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2022-10-26 14:20:22Related chapters
Unexpected Arrivals James
It was funny how everyone else's life was falling into place, and mine suddenly seemed to spiral out of control. I'd all but forgotten about the incident earlier this fall. I'd hired an attorney in hopes of getting out of the DWI charges, and he'd assured me he'd take care of it. For what I paid him, I allowed him to carry the weight of that stress and hadn't thought about it since. "James Carpenter," I announced when I answered the phone in my office. "James. Scott Brawley." "Hey." I wasn't interested in the pleasantries of conversation when I paid this guy by the quarter of an hour. He needed to get to the point in the next fourteen minutes. "Got a couple options for you." He acted like I was buying a car, not my background check. Being in the financial industry, my record needed to stay squeaky clean—any mark could cause a backlash for the company. "Lay it on me." "No one wants to bother taking this to court, which plays in our favor." "I'm listen
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
When relationships shift, the person being left behind starts to notice the nuances of how things have changed. And the subtle differences ate away at me with regard to Cora. I'd always been her number one, we'd done everything together, made every decision as a couple—or so I'd thought. When I looked back on the two major ones, she'd followed me both times. It hadn't been about what was best for her; I hadn't considered what she'd needed—just how it would have impacted me not to have her around. Cora now had a life I wasn't involved in. Between work and school, she'd become just as busy as I was, and coupled with my schedule, we almost never saw each other. When we did find a few moments alone, all I heard about was how wonderful Drake Halifax was and all the plans he had for her career—none of which were in New York. "He's considering me for a new office, James." She squealed with delight. "Drake?" The way she rolled her eyes reminded me of a child who thought I'
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James: Part Two
I hadn't heard from her since the day she'd left. My goal had been to give her time to miss me and realize she'd made a mistake. However, as the days turned into weeks without any communication, my willpower waned, and I thought my sanity would follow shortly behind. Two shots of tequila turned into four at a bar down the street from our house. I'd become quite the regular in an attempt to avoid my apartment, my best friend and his perfect romance, and the room I'd shared with the only woman I'd ever loved. And after the fifth shot, the drunk dialing started to take shape, and the closer I came to resembling a blubbering idiot than James Carpenter. "Don't do it, dude." I had my phone in my hand, studying it as though it were the holy grail and held the secrets of life. Instead of staring at the screen, daring myself to dial her number, I peered up at Rex, the bartender who'd listened to more of my personal hell in the last few weeks than a priest heard confessions.
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
I quickly realized that in the two years we'd lived in New York, I hadn't managed to make a single friend I could hang out with. The four of us had been perfectly content to hang out together like we always had. The girls had met people at school, but they only saw them between classes. Neil and I hadn't ventured outside of the office, and the only other people we worked with were women. That would have been a recipe for disaster, and it was one I'd never considered out of respect for Cora. However, now that I had time on my hands and my best friend was still in a committed relationship, being the third wheel wasn't all that appealing—not to mention, Hannah was like a damn parrot who repeated everything she heard. I hadn't dated anyone other than Cora since I was a teenager. I didn't have a clue how to meet people in a city this size, and I didn't have a wingman to work the social scene. Regardless of the fact I'd never lacked for confidence, this town was daunting when flying sol
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
"I'm Collette." She stuck her hand out in an introduction, completely throwing me off. "Carp. Nice to meet you." "I haven't seen you here before." She paused to get the attention of one of the males behind the counter, who simply nodded as if he knew what she wanted without asking. Then she turned her bright eyes back to me. "First time?" "Yeah. You a regular?" I didn't think I'd ever get used to the difference in women in New York versus those in the South. I welcomed the more forward approach—it took off some of the pressure. She laughed. "You could say that." Bridgette returned with a smile that could light up the room, although it wasn't directed at me. "Hey, Letty. What the hell are you doing here?" "Turns out I have no life outside these walls." "You need anything?" "No, Eric got it. Thanks." "You work here?" I asked when she turned her attention back to me. It was the only plausible explanation based on the conversation. "Yep, b
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
I didn't get another message from Cora for several days, and I had refused to let myself reach out to her. In the meantime, I buried myself in work, and then Letty. I'd never met a woman like this—perfectly comfortable in who she was and no expectations other than a good time. I gladly provided her with what she asked for, and I loved being with a woman who just wanted to hang out, dance, drink, and fuck—without jealousy or the promise of another day. Hannah, on the other hand, didn't like much of anything I did these days—sadly for her, she didn't get a vote. I knew she still talked to Cora, mainly because she didn't try to hide it—not that I expected her to. Hannah failed to recognize that Cora left me; I didn't leave Cora—so I wasn't sure why Hannah expected me to sit at home and pine away for a girl who'd moved to the City of Love without her soulmate. Yet Hannah's growing disapproval of my life created a chasm between my best friend and me. I would never ask him to choose be
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
After another long day, I packed up my office and headed to Sideways Shots. I needed the distraction, and home was a lonely place these days. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me away before I sat at the bar. I rolled my eyes and groaned at the sight of my mom's face appearing on the screen, her name flashing like a warning sign. As I answered the call, I turned around and walked out to the sidewalk to hear her better. "Hi, Mom." "Son, that's hardly any greeting for your mother. You could pretend to be a little enthusiastic." No one was around to see the finger gun I'd put to my temple and motioned pulling the trigger. It was melodramatic and probably insensitive to some group out there, but she grated on my nerves. And this pacified my desire to be disrespectful to her. "What's up?" I ignored her need for me to stroke her already inflated ego. "Your father's fiftieth birthday party is just a few weeks away, son. You're planning to come home, right?"
