Donut Leave Me

by Teresa Crumpton

  Donut Leave Me

  Teresa Crumpton

  Copyright © 2018 Teresa Carol Galinari Crumpton

  Cover Design: Kristen Hope Mazzola

  Edited by: Stephanie Taylor

  Formatting: Kristen Hope Mazzola

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, or other status is entirely coincidental.

  Ebooks are not transferable. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever known, not known or hereafter invented, or stored in any storage or retrieval system, is forbidden and punishable by the fullest extent of the law without written permission of the author.

  For more information, contact the author at http://www.teresacrumpton.com

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Need more sweet stories that donut contain carbs? Check out:

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Donut Be Easy

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Introduction

  Dear Reader,

  June 1st is National Donut Day. To celebrate this amazing dessert, a baker’s dozen of authors have come together to create thirteen new stories that are sugar-free and donut contain carbs!

  Each story is a complete standalone. They vary in theme and heat levels.

  We hope you enjoy the donut day collaboration and that we bring you a little something to help satisfy your sweet tooth.

  Please consider reviewing to help your authors.

  Enjoy!

  With love and sprinkles,

  Donut Day Authors

  Dedication

  To all my nieces: This is for you, with love.

  Chapter 1

  Forest

  It’s too damn early for someone to be knocking on my door. I reach for my my phone to see what time it is. If it’s before 10 AM I’m not going to answer. The screen reads 9:40 AM.

  “Go the fuck away, and let me sleep,” I growl, knowing damn well the person pounding on my door can’t hear me.

  “Are you going to get that?” the woman next to me mumbles, and for the life of me, I can’t remember her name.

  She’s the first woman I’ve brought back to my place in weeks. I toss the covers off and slip out of bed, grabbing my sweats off the floor and stepping into them as I stumble my way to the front door. There are shuffling sounds coming from my room, and I guess my one night stand is getting dressed. Thank fuck I won’t have to kick her out when I go back to bed.

  I glance through the peephole and freeze. The chick knocking on my door looks vaguely familiar, but if this is who I’m thinking she might be, I haven’t seen her in years. Somewhere around eight years I’d guess. Hell, I’ve even moved since then. A few times. I flip the locks and unchain the door before opening it.

  It’s fucking bright out, so I have to squint at the woman. “Can I help you?”

  “Forest?” she asks, wrapping her arms over her chest. “Forest Jenson?”

  I swear this can’t be who she reminds me of. Hallie had curves that wouldn’t quit and was built. This woman is practically skin and bones.

  “I’m Forest Jenson. Is there something I can do for you?” I’m hoping she’ll actually tell me why she’s at my door this time, and I can answer her question and get back in my bed soon. It’s too early for this shit.

  “Sorry, yes. May I come in? This conversation would be better if you’re sitting down,” she continues, but I’m leery of letting her in my apartment. “Also… Uh... can I ask you to put on a shirt? This discussion is going to be difficult enough without staring at your chest and tattoos.”

  I glance down at myself and shrug. The woman has balls, I’ll give her that. The fact that I’m not sure if I know her is only one reason I hesitate. The other reason has to do with the crazy-ass bitch my friend and coworker, Wes, is dating. I don’t want to invite that brand of crazy into my home. But looking at this woman and her frailty makes me think better of leaving her standing on the stoop. I open the door wider and step back, giving her a silent invitation and space to enter.

  The chick from my bed walks out of my room. She’s completely rumpled. Walk of shame doesn’t look good on you.

  “Umm. I’m going to go,” she mumbles, grabbing her purse and coverup on the way out.

  “Sure.” I continue to hold the door open for her.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize you had company,” my new guest apologizes. “I should go. Maybe this was a bad idea.” She bites her bottom lip and turns to head toward the door I’m still holding open.

  I hold up my hand in the universal “stop” signal at her. There is no fucking way I’m letting her leave now. I’m all too curious to hear what she has to say at this point.

  My date from last night steps outside and tells me over her shoulder, “I left my number next to your phone. Call me.”

  “Sure.” She turns and saunters off, and I close the door behind her then face the newcomer. “Now what can I do for you?”

  “Your… uh shirt... please?” She walks toward the couch.

  “Seriously? You come to my place, get me out of my warm bed too damn early, and you want me to put on a shirt?”

  “Yes. Please?”

  “Fine,” I grumble at her. “Do you know how to make coffee? I think I’m going to need it. You start the coffee, I’ll get my shirt on.” I raise my eyebrow at her.

  She nods, places her purse on my coffee table, and points in the direction she assumes my kitchen is with raised eyebrows as if asking for my confirmation.

  Wonder if she knows how to make French press coffee? Screw it. I’m not even going to ask.

  “Yeah, kitchen’s that way,” I nod in the direction she’s pointing, “and the coffee should be on the counter. I have a Keurig, so make yourself a cup too if you’d like. By the way, you wanna tell me your name?”

