Knotted Roots

by Kight, Ruthi

  I pulled away from her slowly, wiping my face. I knew my makeup was a mess at that point, but I didn’t care. I had needed the release. I missed Grandma so much and most days I held in the tears, unwilling to let it drag me down. Today was the one day I would allow myself to truly mourn her. No. I wouldn’t mourn her today. I would celebrate all that she had given me. She would have wanted it that way.

  As we drove to the school, Mom and Dad up front, Chase and I in the backseat, my eyes remained focused on our joined hands. The differences between us used to be daunting, our relationship doomed from the start. We had overcome so much that summer, both of us finding ourselves, and finding each other in the process. Were we perfect? Not by any means. Were we happy? Absolutely.

  I know people hate to hear that couples found true love and lived happily ever after, so I won’t tell you that. Sure, we love each other and we’re happy, but we still have a lifetime left to screw it up. I don’t want a fairy tale or prince charming. I want my reality with Chase by my side. I wanted my real friends, Katy and Brian, by my side for the rest of my life. They showed me the true meaning of friendship.

  So, while I may have been born in New York, I finally found my true home. Mom says her roots are here, with me, and I have to agree. Our roots may be knotted and gnarled, but they belong to us alone. We’re finally home where we belong. And that feels right.

  The End

  SPECIAL THANKS

  This is probably the hardest part of the entire writing process. There were so many people that have been there for me from the moment I decided to follow my dream. Without each and every one of them I’m sure that my dream would not have become reality.

  First, I would like to thank my family for always being there for me. My mother, God rest her soul, always supported me, no matter which crazy scheme I got myself caught up in. She taught me to follow my dreams, no matter how many times people told me I couldn’t do it. My dad, who has been the Superman of fathers, deserves a special thank you for helping me stay focused. Thank you Dad. I love you.

  To my fiancé Bobby and my daughter: I love you both so much. I’m thankful that I get to see you both every day for the rest of my life. You were both blessings in my life and have been there through all of my crazy moments. I promise there will be fewer “fend for yourself” nights now that this first book is done. I love you both with all of my heart and soul. You complete me.

  To MaryAnn: You have been my best friend for more years than I care to think about. (Mainly because then our true age would show!) When everyone else said I was crazy, you told me that no dream was out of my reach. When I tried to rush the process, you brought me back down to reality. You have literally been my saving grace throughout this entire process. I know I drove you crazy at times (okay...ALL the time), but I can’t thank you enough for being there for me. I thank you for your amazing editing skills (you’re my editing ninja!) and I promise...there will be at least a few months of down time in your future.

  To Airicka Phoenix: You are a Goddess of the Word. That’s your new name. Thank you so much for coming up with the title for my first book! You’re a dream come true and one hell of an amazing author! I’m so thankful to call you friend!

  To my Book Soul Mate: Katy, you are truly special. You have encouraged me, slapped me around when I started to doubt myself, and have been an amazing friend. I’m so very thankful to have you in my life. I LIVE you lady!

  To Cindy Springsteen: You are seriously an EPIC friend and I’m so thankful to have you by my side! Your words of encouragement are priceless and I can’t help but think we were meant to be friends!

  To Derinda Love: You will forever and always be my Fairy Godmother. You make miracles happen every day for Indie authors. You’re selfless and giving, two attributes that you don’t find in people these days. I can’t tell you thank you enough, but maybe one day I can repay the love!

  To Ema Volf: Thank you for keeping me company on those long nights of pouring my soul out. You kept me from going insane, and for that, I say thank you. And thank you for formatting this nightmare for me! You saved me from a headache that would surely knock me on my butt! You’re truly an amazing friend!

  To the New Jersey Versions of Me and MaryAnn: Christy and Katherine, you two are so freaking amazing! You were both so amazingly helpful through this laborious process, always encouraging me and calling me on my screw ups. I can’t wait to see you ladies again! YA’ll Fest 2013 can’t get here soon enough!

  To Tara and Amanda: I love you ladies! You keep the funny rolling in! You are irreplaceable and I’m so thankful that Katy introduced me to you both! Tara, your guidance and wisdom is forever needed and appreciated! Mani, I really hope to meet you and Ms. Bean very soon! Much love to you all!

  To My Two Favorite Gems: Jenny Marie and Mayra Arellano, you two are truly inspirational! You make the world a brighter place with your infectious smiles and laughter! I am honored to call you both friend!

  To Regina Wamba, of Mae I Design and Photography: Thank you for the amazing cover! You put up with my neurotics and gave me the most gorgeous cover I could ever hope to have! You rock my socks!

  And finally (after being extremely long winded), to my fabulous Beta Readers: Samantha Truesdale, Melissa Berbrich, Katherine Eccelston, Jennifer Swiger, Melissa Stickney, Kellee Fabre, and Nikki Archer. You ladies gave me such valuable insight and I can’t thank you enough for every second, minute, and hour that you spent reading my book. You are all my heroes!