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
"So you're really going back to Geneva?" Neil was dumbfounded I hadn't found a way to get out of my dad's birthday week. "I don't have a choice. It's just a few days. Plus, he wants to talk business. I have no idea what that means, but if there's even a remote chance that benefits us, then it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make." He scoffed. "Right. Like your dad is going to serve you help on a silver platter." "Yeah, that was about how it grabbed me. If I have to go, I can hope something positive will come out of it, right?" "Sure. Just don't get disappointed, and keep your guard up. He's cutthroat and won't hesitate to slit your wrists." "Jesus, Neil. Glad to hear you think so highly of my old man." I chuckled at the visual. "He and my dad are cut from the same cloth. I don't have a use for either one." Neil had never recovered from the shit his parents had pulled our senior year in high school. Their relationship was never the same—in fact, it basica
Last Updated : 2022-10-26
Latest chapter
Unexpected Arrivals Legend
I missed my mama every day. She told me she'd have to go to heaven first, but I hadn't really believed her. Or maybe I didn't understand what that meant. Everything she told me had been true. My daddy came to take his turn when hers was over, and he brought Cora. My mama hadn't been able to tell me much about her except that she would love me. And she'd been right. Daddy and I played when he'd get home from work, but Cora was my best friend. We made scrapbooks together and told stories about our mamas, and when I wanted to cry, she didn't treat me like a baby. She held me, and she cried, too. I knew she was sad here, even if she never told me, so I took her out every day looking for a friend—not for me, for Cora. And every time I saw a shooting star, I gave Cora my wish. When I started school, I met lots of kids. My teacher said they were friends—but I didn't think if someone bit you or hit someone else that made them a friend. I thought it made them mean. Maybe Cora should t
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
Chapter 71: Cora"So when do we get to meet the little urchin?" Neil was excited to meet his best friend's son. "Cora's grandmother is bringing him home around lunch." "How's that going, Cora?" The concern on Neil's face was endearing. "Really well. It's not going to fix itself overnight, even so, I think we're both trying. And that's about all we can do right now. Legend makes it a lot easier." "Does anyone have any idea why his mom gave him such an…odd name?" Hannah had chosen her words carefully as not to offend James, but he'd wondered the same thing. "We haven't asked." I wanted to. However, with everything else going on, it seemed to be at the bottom of the list of things to question. Before the conversation of namesakes could continue, the front door flew open as the doorbell rang. Gwendolyn tried to respect the Carpenters, while Legend had already made himself at home. "Daddy, look what Dottie got me." He flew through the foyer and into the b
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
Having joint custody of a young child was exhausting. We weren't obligated by court order to give Gwendolyn any time, but Legend loved her, and it gave me an excuse to spend time with her out of perceived obligation. I didn't have to admit I was anxious to get to know her or that I had questions. I didn't have to tell her I'd done nothing besides think about all the ways I'd missed out over the years. I got to use Legend as an excuse to have lunch with her during an exchange or walk on the beach while he played in the waves, or sit on a park bench when he climbed on a jungle gym like a monkey. And each opportunity opened the door to a relationship I'd never imagined I'd have, much less crave. Day by day, I realized what I would have missed out on had I not given her the chance. And I tried not to dwell on all I'd lost in favor of all I had to gain. "I'm going to miss you tonight, buddy." Legend was tall and lanky, much like the pictures I'd seen of James at his age, and he gave th
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
"So your father was Chelsea's dad, but she never met him, which makes you Legend's aunt and stepmother? And Gwendolyn, or Dottie, is not only your grandmother; she's my son's great-grandmother? For a Chase, that sounds awfully reprehensible and totally preposterous—not to mention, a tad trashy." I couldn't tell if he didn't buy it or he was so dumbfounded that reality hadn't quite hit him. So I stood there with my arms crossed over my chest, my hip cocked to the side against the dresser, and a death glare on my face while I blinked slowly in his direction. He continued to move about our room getting ready for bed, and still, I said nothing—waiting for it to register. When he finally stopped, presumably because I hadn't made a peep, I pursed my lips and raised my brow, daring him to make another joke. "Baby, what do you want me to say?" He patted the mattress next to him, but I remained firmly planted. "I can't begin to wrap my mind around any of the twisted pieces in the puzz
