Jayson felt almost as if he'd been catapulted into some eerie time warp as he stood and looked out over the ocean. It had been Drew's idea . . . to stop first at the place they'd come with their mother fewer than two years earlier. And Jayson couldn't deny that for all the grief and heartache he was taking with him . . . his musical abilities had grown through the experiences he'd found in Oregon, and his heart had been touched in ways that had changed him forever. Friendships and relationships formed and forged through the fiery furnace of experience have left Jayson Wolfe wiser, sadder, and anxious to embrace new hopes and dreams. In the life he is reconstructing, his music is as essential as oxygen, and failure is unimaginable. But does life ever go as planned? In this first volume of her new series, acclaimed LDS storyteller Anita Stansfield once again reaches out to her readers' hearts, minds, and spirits as she explores both the joy and grief that accompany complicated and intricate relationships. And her readers will find part one of this trilogy compelling and intense, heartwarming and heartbreaking— a deeply rooted love story with heart-stopping consequences.
Jayson and Drew Wolfe, two brothers raised in Montana by their loving mother, Leslie Wolfe, and their alcoholic father, Jay Wolfe. Jayson and Drew don’t have a good relationship with their father, who is a mormon and abusive husband. Leslie Wolfe had to endure many years of abuse from her husband. The brothers are now older and in high school. Their father has been in jail for domestics and the family has not seen him for awhile.
Jayson and Drew love their kind mother and wanted to surprise her with a great birthday gift. They are a struggling family just trying to make ends meet. Jayson comes up with the great idea to do their own rendition of one of their mother’s favorite songs for her birthday. They decided to re-do “Funeral for a Friend” by Elton John. Jayson plays the piano, the guitar and Drew plays the drums. These brothers are gifted with musical talents especially Jayson. His passion for music was evident when he was young and his mother loved the way her sons loved to play music in their home when possible. Jayson and Drew practiced everyday to perfect their mother’s birthday gift. Her birthday came and they were so excited to finally play it for her. Jayson called his mom at work and told her something had happened and she had to rush home. She came home and the boys shouted “Happy Birthday Mom”. The neighbors and some friends came over to celebrate her day. Then the boys told their mom that they had a gift for her to have a seat. She sat and watched her sons prepare their instruments. As they played, tears came rushing down her face with gratitude and being blessed with sons who didn’t give her any trouble as a single parent. She loved her boys and they were her life!
After the party, Leslie was cleaning up and the boys went to sleep. Jayson woke up to hear raucous in the kitchen. He quickly got up and saw his father in the kitchen beating his mother. Without thinking , he ran in the kitchen, pushed his father off his mother and cranked a good one right in his fathers jaw. His father was surprised to see how grown Jayson was now, since the last time he saw them was when they were in elementary. His father hit Jayson back in the jaw and they started to fight. Drew came running in and called the police while his mother tried to stop the fight. Jayson was now a Junior in high school and was grown enough to protect his mother. The police came in and took their father to jail for domestic abuse. Jayson was very close with his mother and told her everything in his life. Leslie cried and cried for her sons. She could handle her husband beating and hurting her, but not one of her boys. Enough is enough she said!
A few days later, she decided it was time for her and her boys to move away. She had a friend who guaranteed her a waitress job and a little apartment she could rent. Leslie and her boys packed up their things, rented a Uhaul and off to Oregon they journeyed. Jayson was very sad to leave behind his piano, a gift from his grandmother on his moms side. They were able to take Drew’s drum set and Jayson’s guitar.
Settling into Oregon and starting a new school in the middle of the year was not an easy task for the boys, but their mom told them everything would be alright with the Lords help, just have a prayer in your heart and He will guide the way for all of them. Jayson is tall, long hair in a ponytail with an earring looking like an obvious rebel and Drew is the older brother tall and slender. Jayson barely got by with decent grades but Drew was fascinated with Science Fiction and did a little better in school. Leslie encouraged her sons to do good in school and was content with her sons in school and out of trouble.
Jayson loved music and saw that the high school was performing “West Side Story”. He bought a ticket and went to the school play. He instantly fell in love with the main actress MARIA. He loved her voice, she was beautiful and even after the play, he couldn’t get her out of his mind. He went to see the play 3 more times and everyday at school he would look for her. To no avail, he never found her. He felt something for this girl that he never felt before in his life. He just knew they were supposed to be together, but how could that happen when he was new to the school and she probably didn’t know he existed!
In English class, he took his seat and the young lady behind him had to do her oral report in front of the class. As she was speaking, he recognized her voice and he knew that she was the girl from the play. He was looking for a girl with dark hair, but he realized that she was wearing a wig in the play and that she was a blonde. He felt so nervous and shocked and the whole time she was sitting behind him in class. He felt something in his stomach turn and knew that he was destined to be with this girl. He said hi and bye to her but that was it.
Jayson later found a job to help out with bills at home. He worked with another young man named Derek. They soon became friends and realized that they both loved music. Derek invited Jayson to his house to see his guitar and maybe mess around with music. Jayson was thrilled he found a new friend and one that held the same interests as he did. When they got to Derek’s house Jayson was amazed to see such a beautiful home and inside his house his eyes widened when he saw a grand piano in the living room. Jayson was thrilled and wanted to touch the keys and marvel over the sound of it if he had the chance to play it. They went downstairs in the basement and Jayson gasped for air as he saw the soundproof room with a guitar and bass. He was so excited that he found a friend and a place to play music. They hit it off quickly and soon became best friends!. They played in the basement everyday and Derek’s father Will was so happy to see his son Derek playing music and obviously as happy as he’s ever seen him before! His father was thrilled that his son was playing music, found a nice new friend and Will invited Jayson over for dinner every night. Derek’s mother Meredith was an attorney, who was never home and always at work. Derek’s sister was never home until the evenings due to a busy school schedule and activities.
