’t you have something to eat?”

  Now that Joseph thought about it, he was feeling a bit hungry. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten. This came as no surprise, since he couldn’t remember anything else, either. He tried to call some memory – any memory – to his mind, but it only gave him a headache.

  “Thanks. Yeah, that would be good.”

  While the others in the room moved around, Joseph sat back on the couch, trying to make sense of these incredibly strange circumstances. He looked out the window and saw that the sun was setting. Had he been running errands and gotten into some kind of accident? He tried to remember anything that had happened that day before he woke up here and he couldn’t. He truly couldn’t remember anything at all. He searched his pockets for clues, but they were empty. Did his hosts steal his wallet and his phone? They didn’t seem like the kind of people who would do that sort of thing, but how much did that really mean? Maybe this was all part of their scam. Make him feel that they cared about him, so that he’d never suspect them. Maybe he hadn’t passed out; maybe they’d knocked him out.

  He slumped, rubbing his temples. Closing his eyes, he tried to bring back anything to help him understand what he’d been through today. He didn’t feel pain anywhere on his body, so he couldn’t have experienced a physical trauma. So much for the people in this room – and it really was just the most comfortable-looking room – assaulting him in some way. However, he had to have been through something extremely traumatic to cause his memory to disappear so completely.

  Think, Joseph. Think.

  He stared at the nothingness behind his eyelids. Then, from the back of his mind, a sensation crept up slowly. It was sensual and very appealing. It drew him deeper into the couch, relaxing his muscles and soothing his confusion. This sensation had no form and it had no name. But it was definitely human, definitely female, and definitely intimate. Joseph tried to bring the sensation closer, but it eluded him. Whichever way his thoughts moved, the sensation seemed to stay equally far away. Still, he continued to chase it. This meant something, something important. He was certain that if he could find this feeling, his memory would follow.

  Slim fingers touched him lightly on the shoulder.

  “Dinner is ready, if you’d like to eat,” said a feminine voice.

  Whatever he’d been trailing disappeared completely. Frustrated, Joseph opened his eyes to see the woman who’d first spoken to him. “Thank you,” he said, rising again. His first step felt a bit awkward, but he made it to the dinner table without stumbling.

  The first bite of food was surprisingly delicious, and it felt as though he were tasting it with his entire body. Good food did that to him; this much he remembered. The meal was slow-cooked beef that had been simmered in a sauce that had cumin, cinnamon, and tomatoes. It probably meant something that he could pick out all of these flavors, but he couldn’t tell what it was. Salt-roasted potatoes and spinach sautéed with garlic completed the plate. Joseph had-n’t realized how hungry he was until he started eating. He took several bites before looking up at his table mates, instantly feeling self-conscious about this piggish display of appetite.

  “This is great,” he said, a little embarrassed. “My compliments to whoever made it.”

  “That would be Carmela,” one man said, gesturing toward a fortyish woman Joseph hadn’t noticed before. “We eat like this every night.”

  Joseph nodded toward Carmela. “Thank you. This is wonderful. If you feed everyone like this every night, they are very, very lucky.”

  It dawned on Joseph that he had no idea how to define this collection of people. There were six adults of various ages around the table. Some bore a vague resemblance to others, so they could be family. Was-n’t it strange for there to be this many adults gathered in one household, though? And no kids? Maybe all of them were out and about.

  Carmela thanked Joseph quietly for the compliment. From the soft tone of her voice, he understood why he hadn’t noticed her before. Carmela obviously did her speaking through her food. She even seemed to fade into her chair while she was eating.

  “I’m Ralph, by the way,” said the man sitting next to him, reaching out his hand. “I should have introduced myself earlier.”

  Joseph put down his fork to shake. “Joseph. I was a little out of sorts earlier, so I probably wouldn’t have caught your name even if you’d said it.”

  “Yeah, I understand. You’re looking better now, though. I guess you’re getting your legs under you.”

  Joseph did feel more solid, though he was still completely confused. “A little, I suppose. I’m still trying to figure out what happened. How did you say you found me?”

  “I found you,” said a woman on the other side of the table who appeared to be in her early thirties. “I’m Maggie. You were unconscious on the sidewalk. I had Ralph and Sal carry you in and put you on the couch.”

  Unconscious on the sidewalk? The image of a drunk passed out on the curb immediately sprung to mind. That was about as far from Joseph’s world as possible, though. Lost memory or not, he was certain about this. He had a glass of wine on occasion, but he hadn’t been on a binge since he was a kid.

  “This is all very odd,” Joseph said, looking down at his plate.

  Ralph leaned toward him. “You’ll figure it out. You can stay here with us until you do.”

  Joseph glanced sideways at Ralph and then around the table. They seemed to be waiting for him to respond. Who were these people? They didn’t seem strange or predatory to him in any way, but weren’t they a little too trusting? After all, even if they weren’t dangerous, how did they know that he wasn’t dangerous?

  “Thanks. That’s very kind of you.”

  Maybe he would stay here tonight. Then, in the morning, he’d try to figure out what was going on. It was entirely possible that a good night’s sleep would help bring his memory to him. Then he could head back toward . . .

  The sensation that he felt earlier on the couch came back to him. It hadn’t retreated as far as he thought it had. It had been there all along, but it had slipped back a little while he was eating and talking to others. For whatever reason, he now knew that this feeling was always there; he felt it the way he felt the air that surrounded him.

  My God, she’s probably worried out of her mind, Joseph thought as the sensation gained form in his mind. She has no idea what has happened to me – which makes two of us – and she’s probably calling everyone she knows. Frustratingly, he couldn’t give her a face or a name. He could feel her, but he could-n’t touch her. He knew that she was always with him and that she gave him a sense of permanence and support that he could never live without.

  He knew that he had to get back to her.

  Realizing that the conversation at the table had stopped while he dri
fted off, Joseph turned toward Ralph again.

  “Really, I appreciate it,” he said. “If you could put me up tonight, that would be great. I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to go out right now. But tomorrow morning I need to get back to my wife.”

  TWO

  Inches from Each Other

  “Come join us, Antoinette. You know you love the music.”

  The nurse had been insisting for minutes now, in spite of Antoinette’s quiet, continued refusal. Again, she shook her head no, tightening the collar of her housecoat.

  “Jeffrey will be there,” the nurse said, teasingly. “You know he’s really into you, right?”

  Antoinette shuddered at the thought of Jeffrey, or anyone, being “into” her. She was sure Jeffrey was a perfectly pleasant man – she couldn’t recall his face right now – but the last thing she wanted was that kind of attention. It was better if she kept her distance from everyone. She wasn’t sure what would happen if she tried to get to know someone at this point.

  Antoinette still liked her room. Her pictures were here, along with other things she recognized. She didn’t like the other side of the door anymore, though. Too many confusing things. Too many things she wasn’t sure if she knew. Too many people who were friendly to her but might just be trying to take advantage of her in some way. She had everything she needed right here. The nurses would bring her food after a few minutes of trying to get her to eat in the dining room, and she had all the company she could want right here.