A Bottle of Rain

Michael Kaye

Description

Two young, female biotech medical scientists come face to face with a devastating disease in Africa. They work to find a cure.
Annie Lee Cavallaro, adopted as a baby from China, is pursuing her life-long dream of becoming a scientist.
While attending a conference at Harvard, Annie meets someone who will change not only her life, but the lives of millions of others.
In this sweeping novel that encompasses three continents, ‘A Bottle of Rain’ chronicles Annie’s amazing rise to the forefront of the scientific community with the discovery of a lifetime.

Sujets

• Vie de famille
• Relations familiales
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse
• Date de parution: 01 mars 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9798823001991
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

ALSO BY MICHAEL KAYE
                          Novels
                                    One Monday
                                    From The Cradle To The Grave
                                    The Choice
                                    Never The Light Of Day
                                    The Feral Girls
                                    The Hands Of Memory
                                    Riddle
                          Poetry
                                    Covering The Cracks
                                    Lovers And Losers
 

 
 
 
A Bottle of Rain
 
 
 

 
 
a novel by
Michael Kaye
 
 
 
 

 
AuthorHouse™
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com
Phone: [phone]
 
 
 
 
 
 
© 2023 Michael Kaye. All rights reserved.
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
 
Published by AuthorHouse  02/28/2023
 
ISBN: 979-8-8230-0200-4 (sc)
ISBN: 979-8-8230-0199-1 (e)
 
 
 
 
 
Interior Graphics/Art Credit: Richard Drake & Kristine Kaye
 
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
 
This book is for my other ‘sister’, Sandra Rist, with love.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My thanks and deep appreciation to Clint Moon for sharing some meaningful, personal thoughts and observations with me.
I’m grateful to Darlene Martino for providing details of some fun, interesting and thought provoking grade school activities, which certainly encompass the general theme of the book.
Richard Drake’s pen and ink artistry on the front cover enhances the book beyond measure. He has my profound gratitude.
Editing and technical expertise are essential requirements for the writing process. My wife, Kristine, has my love and eternal thanks for helping with these tasks, as well as for her contributions to the final cover art.
 
We must believe that we are gifted for something.
Marie Curie
CHAPTER ONE

So , the question is… what do you see yourself doing twenty years from now? Tell me about your hopes and dreams . Where will you be? What will your life be like ? What will make you a happy person? How will you help a stranger, brighten a day or even make someone feel better? Try to imagine yourself twenty years from now and then write it all down. Have fun with this assignment but always remember to be honest and thoughtful. Now , go! Go ahead and write.
A NNIE LEE CAVALLARO SMILED AS she recalled the second grade writing project from all those years ago. That was the first time she had admitted to anyone the very real ambition burning brightly inside her head and heart. Being eight years of age mattered not in the slightest to Annie. It was what she wanted to do and somehow in the years to come she would make it happen.
Now, at age twenty-five, she was a doctoral student at the prestigious Fitzgerald University, enrolled in their world renowned biotechnology training program. For Annie, the seventeen years since putting pencil to paper in second grade, with her optimistic hopes and dreams, now seemed to have passed by in a flash of hard work, encouragement and on-going possibilities.
Not one to second guess herself, for Annie was nothing but self-confident about her work, she caught this quiet moment in the lab genuinely amazed at how far she’d come. And yet, she still felt this joyous journey she was on hadn’t really begun; hadn’t truly answered her calling whatever that might be.
Her musings were suddenly brought to a halt by the familiar voice of her professor and now friend and mentor, Dr. Virginia West.
“Annie, a word, if I may?”
Annie looked up and smiled. She was always glad when Virginia bothered her. Usually it meant something of note was about to happen.
“Fire away,” she replied, giving Virginia her full attention. “What d’you want me to discover now?”
“Ha. Ha. Very funny,” Virginia answered, poking out her tongue. “This is going to break up your summer plans somewhat, but I’ve signed you up for an advanced biotech conference at Harvard in July. Lots of great speakers, including one of my favorites, Dr. Gail Stephens, and it’ll also give you a chance to compare notes with some of the other attendees. Good chance to broaden your horizons. Okay?”
“Well, yes, if you think I’m ready?”
“Wouldn’t have put your name forward otherwise.”
“All right, then.” Annie answered, secretly taken aback by Virginia’s faith in her, “Harvard, here I come.”
“Good. Good. I’ll send you all the details in a few days. You won’t regret it.” As she was about to leave, Virginia turned and asked, “By the way, how’s the book coming along?”
“Surprisingly well,” Annie responded, nodding her head, “just chapter by chapter, lots of research but fascinating, revealing and so inspiring.”
“Good. Good,” Virginia offered. “I can understand why you picked her. Can’t wait to read it. I know it’ll be amazing.”
“She’s always been my hero – or heroine, I should say, so let’s hope I don’t mess it up.”
“ She’s your heroine!” Virginia replied, in mock horror. “And what about yours truly here?”
Annie poked out her tongue this time.
“I promise you the first copy,” she responded, holding out her hands. “Would that make up for my apparent disloyalty?”
Both women laughed as Virginia went on her way.
Home for the summer meant precious weeks with her beloved family. Annie arrived in mid-May and, apart from the week-long course at Harvard in July, would get to spend the rest of the time catching up with her mother and father, chilling and continuing to write her biography.
Both her parents were professionals; Blythe taught third grade at the local primary school, while Clive, a lawyer, ran his own practice. Each would have plenty of quality time with Annie, something they had missed so much while she was in school.
Blythe, still teaching until late June, planned on taking Annie in with her a few times a week to expose her daughter to her working life, as well as hoping to inspire her students with all sorts of possibilities from someone nearer their own age. Annie loved the idea and was already thinking of a million different ways to fire up the kids’ imaginations.
She particularly wanted to focus on math and science and would suggest to her mother some fun and innovative projects to stretch and motivate their young minds.
Just to have Annie around for a few months thrilled Blythe beyond measure. The time would give them a chance to reconnect, not only in a mother/daughter way but also in an adult, almost sisterly manner. Their whole relationship was so important and crucial to Blythe considering her own experience of growing up without the close, personal love and friendship of either of her parents.
The memories still haunted and stung her. She determined, if she ever became a mother, her child or children would never go through a day in their lives not knowing they were loved unconditionally and beyond measure. Now Annie was coming home, if only for a while, and Blythe waited for the moment like one of her excited third graders.
“There’s my baby girl!” Blythe exclaimed, hurrying to greet her, as Annie struggled through the door with her bags. “Dad, give the poor thing a hand,” she motioned to her husband, who quickly put down his glass of wine and trotted over.
“Leave them right there, Honey,” he ordered, “and I’ll take them to your room in a second. But first, we need hugs all round.”
Annie, while glad to be home, was less enthusiastic about the overwhelming welcome. That she dearly loved her parents could never be questioned, but her emotions were always a notch or two below theirs.
“You’re just in time for dinner,” Blythe said, taking Annie by the hand and leading her into the kitchen. “But first, let me look at you,” she continued, grinning.
“Mother,” Annie countered with a frown, “I haven’t been gone that long! And I really need to change and use the bathroom.”
“I know. I know,” replied her mother. “But I’ve missed you so much. All right, run along but hurry back. Dinner’s in twenty.”
Annie quickly disappeared while Blythe smiled ruefully to herself. It’s really happening, she thought. Three whole months with my baby. Wow!
Dinner and catch-up time lasted well past midnight. It was tiring for Annie since her mom and dad peppered her with almost non-stop questions. But their interest was understandable and always encouraging given their daughter’s passion for her chosen fie