  One last word before I go. A huge thank you goes out to everyone who has supported me and given me words of encouragement. When I felt silly for making a Facebook page you were there to shut me up. The support from the Indie community is immense and I don’t know what I would do without each and every person out there!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  If you had asked 6 year old Ruthi what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would have told you a Rock Star. Those dreams faded to the background when she found out who the true Rock Stars are: Authors.

  She has always had a fascination with books, losing herself completely in numerous books, enjoying the worlds she found that were so unlike her own. They were her escape, and eventually became her passion.

  Her family has been putting up with her and her incoherent ramblings while she worked on her debut novel, Knotted Roots. Her five year old and Fiance have suffered through many “fend for yourself” nights, but somehow still manage to love her anyway.

  She is now attending the Southern New Hampshire University, working on her Bachelor’s in Creative Writing/Fiction so that she can create her own worlds for others to fall in love with.

  Okay, now that I’m done talking in the third person, let me just say that I love connecting with people via Facebook, Goodreads, my blog, etc. If you would like to chat, you can usually find me online at any given time. I also want to say thank you to each and every person who reads my book. It was a labor of love and I truly hope that you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

  STALKER LINKS:

  http://facebook.com/AuthorRuthiKight

  http://ruthikay.blogspot.com

  http://twitter.com/RuthiKight

  SPECIAL SNEAK PEEK AT MICHELLE KNIGHT’S DEBUT NOVEL, “TWISTED SNOW,” RELEASING SUMMER OF 2013!

  PROLOGUE

  I don’t even remember when I became trapped in this cold, two-dimensional world, because let’s face it, no one would ever call what I do living. I can’t even begin to fathom how many years I have been trapped for that matter. All I know is that the last few decades have been peaceful yet dull. I have watched, frozen behind glass, as others have lived out their happy existence in the light, in the heat.

  Oh, what I wouldn’t give to feel the sun on my skin again, but I know that probably will never happen. Time is irrelevant in this blasted mirror. I only have something, like say a book, if it is reflected from the real world. But, as is true with all reflections, everything is backwards here.

  I vaguely rememb
er trying for many years to discover if there was anyone who would keep me company, but in this place, I am totally alone. I guess it is no small wonder that when that wretched woman started talking to me all of the time, that I became enamored with helping her, in any way that I could. I had craved contact with someone, even if it was through the glass, and I would do or say anything to keep them with me.

  Let’s just say, that was a lesson learned the hard way. Never again will I try to use magicks of any kind to assist someone, especially not someone who was as insane as THAT woman. God, she was awful, forever going on about how beautiful she was and was there anyone fairer than she. The vanity of that idiot woman would drive anyone batty. But, as I have not seen her in years, I feel quite certain that my vow will never be put to the test.

  A few years ago, I had the misfortune of being sold to an antique dealer as part of an estate. The woman I had belonged to for so long left the world quite suddenly and her ungrateful children soon sold off all of her possessions; well, at least the ones that they did not squabble over for themselves. For years I sat, dusty and forgotten in a room where all of the furniture was draped in cloth, dust covers of some sort I guess.

  I grew weary of staring at the empty room so I would lie down upon a couch in my world and promptly fall asleep. When I awoke, I was quite disoriented as my view had suddenly changed. I found myself in a cramped little room stuffed to the ceiling with old bits of furniture. I remained there for a while until the creepy little antique dealer had me moved to the showroom.

  CHAPTER 1

  I have to say, the view was far better in the showroom than in the cramped storage room. At least I could now see people drifting about and see sunshine. But still, I sat in that shop for weeks on end, while the dealer cackled over the money that he was fleecing from his customers.

  One day I was drifting through my world aimlessly, bored with staring out at bureaus and tables in the store, when I felt a pulse of energy, one that I had not felt in countless years. Intrigued, I drew closer to the glass barrier between myself and reality. A couple wandered the store, looking intently for something. As I peered, unseen, at them, I detected the pulse again, this time clearly seeing where it came from. The woman had a faint reddish glow about her that slowly expanded and contracted as I watched. I had only seen this phenomenon once before and, despite my reservations, knew that finally I would have someone to talk to, well I would, if I could only get her attention.

  * * * * *

  “Alright Charlie, let’s just pick something for her and get the heck out of here. That little man is giving me the heebie-jeebies,” Mark murmured to his wife.

  “I know, but I really want to look around a little bit. It would be better if he would stop looking at us like we were his ticket to a hot meal, and let’s face it, the man could use some help in the hygiene department,” she said with her hand in front of her mouth.

  Huffing and puffing Mark followed his wife around the decrepit antique store. He loved the woman, but damn, it would be nice if she would just hurry it up. He couldn’t really explain what it was about the man that got under his skin, but something told him the man just was not all he was cracked up to be. In his mind, he resembled a rat, with beady little eyes and the two front teeth that peaked out of his mouth. The way he kept rubbing his hands together was just down right disturbing. Shaking off a shiver, he turned again to his new bride.

  “So, what did you have in mind for Mari anyway?” he asked, warily keeping an eye on the dealer.

