One Secret, Two Lives
Women’s Fiction / Family Life / Religious
Date Published: April 21st, 2026
Publisher: Lucid Books Publishing
Stephanie grew up cherished yet haunted by questions no one would answer.
Carmine’s life, in contrast, was marked by tumult, loss, and an
unrelenting search for belonging. They lived as strangers, unaware of each
other’s existence—until fate, and a single phone call brought the
truth crashing in. Their discovery binds them in an instant—and alters
everything.
What the Heart Carries traces their breathtaking discovery and the devastating
tragedy that followed. At nce a story of grief and of redemption, it asks:
How do we begin to heal when everything we know is torn apart?
Spanning from Brooklyn’s tight-knit neighborhoods to the sun-soaked
streets of Florida, this is a powerful novel of family secrets, faith, and the
unbreakable ties of blood. Inspired by true events, it is a story that will
linger in your heart long after the final page.
EXCERPT
Chapter 1
The Beginning (1966)
Cecilia adjusted the strap of her purse as she walked along 86th Street under the El, the scent of fresh Italian bread and coffee drifting from the corner bakery. Car horns, laughter, and the distant rumble of the subway filled the air, but her mind was focused on the errand her mother had sent her on. She was to pick up a spool of thread from the fabric store and then head straight home. Simple. Routine.
Just as she arrived at the corner of Stillwell Avenue, she stopped short at the sight of him. Through the large glass window of the neighborhood gym, she saw a man, his dark hair slicked back, his muscular arms flexing as he lifted a pair of weights. Stunned, her breath caught in her throat. He was unlike any man she’d ever seen before—confident, strong, and completely engrossed in his workout. A few girls near the gym’s entrance were watching him as well. Giggling, they stole glances in the man’s direction. They were animated and giddy, but Cecilia was rooted in place, unable to move, unable to look away.
Then, as if sensing her gaze, he turned. Their eyes met through the glass.
Cecilia’s heart thudded in her chest. For a moment she considered looking away and pretending she hadn’t been staring, but something about the man’s expression—the amused smirk, the spark of curiosity in his eyes—held her there. Slowly, deliberately, he set the weights down and wiped the sweat from his brow. Then, to her surprise, he walked over to the door.
Cecilia panicked. She knew she should leave, turn on her heels and pretend this never happened. But before she could make herself move, he was walking straight toward her.
“Enjoying the view?” he asked as he approached, his voice deep and playful.
She felt herself blush. “I was just passing by.”
His smirk widened. “Sure you were.”
She folded her arms, trying to steady herself. “Well, are you going to tell me your name?”
“James,” he said, offering his hand. “And you?”
“Cecilia. Cecilia Russo.”
Their hands met, and an undeniable current passed between them. Cecilia swallowed hard. She had heard about men like him—charmers, flirts, troublemakers—the kind of men her mother had warned her about.
And yet as he held her gaze, none of that mattered. Awestruck, Cecilia could only think about this man named James.
“I’ve never seen you around here before,” James said, tilting his head slightly. “Are you new to the neighborhood?”
She shook her head. “No. I live a few blocks away. My mother sent me to the fabric store.”
James grinned. “Exciting afternoon, then.”
She laughed despite herself. “Not quite as exciting as lifting weights in front of an audience.”
He chuckled, stepping a little closer. “I don’t mind an audience, especially when it includes a girl as pretty as you.”
At the compliment, Cecilia fought again the urge to blush. She should have walked away. She should have smiled politely, excused herself, and continued on her errand. Instead, she lingered, drawn in by the easy confidence in his voice and the way his eyes darkened when they met hers.
“I should go,” she murmured, though she made no move to leave.
James studied her for a moment and then cocked his chin just a bit. “Alright. But let me walk you to the store.”
She hesitated, knowing she should refuse. But despite her better judgment, she found herself nodding. And so they walked side by side, the summer sun casting long shadows on the sidewalk as they went.
That evening, as Cecilia and her family sat down to dinner, her sister Linda quietly scolded her: “You shouldn’t talk to men like that.”
Their mother, Concetta, bustled around the kitchen scooping out steaming portions of pasta, oblivious to the conversation between the twins.
