Kelly looked nervously at Mark, tears welling up in her own eyes. They had come out alive but damaged. "You are a good girl."
Mark picked up his little nearly mute child and held her tightly. He realized they had more in common than he had ever recognized before. She was just as terrified that he would not love her, just as much as he was terrified to be a bad dad. In the realization, that Beth could never do anything to make him love her less, he realized that he was a good dad. "Beth, I love you. You are so special. I'm sorry we had to fight her, but I'm glad she lost, and we won."
She relaxed in his arms and whispered, "Okay.”
Kelly smiled for the first time in ages. Mark realized that maybe they'd never have a picket fence, and maybe they'd just be a regular, damaged family. But they could still be a good family. And that was enough.
Next book: Padlocked Penthouse
Padlocked Penthouse
Coralina sat on the bed. They had been perfectly forgettable. The flowers had looked nice. Her makeup, still perfect and un-smudged, accented her high cheekbones.
The dress she wore was ivory with silver accents at the bottom. Even the cake, white and towering, was perfectly forgettable. Maybe they had spent all that money for no reason. They had spent all that time, planning and prepping. For what?
Her silver heels crashed to the floor as she kicked them off. She rolled over on her back, the large dress dangling across the bed. It was a king-sized bed, but it could barely contain the giant dress. Her blonde hair was still curled and pinned into place, crunchy with hairspray. She looked good.
She was down about twenty-five pounds of fat and up five pounds of muscle. She spent the entire summer eating rabbit food—celery, wheat grass, spinach—and lifting incredible weights.
It was, would be worth it, if everyone would remember. She wanted everyone to remember how incredible she was, but they wouldn’t. Because the entire day was so incredibly forgettable. Yes, she stood quoting her vows and perfectly smiling. Her ring was shiny and bright and large. Oh, it was so large. She could hardly lift her arm up with the weight of the enormous diamond.
She did everything a perfect bride should do. As she tossed and turned on the bed, her wedding dress started to curl up around her waist. Who could be forgotten like this? Left to rot in her pretty bed in a pretty dress with her fancy hair and perfect nails?
She sat up slowly and reached for the nightstand with the glass lamp. She poured herself another glass of bubbly white champagne. She took a perfect sip, toes pointed, dress swirled around her like a movie star. Her silver eyelids pressed shut, perfect pink lips barely touching the glass.
She lowered the glass and sighed dreadfully. Coralina was not the kind of woman who deserved to be forgotten after spending an entire year prepping for one glorious day. She stood and walked to the window, staring out across the city. She shouldn’t be forgotten. The city skyscape normally gave her goosebumps, but today gave nothing; just reminded her that despite the penthouse apartment at the top floor, despite the fat wallet and full bank account, she could not seem to be memorable. She turned away disgusted, her blonde curls not wavering from their position, despite her quick turn. Her dress, flowing out behind her like a waterfall of ivory silver water, caught unexpectedly. She looked back and saw that the hem of the gown had caught on her new husband. The white gown was already soaking him up, as though she was wearing an oversized tampon. The blood swirled up her skirt.
Coralina turned to stare at the train as it turned brighter red. For a moment, he registered in her mind and heart. And terror flickered across her face. Then she forgot. She turned and stepped into the glass elevator. The red continued to wick up her skirt slowly as she rode up to the rooftop. She walked past the shuffleboard, her red train dancing in the wind. She stood next to the pool, staring at the water lapping.
“I could never forget someone as stunning as you.” She felt the words more than she heard them. It seemed to be calling from the water.
“It’s like I never even happened,” she whimpered, her stockinged feet now kissing the water’s edge.
The water rose up like a tidal wave, sucking her into the pool, and a second later, little bits of Coralina coated the water’s surface. She had been blended. Ground to tidbits. Her ring, still attached to the tiny chunk of finger, floated into the filter, to be found two years later by a little girl.
Next book: Padlocked Penthouse
About the Author
Hello Gorgeous,
It’s Mixi. I think this is one of the creepiest books I have wrtten in this series, but we are just getting started.
Up next is a delicious little story about a haunted Penthouse. A new little girl named Pear. Although Coralina makes a little cameo at the beginning.
If you enjoyed this, please leave a review, it does help small authors like me sell more books, and helps push us forward on our publishing career.
Love,
Mixi
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www.mixijapplebottom.com
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Also by Mixi J Applebottom
Deadlocked Dollhouse
Padlocked Penthouse
Sunblocked Summerhouse
Firelocked Funhouse
Picklocked Powerhouse
Batlocked Bunkhouse
Landlocked Lighthouse
Gridlocked Guesthouse
Jaspierre
Jaspierre’s Descent
Jaspierre’s Last Chance
Deadlocked Dollhouse Page 12
