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2022-10-26 14:20:22Related chapters
Unexpected 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 : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
"I'm about to blow my top, James." Cora had been ranting for thirty minutes, although I'd yet to figure out what she was pissed about. "Ugh, insufferable, I swear. Maybe it's just this place." "So come home." I used any opening, anytime, to get her back stateside. I didn't care what the reason was or who sent her in my direction, as long as she came. "Ten more months." "You could be on a plane tomorrow if you wanted to," I spoke into the air as I drove down the interstate heading back to Geneva Key. "Well, that wouldn't do me any good. Where would I go? Hang out in the terminals?" "Have you ever wondered if people do that? Like just spend days wandering around the airport? It would be a safe place for homeless people to go. Why don't people do that?" I'd drifted off topic, only realizing it when Cora laughed on the other end. It was the first bit of humor I'd heard from her since she called. "Squirrel much?" She referred to the rabbit trail I'd wandered
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals Chelsea
I hadn't been in this town long enough to be familiar with it. Even though the island was small, there were times details escaped me. It was easier to have Dottie drop me off than to risk getting lost. When I stepped inside, the flurry of activity startled me. Before I could get caught up in the anxiety that lingered in unfamiliar places, Jared—the guy who hired me yesterday—stepped out of his office. "Hey, Chelsea. You're right on time. Everyone is loading up so go grab a seat in the van." I'd bartended back home while I was in college, and it was an easy gig to fall back on. The tips were good without an abundance of hours, and while this job wasn't in a club, the owner of the catering company assured me their high-end clientele tipped well and made the obscure hours worth the effort. Yet money wasn't really a driving force. It gave me something to do and people to interact with, and there weren't many career choices available in Geneva Key. I didn't speak to anyone du
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals Chelsea
An hour later, I released the tension in my legs when I found a bathroom and changed clothes. Then I met Carp at the designated spot. Carp. It was odd, but James didn't fit him—it was too…formal. I'd just try not to imagine an ugly fish when I addressed him. He appraised me the same way he'd done at the bar an hour earlier. Except this time, he didn't stop at my hair; his eyes roamed from head to toe without bothering to hide the fact he was checking me out. Yet where he'd been fascinated by my hair then, he now stared at my leather flip-flops, or maybe it was the ink covering my feet. "Do you live around here?" I asked, hoping to get a narrower indication of where I'd find him on a map. We'd been playing the get-to-know-you version of twenty questions since our toes had hit the sand. "No. New York City." The lack of details he gave wasn't lost on me. Either he was a private person or a guarded one. "You?" "On the other side of the island about two blocks from th
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals Chelsea
"How are you holding up, honey?" Dottie handed me a cup of coffee and took a seat next to me on the deck. Staring out at the horizon, I watched the sky color itself in a rainbow of oranges and pinks. Life in Geneva Key was different than Chicago, not better or worse. "Some days are better than others." My gaze shifted from the artwork on the horizon to the woman I'd known and loved my entire life. "It scares me to think I'm going to lose her, and that if I don't remember her, there won't be anyone around to share with the world how amazing she was." Dottie patted my leg just like my mother would have done, and I wondered if she'd picked up the habit watching her over the years, or if she'd always been nurturing. "I think she'll always be in your heart. And as long as she's there, her memory will survive. Your mother has touched the lives of more people than you could ever imagine." "My entire life, I knew this day would come. She never hid from me what the disease would
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals Chelsea
Carp looked different in the warmth of the mid-day sun than he had at night, and even more so without the stress that had marred his features at his parents' house. The tension that pinched his brow was gone, and the cargo shorts and Tar Heels shirt suited him better than the slacks and tie."Hey." He met me at the door with a smile."Hey, yourself." I doubted I'd ever even talk to this man again, yet for the next hour, I got to pretend like things were normal and enjoy a meal and conversation. If that meant hiding from the weight of reality, then so be it."Have you ever eaten here?" Carp's enthusiasm was endearing. His attention shifted briefly to the hostess. "Hey, Nina. Two please." "No, but it seems you have." "They have the best shepherd's pie in the country, and I think I've tried them all. Well, maybe not all but enough to confirm that this is top notch."We followed Nina to a booth in the back. The tiny restaurant felt more like a pub, except where the lights are dimmed in a
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Unexpected Arrivals James
Cora called Sunday night to see how things had gone at my dad's party. It was nice to hear her voice, even if the conversations were surface level and came at two in the morning—time zones were a killer, but I didn't give a shit. I'd make it work to hear her sing in my ear every time she said "hello." We never discussed anything of importance, yet somehow, the familiarity seemed to spark what both of us had missed in our relationship the last year before she'd left. I'd set aside my hope for salvaging the us part of the equation—temporarily—in favor of rebuilding the friendship. Neither of us had said those three magic words, or even mentioned the possibility of getting back together. However, every time we hung up the phone, we told the other we missed them. It had taken the place of the intimacy while confirming the tie. "I'm sorry I haven't checked on you before now." Her apology seemed forced or maybe uncertain, or it could be the fog of sleep still hovering in my mind.
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."