  She stops dead in her tracks and very slowly faces me. “You don’t remember my name?”

  “Lady, I barely remember my own some days and, while you look oddly familiar, the person you remind me of I haven’t seen in about eight years.” I cross my arms over my chest, still waiting for her answer.

  “You’re right. Good point. Fuck. This really is going to be harder than I thought.” She blows out a long breath. “Forget the shirt, and you’re gonna want something stronger than coffee. Can I sit?” She motions to my couch.

  I nod and move to lean against the doorframe, my arms remaining crossed. Something feels off with this chick, and I’m beginning to think it was a bad idea to let her in.

  She lets out another breath as she takes a seat. “I had this awesome speech prepared, but that was when I thought you’d recognize me. I realize I look nothing like what I used to. Well, ‘nothing’ isn’t really the right term, but…. Anyway, my name is Hallie Hartley.” Hearing her name nearly stops my heart. This frail woman can’t be Hallie. She keeps talking, and I’m pretty damn sure I’ve missed something she’s said. “I know we lost c
ontact after that one night, but I’m still best friends with your sister, Piper. In fact, she’s the reason I’m here.”

  “Hallie Hartley.” I stare at her, my arms falling to my sides as I push off the doorframe. Now that I know it’s her, I can see more of her features that I remember. But still… she’s so frail. “It’s been years. Why did Piper send you to me now?” What the hell are you doing, Piper?

  “Yeah, it’s been seven years and about nine months, to be exact. The night of Nessa’s engagement, Piper drug me out to celebrate with everyone.” She rubs the back of her neck, the gesture pulling my attention to her hair. It’s a lot different than it used to be.

  It had been long and lush; now it’s in a cute pixie cut and not really something I’d picture a cheerleader having. Is she still a cheerleader? Didn’t Piper say Hallie had joined her squad?

  “Seven or eight years sounds about right. Not to be rude, but I’m not really understanding why Piper, or you, would want to have this walk down memory lane after all this time. If I remember right, two weeks after our night together you were trying out to be a professional cheerleader with my sister.”

  “I did. And I made the team, in fact. At least for part of a season. But a few months later, I had to quit." She stares down at her hands as she fidgets with them, and there’s this long, awkward pause before she speaks again.

  "I… uh… couldn't cheer and be pregnant at the same time," she confesses so quietly that I'm not really sure I hear her right.

  "Pregnant?" I choke out, my voice shaky even to my own ears. I cross my arms again as if to protect myself. Shit! Dammit! FUCK! This can NOT be happening! "Hallie....” My voice cracks so I clear my throat and try again. “What the hell are you here to tell me? Are you telling me that… uh that one night we spent together....” My voice is stronger now. “Holy hell! You got pregnant that night?!” I roar. “And why the fuck are you just now telling me?" She flinches, and I know my tone sounds harsher than I want it to, but I can't help that. I'm quickly moving from stunned to pissed.

  “Yes.” She speaks the word softly and meekly, which is nothing like I remember Hallie being. “Even with all of our precautions, somehow I got pregnant that night. I didn’t say anything to you because by the time I realized it, I was dating someone else. Plus, I wasn’t living anywhere near you. You had a good job, and so did I, and I didn’t want to mess that up for either of us,” Hallie admits, glancing at me but unwilling to keep eye contact.

  There’s no fucking way I have a child!

  “So you figured what? I wouldn’t want to know I had a child? That I wouldn’t support you both? That I wouldn’t try to make us a family? That I’d deprive you, and my child, of a stable home?” I snarl, my temper flaring again as I begin to pace.

  “It wasn’t like that Forest, I swear! I knew you’d do anything for your family, but I also knew you loved working with your friends. Piper talked about everything you were doing... daily. And, no she didn’t know I was pregnant with your child. So please don’t be pissed at her,” Hallie pleads with tortured eyes.

  Knowing that little bit helps calm me slightly, but Piper has to know something now for her to send Hallie to me at this point.

  “Look, I wanted to raise Isabella, I call her Ella, myself, and yes, it’s been hard. But I thought it would be best for everyone. Did I make a bad decision? Possibly. But your life was here, and mine was not. I’m a cheerleader, and a sports trainer. My life was with the team I was working for, and your life was here... cooking. I’m sorry.”

  “So what? Now you need my help?” I glower at her as I pace.

  “Ella and I both need your help,” she admits sadly, and I stop dead in my tracks.

  Why would they both need my help? I take a moment to look more closely at Hallie and realize I can see her bones, she’s so thin. Even for a cheerleader, she’s too thin. And for the first time, I really notice what’s she’s wearing. It’s August here in Austin, and she’s in long pants and a form-fitting, long-sleeved shirt.

  “Why Hallie? Why do y’all need my help now?”

  “Because…” she hesitates. “...I’m dying, Forest. And I’d rather our daughter be with you than in a foster home, or even with my family, for that matter,” Hallie finishes, finally making eye contact with me and holding it.