So here’s my take on the whole book. I loved this story because there were so many new heartfelt relationships that were made, some losses in the families that definitely affected everyone and love beyond compare between characters.
Jayson Wolfe and his new best friend Derek were inseparable. They went to the same school, they worked together, they played music together and loved the same girl. By this, I mean that Derek’s sister is Elizabeth Greer whom he loves and she is also the girl that Jayson has been secretly crushing on since he arrived to Oregon. Jayson had no idea that his best friends’ sister was the girl of his dreams. There was something about Jayson Wolfe that Elizabeth couldn’t’ get out of her head. She told herself numerous times that he was not her type, but she couldn’t get him out of her thoughts. They were introduced at her house when Jayson was playing the piano. She was ecstatic to find out that he played music because she played the violin, flute and a little bit on the piano. Jayson and Derek had a great time together everyday and Jayson would secretly wish that Elizabeth would come home early just so he could see her before going home.
Jayson and Elizabeth finally end up together, and Derek is okay with that. They started a band called “A Pack of Wolves”. The band included Derek- bass, Drew- Drums, Jasyon- guitar and keyboard, Elizabeth- back up vocals and violin. They instantly hit it off and were happy with their little gigs they did in town. Things were just too good to be true for Jayson. He’d never been so happy in his life.
Well like they say, all good things come to an end. Elizabeth and Will(her dad) heard a knock at the door and 2 police officers stood there asking for Derek Greers family, The unthinkable happened, Derek was in a terrible car accident and passed away on site! They were devastated and in tears when they heard the police say Derek was dead! They did not know how they were gonna tell Jayson who loved Derek as his own brother.
Jayson did not take the news well and they were all getting ready to graduate at this time.He couldn’t breathe and refused to look at any instrument after Derek’s death. Will and Elizabeth helped Jayson to continue to play music in memory of Derek They told Jayson, Derek would have wanted you to continue to use your musical gift and play.
At Derek’s funeral, ironically, Jayson was asked to play “Funeral for a Friend” which he did beautifully as tears came down his face. He was teased by his brother and Derek of having a high water problem, meaning tears came easy to Jayson. He was so distraught and didn’t know how he would ever be able to play again without Derek at his side. It was a sad time indeed for Jayson!
Graduation day came and Jayson nor Elizabeth were very happy that day.As a tribute to Derek Greer the student body president asked Jayson to play “Funeral for a Friend” at the graduation to remember Derek. Jayson didn’t want to do it, but thinking of his friend Derek he couldn’t say NO. The school also announced Derek Greers name in the ceremony, what a difficult time for the Greer family and Jayson his best friend. Jayson played and couldn’t hold back tears again as he played the song and asked that everyone give a moment of silence after the song. Memorable indeed!
Will (Dereks father) was happy to see his daughter graduate and was ever so thankful that Jayson became a part of their family through his friendship with Derek. He thanked Jayson for bringing music and happiness back into his sons life. He never saw his son Derek so happy in his life until he became friends with Derek and shared music together.
Jayson and Elizabeth spent their summer together. Jayson planned to move to LA to pursue his career in Music and Elizabeth always planned to go to Boston for school. Their goals in life were different and Jayson did not want to part with Elizabeth, he loved her with all his heart! Elizabeth was torn and afraid that she couldn’t see herself in LA with him and that she only wanted a good education, a happy and steady life with a husband and kids to comfort her. She wanted to do everything her mother couldn’t give her. She longed for her mothers’ acceptance and attention, to love her for who she was. But, Elizabeth knew her mother was always busy and never came to any of her school productions at all. Elizabeth wanted a simple and stable home which she did not get as a teen. As time progressed, the day came where Jayson was waiting to see if Elizabeth felt the same for Jayson meaning that they would marry and be together whether it was to LA or to Boston. They could do anything if they were together and be happy is what Jayson told her. Elizabeth felt in her heart that things would not work out between the two of them and it was best for them to break up and go their separate ways. When she told Jayson, he was heart broken, he couldn’t breathe! He told her she was mistaken that their love for each other was right and he knew it with everything in him that they are suppose to be together, grow old together and have kids. She kept insisting that their goals in life were too different and he needed to go and do his music career while she did her education. He couldn’t believe it and fell to his knees asking her to think about it again, but she told him she thought about it every night. He finally asked her if she still loved him and she said the words that tore him apart, “I don’t love you enough”, I don’t love you the way you love me!
Oh I was so PISSED OFF, I didn’t know whether to throw the book down or hate Elizabeth for the remainder of the book. I hate things that happen like that ugh! My heart went out to Jayson and to think he poured his heart out to Elizabeth and swore his love to her what the heck! I say dump her and move on to bigger and better things! Of course I’m speaking out of anger, some girls just really get me on FIRE!
This here blog has over exceeded and I’m officially calling it quits on this blog. I basically told the whole story except for a few details, but that’s where you choose whether you want to read the book or NOT. A definite good read! Do they end up together? Does Jayson Wolfe really go to LA or does he change his mind to win Elizabeth’s heart? Does Elizabeth get her education and happy, stable family? Find out and read the series.
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