by Suzie
Paul cried to Marie, telling her that we’d had a fight before I left the house. And then, although I shouted, “No! Don’t tell her that,” he couldn’t hear me and proceeded to give her the details of his affair with Beth. I tried to put my ear near the phone so I could hear Marie’s response because I knew she’d be furious with him. As selfish as they come, he’d only be thinking of himself. She must have said something to him about not wanting to hear the details because he gave up. My family wouldn’t be his audience, so he said good-bye, he’d let her know when the funeral was going to take place, and hung up the phone.
Opening the pizza box for a slice, the news evidently hadn’t affected his appetite. I was sticking to him like glue, afraid I might miss something if I wasn’t vigilant, when I saw a look come over his face. He looked down at the paper plate he held in his hand, at the slice of pizza he’d placed there, and then at the box with the missing slices.
Hesitating, I saw him glance over at the TV and then at the coffee table. Walking to the TV, he picked up the remote and pressed eject. The movie I’d stuck in the CD player slowly popped out. Looking down at the table with my untouched slice of pizza on the paper plate, I could almost see the wheels turning again. Blood rushing from his face, now white as a ghost, he picked up the plate and went into the kitchen, throwing it in the trash.
Back in the living room, he looked for something; maybe the movie case. I went to the couch, finding it between the cushions and put it on the coffee table. There is slight lapse in my reality, just enough that he couldn’t see me move the case. Within seconds, it appeared on the coffee table, scaring him so that he jumped back with a shout. I liked that reaction! I started laughing. Walking backward, away from the living room, the disbelief was clear. I’d made my presence known. I didn’t want to scare him; however, I wanted him to tell me more, to give me some closure.
I opened my purse and reached in for my wallet. That effort of taking the wallet meant for holding cash triggered something in my mind and important memories flooded it, information that would propel me toward closure. I remembered I had six one-hundred dollar bills stashed away in my underwear drawer. It’s my lottery ticket money. I work hard for a paycheck, and playing lotto is one of my few guilty pleasures. Paul hated it. So when I won, I didn’t tell him; I held on to the money.
Looking through my wallet, I found tickets for the next drawing, and my winning ticket. They were going to Marie. I would visit her after I had my way with Paul. He’d disappeared into the back of the apartment; vapors don’t enter occupied bathrooms or bedrooms, it’s simply not our nature. But everything else is fair game.
When the bedroom was clear, I got the money out of my drawer, hidden in layers of clothing. Touching my underthings and personal items made me feel a little melancholy, one last time. I’d lived here with Paul for a short period of my life. The only things left of me in the apartment would hopefully be taken care of by Marie so Beth wouldn’t touch it I vacillated between wanting to give the money to my sister and leaving a surprise for Paul, deciding to divide it between the two.
Back in the kitchen, I took the scissors, formerly used to cut up chicken, to Paul’s share of my money. I cut it into one-inch pieces, making a neat pile on his computer keyboard. It was so satisfying! Just a little remembrance from me to my husband. I couldn’t stick around to watch the discovery because the satisfaction would finalize everything for me. And before that happened, I needed to go to Marie.
***
I hope you enjoyed Vapor. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to my email list at Suzannejenkins.net to received periodic installments of Memory of the Color Yellow, my Science Fiction/Romance series.
You’ll also receive a FREE download of First Sight-When Pam and Jack Met, the prequel to the Pam of Babylon Series.
#1 Pam of Babylon Always FREE! Long Island housewife Pam Smith is called to the hospital after her husband Jack suffers a heart attack on the train from Manhattan. It is the beginning of a journey of self-discovery and sadness, growth and regrets, as she realizes a wife and mother’s worst nightmare.
#2 Don’t You Forget About Me Jack’s wife and two lovers discover secrets and lies, and each other. The family begins to sift through the evidence of a life of deceit, putting together the pieces left behind by Jack.