  “Fuck!” My throat goes dry, and I swallow hard.

  “You can say that again.” She scratches her hair and all of it shifts slightly. I must stare at her head for longer than I think because Hallie explains, “It’s a wig. One of many. I lost all my hair during chemo.”

  Cancer?! Mother. Fucker!

  “I’m sorry.” I’m finally able to force the words out. “How long have you been sick?” I’m at a total loss as to how to deal with all of this. I’m still pissed, because how many sucker-punches to the gut can I take in one conversation? But… she’s dying, so I shouldn’t be so harsh.

  “They found the ovarian cancer while I was pregnant with Ella. During the pregnancy they couldn’t do much to treat it, mainly because I wasn’t willing to give up Ella. The doctors told me she might be the only biological child I could have, depending on the treatment. And, against their better judgement, I decided to keep her.” Tears fill Hallie’s eyes as I move closer to her and the couch.

  “You- you kept our baby, despite what the doctors told you?” I’m floored and in awe of her bravery. My temper quickly deflates.

  “Yeah. Piper was there for that part, but I still didn’t tell her the baby was her niece or nephew,” she chuckles softly.

  I slowly ease myself down next to her on the couch. “I’m sorry you went through all that without help besides my sister. Hallie, I’m really trying to understand why you waited this long to tell me about our child. Especially knowing you were sick. Am I on her birth certificate?”

  “No,” she admits, quickly adding, “But only because I didn’t want Piper to find out you are Ella’s father. I didn’t think she’d respect my wishes and not tell you. Or Nessa for that matter. Right after Ella was born, the doctors told me I wouldn’t have long. But... then they were hopeful that I would have more years because I’d started treatments and, for a while, they worked. Obviously I’m not that lucky, though. The cancer returned, and the treatments aren’t working anymore.” Her voice is shaky, and I watch as tears begin to fall. “When they told me the cancer was back, I knew I’d made the right decision not to tell you, only so that I could have that short amount of time with Ella all to myself. Yes, it was extremely selfish, but I knew you’d have so many more years with her.” She’s sobbing now, and tears keep rolling down her face as she’s trying to wipe them away.

  “Dammit Hallie,” I whisper. I want to say more, but in some respects I can understand why she did what she did. Hell, I don’t even know if I’d have done anything differently if I was her. Still….

  “I know.” She deflates a little more, and I can see the toll this conversation is taking on her. “In the short time I have left, I want to help get you and Ella settled.”

  I run my hand through my hair. “Fuck. Hallie, how do you expect me to get settled with Ella when I’ve never even met her? Not to mention, my life is here in Austin and, if I remember right, you live down in Houston.”

  “Piper wasn’t wrong when she told me to do this sooner,” she mumbles.

  I interrupt her before she can say more. “How long has my sister known I have a child? And I want the truth,” I bite out.

  “Before I answer that, know that Piper wanted me to tell you the truth as soon as she found out, but I’m the one that wouldn’t let her share anything with you. That’s also the reason she doesn’t call much. After Ella was born, and I started treatment, Piper and I moved in together. It made sense to me, because Ella would be with family even if Piper didn’t know Ella was her niece. As Ella got older, more of your family’s features started showing on her, and Piper put two and two together. She was pissed, but at the same time, we were just finding out that the cancer was more
aggressive than the doctors originally thought. That was about five years ago.”

  “Piper’s known for five fucking years?” I yell, popping off the couch to pace some more.

  “Yes, and she and I have a monthly fight over that fact. Last year she talked me into looking at jobs here in Austin. About three months ago, I was offered a position at the University. I took it as a sign. However, it turns out it wasn’t the sign I was hoping for. Two weeks ago at my last check up, the doctors said the treatments weren’t working anymore, and the cancer is spreading.”

  I stop pacing and spin to face her, my fight leaving me just that quickly once again. “Hallie, I’m so fucking sorry.”

  She shrugs as if resigned to the fact she is dying. “It is what it is. Ella and I have been in the city for a little over three weeks so we could get settled in before I start my first day on the job. I’m in talks with the University to see if Piper can take over my position soon. During the off-seasons, she went back to school to finish her education to be a sports trainer. After I got my job, she thought it might be a good idea to see if she could find a job here as well, to help with the transition. We just didn’t realize this would all happen so quickly.”

  My breath catches, and I try to clear my throat, but it won’t clear. “Three weeks, and I’m just now seeing you?” I run my hand through my hair. “You want Ella to stay with Piper?” I am so confused.

  “No, sorry. This is all coming out so jumbled,” she huffs out. Taking a deep breath, she continues. “What I mean is, I think Ella needs to be with you, not Piper. I’m just saying you’ll have someone that Ella knows close by.” Hallie glances around my apartment. “I might suggest you move in to my place, though, and take over the lease. That is, if you’re up for it. It will keep things a little more stable for Ella.”