Читать книгу A World Without You - A. S. Peterson - Страница 6

Prologue

In the early 1900s, during the heart of America’s industrial revolution, a wealthy Scandinavian purchased land in the Midwest. The land sided up to the railroad tracks, a prime location to build an industry. An unsuccessful iron ore settlement existed east of the tracks, an ideal living site for his work force.

In the old country, the Scandinavian’s family manufactured toys. Using his shrewd business skills, he purchased additional land parallel to the railroad tracks, three miles south of the abandoned settlement where he constructed his toy factory. His mansion-sized house was built west of the tracks, on the choicest elevated land. Relatives and friends in the old country were invited to move to the Midwest. Those who joined him built their large houses near his mansion while the blue-collar laborers built smaller economical houses in the once-failed iron ore settlement.

The affluent people west of the tracks chose to remain exclusive from the hired laborers. They built their own private schools, stores, entertainment areas, and club houses, christening the town of North Hillside. Likewise the laborers built their own public schools, stores, and entertainment areas, launching the town of South Hillside. The two towns coincided only in proximity while remaining a world apart in social class.

By the end of the century, North Hillside had grown lavishly, reaching a population of 2,500 citizens. South Hillside had increased nearly identically, reaching a population of 2,100 citizens. All the while, the two Hillsides remained exclusively to themselves, fostering an intense dislike for one another which persisted throughout the decades. Despite the large division in wealth and the strong loathing between the two towns, a true love against all odds was fashioned, nurtured, and flourished.

Down in South Hillside, at present time, a man in his early forties sipped his coffee as he relaxed on the sofa. It was well past midnight and his family had long since gone to bed. He, on the other hand, had a life-changing decision to consider. Several associates, friends, and family members mentioned he’d be a prime candidate for mayor of their small town of South Hillside. He grinned slightly, contemplating the fact how he never had any other option but to reside in this town.

He took another sip, knowing that if he chose to run, his chances of winning were great. Did he have time in his busy schedule to become an elected official? The citizens of his town and other nearby towns were already keeping his family active with the charitable operations he and his wife had established: The Foundation for Sexually Abused Children, The Foundation for Feeding the Homeless, and The Foundation for the Restoration of Low-Income Housing. If he were elected mayor, he planned to work with the elite mayor of North Hillside, making history for the first time. He was fully aware of the social tension between North and South Hillside. He had lived through that hostility.

His mind raced with the ideas he could accomplish as mayor: beautify South Hillside, bring in more businesses, and work with the elected board members of the school district to increase scientific and mathematical fields while, at the same time, purchasing state-of-the-art technology.

The forty-something man furrowed his brows. His wife was encouraging, remarking that South Hillside needed a conscientious, level-headed, and intelligent man. According to her, he was that man. With the enthusiastic input he had received from his wife, associates, and friends, there was only one person left from whom to request input. Getting that person’s advice was the key to every decision he had made since his high school years.

The man stood and strolled toward his den for the private conversation with his key advisor. Memories of his loyal ally circled his thoughts. He passed the fireplace mantle, picked up one of the two framed wedding pictures, and looked at his wife. He gazed at the photograph. They had been young when they married. Their smiling faces revealed their ardent love and hard-earned happiness. He returned the picture to its location, wondering if other men were as lucky as he was. It wasn’t his wife’s beauty that made him feel like the luckiest man on earth. It was the knowledge that she wouldn’t leave him for another man. Other men had tried to capture her love. A few even proposed. Yet she chose him.

In the second wedding photograph, his wife had a cheerful contented expression, as did he. Their relationship hadn’t been shaped singularly by the two of them but by the people within both North and South Hillside, fashioning who they are today. Their devoted relationship endured through sorrow, tension, and humorous moments—and originated before it began.