#3 Dream Lover A gritty, realistic portrait of the aftermath of deceit, more pieces of the puzzle come together as the women each attempt to go on living in the wake of despair. Jack’s lovers scatter as Cindy tries to move forward, Blythe discovers a way to live without him, and other make their way to the beach for an audience with Pam.
#4 Prayers for the Dying Pam makes startling revelations about herself, while Sandra hopes for a future with exciting expectations. Marie is in a most unlikely place, with the happiest news in the bleakest circumstances. Ashton’s story of a lifetime love affair with Jack is finally told, with his heartache revealed.
#5 Family Dynamics Heartbreak and devastation move toward triumph in the fifth installation of the Pam of Babylon series. Pam is at last able to overcome the pain of Jack’s rejection, and her own role in perpetuating his deviance, when she meets Dan and falls in love. Her children move on with their lives in ways Pam would have never believed. Sandra fulfills her dreams with Tom, and a gift from Marie helps to complete their life together. Ashton and Ted build a beautiful life, and new discoveries make it richer than they thought possible, but with a twist. But don’t be deceived; what you hope for is not what you may get.
#6 The Tao of Pam Pam is at a crossroad which will take her to the next phase of her life, if she chooses the right path. Brent and Lisa move on, dealing with their own life choices and Pam pays the cost. But does what she has to do to maintain a life of harmony.
#7 In Memoriam In Memoriam begins with the birth of a baby boy to Pam’s former boyfriend, Dan and daughter, Lisa as the journey of Pam of Babylon continues in this seventh volume. Still reeling from the death of her beloved son Brent, Pam endures life at the beach with remarkable strength. Sandra tries to balance several versions of her life while striving to be part of the Smith legacy. Lisa rises above circumstances that would destroy most, with determination. But don't be too impressed; history does have a way of repeating itself.
We’re Just Friends: Short Story Prequel to #8 A short story meant to fill in details after Book #7 In Memoriam and before Book #8 Soulmates. Events occur that the reader may want to know about, but Jason and Sandra do their best to keep hidden.
#8 Soulmates Pam faces new challenges with glamour and poise, while Sandra doesn't disappoint, and Lisa discovers new strengths. "Women's fiction with a touch of noir."
#9 Save the Date Pam and John plan their wedding, while love and healing grow around the couple. Lisa and Dan split up, and the day he leaves, she finds peace. Sandra and Dan make a commitment to each other, but for how long? John’s daughter, Violet makes major life changes and the grandmothers find adventure…and love. An old friend from Pam’s childhood returns with troublemaking in mind, but Karma is on Pam’s side, at last.
Julie Hsu: Short Story Prequel to #10 Julie Hsu comes back on the scene at the end of Save the Date, Book #9. Brent Smith was the love of her life from the age of 16, but their relationship couldn't survive the damage which surfaced after Jack died. Julie has one goal now-can you guess? Contains spoilers for those who haven't read Book #9.
#10 I’ll Always Love You The women; Bernice, Nelda, Pam, Lisa, Violet, Cara and little Miranda rise up in power in this tale of triumph and love. But there are a few proverbial flies in the ointment. Can you guess whom?
A Good Beach Day: a FREE Pam of Babylon Short Story - While John’s away on a business trip, Pam faces the truth about her marriage. To John, not Jack!
#11 Beach Spirits Pam wrestles with spirits, living and dead as the past haunts her.
#12 South Shore Romance At last, with everything aligned perfectly, and her family occupied, Pam finds romance, love
, excitement and joy with Senator Charlie Monroe and his rescued Greyhound, Margaret. But swirling around her are the antics of Dan and Julie and their exciting but exasperating relationship, the elders living a riotous life jet-setting between Babylon, Great Neck, and Florida, Alison and Diana spending more and more time with Miranda, Lisa and Ryan Maddox discovering bonds they never thought possible, Sandra finding true love, and last but not least, Sister Mary Joseph, settling in to a life of comfort and privilege at the beach. What could possibly go wrong?