  “Honestly, I am not really sure. I just know that she is trying hard to deal with this marriage, that she is not entirely happy with the situation. It has been me and her against the world for so long, and now she not only has to deal with having a father-figure in her life, but one that comes with a child of his own. She needs to know that she is still special to me, to us,” she said, a little misty eyed as she thought of all of the upheaval that had taken place in the last couple of years.

  “You know that the few years that we had her father, she absolutely adored him. She took his death hard, and probably thinks that I am going to leave her too.”

  “I understand honey, I really do, but I wonder if we will be hurting Snow in the process. She has been through just as much as Mari has and probably has some of the same issues. I know that she seems like such a happy, well-adjusted young woman, but she has fears and insecurities as well,” he replied.

  “You know, I didn’t really think about it that way. There are so many things that we all have to get used to, I suppose. I have to remember that I now have two daughters, not just one. That is just one of the things that I love about you. You inspire me to be a better person,” she said in reply.

  “Careful, hon. You keep saying things like that and there won’t be room in our house for my ego, much less anyone else,” he said, laughing delightedly at her words. “You are good for me too, that is why I am sure that everything will work itself out. Why don’t we see if we can find something that the girls can share, considering they will be sharing a room until we can find a larger house?”

  “Sounds like a great plan to me. You are so smart, so thoughtful, so…” she teased, loving their banter.

  “Whoops, there she goes again! Watch it woman, or I won’t be able to get out of the door!” he replied, laughing.

  “Oh, you” she said, laughing good naturedly along with him.

  She grabbed his hand and tugged him further into the store. Charlie walked slowly up the aisles that had been created by the various items being lined up in twisted little rows. She glanced briefly at a vanity set, but decided against it, as it looked as if one good breeze would have it collapsing in on itself. She kept browsing until she stopped short, causing Mark to plow into her back.

  “Ooof! Did you find something?” he asked, rubbing his stomach where it had accidentally collided with her elbow.

  “Sorry, sweetie, but I have an idea and as soon as it popped into my head. I think I might have found it.”

  “So, what did you have in mind, my dear?”

  “I think that a mirror would be something that they could both use, and share. And I absolutely love this one,” she said, as she pointed at a freestanding mirror.

  It had delicate floral patterns that climbed up from the legs, and twined around the top, almost like the creator had let flowering ivy grow around it naturally. There wasn’t a distinctive pattern, as one side had tiny, delicate roses and the other had large, hibiscus blossoms that marched up to the top, where it was crowned with a beautifully inlaid tiara where the blooms mingled together in profusion. The carvings were so realistic that Charlie could almost smell the fragrant flowers.

  “I know it looks a little rough, but I really think that if we clean it up and treat the wood with some polish that it would be gorgeous. In fact, I can’t really explain it, but I know it would be perfect for our girls. Hopefully the two of them will be like the blooms, while they may be different, together they are absolutely gorgeous,” she said, a little breathlessly.

  “Hmm, I don’t know,” Mark said, doubtfully. “It seems a little overdone for a couple of teenagers, you know?”

  “Trust me dear, girls like a little bit of frou-frou every now and then. I want it, more than anything else, I want this for our children,” she replied, looking up at him with a near puppy dog expression.

  “Okay, okay, but please stop looking at me like that!” he begged, not being able to resist her, not that he could resist her anything to start with. But that expression always got him and he was man enough to admit that, even if it was only to himself.

  Feeling particularly worn out, I watched the display between the man and his wife. The pulse I had first detected was fairly faint, but if that ugly old man fondled the surface of my prison one more time I was sure I would be ill.

  When the young woman had begun to search through the trash in the store, I had done my best to reach out to her, planting images in her head of how beautiful my mirror woul
d look in her home, how she couldn’t possibly be happy unless I went home with them. I didn’t realize how difficult that simple exercise would be, as it used to be something that I could with ease. It was one of the ways that I had hooked the attention of the horrid woman who had hurt so many others. There was still a part of me that truly wondered if this would be the best idea, but like I said the creepy little man, well, I couldn’t take him any longer. He worried me more than any potential repercussions of trying to contact someone on the outside again. There were worse fates, I thought, than to be taken home with a loving couple.

  After observing them together in the store, I felt fairly confident that things would be different this time. They were so much in love, the emotion so evident it became tangible. I could nearly feel it myself, trapped as I was in the cold, unfeeling world of a mirror. Seeing them together, I was reminded of a time where I didn’t exist in this freezing prison. Fleetingly, I could feel arms around me and sun on my back, but as quickly as it came, it flew away. I felt so bereft, unable to recall whose arms had been wrapped so lovingly around me. I would be a lot more content if that particular memory had never resurfaced, as once again I was reminded of how lonely my existence had been up to this point.

  Shoving my self-pity to the side, I once again tuned into what was taking place in the real world. The two were standing in front of me now, gazing thoughtfully at the frame. I longed to reveal myself to them, but things now were not what they used to be. Magick seemed to be something that was sorely missing in this world, which was not always the case. But I knew, even without being able to recall the changes that had taken place that this was not the time to try and connect with them. If I did, I could sense that they would flee the store screaming hysterically, leaving me with the scheming dealer.