Inheritance

Alcoholism and addiction followed Joe from childhood into adulthood.Neglect and abandonment still haunt Wendy since her childhood having been raised by her alcoholic Nana.One fateful night they meet and soon feel a connection, but can they recover and heal from their traumatic pasts?There are many battles ahead.As faith unfolds and unleashes its healing power perhaps they, too, will find their happily ever after. INHERITANCE is Lisa Barker's debut novel. Says Lisa: I like to write stories involving characters with complicated lives who must heal in order to find their happily ever after.As complicated as life gets, she likes to see people overcome the odds, good win, and love prevail. INHERITANCE brings two people together who do have rather difficult lives. It takes a lot to get from A to Z, but nothing is impossible with faith, hope and love.Lisa lives in California with her husband, son, and 13 cats. Her three grown children are never too far away and she has a multitude of granddogs and grandcats--even a grandrabbit! Family is everything to her.Connect with Lisa here: LisaBarker.com______________________________EXCERPTHe cupped her chin with his hand and caressed her cheek. He hushed her softly. "I've been thinking the same thing about myself. What have I done to deserve someone like you?" His dark eyes remained steady on hers through their tears. "I never had a chance to hide anything from you, Wendy. You found me out from the beginning and you made up your mind about me anyway."She nodded. "That's why the doctor will think I'm sick."He shook his head slowly. "No. You didn't judge me.""But I did, Joe. I was very angry when I found you. I have little sympathy for anyone who would do that to himself.""But you helped me.""You're a human being. I had to help you.""Why do you want me, Wendy?"A tear rolled down her cheek and wet his thumb. "There's more to you than drinking, Joe. I can see that. There's a whole wonderful person in there that I'm attracted to. But that night all I could see was hurt. You were hurting on that kitchen floor, and hurting in bed with that fever. You were hurting when your sister accused you. I wanted to help you.""You did help me." He made her look at him by lifting her chin.She closed her eyes because the truth hurt too much. "I wanted to help Nana, too, but she wouldn't let me," she whispered. "Nothing I did made her happy. Everything could have been done just a little better. Staying only reminded her of Trish and that made her miserable and leaving would have only caused her to become more ill. If she had lived twenty more years I would have stayed with her, hating her and myself and always trying to make her happy.""Wendy, look at me." She opened her eyes. "I'm not ...