#13 Meet Me at the Beach Pam, Lisa, Nelda, Sister Mary and Sandra seek hints of their destiny in the next installment of Pam of Babylon. Disappointments and challenges surprise Pam, but when one door closes, another always opens for her. Romance swirls around as friends and neighbors learn that perfect someone is right down the beach. A wedding shakes things up; a discovery is made during the honeymoon, and a love triangle is formed when Lisa opens her heart again. Things seem to be on the right path finally, but as usual, a secret of Jack’s is exposed, shaking it up once again.
Gladys and Ed’s Big Adventure Short Story Prequel to #14 Pam’s Adventures in Babylon
Beautiful Heartbreaker A Pam of Babylon Novella Don’t look now, but Jack Smith is right behind you,” Marian whispered. A flush of pleasure cruised through Genevieve’s body, but later, she thought it might have been a warning.
The years of Jack Smith’s coming of age occurred during the best and worst times in Manhattan's history. The son of Upper West Side elitists, raised with the best of everything, one secret aspect of his childhood set him apart from others in his class.
Beautiful Heartbreaker tells the story of Jack’s transformation from a young, innocent boy to a larger than life icon who took the city by storm.
For followers of Pam of Babylon, Beautiful Heartbreaker fills in some of the blanks his death left unanswered. Will the mystery of Jack ever be unlocked?
#14 Pam’s Adventures in Babylon Coming Winter 2016
Pam of Babylon Video
~ ~ ~
Perfect for Him Romance in the time of death, Perfect for Him skims the surface of a marriage before plunging into the abyss of heartbreak. Perfect for Him is a tale of two lovers whose lifetime romance sustains them, as an unwanted ending looms in the near future. Pathos and heartbreak intermingles with expectation and the comedy that only a close-knit family can generate. At the end, joy and hope reign, thanks to Harley’s unselfish love.
Perfect for Him Video
~ ~
The Greeks of Beaubien Street is the first book in The Greektown Stories. Although it may be read as a stand-alone novel, character development is on the continuum of all the books in the series.
Nestled below the skyline of Detroit you’ll find Greektown, a few short blocks of colorful bliss, warm people and Greek food. In spite of growing up immersed in the safety of her family and their rich culture, Jill Zannos doesn’t fit in. A Detroit homicide detective, she manages to keep one foot planted firmly in the traditions started by her grandparents, while the other navigates the most devastated neighborhoods in the city she can’t help but love. She is a no-nonsense workaholic with no girlfriends, an odd boyfriend who refuses to grow up, and an uncanny intuition, inherited from her mystic grandmother that acts as her secret weapon to crime-solving success. Her story winds around tales of her family and their secret-laden history, while she investigates the most despicable murder of her career.
The Greeks of Beaubien Street is a modern tale of a family grounded in old world, sometimes archaic, tradition as they seek acceptance in American society. They could be any nationality, but they are Greek.
The Princess of Greektown Jill investigates the messiest crime of her career, while her family suffers a loss that changes the way life will be lived in Greektown.
Christmas in Greektown As Christmastime approaches, the family prepares for another get-together in Greektown. Relationships blossom and some end during the hardest time of the year. But as Jill and others discover, when one door closes, another opens, often with more wonderful opportunities.
A Greektown Wedding After Christmas was over, the family could finally focus on other things, like love! The jam-packed fourth volume of the Greektown Stories Saga, A Greektown Wedding takes you on the emotional roller coaster the other books introduced you to as the Zannos's have another family dinner in Greektown, but this time with a wedding.
Greek Style coming Fall, 2016
The Greektown Books Video
The Burn District Series
Burn District: The Short Story Prequel Laura and Mike Davis and their four children build an idyllic life with friends and family nearby in the beautiful Brandywine River Valley. Dreams and goals come to an abrupt end soon after Hurricane Sandy hits the east coast. Discovered in wood soaked by seawater, a virus thought to have the potential to decimate the population becomes the excuse to relocate thousands of citizens from beach towns. Fire is the only known way to eradicate the virus.