“Daddy would’ve had a fit if he’d seen you flirting this afternoon with that guy outside the gym,” Linda continued.
Cecilia rolled her eyes but kept her voice low. “I wasn’t flirting.”
Linda snorted. “Please. You didn’t realize it, but I was by Mr. Morelli’s soda shop a few doors down. I saw the way that man looked at you—and the way you looked at him.”
Their father, Leo, sat at the head of the table. He was a man of principle, his presence alone commanding respect. He was unaware of the tension building between the twins. The girls were always whispering, and he took no notice of it.
Cecilia had spent her life trying to be the good daughter, the obedient one. But this evening, for the first time, she felt a pull toward something—someone—that didn’t fit neatly into her world.
Cecilia’s family was loving but strict. Her father was a retired boxer and former Navy man, and he ran their household with a firm but caring hand. He had worked tirelessly to provide for his family, instilling discipline and respect in his children. Their home was warm and filled with the aromas of baked ziti, sautéed broccoli rabe, and chicken parmesan, but there were many unspoken rules. Cecilia knew those rules well, and today she had broken one of them for the first time.
Then there was James and Cecilia’s first real date. It was anything but ordinary. James pulled up to the corner of her block—out of sight of Cecilia’s parents—in a sleek, black 1965 Pontiac GTO, its polished chrome gleaming under the streetlights. The low rumble of the engine sent a thrill through Cecilia as she slipped into the passenger seat.
She had told her parents she was going to the movies with Linda, which wasn’t a complete lie—Linda was coming along. But their parents didn’t know anything about James or their real plans for the evening, and her parents certainly didn’t know that James was bringing along his friend Tony as a date for Linda.
Linda sat in the back seat, exchanging flirtatious glances with Tony. Cecilia could hardly focus on anything but James’s hand resting casually on the gear shift. He drove with an effortless cool, weaving through the streets of Brooklyn in the evening light.
As they reached Coney Island, the scent of salt water and fried food was thick in the air. The two couples walked along the boardwalk, the sounds of carnival rides and laughter surrounding them. James bought Cecilia some cotton candy, his fingers grazing hers as he handed it over. The touch sent a shiver through her. They wandered through the games where James easily won her a stuffed bear. When they rode the Wonder Wheel, he rocked their seat just enough to make her laugh and grip his arm.
As the night stretched on, Cecilia felt the weight of the rules she was breaking, but with James beside her, it didn’t seem to matter. The way he looked at her, like she was the only girl in the world, made her forget everything else.
When they pulled up to a spot just a few doors down from her house, Cecilia noticed that the porch light was on—a reminder of the world she had to return to. James leaned over, brushing his hand against her cheek. “I had a good time tonight,” he said.
She beamed with delight, her heart pounding. “Me too.”
For a moment, it seemed like he might kiss her, but instead, James simply grinned.
“Sweet dreams, Cecilia.”
The weeks flew by, and Cecilia never told her parents about her new boyfriend. She swore Linda to secrecy. Her twin often covered for her. As Cecilia got to know James better, their stolen meetings became more frequent, and their conversations got deeper.
It wasn’t long before one night, parked at a secluded spot near the Verrazzano Bridge, James kissed Cecilia with an urgency she had never known before. The city lights shimmered in the distance as his hands traced her skin, each touch setting fire to her senses. She knew nice girls didn’t do this, that she was breaking both her parents’ rules and God’s. Yet she gave herself to him completely, believing in the moment, believing in him.
About the Author
Susan Appel is the author of What the Heart Carries: One Secret, Two Lives, a
debut novel inspired by her own family’s story of loss, faith, and
restoration. She writes with honesty and heart, exploring themes of identity,
grief, and the enduring bonds of family. Susan believes deeply in the power of
words to heal, to connect, and to remind us that even in life’s darkest
seasons, hope can be found. She cherishes quiet moments and laughter-filled
days at the Jersey Shore with her husband and two children. Susan finds joy in
simple traditions, lasting friendships, and the spiritual journey that
continues to guide her steps.
Facebook: Susan Appel – Author
Instagram:
@susanappel.author
Purchase Links
