A Family Affair

by Mary Campisi

Charles Edwin Blacksworth was a man loved by many. His death was one that brought great sadness to those who loved him most. His daughter Christine is distraught over his death. She is further baffled at why he would leave one third of his estate to someone named Lily Desantro. Further investigation leads her to discover her father was having a secret affair. Four times a month he would go to the Catskills and the tiny town of Magdalena to visit Lily. The accident that claimed his life was from a return trip to see his mistress.

The trip to Magdalena is one that plays on her emotions. She struggles with the fact that her father could have deceived her in the worst possible way. When she arrives at the Desantro’s home she encounters Lily’s son, Nate. A warm welcome is not forthcoming as Nate sees her as someone who denied his mother the happiness she deserved. He tells her in no uncertain terms she is not welcome.

Christine leaves but returns the next day to meet with Lily. When a woman answers the door, she assumes this is Lily but what is more puzzling is her name is Miriam. This woman readily admits to having been Charles Blackworth's mistress. Christine discovers that Lily is her half sister. Her room is filled with pictures of Christine; it seems she has loved her half sister from afar for many years in her own special way.

Her father’s other family has Christine feeling things she never expected to experience. There existence alone is proof the man she knew as her father had another side. The warmth she feels when she is around them has her wanting to spend more time with a family she never knew existed.

Mary Campisi is an accomplished writer. Her smoothly polished writing style reaches far down and touches the heart of all who are fortunate enough to discover her talent. Every book I sample leaves me with a warm feeling of having experienced something special. Very highly recommended.