Rumors spread that napalm is used to burn without evacuating the people. A neighbor warns Laura and Mike that their town is next as the destruction moves inland. Is it a drastic way to halt the spread of disease, or is there another catalyst?
Burn District 1 The family flees to Steve Hayward’s ranch in the desert at the Mexican Border, outside of Yuma, Arizona to build an encampment there. The government no longer exists. Lies, looting and lack of power are now the norm of life in the United States. Believers and Rumors coexist, as life appears to reach normalcy. But it will be short-lived.
Burn District 2 After the New Year, Jenna Hayward regretfully accepted that she had waited too long to leave Jacksonville for her father's Arizona ranch. An unknown benefactor provided buses for the stragglers last minute exodus. While she waited to board with the other doubters, her sister, Laura, and father, Steve toiled along with the rest of the camp dwellers, attempting to turn the barren desert into a homestead.
At the end of book #1, as they tried to settle in to a new life, waves of pandemonium hitting the camp became the new normal. The camp dwellers asked themselves if they'd found asylum in the desert, or was the illusion of safety a flimsy veil?
~ ~ ~
Alice’s Summertime Adventure
We meet Alice Bradshaw when she is at a crossroad. She’s just beaten cancer and is suddenly unsure of what her next move should be. Looking back on where she’s been and what the future may hold, she knows she needs to make a big change in her life. Then her car dies on the highway after an argument with her daughter. Dave, a stranger on a motorcycle, pulls alongside her and saves the day. He offers Alice a chance at adventure. She jumps on it, much to the dismay of her children. The adventure starts a chain of events that will have Alice and her children, as well as Dave, questioning every aspect of their lives. There will be a few casualties along the way, a lot of anger, life changes and a few shocking surprises. Alice’s Summertime Adventure is the story of an average American family as they struggle with dilemmas we all have, and making choices that aren’t for everyone.
Someone Like You
Life gets in the way as upstate NY sisters, Marley and Abigail cling to each other and their young children. But a babysitter introduces them both to Jay Malik, a medical student from India who becomes their lifeline to happiness, forgiveness and healing. "Another tear-jerker from Jenkins. Have the tissue ready."
The Savant of Chelsea
From Publisher’s Weekly April 2014 "This gripping novel from Jenkins delivers complex twists and turns from start to finish. Alexandra Donicka is a talented but unstable brain surgeon living in New York City. When her mother dies, Alexandra travels to New Orleans to face the tragedies and secrets of her youth. These include childhood abuse and the birth of a child, who was taken from Alexandra by her mother more than two decades ago. As Alexandra searches for her daughter, she must grapple with long-hidden emotions and discover her own humanity. Jenkins creates fully realized, believable characters a
nd ably portrays mental illness in this dark tale that provides nonstop thrills and culminates in an explosive and unexpected finale."
Gracefully, Like a Living Thing: The Sequel to The Savant of Chelsea
So many possibilities existed at the explosive ending of The Savant of Chelsea. The author wanted readers to believe whatever they wanted. The doctor lives out her new life as a mother while the pendulum swings between lucidity and abject insanity.
Slow Dancing After midnight, a mysterious stranger appears at the edge of the woods and the peaceful life fifteen-year-old Ellen Fisher has with her beloved stepfather Frank is turned upside down. Small town gossip, jealousy and murder strive to tear them apart in a tale of secrets and unrequited love.
The Liberation of Ravenna Morton Ravenna Morton is an American Indian woman living a very old-fashioned life in a primitive cabin at the edge of the Kalamazoo River. Facing modern problems when her lifelong affair with a Greek artist is closely examined by their children after a child she gave up for adoption dies, The Liberation of Ravenna Morton captures the small-town dynamic of a family's private secrets being exposed to the world. A poignant look at the melding of two Americanized cultures observed under a microscope.