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
I wandered aimlessly across the island. Although, the years of blame and weeks of turmoil with Gwendolyn at the forefront subsided. Eventually, I had to end up back at the Carpenters', nevertheless my mind was a disaster. The farther I walked, the more muddled I became. I'd cried more in the last two hours than I could remember in the last two years. Tears didn't bring clarity, only a headache. I couldn't imagine how I'd tell James that Legend had a fifty percent chance of having Huntingtons, much less suggest having him tested. Moreover, I couldn't figure out why we would want a death sentence for a child we'd just met. If there wasn't a cure, then why live with that looming overhead. It made no sense to me, but it wasn't my choice to make. Legend wasn't my son—not biologically anyway. James and Gwendolyn would need to be the ones to make that decision. I didn't envy either in that choice and wished I could fix it with a hug, since that was about all I had to offer. When th
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
"Was she sick when she got pregnant?" "Yes. Although, I doubt James even realized it. She had tremors in her hands, and at that point, she wasn't comfortable driving because every once in a while, she'd get turned around. However, most of her symptoms were easily masked as fatigue or clumsiness. And she wasn't around James much before he left town. The disease didn't progress drastically until Legend was about three." "How could she have ever thought she could raise a child alone?" The part of me that had been grateful to Chelsea for the gift she'd given us had turned to rage. "I can't imagine being so selfish knowing she was going to die and that child would have no one." "He had me. The same way she always had. And in her eyes, that was a great life." "Explain that to me. How did my dad go from knocking up her mom to you being the grandmother to her that you never were to me?" "Would you like some more coffee, dear?" I could tell that was her way of try
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
I made it to the end of the driveway before curiosity got the better of me. I shouldn't care what she'd meant by so did they, yet each step I took got harder as the sentiment echoed in my mind. I stopped and stared at the sky, cursing God for giving me a heart that made me unable to let those three words go. "Ugh," I groaned to no one. Nothing she could say would change anything. Still, for some reason, I couldn't walk away. It was like not picking up the next book after a major cliffhanger. I had to have the truth, even if the ending sucked. My shoulders dropped in defeat, and I pivoted on the ball of my foot to head back to my grandmother's porch. Each time I lifted my foot, taking me closer to her front door, I cringed inside. "Get the information. In and out. You don't have to make friends with her or even peace. Just find out her side and go." Talking to myself in my head was one thing; doing it out loud took my irritation to a whole new level. I sounded like an i
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
When the door finally cracked open, I was met by a face I wanted to love but couldn't figure out how. "I had hoped you'd come by at some point. Please, come in." She ushered me through and straight into her home. "Is everything all right with Legend?" Gwendolyn asked as she pointed me toward the couch. "Oh yeah, he's fine. He and James went to the park." "Would you like some coffee?" Coffee indicated I'd be here a while. It would also give me something to do besides fidget with my hands and pick at my fingers. "That would be nice, thank you." She made her way to the kitchen, leaving me on the couch. "Your father was a big coffee drinker, although, I don't recall your mother ever liking it much." I smiled at the memory. My love of the drink had indeed come from my dad. "She didn't care for it, but I used to steal sips of his when he wasn't looking." It had slipped out before I realized I was being civil. "Are you hungry? I have some muffins." "N
Unexpected Arrivals Cora
"How are things going?" I hadn't had much time to talk to Hannah since we'd left New York, and I missed my best friend. "Status quo. The real question is how are you holding up?" The concern was evident in Hannah's tone. "Honestly, I'm struggling, but not with what you'd expect." "Oh yeah? Insta-mom has been a walk in the park?" She giggled. "Hannah, he's awesome. You're going to love him. He looks nothing like James, but it's uncanny how similar the two are. I'm completely gone for him." "Then what's the problem, are you jealous?" "Of what?" I'd just told her how much I adored Legend. There was no reason to think I'd be jealous of his relationship with his dad. "The other woman," she whispered as if Chelsea were a secret. "You are aware she passed away, right?" "Yeah, but she still had your husband's child. And I remember how you felt about her when you were in France. This has to be like a giant slap in the face—her parting gift to you."
