by Tey Holden
Read an excerpt:
“You are my biological daughter, and I have a scar on my belly to prove it, but when Addy and I agreed to have you, it was not I who initially dreamed you.”
Alex listened in awe. “Never, do you hear me? Never, ever in my wildest dream did I think I would ever have a child, it was Addy who wanted you.” She emphasized the last statement. “She created you in her mind and convinced me to have you.” She paused noticing that Alex was surprised. Karen smirked. “It gets better.” Alex continued to listen. “She wanted me to have a baby because I had no blood family, and because she thought that if anything ever happened to her I wouldn’t be left in this world without anyone to love. The baby she wanted, she wanted for me, not for her.” Karen’s jaw clenched, and Alex could see the muscles in her mother’s face tighten. Alex was numb, watching and listening.
“So, the only reason in the world for which I had you was because that woman downstairs wanted you, and because she asked me to have you. I had you because I love her, and because I would never deny her anything. In other words, she wanted you for me, and I had you for her. Do you understand that? Do you see what happened? We planned you and we wanted you, but we each wanted you for the other. Such is our love for each other and for you.” Alex was in tears.
“And she was with me every single second of those terrible nine months. Through morning sickness, vomiting, and the living hell that it was. She was there all the time. She was also there when the doctor delivered you, and it was she who took you in her arms straight from my belly when the doctor handed you over to her. She later took care of both of us. And I’m certain that you wouldn’t have survived childhood had it not been for her because I couldn’t even figure out how to feed you!” Karen paused while Alex continued to sniffle.
“There’s more. If you take a look at the adoption papers, you will notice that they are dated the very same day you were born. All the papers had been drafted months in advance because I wanted it that way. I wanted you to be as much hers as mine. In fact, the day you were born, I told her that you were my gift of love to her. I would have never had you, had it not been for her.” Karen was now in tears also. “You are hers as much as mine. I only carried you in my body, and later facilitated in whatever way I could, in my very clumsy way, for the past fifteen years.”
Alex was sobbing when Karen got up to leave. From the door, she said her final words. “She may not be your biological mother, but if you are here today it is only because of her. The woman you think is ‘like a mother to you,’ is more than your mother, she’s your god!” Karen’s voice cracked. “She created you, she loves you, and she has also already forgiven you. And no one raises her voice, or offends her in my presence. Not even you.” Karen left the room emotionally shaken and with tears in her eyes. Alex remained in her room again sobbing.
Connection
Convinced by her best friend to change her old phone for a new one, Wally stops at a phone store, and is captivated by the astonishing sales manager. Thinking that she has no chance to score with the sexy brunette, she uses her phone to get her attention and becomes entangled in a family affair that takes her directly into the brunette’s heart. Through her newfound love, she finally makes peace with a tormenting past and begins a totally unexpected and surprising life.
Read an excerpt:
“What’s with the haircut?”
“You like it?”
“No.”
Bobby laughed. “You are the only person around here who dares to speak her mind, you, and you know who else!”
“And?”
“I hate the haircut too.”
“Why did you do it then?”
“I thought Cindy would hate it and not like me. Now I’m kind of sorry I did. I feel stupid and Sarah didn’t wait much to make a move. Looks like they’ve become pals. Did they come together? They might be sleeping together, for all I now.”
“I don’t think Cindy is the type that sleeps around. But they did arrive together. I wouldn’t blame Sarah if she made a move, though. Cindy is a catch.” Wally planted some doubts to see Bobby’s reaction.
“Thanks a lot for your comforting words, pal.”
“Well, what do you expect? They are both healthy, good looking women.” Bobby shook her head in a show of disapproval of Wally’s words. But she knew Wally had a good point.
“Did you really think she’d stop caring for you if you looked like a freak?”
“Geez, thanks Wally! You are really hitting where it hurts tonight.”
Wally laughed. “When people care about each other, looks don’t count. They also tend to tell things like they are.”
Bobby smiled shyly when Wally winked. “I think Sarah is a friend, but whether she has an ulterior interest, I don’t know. I do know that if you don’t mark your territory, it’s up for grabs, so that’s that. Come on let’s get something to eat.” Bobby followed Wally, but looked towards Cindy who was having an animated conversation with Sarah and Lisa.
As night fell, they sat in a circle near the grill and ate and talked about the work plan for the next day. Everyone protested when Wally announced that she wanted to start as early as seven in the morning.
“Come on, Wally! We drove seven hours to get here, after a full workday. We are all tired.” Bobby exclaimed. Cindy smiled and looked at Wally and then at Bobby. Bobby had been looking at her, but averted her eyes when she saw Cindy look her way.
“You didn’t come here to vacation, you came here to work. We have a lot to do this weekend. You can rest when you get back home.” Wally reminded them.
Kalie got up to put her plastic plate in the trashcan and spoke. “Face it people, when you signed up for this work camp, it was the kiss of death. Now we have no alternative than to submit to Ms. slave driver here. So, suck it up! I wouldn’t want to leave here thinking that all you lesbos are a bunch of wimpy girls who can’t get up early. I mean, the way I see it, you have a r-e-p-u-t-a-t-i-o-n to protect!” She accentuated every letter in the word.
Jim, Wally, Dannie and Theresa laughed, the others began to throw paper cups, and napkins rolled into balls at her. Kalie ran, laughing and hid behind the RV. Everyone ran after her screaming.
